Beyerdynamic’s new T5p headphones Reviews

Like people, headphones are complex, multifaceted, and idiosyncratic. Each has its own particular version of reality, and the ones you ultimately like best are those you believe you can trust. That's where I find myself with Beyerdynamic's second-generation T5p (aka T5p.2) headphones: I trust them to deliver true, faithful, and at the same time pleasing sound. Their tonal balance has just the right amount of everything, from shimmery treble to rumbling bass, and I never have to question if a song is being misrepresented by them.

So what's the price of this ultimate level of trust? In Beyerdynamic's precisely engineered world, the manufacturer’s suggested entry fee is $1,299, though you can find the T5p.2s online for $1,099 now. Either price tag will immediately seem extravagant to most people, but the way I've come to think of these new T5s is akin to how driving enthusiasts think of a Porsche 911. It's a finely tuned piece of machinery that commands a premium for its unique performance and heritage, though not quite as much as the gloried marques like Ferrari and Lamborghini. Beyerdynamic's new top-tier headphones — the T5p and its open-back sibling, the T1, both recently updated — are actually at the accessible end of the scale for high-end audiophile gear.

The T5p.2s are intended to serve as the portable version of Beyerdynamic's flagship headphone. To that end, they come with a closed-back design, which provides some isolation between external noise and the music played within. I say "some," because these headphones leak sound out almost as readily as an open-back variant. At this tier of high-end audio, every manufacturer sacrifices noise insulation at the altar of higher quality and accuracy of audio playback, which is just about fair enough. That does mean, however, that the T5p.2s are not suitable for discreet use outdoors or while traveling. You'll either be annoyed by the din of cars passing by or you'll earn disapproving looks from strangers who might not be as enthused about Skrillex as you might be.

PLUG THESE INTO YOUR PHONE AND THEY'LL STILL SOUND GREAT — AND EVERYONE WILL HEAR IT

It's a shame, really, because the T5p.2s are otherwise very friendly to portable devices. They have a low 32 Ohm impedance, and I'm able to easily power them with smartphones like the Xiaomi Mi 5, LG G5, and iPhone 6s Plus. That's obviously not the ideal way to use an $1,100 headphone, but it speaks to the T5p.2's flexibility: this pair of headphones can hang with the best in terms of sound reproduction, but it still takes care to work with the most abundant audio sources that people have with them.

In terms of design, the T5p.2 is difficult to distinguish from its predecessor, the T5p. The design language is easily recognizable as Beyerdynamic's, having been exhibited across other product lines like the T1, T90, and DT700, 800, and 900 series. Basically, when Beyerdynamic builds a professional-quality headphone, it looks like this. Just like with Porsche, this German company is only refining a formula that's proven successful over many years. Two metal arms hold a pair of surprisingly light plastic ear cups, which are adorned with a nicely patterned circular metal plate on the outside. The T5p.2's ear pads and richly padded headband are both made of artificial leather, lending the headphone a suitably premium feel. Each set of these headphones is handmade in Germany, and gives more credence to the stereotype about German manufacturing being impeccable. The T5p.2s are built with care and precision, leaving me confident that they'll last as long as such a considered purchase should — and even if they don't, Beyerdynamic covers them with a five-year warranty.

There are a couple of downsides to Beyerdynamic's design that prevent me from recommending it with full enthusiasm. Firstly, even with the delightfully comfortable memory foam pads it includes, the T5p.2 makes the cardinal sin of having perfectly round cups. Human ears are, for the most part, D-shaped, so I find Beyerdynamic's insistence on round ear cups both perplexing and frustrating. The T5p.2s fit around the sides of my ears with plenty of space to spare, but I have to tuck my earlobe into the bottom of the pads. It's not a huge pain point, but it detracts. The other issue is more of a problem: I find the T5p.2s build up a pressure at the top of my head during prolonged listening sessions. The padding is plentiful and the headphones themselves are light for their size, but they're definitely not the most comfortable pair I've ever worn.

DESIGNED, ENGINEERED, AND HANDMADE IN GERMANY, THE T5S WERE BUILT TO LAST

The cable of the T5p.2 is thick, braided, and basically impossible to tangle. I love that it terminates in standard 3.5mm connectors, meaning that if it ever fails (or I just fancy auditioning other cables, because that's a thing audiophiles do), I can swap in another standard cable in its place. On the other hand, I don't love the microphonics it produces — those are the noises generated from the cable rubbing against clothing and the like — though they're thankfully irrelevant once you start playing music.