Austrian Audio Hi-X65 Are the Best Value-for-Money Wired Headphones on the Market

My review of my favourite headphones on the market: out now in the New York Sun

“Austrian Audio isn’t one of the better known brands in the sector, but it was founded by industry experts, notably from AKG, and their focus on in-studio products has earned them great respect in the industry. Their Hi-X headphones — named after their use of a traditional moving-coil design — have been well reviewed, but their X65 is the first application of this in an open-backed headphone and it truly brings them to life.

Their sound is rich, extremely clean, and puts vocals right at the front; and though they are intended for studio use, the same tuning choices that make them so excellent for studio use make them incredible for the home listener. Namely, whereas some open-back headphones flex their expanded sound stage – in a way that is entertaining but sometimes distracting – this is a nice balance, which puts the music hovering around your ears.

Given their flatter “smile” EQ, they are less bass heavy than more “fun” V-curve studio headphones, like the famous Audio-Technica M50X, but the bass is even, direct, and present, and even listening to hip-hop albums like “Birds in the Trap Named McKnight” by Travis Scott, I never found the bass lacking. They are surprisingly bright for studio headphones, but not as
much as headphones from Grado for example, and never in a bad way.”

Out now in The New York Sun: my review of the Austrian Audio Hi-X65. Give it a read!