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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT — biggest strength: true hybrid connectivity. Analogue jack, digital USB-C, and Bluetooth 5.0 in one closed-back over-ear, with up to 30 hours of wireless playback and charging while you listen.
• Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT — biggest trade-off: it is a do-everything tool rather than a single-purpose one, and there is no active noise cancellation — the closed-back design is your only isolation.
• Meters Ashdown NOVU-1 — biggest strength: a straightforward wired studio reference: 50 mm dynamic drivers, 16–20,000 Hz bandwidth, 104 dB SPL/V @ 1 kHz sensitivity, and a 3 m detachable cable with a threaded 1/4-inch adapter.
• Meters Ashdown NOVU-1 — biggest trade-off: wired only. No Bluetooth, no USB-C, no battery — you are tethered to your interface or amp.
• Who each pick is for: the Hi-X25BT suits producers and players who move between studio and street; the NOVU-1 suits anyone who wants one dependable cable-bound pair parked at the desk.
The Hi-X25BT is the more flexible of the two by a wide margin, and that flexibility is the whole point of its design. You get three ways in: a 1.4 m 3.5 mm jack cable, a 1.2 m USB-C cable for digital audio, and Bluetooth 5.0 with roughly 10 m of range. A 3.5 mm to 6.3 mm adapter ships in the box, so the same pair plugs into a laptop, an interface, or a hi-fi amp without a trip to the shop. If you have ever wished your studio headphones could also be your walking-around headphones, this is the pitch.
Under the hood, Austrian Audio leans on its High Excursion driver design: a 44 mm dynamic driver with a ring magnet system and a copper-clad aluminium voice coil, which the company says keeps the moving mass low so the membrane can change direction faster. The spec sheet backs the tuning intent up with a 25 ohm impedance, 110 dB sensitivity, and an 18 Hz–22 kHz range — the low-impedance, high-sensitivity combo is what makes these easy to drive from a phone or a laptop jack, not just a headphone amp. The claim of outstanding low THD at low frequencies is the part that matters most for anyone tracking bass or mixing kick drums.
Buy it if you want one closed-back pair for tracking, mixing, calls, and commuting, and you value the option to charge over USB-C while still listening. Skip it if you want a single wired reference pair and nothing else, or if you need active noise cancellation rather than passive isolation.
Meters Ashdown NOVU-1: Who It's For
The NOVU-1 is a much narrower instrument, and I mean that as a compliment. It is a wired, closed-back, over-ear studio reference headphone with 50 mm dynamic drivers, a 16–20,000 Hz frequency range, and 104 dB SPL/V @ 1 kHz sensitivity. That sensitivity figure is the interesting one: it tells you these will get loud from modest amplification, which is exactly what you want when you are checking a mix on whatever interface happens to be on the desk. The stated goal is clean, accurate response you can push hard without distortion creeping in.
The cable setup is clearly built for studio life. You get a 3 m detachable cable — long enough to reach across a desk or from a mic position to an amp — and because it detaches, a damaged cable is a replacement rather than a funeral. The 1/4-inch threaded adapter screws snugly over the gold-plated 1/8-inch mini-plug, so the same pair works on pro gear and on consumer jacks. A cloth carrying bag is included. The design language is the other selling point: a vintage illuminated VU meter sits at the heart of the look, which is why the brand is named the way it is. It is a distinctive piece of kit to have on a desk.
Comfort is addressed with a padded headband and plush earcups, aimed at extended wear. The enclosure is plastic, which keeps the weight sensible — the spec sheet lists 15.68 ounces, roughly 445 g, noticeably heavier than the Austrian Audio pair, so that padded headband is doing real work. There is a stated 2-year warranty. Note the noise control field lists Active Noise Cancellation: the closed-back construction plus that ANC is what you get, and because the headphone is wired only, ANC here is a listening-comfort feature rather than a travel one.
Buy it if you want one wired pair permanently parked at your desk, you like a long detachable cable and a threaded adapter, and you want your studio gear to look like studio gear. Skip it if you need wireless freedom, USB-C digital audio, or a pair you can wear on a walk.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for cable length at the desk → Meters Ashdown NOVU-1. A 3 m detachable cable versus 1.4 m on the jack and 1.2 m on USB-C.
• Best for connection flexibility → Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT. Analogue jack, USB-C digital, and Bluetooth, plus charging while you play.
• Best for driving from weak sources → Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT. 25 ohm impedance and 110 dB sensitivity make it phone-and-laptop friendly.
• Best for loud, clean monitoring from an interface → Meters Ashdown NOVU-1. 104 dB SPL/V @ 1 kHz with 50 mm drivers.
• Best for low-end extension on paper → Meters Ashdown NOVU-1. A 16 Hz lower limit versus 18 Hz on the Hi-X25BT; both reach 20–22 kHz up top.
• Best for durability hardware → Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT. Metal hinges on a 270 g frame versus a plastic enclosure at roughly 445 g.
• Best for noise control → Meters Ashdown NOVU-1. It lists Active Noise Cancellation; the Hi-X25BT relies on passive closed-back isolation.
• Best for a replaceable cable and travel bag → Meters Ashdown NOVU-1. Detachable 3 m cord plus a cloth carry bag.
In my opinion the Hi-X25BT is the smarter buy for most people, because a single pair that handles wired tracking, USB-C listening, and a Bluetooth commute replaces two products. The metal hinges and 270 g frame also read as more likely to survive daily life. I would only steer you to the NOVU-1 if your headphones never leave the desk — in that case the 3 m detachable cable, threaded adapter, ANC, and that VU-meter design are exactly the right trade. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that is the one variable that can flip this decision.
what are closed back studio headphones
Closed-back studio headphones have sealed earcups that block outside sound from reaching your ears and keep your audio from leaking out. That makes them the usual choice for tracking, monitoring, and listening in shared or noisy spaces. Both the Hi-X25BT and the NOVU-1 are closed-back over-ear designs.
what is open back studio headphones
Open-back headphones have vented earcups that let air move freely, which typically produces a wider, more speaker-like soundstage but leaks audio both ways. They are better for critical mixing in a quiet room than for recording near a live mic. Neither of these two models is open-back, so if you want that presentation you need a different pair entirely.
what are the best closed back studio headphones
There is no single answer — it depends on whether you need wireless or wired. In my opinion the Hi-X25BT is the better pick if you want Bluetooth, USB-C, and jack connectivity in one pair, while the NOVU-1 is the better pick if you want a dedicated wired reference with a 3 m detachable cable.
Probably not. The Hi-X25BT's 25 ohm impedance and 110 dB sensitivity make it easy to drive from a phone or laptop, and the NOVU-1's 104 dB SPL/V @ 1 kHz sensitivity means it gets loud from modest sources. A dedicated interface or amp will still give you more headroom on both.
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