If you want closed-back headphones with sound isolation and a folding, all-metal build for library work, choose Austrian Audio Hi-X55; if you need open-back headphones for focused mixing and mastering, choose Austrian Audio Hi-X65. For the library, I’d pick the Hi-X55 because its closed design is the more practical fit when you want to keep your listening to yourself.
Austrian Audio Hi-X55 vs Austrian Audio Hi-X65 at a Glance
• Austrian Audio Hi-X55 strength: Closed-back design, sound isolation, folding construction, and all-metal hinges and headband. Trade-off: Its closed design is less suited than an open-back model to listeners specifically seeking an open presentation for mixing and mastering.
• Austrian Audio Hi-X65 strength: Open-back design intended for mixing and mastering, with a folding build and metal construction. Trade-off: Open-back headphones are a less practical choice when you need to keep sound contained in a shared library.
• Both models: Wired, over-ear headphones with 44 mm dynamic drivers and a 25-ohm impedance.
• Hi-X55 connection: Removable 3 m cable with a 3.5 mm jack and a 6.3 mm adapter.
• Hi-X65 connection: Includes 3 m and 1.2 m cable lengths, plus a 1/4-inch adapter and carry case.
• Pick the Hi-X55 for library sessions and other settings where a closed-back design and sound isolation make more sense.
• Pick the Hi-X65 for quiet, dedicated listening sessions centered on mixing and mastering.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-09 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
The Hi-X55 is the more straightforward choice for library use. Its closed-back, over-ear design is described as providing sound isolation, which makes it a better fit than an open-back headphone when you want to focus without making an open design the center of your decision. It is wired, so there’s no wireless connection to manage. The removable 3 m cable gives you reach at a desk, while the included 6.3 mm adapter supports a larger headphone jack.
Its folding construction helps with storage and transport. Austrian Audio also uses metal for the headband and hinges, a useful design choice for a pair intended to move between everyday use and a studio. Slow-retention ear pads are part of the comfort design, and the 44 mm driver and stated 20 Hz to 28,000 Hz range give a clear picture of its audio hardware.
I’d steer library listeners toward the Hi-X55 if their priority is a closed design, wired listening, and a build that folds for carrying. Skip it if your main goal is an open-back headphone specifically aimed at mixing and mastering. And if you’re shopping for a built-in microphone, Bluetooth, or a stated volume-limiting feature, neither model provides that in the listed specifications.
The Hi-X65 has a different purpose. It is an over-ear, open-back headphone created with mixing and mastering in mind. That makes it the more relevant choice for someone setting up a dedicated listening space and prioritizing the open-back format over sound containment. Its folding design and metal construction make it easier to store and carry than a fixed, non-folding design, according to the listed features.
It shares the Hi-X55’s 44 mm dynamic driver size and 25-ohm impedance. Its stated frequency range is 5 Hz to 28 kHz. The included cable lengths are 3 m and 1.2 m, and the package includes a 1/4-inch adapter and carry case. Those details make it a flexible wired option for a stationary setup or a situation where a shorter cable is useful.
For a library, the Hi-X65’s open-back design is the key drawback. It is not the pick I’d make if sound isolation and keeping your listening contained are central concerns. Choose it if open-back listening for mixing or mastering is the priority; skip it if you want a closed-back design for shared spaces, or need wireless listening or a microphone.
• Best fit for library listening → Austrian Audio Hi-X55. Its closed-back design and sound isolation make it the more suitable of these two for a shared study space.
• Best for mixing and mastering with an open-back design → Austrian Audio Hi-X65. That use is explicit in its design focus.
• Want a folding headphone with a removable cable → Hi-X55. Its listed package includes a removable 3 m cable with a 3.5 mm jack and a 6.3 mm adapter.
• Want two cable lengths included → Hi-X65. It comes with 3 m and 1.2 m options, along with a 1/4-inch adapter.
• Prefer sound isolation → Hi-X55. The Hi-X55 is closed-back and lists sound isolation; the Hi-X65 is open-back and lists no noise control.
• Want an open-back headphone for a dedicated setup → Hi-X65. It is designed with close listening for mixing and mastering in mind.
• Need Bluetooth, a microphone, or volume limiting → Neither. Both are wired over-ear headphones, and those features are not listed for either model.
The short version: choose based on where you’ll listen and what kind of sound presentation you want. The shared 44 mm driver size and 25-ohm impedance don’t make the headphones interchangeable; closed versus open is the more consequential distinction for these use cases.
For library use, I’d buy the Austrian Audio Hi-X55. Its closed-back design and listed sound isolation give it the clearer practical advantage in a shared room, while the folding build and removable cable suit a headphone that may need to travel between study and desk. I’d choose the Hi-X65 instead for open-back mixing and mastering, but that isn’t the use case I’d prioritize here.
The Hi-X55 is the more suitable choice of the two because it is closed-back and lists sound isolation. The Hi-X65 is open-back, so its design better fits a dedicated mixing or mastering environment than a shared library.
The Hi-X65 is specifically described as an open-back headphone created for mixing and mastering. The Hi-X55 is a closed-back studio headphone for professional and everyday use, so the better fit depends on whether open-back listening is your priority.
No Bluetooth or microphone feature is listed for either model. Both are wired, over-ear headphones, so shoppers looking for Bluetooth earbuds with a microphone should consider a different type of product.
The Hi-X55 includes a removable 3 m cable with a 3.5 mm jack and a 6.3 mm adapter. The Hi-X65 includes 3 m and 1.2 m cables, a 1/4-inch adapter, and a carry case; choose based on whether you prefer the Hi-X55’s removable cable or the Hi-X65’s two cable lengths.
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