The Package

MP4Nation ships the HM5 in a big cardboard box that is filled with goodies.


The bundle is quite extraordinary. You get two cables, a spare set of pads, a 1/8" to 1/4" adapter, and a neat carrying case. This is a pretty extensive bundle for a set of $129.50 headphones.


The screw-on adapter's quality is great. The same can be said for the cable. It is not the most outrageously looking cable, but its connectors and details are well built. It has a very soft cable jacket, which somewhat makes up for the role its heavy gauge plays in terms of microphonics.


Brainwavz surprised me the last time around by adding a very neat carrying case to their HM9, and they did the same with the HM5. A carrying case is always a welcome addition to a bundle for a set of semi-expensive headphones.


This carrying case is a large clamshell without any padding, but it provides a fair bit of protection for your headphones.

Closer Examination

MP4Nation's design team did a good job with the HM5. Its design looks polished, and all its surfaces look great. The mixture between brushed aluminum and satin-finished plastic parts makes it look quite stylish.


This HM5 is very sturdy, and its adjustment mechanism is easy to use and easily keeps its position, even after you've moved around vehemently. The joints seem very durable.


The ear cups are clad in aluminum and satin-finished plastic.


When it comes to headbands, Brainwavz got it right with the HM5. This one is very basic, but has the right curvature and is well ventilated. The only problem we encountered was the amount of clamping pressure it produced, which was easily reduced by forcing the cups apart for a day while the HM5 was burning in.


More and more brands in the headphones industry are using micro-jack termination points with earcups. Plenty of new brands are doing it, and Brainwavz has done so with their newer headphones. Their mechanical implementation is better than what we have seen on HiFiMAN products, and overall, the cable solution seems sturdier, which is a major pro in our book.


Pads are notoriously hard to get right since they influence comfort and sound quality. The HM5 features some very soft pads that compress a lot under the headband's pressure, which has the drivers sit very close to your ears while your ear tips touch the insides of the cups if you have normally sized ears. This affects comfort negatively, but the softness might promote a better seal, which has a positive effect on bass performance. A set of velour memory foam pads like those you might get with newer Beyerdynamic headphones might, as such, also make for an interesting option.