Over-Ear
Austrian Audio Hi-X15
84Great
$149
Full review dataAustrian Audio Hi-X15 vs Sony WH-1000XM3: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Austrian Audio Hi-X15 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Austrian Audio Hi-X15 - Great overall at around $149.
Over-Ear
Sony WH-1000XM3
78Great
$110
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Austrian Audio Hi-X15
Sound8.5
Value9.0
Sony WH-1000XM3
Sound8.0
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery9.0
Calls7.0
Value8.0
Specifications
| Spec | Austrian Audio Hi-X15 | Sony WH-1000XM3 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $149 | $110 |
| HearWiki score | 84 / 100 · Great | 78 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2021 | 2018 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver size | 44 mm | 40 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 12Hz-24kHz | 4-40000 Hz |
| Impedance | 25 Ω | 16 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 99 dB/mW | 104.5 dB/mW |
| Sensitivity (dB/Vrms) | 113 | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | - | 4.2 |
| Bluetooth version | - | 4.2 |
| Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | No | No |
| Wireless range | - | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | - | 38 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 30 h |
| Full charge time | - | 180 min |
| Quick charge | - | 10 min = 5 h |
| Wireless charging | - | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | - |
| ANC type | - | hybrid |
| Transparency mode | - | No |
| Companion app | - | Yes |
| Custom EQ | - | No |
| Wear detection | - | No |
| Controls | - | touch |
| Voice assistant | - | Google Assistant, Alexa |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 255 g | 255 g |
| Water resistance | - | none |
| Foldable | Yes | Yes |
| Detachable cable | Yes | Yes |
| USB-C | No | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 4 |
| Call noise reduction | - | Yes |
What reviewers said
Austrian Audio Hi-X15
The Austrian Hi-X15 is a wired over-ear headphone that brings studio-grade clarity and detail to a budget-friendly price point. Its lightweight, foldable build and low-impedance design make it a practical choice for on-the-go engineers, while the 44mm dynamic drivers deliver a balanced, revealing sound that suits tracking and mixing tasks. It offers impressive value for those seeking transparent monitoring without breaking the bank.
- Pro:Excellent price-to-performance ratio
- Pro:Lightweight and foldable for portability
- Pro:Easy to drive with low impedance and high sensitivity
- Con:Lacks Bluetooth or multipoint connectivity
- Con:No active noise cancellation
- Con:Some technical specifications are not fully disclosed
Sony WH-1000XM3
The Sony WH-1000XM3 is a versatile over-ear headphone with adaptive noise cancellation, delivering a balanced sound signature and impressive 30-hour battery life with ANC on. It's comfortable for long sessions and supports high-quality LDAC streaming, though its plastic build and lack of water resistance may disappoint some. Touch controls and multipoint connectivity add convenience, but no custom EQ limits sound tweaking.
- Pro:Effective adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Long 30-hour battery life with ANC
- Pro:Comfortable for extended wear
- Con:Plastic build feels less premium
- Con:No water resistance rating
- Con:No custom EQ in app
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
Compare something else
Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.