Recording - May 2020 - 36

REVIEW
44mm drivers are the optimal size for
bass reproduction while maintaining a
tight and fast transient response. The
all-new Hi-X55 driver features a ring
magnet system that more closely replicates the design of a loudspeaker than
a headphone driver. This is paired with
a copper-clad aluminum voice coil to reduce the weight of the membrane and
allow for a more dynamic reproduction. The result is a 44mm driver that's
fast, precise, and can move twice as
far as a standard driver. The frequency
response is listed as 5Hz-28kHz, with
an impedance of 25 ohms. The Hi-X55
comes with a detachable 3.5mm cable
and 1/4" adapter.

Comfort

Austrian Audio Hi-X55

Professional Over-Ear Headphones
Sound and comfort converge in a pair of
headphones designed for full-spectrum clarity
REVIEW BY ALEX HAWLEY

ustrian Audio is quickly becoming a household name in the world
of pro audio, and for good reasons. Its OC818 and OC18
microphones were the company's first product offerings (reviewed
October and December 2019, respectively). Both mics are impressive in
terms of sound quality and build design, and these levels of quality and
integrity have carried over to its new line of headphones, which debuted
at Winter NAMM this year. Intended as all-purpose professional studio
headphones suitable for tracking and mixing, the Hi-X50 is an on-ear
design and the Hi-X55 is an over-ear model. I've been tracking and
mixing with the Hi-X55, on review here.

High Excursion

The Hi-X55 is a closed-back studio
headphone designed from the ground
up for both sound and comfort. Like
Austrian Audio microphones, Hi-X55
headphones are manufactured entirely
in Austria. 'Hi-X' stands for 'high excursion', which is in reference to the innovative Hi-X55 driver design. Today's
36 RECORDING May 2020

headphone driver designs have been
creeping up in size to deliver more
bass, but size increases come at the
cost of speed and (sometimes) accuracy; there might be more bass energy,
but it then becomes more difficult to
replicate the entire frequency spectrum
with high precision. The engineers at
Austrian Audio have concluded that

When deciding on a new pair of
headphones, comfort is as important
as sound. If it isn't comfortable to wear
during a marathon tracking or mixing
session, it won't do you any good, regardless of the sound quality. Austrian
Audio clearly agrees. The Hi-X55 ear
cups are made of super-soft, low-retaining foam that conforms to the shape of
your head. The area around the ears is
large enough that there is no pressure
directly on the ears, providing plenty of
space so that the ears don't poke out of
the bottom or sides; the ears have plenty of room to breathe within the headphones, but the foam contours around
them for a nice even seal, which also
helps minimize bleed and passively
reduce external noise. The headband
is padded with the same low-retaining
foam, and is evenly balanced to keep
pressure off the top of the head. All foam
bits are removable for easy cleaning.
The build quality is excellent. All of the
critical components, such as the hinges
and the headband, are made out of
metal. The Hi-X55 is rugged and built to
withstand some abuse. It also stands up
against smudges and fingerprints, keeping the whole unit looking and feeling
clean over time.
The Hi-X55 offers a wide range of flexibility in size adjustments as well. I feel
like I have a larger head than most, but
found the Hi-X55 to have plenty of adjustability and headroom in that regard.
These should be a comfy fit for all heads.

Recording - May 2020

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