Over the last couple of years Austrian Audio have proven themselves one of the most exciting new manufacturers in the pro audio market. With the release of their now internationally renowned OC818 microphone, Austrian Audio has established itself as a brand where innovation and sonic clarity are front and centre.
Whilst cutting edge microphone designs might be their vanguard, the engineers at Austrian Audio also have a lineage of designing and producing some of the world’s most acclaimed headphones and drivers. When the news of their new Hi-X (‘High Excursion’) headphones were introduced back at NAMM 2020, the excitement was palpable.
Austrian Audio’s first family of professional headphones have been developed with ingenuity and care- ensuring challenges such as sonic quality, comfort and durability were not only met, but entirely conquered. Available in both an On-Ear (Hi-X50) or Over-Ear (Hi-X55) design, all key components, including drivers, are custom crafted in Austria.
A new proprietary 44mm high excursion driver is used to eliminate ‘wobbling’ of the diaphragm, reducing unwanted resonance and increasing transient response. When coupled with the physical design of the headphone casing, the drivers are able to deliver a staggeringly good frequency response of 5 Hz – 28 kHz.
The Hi-X55 has been designed for a flat sonic response- geared towards mixing and mastering; whilst the Hi-X50, with its subtly enhanced low end, is better suited to DJs and live monitoring scenarios. Additional features such as rugged all-metal components for the hinges and bow, detachable cable and foldable construction, highlight the HI-X series as a pertinent choice for touring and general portability- especially when combined with a build quality high enough to withstand even the most rigorous of adventures.
With slick modern aesthetics and a high quality feature set, the Hi-X series is bound to impress, as both the Hi-X50 and Hi-X55 now make their way to customers throughout Australia.
