Closer Examination

There are two cable options for the Theiaudio Legacy 5, with a stock cable I received or an upgraded silver-plated thicker core EST cable for $50 more. The latter by itself sells for $69, so simple maths would suggest the stock cable is worth at least $19. This is one of the better stock cables too, and certainly an upgrade over the one that came with the Ikko OH10. Substantially sized housings host the connectors and plugs, which on the stock cable is limited to a 3.5 mm TRS plug. The splitter comes in about two-thirds of the way up, and an auxiliary receptacle can be pushed up or down to better cable manage the split segments. A plastic sheath close to the connectors improves longevity and shape retention, and we get color-coordinated (blue for the left channel, red for the right channel) connector housings as well. The cable ends in two 0.78 mm 2-pin connectors, with no doubt matching ports on the earbuds.


Speaking of which, the buds are something else to behold. ThieAudio, via Linsoul, says that each face plate gets individually hand painted in a process that can take up to a day each to finish. This no doubt includes the polish and curing of the medical-grade resin and results in a piece that is one-of-a-kind every single time. There will be minor differences not only from one set of ThieAudio L5 to another, but also from the left to the right bud. So do be aware of this, although I cared far more about the red and purple color pigments/glitter on the black base making this look like something from outer space. The other color option is blue-purple, which, at least from the stock photos, looks more understated if that is more to your liking.

At ~9 g each, these are of about average weight for IEMs of this class, and the much more rounded shape compared to the OH10 also makes them more amenable for a better fit in many cases. Indeed, it is not easy to tell where the side ends and the back of the buds begins, so perhaps this is why ThieAudio chose to have branding in relatively large font here. It takes away from the otherwise clean looks on the back, and the only reason the branding is there is for others to easily spot it when these rest on your desk, for instance. Note also that the mesh was removed from one of the buds to get a better look at the drivers, which I promptly forgot to insert back for the photos.


We see the vents on the side and top of each earbud above, and these help keep things cool at the expense of better sound isolation. There are no vents on the back, however, with Thieaudio opting for larger-than-average side vents instead of a middle ground, and we will shortly see how it affects both isolation and comfort. The stems on the earbuds are about average in length and nozzle size, and these plug in well with the provided ear tips that are wider in bore to accommodate it. There are plenty of aftermarket solutions in this size range if you don't fancy any of the included options, although it is rare to see a dominant foam tip set over silicone thrown into the box. Connectivity comes in the form of gold-plated 2-pin 0.78 mm plugs that are also inset with the surface of the buds themselves. MMCX would have been nicer, as well as a matching blue and red connector housing to remove ambiguity over which is the left or right earbud. The shape is distinct enough to resolve that issue, though, and a quick fit in the ear will confirm it, too.


Fitting the individual components together only takes a couple of minutes, beginning with the ear tips on the earbuds before putting the connectors into the earbuds themselves. The foam tips are a bit finicky on either end, but provide a better fit to where it is worth the effort if the silicone set is not comfortable. The substantial housing for the 3.5 mm plug now ends up being a negative since it sticks out a lot as far as the footprint goes. A 90° angled adapter would have been nice, but this is not a dealbreaker by any means. I know there are many who prefer to use IEMs throughout, but I like to use over-ear headphones when sitting down and IEMs/TWS earbuds on the go. As such, I chose to use them primarily with my trusty FiiO E17, as well as the Creative SXFI Amp that impressed me a bunch before, with the latter combination being especially pocket-friendly.