Austrian audio Hi-X15 Professional Closed-Back Over-Ear Headphones

Austrian Audio aim to make the sound quality of their headphones available to those with smaller budgets with their Hi-X15. Our review investigates whether buyers will need to make compromises in terms of package, technology, handling or sound.

When spending this sort of money on a pair of over-ear headphones, even the most optimistic among us knows there will be compromises. What’s remarkable about the Austrian Audio Hi-X15 is just how mild those compromises are, and how far from the actual sound the headphones make they are too.

• +

  Spacious, detailed, unfussy sound, Convincing soundstage and dynamics, Reassuring build quality at the price

• -

  Can sound quite lively when fresh, Too many colours for our liking

An exceptional pair of over-ear headphones that deliver premium sound quality in an affordable package. Clear, open presentation Dig out plenty of detail Impressive sense of timing Need plenty of running in Require partnering with suitable electronics

One effective way of establishing a new brand is to start at the top. Begin by launching a premium product range, and you entrench a perception that the brand stands for quality. With a bit of luck, this perception will then rub off on more affordable mass‑market products further down the line.

Great quality, lovely fit, nice and comfortable. It's not long before you even forget you're wearing headphones :-)

These are monitoring headphones that produce an excellent crisp and precise sound for critical listening, monitoring and mixing - I really like them. However, they are not bass cannons which most modern popular listening headphones are so provided you understand this and don't want everything biased...