I Didn’t Expect This from Klipsch T5 II McLaren Edition Earbuds

What makes a great pair of sports headphones? Typically, they need a high degree of water resistance, a secure fit that stays locked in during intense activity, and often, a striking design. The Klipsch T5 II Sport McLaren Edition TWS earbuds check all these boxes, but as I discovered, they have a few surprising tricks up their sleeve.

A Racing-Inspired Case That’s Built Like a Tank

The collaboration with McLaren was the perfect reason for Klipsch to pivot from its traditional retro style toward modern high-tech. The charging case is a clear nod to racing cars, featuring carbon fiber accents, McLaren’s signature papaya orange trim, and prominent logos.

The case itself feels like a heavy-duty piece of equipment. It’s thick, strong, and closes with a substantial metal latch that requires two hands to open, sealing with an incredibly satisfying and secure click. While its bulky, non-flat shape makes it inconvenient for a jeans pocket, it fits easily into a jacket or backpack.

This robust design serves a purpose. It houses a large battery (good for three full 8-hour charges) and a brilliant moisture-wicking system. You might notice a rattling sound, but it’s not a sign of poor assembly. It’s the desiccant puck of silica gel that fills the case’s lid, designed to absorb any moisture from the earbuds. This puck is replaceable, ensuring your earbuds stay dry.

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The entire case is IP67 waterproof and dustproof, meaning it can survive being submerged in a meter of water for 30 minutes and will even float. To achieve this seal, the USB-C charging port is located inside the case. While this means you must have the case open to charge with a cable, Klipsch provides a far more elegant solution: Qi wireless charging. The McLaren Edition even includes a charging mat in the box, so the internal port becomes a non-issue for daily use.

Ergonomics and The Magic of a Secure Fit

The earbuds themselves are also IP67-rated, making them perfectly safe for a sweaty workout, a run in the rain, or even a swim in the pool. They have a sleek, rounded shape that sits comfortably in the ear. On the outside of each earbud is a physical button with a soft touch, so you don’t have to press them hard into your ear to control playback.

The free Klipsch Connect app allows for firmware updates and includes a 5-band equalizer to tweak the sound quality. The app’s transparency mode is present but not overly effective; it tends to amplify ambient noise more than voices. However, for a secure fit that provides excellent passive noise isolation, the T5 II McLaren Edition is a masterclass.

The box is packed with accessories: six pairs of patented oval-shaped silicone ear tips and one pair of foam tips. But the real game-changers are the three pairs of soft, flexible ear wings (or in-ear spacers). With most sports headphones, a secure fit comes at the cost of comfort. The McLaren Edition does it differently.

When I found the right combination of ear tip and ear wing, the earbuds simply seemed to dissolve. The geometry of the wings distributed pressure so perfectly across my ear that I felt almost nothing, yet they were completely secure. I took them running, through intense workouts, and they never once felt loose. This was achieved because the wings allow the earbuds to sit securely without having to be wedged deep into the ear canal, which is the source of most in-ear fatigue. I could wear them for five hours straight with zero discomfort. While everyone’s ears are different, for me, the fit was a revelation.

Sound Quality: A Tale of Two Fits

These earbuds use a 5mm dynamic driver and support Bluetooth 5.0 with SBC, AAC, and, importantly, aptX codecs for higher-quality streaming.

The sound signature is classic Klipsch: big, large-scale, and massive. There’s a hint of the signature Klipsch “horn” sound, evident in a slightly brighter, more energetic top-end. However, without the ear wings, the fit is deeper, which results in a sound profile with powerful, elevated bass. On tracks like DJ Krush’s “Essential Base,” this added weight and gloominess, which worked well for old-school trip-hop. The soundstage felt wide, but somewhat flat, lacking a sense of layering.

This all changes when you attach the ear wings. Because the fit is shallower and less intrusive, two things happen: the bass becomes less overpowering and more balanced, and the soundstage gains an incredible sense of “air.” The most amazing thing is the creation of a virtual sound source; because the earbuds feel like they aren’t there, music seems to simply originate inside your head. This had a profound effect. Symphonic soundtracks felt like they had moved from a concert hall into the open air. Female vocals became brighter, livelier, and more pleasant.

Thanks to the two fitting options, you essentially get two distinct sound profiles from one pair of earbuds, and you can switch between them in seconds.

Final Verdict: Comfort is King

The Klipsch T5 II Sport McLaren Edition represents a significant improvement over its predecessor, boasting a well-thought-out design and an authentic, detailed, and powerful sound signature. The robust, waterproof case with Qi wireless charging is excellent.

But the single feature that overshadows everything else is the phenomenal comfort. The ability to achieve a rock-solid fit without any of the usual pressure or fatigue is something special. For that reason alone, these aren’t just great sports headphones; they are some of the most comfortable and versatile TWS earbuds I have ever tested.

PROS

• Incredibly comfortable and secure fit with ear wings
• A rich set of accessories ensures a perfect seal
• Signature Klipsch sound: powerful, detailed, and dynamic
• Robust IP67 water and dust protection for both the case and the earbuds
• Qi wireless charging mat included
• aptX support for high-quality audio

CONS

• Transparency mode is not very effective
• A bulky case is not ideal for small pockets

SPECS: Klipsch T5 II Sport McLaren Edition

Specification	Detail
Headphone Type	In-ear, True Wireless Stereo (TWS)
Driver	5mm Dynamic
Frequency Response	10Hz – 19kHz
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.0
Audio Codecs	SBC, AAC, aptX
Battery Life	Earbuds: Up to 8 hours. Case: Up to 24 hours.
Charging	USB-C, Qi Wireless Charging (mat included)
Microphones	Four beamforming microphones with cVc
Water Resistance	IP67 (Earbuds & Case)
Weight	Earbuds: 5.3g each. Case: 82g.