Beyerdynamic T5 (3rd Generation)

[j3n5]

Well, pad rolling with T5.3 is extremely addictive! Using Beyer velour pads make the cans a little bit more neutral, wider stage but keeping details. Just orderd Dekoni velour pads to hear the difference!

 

[Mhog55]

Do any T5 3rd owners also own the Ibasso SR2? Sound descriptions sound somewhat similar, and I absolutely love my SR2. A closed back version would be sublime.

 

[Giru]

Do any T5 3rd owners also own the Ibasso SR2? Sound descriptions sound somewhat similar, and I absolutely love my SR2. A closed back version would be sublime.

Don't own the SR2 but have listened to it and the T5 at length (seperate times ofcourse) and although they have a few things in common (highs and lower mids), the T5 sounds far dense in the bass with somewhat recessed mids. Detail level and resolution on the T5 is also TOTL tier (so is the sound stage). The Ibasso has a better mids presentation than the T5 but that would be it's only strength over the beyer.

 

[Mhog55]

Don't own the SR2 but have listened to it and the T5 at length (seperate times ofcourse) and although they have a few things in common (highs and lower mids), the T5 sounds far dense in the bass with somewhat recessed mids. Detail level and resolution on the T5 is also TOTL tier (so is the sound stage). The Ibasso has a better mids presentation than the T5 but that would be it's only strength over the beyer.

Not sure how much greater the soundstage could be on a closed back, but I believe the part about the detail and resolution - though I doubt it's a night and day difference. So the upper mids and higher frequencies are about on par? Smooth but not overly absent? My favorite part of the SR2 is the mids. How different do vocals, guitars, etc. sound on the T5? How recessed are we talking? Thank you for the response.

 

[j3n5]

Im really a neutral with a pinch of warmth cans type of guy and my reference lately has been Hifiman Ananda and Dan Clark A2C. I think T5 has fantastic mids, especially femail voices is important to me, beeing a slightly v-shaped can. I really think it plays on the same detail retreval level (cross the whole range) as Ananda but with that slightly sharpness wise mellower dynamic attack that just makes the can more cosy. Ananda is not a super wide open back but its a little bit wider than T5.3. But i do prefer the stadge in T5.3 over ex LCD-XC 2021. It certanly outperforms my A2C in that.

 

[Giru]

Not sure how much greater the soundstage could be on a closed back, but I believe the part about the detail and resolution - though I doubt it's a night and day difference. So the upper mids and higher frequencies are about on par? Smooth but not overly absent? My favorite part of the SR2 is the mids. How different do vocals, guitars, etc. sound on the T5? How recessed are we talking? Thank you for the response.

For a closed back the T5 sound stage is pretty good; comparable to any decent kilo-buck closed back. Ofcourse it's not comparable to it's open back peers (in it's price range) but not inferior to the ibasso in any way.
The bass, upper mids and higher frequencies are the best part of the T5. "Smooth and not overly absent" with right amount of dynamics and resolution that makes it a comfortable listen.
The mids is the Achilles heel of the T5 (and to some extent the T1). There is a definite underemphasis of the mids and lower mids which makes the vocals sound slightly off. Percussive instruments also have the same feel. The T5 has slightly better focus as it's a closed back while the T1 has better extension, detail and dynamics. This may also be due to the fact that the bass on the T1 is faster overall, which augments the mids in a very tasteful way. The T5 bass has more impact but is slower and often causes a slight bloom that takes away more than it gives.
Please note that this does not mean that the notes from these frequencies are absent, it's just that these areas sound slightly recessed in comparison to the rest of the spectrum. Frankly I'm still confused on whether to call it good or bad as I've taken a liking to this tuning and sound profile. The high amount of detail and resolution make this type of signature quite enjoyable and both the sets stand out from the crowd of mainstream audiophile harman-hugging cans in the market today.

 

[Giru]

Im really a neutral with a pinch of warmth cans type of guy and my reference lately has been Hifiman Ananda and Dan Clark A2C. I think T5 has fantastic mids, especially femail voices is important to me, beeing a slightly v-shaped can. I really think it plays on the same detail retreval level (cross the whole range) as Ananda but with that slightly sharpness wise mellower dynamic attack that just makes the can more cosy. Ananda is not a super wide open back but its a little bit wider than T5.3. But i do prefer the stadge in T5.3 over ex LCD-XC 2021. It certanly outperforms my A2C in that.

I can attest to the above.
I think this type of tuning works very well with some tracks and genres.
Overall, I'll take this tuning over a lot of harman profile cans in the same price bracket. It's a different sound experience which is actually quite enjoyable and not fatiguing or offensive in any way.

 

[j3n5]

I can attest to the above.
I think this type of tuning works very well with some tracks and genres.
Overall, I'll take this tuning over a lot of harman profile cans in the same price bracket. It's a different sound experience which is actually quite enjoyable and not fatiguing or offensive in any way.

Yes, and i can attest that mids Like you say is a little bit resessed but not lacking in detail and resolvement. I actually think both sharp percussion and sharp voices has a likable timbre to them compared to how i remember my old T5.1 thoug T5.3 kan sound a little sharper than AC2 & Ananda. Better dynamic resonance.

 

[Shane D]

I am really surprised that people find the T5's very detailed. But I guess we all hear differently. To me, they are great bass, decent mids and that's about it. If you compare them head to head with the cheapest Focal, the Elegia's, the difference is stunning. The Focal's do lean a bit towards bright, but the amount of detail is amazing. Of course they do lose out on bass, by a noticeable margin.

If I was comparing, I would put the T5's much closer to the T60 Argon's than any Focal headphone. And I might even call the T60 Argon's more detailed and certainly less bassy than the T5's, although they take to bass boost like a duck to water.

I have to pull these out this week as I am playing with a new, surprisingly good, mini amp.

 

[Giru]

I guess we all hear differently.

There you go.

 

[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.

I am going to respond to my own post by way of an update. For the last several days I have been comparing the Elegia's with Dekoni Stellia pads against the Beyer T5's. At first neither one was winning because each headphone reminded me of what the other one had. I did more long term listening (several hours to a full day with each) and it became clear to me. The Elegia's, with the Dekoni Stellia pads, have more range, soundstage and complete sound. The T5's sound muffled/veiled/restricted in comparison. Of course that is just my opinion and I am sure that many people feel the opposite.
Nice to be able to do comparisons with my my own equipment, my own music and with no pressure at all. I wish I had a local shop where I could test stuff out at, but I am not sure how effective it would be. If you can't use your own music source, your own DAC, your own amp(s) and are limited to an hour or less of time, it only gives you a very small glimpse into what the gear might be like in your home. Taking a few months to go through all of my toys is ideal and definitely helping me thin the herd.
I will be putting my T5's on sale this weekend.

 

[j3n5]

I am going to respond to my own post by way of an update. For the last several days I have been comparing the Elegia's with Dekoni Stellia pads against the Beyer T5's. At first neither one was winning because each headphone reminded me of what the other one had. I did more long term listening (several hours to a full day with each) and it became clear to me. The Elegia's, with the Dekoni Stellia pads, have more range, soundstage and complete sound. The T5's sound muffled/veiled/restricted in comparison. Of course that is just my opinion and I am sure that many people feel the opposite.
Nice to be able to do comparisons with my my own equipment, my own music and with no pressure at all. I wish I had a local shop where I could test stuff out at, but I am not sure how effective it would be. If you can't use your own music source, your own DAC, your own amp(s) and are limited to an hour or less of time, it only gives you a very small glimpse into what the gear might be like in your home. Taking a few months to go through all of my toys is ideal and definitely helping me thin the herd.
I will be putting my T5's on sale this weekend.

I also live in a place missing a proper hifi store so i know your feeling. Well, i use T5.3 with Dekoni Hybrids, i think they sound fantastic with them. Brings down the bass a little and ads a little stage & clarity. Ive done several listening tests against my Dan Clark A2C and i almost always prefer T5.3. A2C is a little bit faster with a little bit better separation but i think the beyers win in detail. I really thing the tesla driver is a capable one.Ive ordered a pair of ZMF beyer+ Subs in lambskin to test.

 

[ryanmatic]

Thanks for the tip—was curious about pad rolling and am tempted to pick up a pair of Dekoni hybrids based on the positive effect you describe.

Been a bit hesitant to chime in here since I have less capital-A audiophile experience here compared to most others, but I've had these for a few weeks now and absolutely love them. They're definitely bass forward but the midrange and higher frequencies sound natural and present to me, especially when it comes to things like layered vocals. Maybe there was a silent pad revision as mentioned earlier, or maybe my hearing/preferences are just right for this sound signature, but these were a blind purchase for me based on my love for my Xelentos and I actually find myself preferring these most of the time.

 

[Mhog55]

Has anyone tried any other pads with these, aside from the Dekoni Hybrids?

 

[j3n5]

Has anyone tried any other pads with these, aside from the Dekoni Hybrids?

Yeah, ive tried both Dekoni Elite lambskins & velour, lambskin tames the bass just a little, adding a little stage and comfort due to pad hight. Velour make the cans sound too thin and distant for my taste. I think ZMF Beyer+ Subs will sound somwhere inbetween Dekoni lambskins & hybrids beeing a little lower in hight and thinner skin/walls & with a bigger inside.