Austrian Audio Hi-X65

Great builds and fits my big head very well. Folds in half the size so it was really easy to travel with. A great addition to my rack for good reasons!
I purchased the x65 along with a pair of R70X from Audio Technica. I fell immediately in love with R70X and wondered how exactly did the x65 get so many high ratings. 1 day later when I came back to it, with the x65 warming up all night and refreshed myself with a good night's sleep, I was speechless. I was able to make out the layering in the music so effortlessly. Even though the x65 lacks a bit in terms of a warm atmosphere, it definitely has one of the best imaging and most nuanced differentiation between instruments.
The R70X was a lightweight, extremely comfortable, and great-sounding headphone that I now enjoy for multimedia use like videos and gaming. But the x65 really fits my need for a portable, comfortable and reliable headphone. I would recommend this to anyone with a good experience in hifi headphones or generally anyone in the music production industry. Incredible value and quality of a headphone for the price you get on Thomann!

The Austrian Audio Hi-X65 headphones have just become one of my favourite headphones for studio use and also leisure listening.

The build quality is very good and solid. I would not expect more or less for the price. Since I have a pretty big head size, I find the headband has a pretty strong clamp force but not so much that it becomes uncomfortable. The clamp force is similar to HD600/650. I do feel the pressure from the headband after a long listening session.

The headphones sound pretty neutral and balanced to my ears. I used own a pair of DT1990 pro which I find the upper treble can be a little too forward sometimes. I do not find the forwardness issue in Hi-X65. Bass is accurate but don't expect the quantity you'd usually find in audiophile headphones. Soundstage is decent in width and has good depth. There is very good imaging accuracy.

I highly recommend this pair of headphones. They do not require a lot of power to drive them. I can even listen off my phone with them, unlike some of other studio headphones in the price range e.g. HD600, DT1990. These are exceptional value headphones for both studio use and general listening use.

The over-ear design of the Austrian Audio Hi-X65 is so comfortable that, after a while, you don't really notice wearing them. I bought these open-backed headphones for mixing my tracks on a MacBook Pro without using an additional audio interface during time away from the home studio. After mixing with the Hi-X65 on the go, I return home thinking that either I need better monitor speakers or a better studio treatment (or both).

As long as your computer doesn't make a lot of noise, the open-back design is really good. I can hear multi-band compressors and reverb effects doing things which you can't hear on mid-range speakers.

The build quality of the Austrian Audio headphones is awesome though a litte cheeky was 30 € extra for the case!

PROS
- They feel solid and premium right out of the box. They look like they’re built to last.
- Very comfortable!
- Picking up on small nuances in tracks, I found them especially revealing with vocals and those little popping noises. It really brings out the clarity in those elements.

CONS
- The sound does feel a bit off compared to the alternatives because of the frequency response, some frequencies tend to stand out; I’d say it makes the sound feel a bit “colored" (maybe this in some way contributes to their revealing quality)
- They sound more scooped to me, tending more towards a closed-back design sound signature feel, which makes them feel less open and natural than what you'd expect from an open-back headphone.

Final Thoughts
Since I’m looking for just one open-back headphone for now, I feel there are better options in this price range with a more neutral and balanced sound, feeling less scooped and compressed.

I was excited to get these as I wanted a very very detailed pair of headphones for work and off work. While the sound quality is truly breath taking, the build quality leaves a LOT to be desired. I am about 9 months into owning these and I doubt they will make it a full year. I have had to duct tape parts of it together and the earcups I am at the time of writing this review gluing back together.

While it is nice to see AKG back it is clear the sound was designed in Austria, the headphones themselves were designed to be made as cheaply as possible. I expected a lot better and if you are wanting a good pair of open backs for the home office you will be wearing a lot PASS ON THESE!