I use a T5 directly into a Fishman SoloAmp or directly into an Allen and Heath Zed 10FX board with QSC HPR122i speakers.
The following is from a reply I posted in the Amplification forum. There are some good tips for getting the best sound from your T5.
I don't recommend going from the Taylor T5 directly into most pedals. The expression system in the T5 (as well as most of their acoustic guitars) is designed as balance system that uses a TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) cable and plugs. In order to take advantage of the expression system, you need to use a TRS cable from your T5 into a mixing board or an amplifier with a balanced input. I don't know of any effects pedals that are equipped with balanced inputs. Several acoustic guitar amplifiers are setup with balanced inputs; most standard guitar amplifiers are not equipped with balanced inputs. If you decide to use a standard guitar cable and unbalanced amplifier input, you will only be getting half of your T5's output signal (one of the reasons most people are unhappy with the sounds out of their T5's)
I would recommend sorting out your cable and amplifier situation first, before buying any pedals. I prefer connecting my T5 to a mixer with built-in effects or using the mixer's effects send-receive loop to send the signal to a rack mounted processor or pedal. There are several good acoustic guitar amplifiers and small PA mixers that come with built in effects that work well with acoustic instruments. I use a small Allen & Heath ZED-10FX model mixer that has a built-in sound processor. It has all the effects I need for use with acoustic instruments.
If you do not want to go the mixer/acoustic amplifier route, I would recommend getting a good acoustic guitar preamp/DI as your first pedal; one with built-in EQ is handy. At least your signal level will be correct, and you will be able to get the best sound possible from your effects and amplifier farther down the signal chain.
With acoustic guitars, I keep effects to a minimum. A little delay or reverb goes a long way. Occasional use of a chorus is good for some songs, but leaving it on all the time sounds too cliche for me.
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