If you want foldable, closed-back wired headphones for a workout, choose Austrian Audio Hi-X15; if you need open-back headphones for home listening and critical work, choose Behringer Omega Open-Back Hi-Fi. The Hi-X15 is the more practical pick for carrying and keeping sound contained. The Omega is built around a more open listening experience, but that design is a poor fit for noisy or shared spaces.
• Austrian Audio Hi-X15 strength: closed-back design, foldable construction, detachable cable and metal hinge. Trade-off: wired listening, with a 1.4 m cable included.
• Behringer Omega strength: open-back design with 50 mm drivers and a cable that extends up to 3 m. Trade-off: open backs let sound pass in both directions, so they suit quieter, more private listening.
• Choose the Hi-X15 if portability, sound isolation and a design intended to handle everyday carrying matter most.
• Choose the Omega if your priority is a spacious-feeling presentation for music, composing or critical listening at home.
• Neither is a true wireless or in-ear product; both are over-ear, wired headphones.
The Hi-X15 is the more practical all-rounder here. Its closed-back cups are designed to contain sound and provide sound isolation, while the foldable construction makes it easier to pack away between uses. A detachable 1.4 m cable is included, and the metal hinge gives the design a sturdy element. Those details point toward headphones that can move between a desk, a bag and a listening session without needing a fixed home setup.
Austrian Audio specifies a 44 mm dynamic driver, 25-ohm impedance and a frequency range of 12 Hz to 24 kHz. The product also uses the brand’s High Excursion design, intended to support clear, precise sound and low distortion at lower frequencies. Its low impedance is a practical match for lower-power outputs, including mobile devices, though the headphones remain wired.
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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-23 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
The Omega is aimed at a different kind of listening. Its open-back construction and metal grille are intended to create a more natural, spacious soundstage, and Behringer positions it for musicians, composers and critical listening. The 50 mm Neodymium dynamic drivers have a stated frequency range of 10 Hz to 28 kHz. That makes the Omega the more studio-oriented choice on paper, especially for someone who wants an open presentation rather than a closed-off feel.
Its self-adjusting headband and soft ear cushions are designed for longer sessions. The detachable two-sided cable reaches up to 3 m, and the package includes a zipper case and an adapter for 3.5 mm and 6.3 mm connections. The cable length can be useful at a desk or near audio equipment, but it is less convenient when moving around.
I’d consider the Omega for a home listening area, practice space or desktop setup where sound leakage is acceptable. I’d skip it for a workout, commute or shared room where you need to keep sound contained. Open-back headphones do not provide the same sound isolation as the closed-back Hi-X15, and the Omega is also heavier at 370 g, compared with 255 g for the Hi-X15.
• Best fit for a workout among these two → Austrian Audio Hi-X15. Its closed-back design, folding construction and lower 255 g weight make it the more practical candidate. Both headphones are wired, so neither offers the freedom of true wireless earbuds.
• Best for keeping sound more contained → Austrian Audio Hi-X15. It is the only closed-back model here and includes sound isolation as a feature.
• Best for a spacious-feeling home listening setup → Behringer Omega. The open-back design is intended to give music a more natural, surround-like presentation, but it also makes the Omega less suited to noisy spaces.
• Best for a longer cable at a desk → Behringer Omega. Its detachable cable reaches up to 3 m; the Hi-X15 includes a 1.4 m detachable cable.
• Best for lower-power mobile outputs → Austrian Audio Hi-X15. Its specified 25-ohm impedance is lower than the Omega’s 32 ohms, and Austrian Audio notes suitability for low-power outputs.
• Best for a musician or composer focused on critical listening → Behringer Omega. Its open-back design, 50 mm drivers and included 6.3 mm adapter support a home or studio-style listening setup.
• Best for packing away between sessions → Austrian Audio Hi-X15. It folds, while the Omega’s included zipper case is useful for storage and transport but does not make the headphones foldable.
• Best for someone seeking in ear earbuds for workout → neither. Both are over-ear wired headphones. If you are searching for the best foldable true wireless earbuds for workout, these products do not meet the wireless or in-ear part of that brief.
• Best for gaming headphones for workout → Austrian Audio Hi-X15, with a caveat. Its closed-back design and detachable cable may suit a stationary setup, but neither product is described as wireless or as having gaming-specific features.
My Verdict
I’d choose the Austrian Audio Hi-X15 because its closed-back, foldable design is the more versatile match for carrying around and for a workout setting.
For quiet-room music work or a spacious-feeling home setup, I’d choose the Behringer Omega instead.
For a workout, my recommendation is the Hi-X15—but I’d still look elsewhere if I specifically wanted true wireless in-ear earbuds.
The Hi-X15 is the more suitable of the two because it is closed-back, foldable and lighter at 255 g. Both are wired over-ear headphones, so neither offers the convenience of wireless workout earbuds.
The Hi-X15 is closed-back and lists sound isolation as a feature. The Omega is open-back and lists no noise control, so it is the less suitable choice when you want to reduce the effect of surrounding noise or keep your listening more contained.
Its open-back design, 50 mm drivers and stated use for musicians, composers and critical listening make it a natural fit for a home studio or focused listening space. The Hi-X15 is also designed for precise sound, but its closed-back format prioritizes a more contained listening experience.
Choose the Hi-X15 if you value portability, closed-back listening and use with lower-power outputs. Choose the Omega if you want open-back headphones for a desk, practice space or quiet listening area, and can accommodate sound leakage.
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