Im considering one of these as my daily use set for edm and metal. Would they be good for that? Also, I can get the 2nd gen for much cheaper, is it worth getting the 3rd gen?
There are a few things to consider -
1) The T5 (3rd Gen) is darker and than its 2 predecessor models. Treble brilliance is reined in; it is definitely rounded and a little muted in comparison.
2) Conversely, the bass presence is increased, considerably. Lows retain good texture, with impressive extension into the sub-bass frequencies. However, the excessive mid-bass bloat does have a tendency to bleed into the lower mids.
3) They are source and amp-dependent. With a Chord Hugo 2, the highs retained a little sparkle and granular texture. With a Sony TA-ZH1ES, the treble was smoothed out, resulting in a loss of energy and engagement.
The T5p (2nd Gen) had better-balanced treble and high frequencies; both were boosted, but neither excessively so. On the T5 (3rd Gen), the highs are attenuated, with the low-end presence increased considerably. The result? A dark, bass-focused signature.
In conclusion, if you enjoy a liquid, lush tonality, the T5 (3rd Gen) is the better match - it has a rich, full sound. However, if you value treble presence, and you seek more engagement out of your cans, it's better to go with the outgoing model, the 2nd Gen. It retains better treble extension, and better staging capabilities.
I have
compared the 2 headphones here.