Austrian Audio Hi-X60 Professional Closed-Back Over-Ear Headphones

austrian audio hi x60 professional closed back over ear headphones

Austrian Audio Hi-X60 Professional Closed-Back Over-Ear Headphones

Austrian Audio has extended its highly-successful Hi-X6 headphone range with the addition of the Hi-X60 model - a professional reference headphone for recording, mixing and mastering.

Buy Now : Austrian Audio Hi-X60 Professional Closed-Back Over-Ear Headphones

Brand : Austrian Audio
Category : Electronics,Headphones, Earbuds & Accessories,Headphones & Earbuds,Over-Ear Headphones
Rating : 4.4
Price : US $429
Review Count : 10
Best Sellers Rank : #125,746 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #3,215 in Over-Ear Headphones
SalesRank : 125746
Connector Type : 3 5mm Jack

austrian audio hi x60 professional closed back over ear headphones

Austrian Audio Hi-X60 Professional Closed-Back Over-Ear Headphones

I am a headphone junkie. I\'ve owned more headphones than I can remember for 55+ years. I started as an audiophile, then worked in commercial radio and then as a recording engineer and record producer. Now I\'m just an audiophile.I listen to hi-res lossless music mostly as FLAC files on several different DAP\'s. I own headphones by Neumann, Sennheiser, Shure, Beryerdynamic, Grado, Sony and FiiO. In some cases I own multiple phones from the same manufacturer.Austrian Audio is a spin off from AKG started by some AKG engineers who did not want to follow the company to the US. They are also making studio condenser microphones and several other headphone models.The terms \"studio\" and \"professional\" are frequently used to describe headphones. Sometimes they are accurate. Sometimes it is hype. A headphone used to record, mix and equalize needs to be accurate and critical. Unlike some consumer phones which may overemphasize the low end, studio headphones are flat and may seem to lack bass to some ears. The key is flat response, low distortion and high dynamic range.These phones meet my expectations. They have the flat response and dynamic range of a studio phone. They are also quite efficient at 25 ohms. There is a clarity to their sound that is excellent especially in the mid to upper mid-range. The bass response is solid without being heavy. Also, they have good isolation and low leakage. Important in live recording and studio work where leakage could be picked up by the microphone.In comparison to my slightly more expensive Neumann NDH-20\'s they are at the same high level. They may have the edge on the Neumann\'s in clarity in the upper mid and high ranges, but barely. They are lighter and more comfortable as well. The Neumann\'s are less efficient at 150 ohms and need more amplification. Nevertheless, the Austrian Audio phones are comparable. Both are closed back.People frequently comment on the \"sound stage\" of headphones and consider closed back phones to have a \"narrower\" stage effect. As an engineer I can say that the \"sound stage\" is primarily the job of the engineer. Nevertheless, these phones do not sound closed in or restricted. I have tested them on material that I personally recorded and the staging is exactly what I intended.My only negative comment is that the headband can barely extend far enough to fit my large head. Would it have killed them to extend it another half inch? They fit but only just.At $429 they are in the upper price range for me. Are they worth it? Yes, if you are a critical listener with hi-res music and a decent digital player. If you listen to MP3\'s and AAC\'s on a smartphone then they are overpriced although they efficient enough to produce a good volume level from a phone player.