Beyerdynamic T5 (3rd Generation)

[plakat]

Thank you very much for the answers. So, I think AK's dap matches t5(or t1 3rd) better than sony's? I saw someone says ultrasone panther matches t5 very well, would like to try the combo if I have a chance.

The AK models I’ve heard all had an a touch leaner sound signature, so that might pair well with the warmer new T5. The Sonys are said to be warmer themselves, so that might be a bit too much, yes.

 

[Malevolent]

Thank you very much for the answers. So, I think AK's dap matches t5(or t1 3rd) better than sony's? I saw someone says ultrasone panther matches t5 very well, would like to try the combo if I have a chance.

I don't have a wealth of experience with DAPs; however, given the T5's warmth and the presence of that huge bass shelf, I'd steer away from any sources (DAPs and/or amplifiers) that deliver a slightly warmer or fuller sound; they might just push the Beyerdynamic over the edge.

 

[Shane D]

The AK models I’ve heard all had an a touch leaner sound signature, so that might pair well with the warmer new T5. The Sonys are said to be warmer themselves, so that might be a bit too much, yes.

I run my Sony with some added bass. You could just not add any or even remove some, per your taste. Very easy to adjust EQ.

 

[plakat]

I run my Sony with some added bass. You could just not add any or even remove some, per your taste. Very easy to adjust EQ.

I do like my bass when it comes in lovely and strong though some want to steer clear of that added fun…
Was tempted by the nice Sony DAPs at their time. Yet nowadays I simply use my iPhone as my main source, with an optional Hugo. And I‘ve still not heard the new T5 myself…

 

[Shane D]

I do like my bass when it comes in lovely and strong though some want to steer clear of that added fun…
Was tempted by the nice Sony DAPs at their time. Yet nowadays I simply use my iPhone as my main source, with an optional Hugo. And I‘ve still not heard the new T5 myself…

The T5 and the Sony are a nice combo to my ears. I always like a little bass kick, but I rarely tend to ever use my Loki with any of the headphones.
My Violectric is pretty warm to start with and I seem to always use bass boost in my iFi.
When I am mobile, be it on the road or on the rower, I have some extra kick dialed in all the time and never adjust it. It has just become part of the sound signature.
IME, I don't find the Sony DAP's warm.

I like the extra kick for my Grado's and Elegia's.
I don't really need it for the T5's or the Cascades, but it's not enough to be obnoxious.

 

[feverfive]

........

 

[Giru]

Just heard the T5 3rd gen yesterday and holy moly!! They sounded amazing!

I have had a love hate relationship with Beyer headphones. Over the years I've owned and then eventually sold off a number of beyers (DT990 Pro, DT880 600Ohm, DT1770, T90, T51i, T5p). I can't say that there was ever a beyer that came without problems. In general, Beyers do somethings exceptionally well and others horribly wrong. One of the things that beyer never got correct with any of it's headphone was the tuning. Something was always off (esp the low end).

I think Beyerdynamic has finally struck gold with the T5 Gen3. This is by far the best beyer I have tried. Period. I'd go as far as to say that the T5 is probably one of the best deals in a closed back you can get right now.

I got to listen to the T1 3rd Gen last year and had somewhat similar mixed feelings. The tuning was definitely new with no sibilance and peaks but again it sounded a bit "wonky". The mids were just not right. Anyway, I shrugged them off as "another beyer" and never bothered with the T5. Wrong decision.

The T5 is the most properly tuned beyer I have heard in a while. The overall sound is relatively flat with an emphasis on the low end (soooo tastefully done.....oh ma gawd!!!). The signature is slightly dark but not veiled or constricted. Highs are tame and very nimble. Mids are lush and warm with great texture and resolution. The king is obviously the bass here. Damn! This thing goes low! And not only that, it does this with amazing clarity and definition. It's almost like there's a very high end sub in there somewhere. Having said this, I don't think it's a "bass-head" headphone at all. Not by a mile. I think this is a very natural sounding set with a lush sound (borderline warm).

The tuning is so good here that I was actually flabbergasted. In a blind audition I would never have guessed that this is a beyer headphone. The only thing that might make someone think that it's a beyer is the detail level. It's on par or better than most upper tier dynamic headsets out there.

I'm really impressed. However I'm also at a loss to find something to compare this to. The Fostex TH900 Mk2 that I own and love is quite different from this. It veers towards an analytical tone: favouring quality over quantity (both ends of the spectrum). The beyer on the other hand is more balanced serving both in equal measure.

I'm still burning in my newly acquired MDR-Z1R (got an awseome deal). I would reserve my views on this comparsion coz I'm still trying to get the hang of the sony's sound.

(Comparing from memory):

The HD820 is another closed back from Deutschland but shares no similarities with the Beyer (except the detail levels maybe). The 820 is highly resolving, anaylitical and techincally proficient with great upper end coverage but sounds a bit dry and thin. The T5 is more lively and natural with better lower end extension. The 820 also had this annoying hardess in the upper mids IIRC , which made it a bit difficult to listen to for longer periods of time. Not so with the T5. It has a very inoffensive tuning.

The closest headphone of a similar tuning I can remember would be the ZMF Eikon. Both headphones have this warmth and lushness that can't be put to words and can only be felt when you hear them. The ZMF and the T5 are completely different in almost everything (build, tech, etc), but surprisingly sound quite similar. However differences would be evident if someone heard them side by side. The ZMF is more of a vinatge sound with a decidedly bassy character and (slightly) hot treble. It's fun and lively (Jazz on the eikon is to die for). The T5 on the other hand is a more mature and modern sounding can with an emphasis on detail and quality of the bass and highs. T5 is more verstaile of the two especially given that the Eikon needs good amping for sure (which is fair considering that the both are targeted towards a completely different audience).

ZMF Verite Closed and Kennerton Rognir could also be valid comparisons since they have similar TOTL pedigree but again the tuning is very different in each headphone and the they are on completely different price tiers.

I don't know if many would share my view but I've gotten used to having a difference in opinion especially when it comes to closed back headphones. Closed backs are very sensitive to fit, seal and pinna size and can sound really different to two individuals depending on the above factors. I had a similar finding with the Neumann NDH20 (everyone hates them; I bought em for the full retail price: yes they're that good), Fostex TH900 and Audioquest Night Owl (not to say that the night owl did not have problems but it wasn't bad sounding as people usually say they are).

For me the T5 has to be the find of the year. I'll see how things go with my Z1R but if it doesn't work I'm sure of what to replace it with

 

[Malevolent]

Your take on the T5 (3rd Generation) is very interesting. I didn't find them balanced at all, and the bass shelf is sizeable enough that it will certainly satisfy most bassheads. In fact, the mid-bass hump on the T5 is comparable to the Cascade in sheer quantity. They are certainly warm, lush, and full; I wouldn't call them balanced, though. The attenuation in the treble region, coupled with that low-end emphasis, results in a dark, smooth timbre.

In any case, I don't think the revised T5 is a bad headphone per se. In fact, I quite like it. However, it is certainly one of the least Beyer-sounding Beyerdynamic headphones on the contemporary market.

 

[Giru]

I didn't find them balanced at all, and the bass shelf is sizeable enough that it will certainly satisfy most bassheads. In fact, the mid-bass hump on the T5 is comparable to the Cascade in sheer quantity. They are certainly warm, lush, and full; I wouldn't call them balanced, though. The attenuation in the treble region, coupled with that low-end emphasis, results in a dark, smooth timbre.

Dunno if I heard the hump in the midrange or the rolled off treble (infact treble was perfectly sparkly) but I can completely understand where you're coming from and I think 6 of 10 people who hear this will say the same thing. The driver coupling to the ear with closed backs is a controversial topic. I think this is defintely got to do with the fit, seal and pinna size. The same was the case with the Neumann NDH20. Some say it has no bass, some find it overly bassy and some absolutely neutral.

Come to think of it, both the Neumann and the beyer have small inner cup dimensions. Maybe that's one of the factors that's affecting the coupling of the driver to the ears. Anyway, whatever it is, I really enjoyed what I heard. For me it was a fantastic 2 hours or so and I didn't skip a single track. In my books that's a headphone worthy of ownership

I'm currently burning in the Z1R and till now I have mixed feelings with it. Especially after listening to the T5, I feel the Z1R is not a relaxed listen for sure, but I'll give it more time since my set is new and I've hardly had them for a week.

 

[Shane D]

I went back to my test list today and did a three-way with
1) Elegia's with stock pads
2) Elegia's with Dekoni's
And
3) Beyer T5's
The big picture hasn't changed at all: Beyer is bass over mids and Focal is mids over bass.


The Dekoni sheepskin pads certainly bring up the bass, but at the cost of some treble/detail. The trade-off is worth it for me.
Part or me had hoped that it would move the Elegia's closer to the bass power of the T5's, but it doesn't really come close. You can't fight the design of the Headphone with earpads.


There was only one song where I preferred the stock Elegia's, Adelle's Rolling in the Deep.


There were only two songs where I preferred the T5's; I'm Not Calling you a Liar, by Florence and the Machine and Burning down the House by Talking Heads.
With everything else I preferred the "modified" Elegia's.


I thought that with results like these, I would be able to sell the T5's, but that is not the case at all. The T5's, with the right music, are a ton of fun. Nine Inch Nails, Seether, Foo Fighters, The Offspring, etc. rock out loud on these headphones.


On the upside, I sold my HD660's yesterday.

 

[Mhog55]

I went back to my test list today and did a three-way with
1) Elegia's with stock pads
2) Elegia's with Dekoni's
And
3) Beyer T5's
The big picture hasn't changed at all: Beyer is bass over mids and Focal is mids over bass.


The Dekoni sheepskin pads certainly bring up the bass, but at the cost of some treble/detail. The trade-off is worth it for me.
Part or me had hoped that it would move the Elegia's closer to the bass power of the T5's, but it doesn't really come close. You can't fight the design of the Headphone with earpads.


There was only one song where I preferred the stock Elegia's, Adelle's Rolling in the Deep.


There were only two songs where I preferred the T5's; I'm Not Calling you a Liar, by Florence and the Machine and Burning down the House by Talking Heads.
With everything else I preferred the "modified" Elegia's.


I thought that with results like these, I would be able to sell the T5's, but that is not the case at all. The T5's, with the right music, are a ton of fun. Nine Inch Nails, Seether, Foo Fighters, The Offspring, etc. rock out loud on these headphones.


On the upside, I sold my HD660's yesterday.

What about the T5 3rd makes "rocking out" so enjoyable for you?

 

[Shane D]

What about the T5 3rd makes "rocking out" so enjoyable for you?

The bass! They wouldn't my choice for jazz or even female vocals. They lack detail but for the mids and down, they are fantastic.

I wish they had more detail and that the Elegia's had more bass. But you work with what you got.

 

[Mhog55]

The bass! They wouldn't my choice for jazz or even female vocals. They lack detail but for the mids and down, they are fantastic.

I wish they had more detail and that the Elegia's had more bass. But you work with what you got.

I guess I'm just trying to figure out if they lack detail, and the strong point is only bass, what makes these a 1000 dollar headphones. I can get that from most any relatively inexpensive headphone.
I've also been trying to get a handle on just how dark these actually are. I prefer a slight, mild dark signature, but I worry these will be too dark for my liking. Being that these pop up from time to time for 600 or less, I'm very tempted. Though I worry it will be hard to sell them should they not agree with me.

 

[Giru]

I went back to my test list today and did a three-way with
1) Elegia's with stock pads
2) Elegia's with Dekoni's
And
3) Beyer T5's
The big picture hasn't changed at all: Beyer is bass over mids and Focal is mids over bass.


The Dekoni sheepskin pads certainly bring up the bass, but at the cost of some treble/detail. The trade-off is worth it for me.
Part or me had hoped that it would move the Elegia's closer to the bass power of the T5's, but it doesn't really come close. You can't fight the design of the Headphone with earpads.


There was only one song where I preferred the stock Elegia's, Adelle's Rolling in the Deep.


There were only two songs where I preferred the T5's; I'm Not Calling you a Liar, by Florence and the Machine and Burning down the House by Talking Heads.
With everything else I preferred the "modified" Elegia's.


I thought that with results like these, I would be able to sell the T5's, but that is not the case at all. The T5's, with the right music, are a ton of fun. Nine Inch Nails, Seether, Foo Fighters, The Offspring, etc. rock out loud on these headphones.


On the upside, I sold my HD660's yesterday.

Nice comparison. I never tried a pad rolled Elegia but I didn't like them for their price anyway. They have this wierd lower treble and upper mid emphasis that keeps popping up from track to track; and when it does, you can't do much but brave it out. This makes listening to genres such as thrash, industrial and punk quite difficult.
Also the detail levels are similar to (if not better) something like the Sundara and HD650.

Anyway, now that I've heard the T5 in multiple sittings, the wow factor has given way to a sense of understanding about how and why (possibly) Beyer tuned these the way they are: the new beyer sound goes with their new mass market appeal strategy (beyer "you"). These are extremely comfy, cozy and warm sounding with no offensive qualities whatsoever. The feared beyer treble is gone and replaced by a much friendly bass boost that simply makes these a pleasurable listen with any genre you can throw at it. It might not excel at anything in particular but it's certainly not unpleasant either.

After my encounter with the T5, I decided to give the T1 a fair shake too and ordered it from a local dealer. The most important thing I'll say is that the new generation beyers were unnecessarily berated and put down by a few reviewers. Neither sounds at all like what most negative reviews have said (rolled off highs, bloated bass??? Oh please).

Regardless, the tuning on both sets seems similar. But that's just where the similarities end. Both headphones take a very different approach to presentation and performance. I'm still burning in the T1 coz it's a new set but I'll definitely like to write my observations regarding the two.

 

[Giru]

I guess I'm just trying to figure out if they lack detail

They definitely don't. My only two worries were a vieled presentation and lack of detail. Neither T1 nor T5 has it.