On-Ear
Austrian Audio Hi-X50
77Great
$250
Full review dataAustrian Audio Hi-X50 vs Grado GW100x: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Austrian Audio Hi-X50 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 77. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Austrian Audio Hi-X50 - Great overall at around $249.
On-Ear
Grado GW100x
76Great
$280
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Grado GW100x leads on 4 of 6 measures.
- Austrian Audio Hi-X50
- Grado GW100x
HearWiki score
77
76
Sound
8.2
8.8
Battery
-
9.0
Calls
-
7.5
Value
6.7
7.2
Price (USD)
$250
$280
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Same generation
The Grado GW100x is 2 years newer, but it is the same generation of hardware: nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. The platform is level; the newer hardware shows up in convenience features instead - the Grado GW100x adds Multipoint pairing and USB-C.
- Hi-X502020
- GW100x20222 yr newer
What differsHi-X50GW100x
- Multipoint pairing
- No
- Yes
- USB-C
- No
- Yes
Everyday features
Specifications
Hi-X50GW100x
- Type
- On-Ear
- On-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $250
- $280
- HearWiki score
- 77
- 76
- Released
- 2020
- 2022
- Availability
- Still sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 44 mm dynamic
- 44 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 44 mm
- 44 mm
- Drivers per side
- -
- 1
- Frequency response
- 5 Hz - 28 kHz
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Impedance
- 25 Ω
- 38 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 118 dB/mW
- 99.8 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- -
- 5.2
- Codecs
- -
- SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
- Multipoint pairing
- No
- Yes
- Wireless range
- -
- 10 m
- Battery life
- -
- 46 h
- Full charge time
- -
- 120 min
- Wireless charging
- No
- -
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- No
- ANC type
- none
- none
- Transparency mode
- No
- No
- Companion app
- No
- No
- Custom EQ
- No
- No
- Wear detection
- No
- No
- Controls
- none
- touch
- Weight
- 285 g
- 188 g
- Water resistance
- none
- none
- Foldable
- Yes
- -
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- -
- USB-C
- No
- Yes
- Connector
- 3.5 mm
- 3.5 mm
- Microphones
- -
- 1
- Mic sensitivity
- -
- -42 dBV
What reviewers said
Austrian Audio Hi-X50
The Austrian Audio Hi-X50 is a closed-back, on-ear studio headphone built for straightforward, no-frills monitoring. It pairs a high-sensitivity 44mm dynamic driver with a low 25-ohm impedance, making it easy to drive from a wide range of devices. Its solid, foldable construction and detachable cable make it a practical choice for professionals and home listeners alike.
- Pro:Excellent, detailed sound for studio monitoring
- Pro:Solid, well-built construction with a foldable design
- Pro:High sensitivity and low impedance are easy to drive
- Con:On-ear design may not suit all listeners for long sessions
- Con:No wireless, ANC, or app support, limiting modern convenience
- Con:Lacks inline controls or a USB-C connection for digital audio
Grado GW100x
The Grado GW100x are open-back wireless on-ear headphones that prioritize audiophile-grade sound over extra features. With large 44mm drivers, long battery life, and support for aptX Adaptive, they deliver a detailed and lively listening experience. The design is minimal, lacking ANC and app support, but the comfortable, lightweight build makes them a solid choice for purists who value sound quality above all.
- Pro:Excellent audio detail and open-back soundstage
- Pro:Long battery life of up to 46 hours
- Pro:Lightweight and comfortable for extended wear
- Con:No active noise cancellation or transparency mode
- Con:Lacks app support and custom EQ
- Con:Feature set is very basic for the price
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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