MCLAREN IN YOUR EAR:
Klipsch T5 II McLaren Editions
T5 II TRUE WIRELESS ANC T5 II TRUE WIRELESS SPORT
The other current collaborative branding under the McLaren partnership (Klipsch is ‘Official headphone and Portable Audio partner of McLaren F1 team’) is rather smaller than the standmounting The Fives active speakers. It sees two versions of Klipsch’s T5 II true wireless earbuds — the ‘Sport’ and ‘ANC’ editions — given the F1 aesthetic upgrade, doubling down on what were already premium buds in their standard editions.
The ANC version has its ‘Zippo lighter’ charging case (below) given an eye-shimmering carbon-fibre effect with a papaya internal tray and a tyre-track top plate.
The Sport edition has its extended and lanyarded case similarly decorated, and once opened (with its slightlytricky flip-lock), there are papaya innards on the bottom to hold and charge the buds, while the top tray is clear plastic that encases hundreds of tiny beads which will absorb any moisture entering the casing either with the bids or while stowing them. The eartips come in orange too; there’s an engraved metal card and a little ‘brand’ book in the box. The QR code here links to Klipsch’s promotional video of the Sport edition, where you can see how good they look.
Indeed there’s a danger all this Formula 1 flash will distract from the fact that these earbuds are loaded with some impressive technology, and that certainly the ANC versions, which we know from our time testing the non-McLaren version, are capable of rivalling the best for sound quality — and the McLaren version are the same product on the inside. So not only do they bring the benefit of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), the buds are relatively compact and lightweight, sitting comfortably in the ear, reducing fatigue when worn for extended periods. There are a generous six included eartips in the box, all silicon, all sporting Klipsch’s patented oval-shaped design. They feature an IPX4 rating which, while below the Sport version’s impressive IP67 rating, will still keep them safe from sweat and other light splashes. They’re each adorned with a button, one marked by Klipsch’s cursive logo, the other with McLaren’s aero-dynamic swirl. These buttons have a relatively soft actuation, and