A true institution in the world of Hifi, Kef is, above all, a dynamic brand that has taken on the challenge of standing out in the highly competitive sector of True Wireless headphones. To do this, its Mu3 go all out, reminding us of old, very high-end glories of the world of loudspeakers.
Long after its very perfectible first generation of True Wireless, mainly composed of T5. Among them, the T5 II, an improved version of the first headphones. A product finally convincing, or having already fallen too far behind the competition?
Pros and Cons
| Kef Mu3 | Klipsch T5 II |
| Comfortable fit and pleasing finish | Great sound quality |
| Good battery life | Sleek and stylish |
| IPX5 water resistance | App has adjustable EQ |
| No control app or EQ adjustment | No noise cancellation |
| No wireless charging | No wireless charging |
General
| Kef Mu3 | Klipsch T5 II | |
| $ | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE |
| Brand | Kef | Klipsch |
| Type | In-Ear | In-Ear |
| Colors | Grey/black | Silver, Gunmetal |
| Battery life | 24 Hours | 8 hours |
| Weight | 46.8 g | 344 g |
| Connectivity | Wireless, Bluetooth | Wireless, Bluetooth |
Design
| Kef Mu3 | Klipsch T5 II | |
| Type | In-Ear | In-Ear |
| Wireless | Yes | Yes |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| Drivers | 8.2 mm | 5 mm |
| Dimensions case | 33.5 x 62 x 52 mm | 50 x 50 x 2 mm |
| Foldable Design | No | No |
It is undoubtedly necessary to hang on to this design of the most particular, divided from its announcement. The shape, while the curve of the Kef Mu3, is not necessarily
very current, but stands out in the True-Wireless market. Above all, the product is much more pleasant once in hand than it is in the photo.
There is nothing premium about the manufacturing since we only stay on a plastic base, but Kef knows his stuff well. The Mu3 are sufficiently dense, well assembled, and very little mess. The certification is IPX5, a bit above the IPX4, almost becoming the standard for ANC headphones. Some competing products are still doing better, such as the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, certified IP67 (resistance to immersion).
The box is strange or original (depending on the point of view) and just as pleasant once in hand. Too bad not to have opted for a metal casing (like Klipsch T5 IIÂ ), which would have been ideally in line with the Muon philosophy. This point would have been
all the more logical as the Kef Mu3 are not compatible with induction charging. The first flaw is a small series of ergonomic simplifications.
If this charging case is severe, there are still a few tiny squeaks, including the tray to rest the headphones. The hinge is relatively thin but quite solid. The only honest criticism is the bulk, more significant than the average, which will not allow this case to fit into all pockets.
Without being the most comfortable headphones on the market, the Kef Mu3 is not too intrusive (short cannula even if quite broad) and retains an excellent hold if the appropriate tips are affixed. Wearing is done by inserting the headphones and making a quarter turn, like the Jabra 75T or Sennheiser Momentum TW2.
Challenging to consider sports use since no security is present, but the shape of the headphones is quite well optimized. Unless you have tiny ears (the volume of the Mu3 is indeed not negligible), the headphones will be pretty pleasant, even for long sessions of use.
Inhabited by many flaws, the first True Wireless T5s from Klipsch had at least a quality well above the average, especially their steel charging box in a zippo style. Here, Klipsch does not alter this heritage (we have to start on the Sport version for that) but takes up the broad outlines.
The charging box is still present in steel, giving a particularly luxurious, dense, and admirably well-finished appearance. A feeling of seriousness which, on paper, does not sound like an advantage other than a good little coquetry but makes the experience more pleasant to use. The only real difference here is a first brushed gray color a little less shiny than the first version and a smoky black version.
The headphones are modernized mainly, at least in terms of form. Still, in the idea of ​​a long inclined cannula, they almost completely separate the latter from the rest of the main body, which gives a rather attractive design, not atypical but still sufficiently original.
The quality remains perfect, with a dense plastic main body and a metal back. Nothing ultra-premium, but already at the level or even better than the top of the range over 250 euros.
The great strength of the product is its IP67 certification, a completely waterproof structure, therefore, resistant to immersions at a depth of 1 m (probably more in practice). Of course, this does not mean that the headphones can be used underwater; a Bluetooth signal is not made to be transmitted in this environment.
Only small regret, the consequence of its steel case, the T5II does not allow induction charging. Only the USB-C model is available.
Features
| Kef Mu3 | Klipsch T5 II | |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Music Controls | Yes | Yes |
| Quick Charge | Yes | Yes |
| Speakers | Yes | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 2.402GHz-2.48GHz | 10 Hz to 19 kHz |
| Impedance | 16 Ohms | 16 Ohms |
Kef Mu3- Like another audiophile brand, like Earsonics with its Aero, Kef has chosen a product that is immediately functional and already very developed without having to go through an application. A self-respecting choice, but which nevertheless seriously hinders the possibilities of such a product. Thus, one should not hope to adjust the noise reduction or sound feedback power, equalize the sound signature quickly, or modify the commands linked to specific actions.
A functional analysis that is perhaps not definitive, Kef knowing his stuff quite well in the application (as shown by the LS50 Wireless II ). To be continued.
As it stands, everything is on the principle of Mu3 buttons, placed in a hollow at the back of each earphone. The controls are asymmetrical, which makes it possible to extend the possibilities of the actions slightly. It is possible to do a single click in reading mode, a double click, yes, a long press.
- click: Pause/play with the right earphone; change the noise reduction mode with the left earphone
- clicks: next track with the right earphone; call to the voice assistant on the left earpiece
Long press: increase (right) or decrease (left) volume
Clean functions, therefore, but we have seen much worse, the essential being saved and the whole is quite simple and intuitive. Nevertheless, some small gaps remain, such as the lack of return to the previous track. We can also underline a certain latency between the support and the triggering of the action, but this point remains quite random and just as much attributable to the telephone.
Definitely not monsters of ergonomics, the Kef Mu3 does not integrate either an optical sensor, which would allow triggering the pause or the reading once the headphones have been removed and replaced in the ear.
Klipsch T5 II- Less intrusive than the old models, the Klipsch T5 II remains in a rather classic approach of the in-ear, way “old-time,” in which Klipsch was already a major player. Allergic to intras will clearly go their way.
Here, the cannula is not extremely thick but still quite long. The brand has listened to the critics and now offers no less than 6 sizes of tips, enough to cover almost all body types. But above all, each tip integrates the last part of the cannula, being grafted onto a base portion. This makes it possible to keep a certain balance, whatever the size used while making the most of the diameter of the first part.
The hold is generally good, even if very dependent on the choice of the tip. The IP67 certification here is excellent security for sports use, but the T5 II clearly does not have the capacity. For this, we must turn to the T5 II Sport and its fin system.
In use, the headphones are well thought out not to be too intrusive but can quickly become more tiring than other references, such as Sennheiser Momentum TW2 or Jabra 75T. Average, therefore, because of their particular orientation.
At least, this architecture allows the headphones to offer perfect passive isolation, which requires an ANC function. We should not hope to isolate the noise of an airplane engine, but the work on the treble is essential, and the mids are already well-cut. Such an intrusive cannula could give hope for even better, but the result is already very good.
The basic controls are well thought out enough for a full experience. The headphones both work with a principle of 1 or 2 clicks, as well as by a long press:
- Single-click: pause/play for the right earpiece, switch between transparency mode (sound feedback) and normal mode.
- Double click: next track via the right earphone, previous track/start of the track via the left earphone. Outside of reading mode, the double click triggers the call to the voice assistant.
Long press: Increase the volume with the right earbud, decrease with the left earbud.
The rest is a set of commands for turning the headphones on or off, taking a call, triggering pairing, or even factory reset.
Battery
| Kef Mu3 | Klipsch T5 II | |
| Battery Type | Li-Po | Li-Po |
| Power Input | DC 5V 600mA | 5 VDC at 1 A |
| Battery Life | Up to 24 hours | Up to 8 Hours |
| Capacity | 55 mAh | 50 mAh |
| Charging Time | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Charging Port | USB-C | USB-C |
| Qi Wireless Charging | No | No |
Without ANC, the performance seems to oscillate slightly, but it is largely possible to reach the 10 hours of use. The case, meanwhile, allows you to add a little less than two additional refills.
Klipsch promises three additional cycles. In practice, we are more around two or even two and a half. The 20 hours are therefore outdated in practice, which is already very good in the genre. On the other hand, as specified above, the battery level indication is frankly perfectible in the application as in the Bluetooth tab in general.
Connectivity
| Kef Mu3 | Klipsch T5 II | |
| Bluetooth | Yes 5.0 v | Yes 5.0 v |
| Supported Codecs | SBC, AAC | AAC, SBC, aptX |
| Multi-Device Connection | No | No |
| Connection | Wireless | Wireless |
| Range | 10 m | 10 m |
Kef Mu3- Like ergonomics, connectivity remains simple and efficient. No multipoint (connection to several devices in audio profile), but an almost perfect connection quality. Whether it is the range or the stability of the signal, we have absolutely no complaints about the Mu3. In addition, the headphones can help both works in mono mode.
The only strangeness is the lack of support for the AptX codec, probably to maintain optimal autonomy. Whether this codec is more efficient than SBC or AAC (this point is already debatable), there remains a fairly obvious marketing argument. Many will therefore be able to blame his absence.
Klipsch T5 II- Klipsch-style connectivity is not yet a model of perfection but is becoming more user-friendly than before. To begin with, the brand has integrated (which was already the case on the T5) all the
classic codecs that can integrate into True Wireless: SBC, AAC, and AptX. Unfortunately, the application does not allow you to choose the codec, so you will have to go through the developer options for Android users and leave it in AAC (by default) on the iOS / iPadOS environment.
Even when using AptX, which consumes more energy and is less stable than the other two, the range and the quality of the connection remain good pupils.
The only strangeness is that the headphones do not always come out of their sleep / switch off once out of the box, which means that you have to press the buttons for a few seconds. Not prohibitive, but it can be not very pleasant
in use.
The Klipsch T5 II is not multipoint (connection to two devices in audio mode simultaneously), which is not a surprise. However, you can use both in mono mode. Klipsch pairs both headphones separately to highlight the right-left distinction, which can create some confusion.
Conclusion!
Well designed, enduring, and endowed with a most pleasant sound, the Kef Mu3 retain some flaws and, above all, are quite limited in terms of functions, in particular because of the lack of a dedicated application.
Not perfect, but catching up with some of their delays, the Klipsch T5 II is already more than luxurious headphones. Improved ergonomics, IP67, excellent quality, and one of the most balanced tones in the True Wireless market
