• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact
  • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy statement (CA)
    • Cookie policy (CA)
    • Privacy statement (UK)
    • Cookie policy (UK)
    • Privacy statement (US)
    • Cookie Policy (US)
    • Privacy statement (EU)
    • Cookie policy (EU)
    • Disclaimer

TechWalls

Technology News | Gadget Reviews | Tutorials

  • Reviews
  • Tech News
  • Tech Guide
  • Gadget & Apps

Tidal Force (Helm Audio) Wave 5 Planar Magnetic Over-Ear Headphones Review

Updated on Jan 7, 2018 by Tuan Do

I’ve tested tons of headphones in the past year, however, the Helm Audio Wave 5 is just the second planar magnetic headphones. My first pair came from HiFiMAN and I was very impressed with them. Therefore, I expected the Wave 5 could deliver the same sound signature at a lower cost.

The headphones were originally called Tidal Force Wave 5 but the manufacturer rebranded them to Helm Audio Wave 5 after the official release in October 2017. Keep reading to find out if this is a good product.

Unboxing

Design & Features

The Helm Audio Wave 5 headphones were a dream for many audio enthusiasts since we all want more affordable planar magnetic headphones. These headphones don’t have an attractive look but they are very well built. My review comes in a dull black color and the chassis is made of aluminum. Inside the box, we have the headphones, a carrying case, an audio cord, and a 6.5mm adapter.

They don’t look like a premium product but the build quality is good enough. The whole headphones feel very sturdy and durable. I’m very impressed with the flexible headband, the earcups that could be folded flat, and the earpads that can be removed effortlessly.

Everything was great with the headphones until I started using them during extended listening sessions. They have an over-ear design but the earpads sit on my outer ears most of the time. Therefore, the pads press hard against my ears and cause ear fatigue easily. After about 30 minutes, I start feeling the pressure and heat on my ears, so the headphones are not comfortable at all.

Notably, the Wave 5 features open-back earcups, that means its usage would be limited. The sound would be leaked to the outside, so you would mostly use the headphones at home.

Audio Quality

The best advantages of planar magnetic headphones are low distortion and improved transient response. I’m very glad that the Wave 5 delivers both of them. I’m not aware of any distortion even when I crank up the volume. Besides, the good reproduction of rapid transient and wide soundstage help create an amazing music experience.

The headphones have a V-shaped sound but they sound very clear and don’t lose details in the whole frequency range. The bass response is powerful, tight, and punchy. This is probably the most important advantage of planar magnetic headphones, therefore, I really enjoy using them to listen to bass-heavy tracks. You wouldn’t hear a muddy sound like many other headphones in the same price range.

On the other side, I see many people complain about the treble of the Wave 5. I am also aware that the treble is boosted but this is necessary to experience high-fidelity music. The crisp highs make the sound open and breathy. During my test, the treble is totally acceptable, it is not sharp and edgy as seen in some customer reviews. The mids are also very clear and detailed, so you would enjoy the clarity and definition of vocals and instruments.

Conclusion

Pros

  • Good build quality
  • Impressive sound signature
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Uncomfortable

The Helm Audio Wave 5 once again proves that planar magnetic headphones sound amazing. Unfortunately, these specific headphones are not comfortable enough for extended listening sessions. If you want to use them at home for less than 1 hour per day, this is still a great choice.

Buy Helm Audio Wave 5 on Amazon

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The commission help keep the rest of my content free, so thank you!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Footer

Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus Gimbal Stabilizer Review – Upgrade Your Phone Videography On A Budget

Airdog X5 Air Purifier Review – Is TPA Better Than HEPA Filter?

Welock Touch43 Fingerprint Smart Lock Review

HeyChy Deep Tissue Massage Gun Review

Follow TechWalls

YoutubeFacebookTwitterInstagram

Recent Posts

  • Secure Your Home With SECURAM
  • C3STROM ASTRO PRO – An E-Bike with Classic Rebel Motorcycle and Modern Ride
  • Bluetti AC500 & B300S Hit Canada Market During 2023 New Year Sale
  • Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus Gimbal Stabilizer Review – Upgrade Your Phone Videography On A Budget

Copyright © 2023 · All Rights Reserved

Manage Cookie Consent
We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. We do this to improve browsing experience and to show personalized ads. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional cookies Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}