Verdict
A pair of wired open - back headphone with a politic , detailed and rude reproduction of sound . For those appear for a couple for mixing or more critical listening , these earphone from Austrian Audio are certainly worth a shout .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Austrian Audio ’s compass of earpiece is mostly made up of wired options for home listening and professional use . The Hi - X65 , along with the Hi - X60 , sits at the top of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
The Hi - X60 are uncommitted for the same price , the difference between the two is that the Hi - X65 have an open - punt design , offering a wider , more instinctive soundstage than closed - back models .
Made with mastering and mixing in judgement , the Hi - X65 also trains its sights on audiophiles with an emphasis on item and clarity . The market is not short of options , with competition from Beyerdynamic , Sennheiser , Sivga , Grado and HiFiMan . What ’s Austrian Audio got to contend with them ?
Design
The Hi - X65 are superbly build earphone . They ’re not particularly eye - catch in terms of the materials used or colours employed – the Lady Jane Grey and black colourway give them a plain , occupation - like demeanour but the metal hinges and headband should make them durable enough for any knocks and scrapes .
wait aside , these are headphone that adapt to the head fantastically well . The clamp force finds the perfect middle earth between not being too smashed or too loose with its snug , compliant convulsion .
The earpads are particularly soft in alleviate the pressure around the ears , with the underside of the headband do the same trick with its padding . In terms of comfort , I ’ve worn these for prolong periods without experiencing much irritation or my ears inflame up .
Rather uniquely , both the soft memory earpads and the fore pad ( the underside of the headband ) can be replaced , the obeisance pad is sequester via a Velcro strip , a conclusion that should help with the headphones ’ length of service with wearable as well as hygiene . The gap in the headband also assist in terms of ventilating system , the passion from a brain is able to disperse through the top of the physique . It ’s a well - thought - out design .
It ’s also an open - game design , as can be realize with the semi - permeable wicket on the earcups . As always , cover them and you could hear the soundstage contract and expand accordingly . A pouch is provided to keep the earphone protected for transportation and the Hi - X65 can be crack inwards to redeem space .
Features
Though the spec weather sheet pronounce the Hi - X65 are supplied with two detachable cables ( 3 m and 1.2 m ) , my sample only came with the short distance . That dismiss in a 3.5 mm connection with a 6.3 mm adapter provided for those plugging into hi - fi outfit that supports the gravid size .
The frequency range of a function is depict as 5Hz to 28kHz , which is a measurement that should be take with a pinch of salt impart the human hearing range only cover 20Hz to 20kHz . While you may not be able to hear those frequencies as such , you ’ll mayhap be capable tofeelthem as they pass away through the Hi - X65 ’s drivers .
Austrian Audio hire its own proprietary 44 mm gamy Excursion number one wood for a linear frequency response and commingle with the open - backed conception it aims to communicate an open , spacious and precise soundstage . THD ( Total Harmonic Distortion ) is rated at 0.1 % , which is another agency of suppose that there ’s small signaling noise to contend with when listening to audio .
With an impedance of 25ohms , the Hi - X65 can be easy driven by any source gadget without the pauperism of external amplification ( such as a DAC ) . sensitiveness is 110dB , implying these headphone can go aloud when the bulk is turned up .
Sound Quality
Smooth and elaborate are the words I ’d implement to the Austrian Audio ’s audio performance . switch between them and theMonolith M1070and the Hi - X65 has a dependable grasp of particular and definition , present kinetics more convincingly , and produces a two-channel image with astuteness and a healthy sense of organisation , though the width of the soundstage is not pitched as spacious as the Monolith .
The soundstage is arrange closer to the listener rather than held at a distance like some open - backed pairs and that does make for a more incisive display , especially for critical hearing . With Jacob Collier ’s All I Need or late 90s classic Natalie Imbruglia ’s Torn , the Austrian Audio ’s handle on vocals is see-through and frank in its delivery .
There ’s proficient reception on the gamey frequency side of affair with Naima ’s Love Story , with nice item to the tambourine tremble that are get without distortion . Bass is solidly handled in Kelela ’s Bank Head but is not what I ’d call big or weighty – it ’s in keeping with the headphone ’s more indifferent approach in that it ’s a deliberately considered take on low frequencies that does n’t spill over into the midrange or is over - emphasised .
Each part of the frequency range is filled with info , conveyed in a consistent and confident manner .
With Makaya McCraven ’s Half Steppin ’ steamed on Qobuz , the Hi X65 conveys the menses and rhythm of the caterpillar tread , go along up with the switch in tempo in a fluid manner , with a safe sense of snap and attack to the percussive elements . If you do partner them with a DAC – for some of the testing I used theChord Mojo 2 – there ’s more detail to banquet on and a more spaciously decorate and tightly defined soundstage with a DAC in towage . Without the Mojo 2 , they ’re not as articulated but few earpiece are .
Overall , these earphone sport a good tonal balance with their measured bass , satisfying treble response and still and clear midrange carrying into action . These are a likeable and appealing - sounding pair of unresolved - backed headphone with good levels of articulacy and insight . For mixing or hear to mellow timbre medicine then these are a very good bet , though with theRøde NTH-100on the scene , you’re able to arguably get a similar degree of performance for well less .
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Should you buy it?
- : The Hi - X65 are build for commixture , mastering and high-pitched - quality reproduction of music , and that front they ’re a achiever .
I get the sense that while the Hi - X65 ’s soundstage is spacious , it ’s not quite as talkative as other open - backed duet .
Final Thoughts
A substantial pair of open - back wired earphone that lease with their transparent and insightful performance . If you take a span of earphone for mixing / overcome aim or want a wired span for more critical listening that does n’t require help from a DAC , then the Austrian Audio are dead recommended .
They ’re well - built , well-off to weary and stumble the ripe banknote . Impedance is downhearted enough that they do n’t need to be drive by amplification , which makes them more approachable to a broad audience . Speaking of width , for an open - endorse pair of earpiece the soundstage is not as spacious as I ’d like , closer in spirit to a closed - backed duad .
Trusted Score
How we test
We try every headphone we retrospect thoroughly over an protracted full point of sentence . We apply industry - standard trial run to compare characteristic properly . We ’ll always tell you what we find . We never , ever , accept money to review a intersection .
Find out more about how we test in ourethics insurance policy .
FAQs
The headphones are packaged with 1.2 m and 3 m detachable transmission line , with 3.5 mm to 6.3 millimetre adapter also included with the seat .
Full Specs
Sustainability
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As part of this deputation , whenever we look back a product we place the company a serial of questions to help us approximate and make transparent the impact the equipment has on the environment .
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