Over-Ear
Austrian Audio Hi-X65
82Great
$499
Full review dataAustrian Audio Hi-X65 vs HiFiMAN Arya: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the HiFiMAN Arya comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: HiFiMAN Arya - Outstanding overall at around $769.
Over-Ear
HiFiMAN Arya
88Outstanding
$769
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Austrian Audio Hi-X65
Sound8.5
Value7.5
HiFiMAN Arya
Sound9.5
Value8.0
Specifications
| Spec | Austrian Audio Hi-X65 | HiFiMAN Arya |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $499 | $769 |
| HearWiki score | 82 / 100 · Great | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2021 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | Planar |
| Driver size | 44 mm | - |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 |
| Frequency response | 5Hz-28kHz | 8Hz-65kHz |
| Sound signature | - | Bright neutral |
| Impedance | 25 Ω | 35 Ω |
| Sensitivity | - | 90 dB/mW |
| Sensitivity (dB/Vrms) | 110 | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | none | - |
| Multipoint pairing | No | - |
| Battery | ||
| Wireless charging | No | - |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | - |
| ANC type | none | - |
| Transparency mode | No | - |
| Companion app | No | - |
| Custom EQ | No | - |
| Wear detection | No | - |
| Controls | none | - |
| Voice assistant | none | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 310 g | 430 g |
| Water resistance | none | - |
| Foldable | No | - |
| Detachable cable | Yes | - |
| USB-C | No | No |
| Balanced connection | - | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Call noise reduction | none | - |
What reviewers said
Austrian Audio Hi-X65
The Austrian Hi-X65 is an open-back, over-ear headphone designed primarily for studio mixing and critical listening. It delivers a balanced, detailed sound with strong transient response, wrapped in a lightweight and comfortable frame. Its wired-only, non-folding design and lack of extra features emphasize a focused, professional tool approach.
- Pro:Highly detailed and balanced sound for critical listening
- Pro:Very comfortable for long studio sessions
- Pro:Solid build quality with premium materials
- Con:No wireless or Bluetooth connectivity
- Con:Not foldable, limiting portability
- Con:Lacks any built-in controls or app support
HiFiMAN Arya
The HiFiMAN Arya is a premium planar magnetic headphone known for its exceptionally fast, detailed, and airy sound. Its bright-neutral tuning delivers a highly resolving, spacious presentation with excellent technical performance, making it a strong choice for critical listening, though it requires a good amplifier to shine. With a comfortable open-back design and a relatively affordable price for its class, it balances high-end performance with accessibility.
- Pro:Excellent detail retrieval and transparency
- Pro:Wide, open soundstage with precise imaging
- Pro:Fast and articulate planar driver response
- Con:Bright treble can be fatiguing for sensitive ears
- Con:Needs a powerful amp to reach full potential
- Con:Open-back leaks sound and offers little isolation
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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