Austrian Audio expands lineup with budget wired and wireless headphones

Austrian Audio expands range with budget wired and wireless headphones

(Image credit: Austrian Audio)

Austrian Audio has unveiled two entry-level additions to its impressive Hi-X series. The wired HI-X15 and wireless HI-X25BT closed-back over-ears are designed for both private listing and professional audio.

The new models come only a few months after the company’s first foray into headphones with the five-star Hi-X50 and Hi-X55 over ears. Formed by former AKG employees after the brand migrated to California, Austrian Audio has a pedigree of expertise in studio technology that has extended beyond its initial microphone offering into the Hi-X headphones line-up.

Starting with the more affordable option, the wired Hi-X15 over-ears are priced at £89 ($119, about AU$170) and have a folding design with metal hinges for easy storage and durability. The closed construction and insulation of the Hi-X15 headphones offer isolation suited for studio and performance spaces as well as at home. A 1.4m cable terminated to mini-jack is included but other lengths are available to purchase at an additional cost.

With the HI-X25BT you have the choice of going wired or wireless, with detachable USB-C and USB-C-to-3.5mm cables, plus Bluetooth 5 onboard for a claimed 30 hours of wireless listening time. The earcups feature integrated mics for taking calls and touch controls to controlling music playback. The Hi-X25BT are priced at £135 ($179, about AU$260) and included in the box is a 1.4m mini-jack cable, a 1.2m USB-C cable and adapters for USB-C-to-USB-A and 3.5-to-6.3mm jack.

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Mary is a staff writer at What Hi-Fi? and has over a decade of experience working as a sound engineer mixing live events, music and theatre. Her mixing credits include productions at The National Theatre and in the West End, as well as original musicals composed by Mark Knopfler, Tori Amos, Guy Chambers, Howard Goodall and Dan Gillespie Sells.