If you want a straightforward wired headphone for studio-style listening, choose SAMSON SR970; if you need Bluetooth and flexible wired connections, choose Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT. For glasses wearers, the key difference is the fit-related design: Samson specifies plush velour over-ear cups and a self-adjusting headband, while Austrian Audio specifies soft memory-foam earpads. Neither sheet gives a glasses-specific fit, so I’d weigh those materials against the connection options you actually need.
SAMSON SR970 vs Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT at a Glance
• Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT: Bluetooth, 3.5 mm analogue, and USB-C audio make it adaptable; its main trade-off is that the listed frequency range is narrower, at 18 Hz–22 kHz.
• For a simple wired setup: Samson’s 32-ohm impedance is described as suitable for mobile-device power, and it includes a 1/4-inch adapter.
• For longer listening sessions: Both are over-ear closed-back designs, but Samson specifies velour cups while Austrian Audio specifies soft, slow-retention memory-foam earpads.
• Choose SAMSON SR970 if your priority is a direct wired connection for monitoring, mixing, or playback.
• Choose Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT if you want one pair that can switch between Bluetooth, analogue cable, and USB-C.
The SAMSON SR970 is the simpler choice: a closed-back, wired over-ear headphone with 50 mm dynamic drivers and a stated frequency range of 10 Hz to 25 kHz. The closed design is intended to help isolate sound, which makes the SR970 a sensible fit for focused listening in a studio-style setup or when you want to concentrate on audio without adding wireless pairing or charging to the routine. Its stated range extends lower and higher than the Hi-X25BT’s, but that figure alone does not tell you which headphone will sound better to your ears.
The 32-ohm impedance is described as efficient and suitable for mobile-device power. That gives the SR970 a practical role beyond a dedicated studio desk: you can use its cable with a compatible device without needing a separate power source for the headphones. A 1/8-inch-to-1/4-inch adapter is included, which is useful when moving between a smaller headphone jack and equipment with a larger jack. There is no Bluetooth or USB-C connection listed, so this is not the pick for someone who wants to move around wirelessly or connect digitally over USB.
For comfort, Samson specifies a wide, self-adjusting headband and plush velour over-ear cups intended for extended listening. Those details may appeal to glasses wearers who are comparing earcup materials and want a soft covering around the ear. Still, the product information does not specify clamp force, cup depth, or a fit tested with eyeglasses, so I would not treat the material description as a guarantee of comfort for every frame. The SR970 is also identified as a limited-edition model.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-22 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
Who should skip it: Skip the SR970 if you need Bluetooth, USB-C audio, or a cable-free way to listen.
The Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT suits someone who wants more than one way to connect. It supports Bluetooth, analogue audio through a 3.5 mm jack, and digital audio through USB-C. That gives it a practical advantage if your listening shifts between a wireless commute, a wired source, and a USB-C connection. The supplied cable details include a 1.4 m jack cable and a 1.2 m USB-C cable, and the package includes a 3.5 mm-to-6.3 mm adapter for compatible equipment.
Bluetooth playback is specified for up to 30 hours, and the product information gives a Bluetooth range of 10 meters. Those details help explain the Hi-X25BT’s appeal for listening away from a desk: you can leave the cable aside and keep listening without being tethered to the source. When you do want a wired connection, analogue listening is possible, and the headphones can be charged through USB-C while playing music via USB-C or Bluetooth. The trade-off is that wireless listening depends on the built-in battery; the SR970, by contrast, is wired and has no battery-related requirement.
Austrian Audio specifies soft, slow-retention memory-foam earpads, along with all-metal hinges. The foam is intended to support comfort during longer sessions, while the metal hinges are a concrete durability-focused design detail. For glasses wearers, a soft pad may be worth considering, but the sheet does not explain how the pads interact with frame arms or provide a glasses-specific fit claim. The Hi-X25BT is also a closed-back over-ear model, but its listed frequency range is 18 Hz to 22 kHz and its impedance is 25 ohms.
Who should skip it: Skip the Hi-X25BT if you want the simplest wired-only headphone and have no use for Bluetooth or USB-C.
• Best for a wired-only setup → SAMSON SR970. Its listed connection is wired, and the included adapter supports a larger headphone jack.
• Best for wireless listening → Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT. Bluetooth is built in, with up to 30 hours of wireless playback specified.
• Best for USB-C audio → Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT. It supports digital USB-C audio and can play music over USB-C while charging.
• Best for a lower stated impedance → Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT. Its listed impedance is 25 ohms, compared with 32 ohms for the SR970; the Samson sheet specifically says its design works well with mobile-device power.
• Best for a broader listed frequency range → SAMSON SR970. It is specified at 10 Hz–25 kHz, compared with 18 Hz–22 kHz for the Austrian Audio model. Range figures do not, by themselves, establish sound quality.
• Best for specified earcup materials to compare with glasses → It’s a close call. Samson lists plush velour cups; Austrian Audio lists soft memory-foam earpads. Neither provides glasses-fit measurements.
• Best for metal hinge construction → Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT. Its all-metal hinges are specifically called out, while the SR970 sheet does not provide a hinge-material detail.
• Best for a studio-style cable connection with sound isolation → SAMSON SR970. It combines a closed-back design with a stated emphasis on isolation and precise monitoring.
For glasses wearers, I would start with the part most likely to affect everyday comfort: how the over-ear cups sit around your frames. Both models are over-ear and closed-back, but the sheets do not give earcup dimensions, headband pressure, or a specific fit assessment for people wearing glasses. Samson’s velour and Austrian Audio’s memory foam are useful points of comparison, not proof that either will feel better with your particular frames. If comfort is the deciding factor, the material alone cannot settle it.
Next, consider where you will listen. The SR970’s wired connection keeps the setup straightforward and avoids a headphone battery, while the Hi-X25BT can move between Bluetooth, analogue cable, and USB-C. That flexibility may matter if you use different sources during the day. The Austrian Audio model also specifies up to 30 hours of Bluetooth playback, but if you expect to listen only through a cable, that wireless feature may not add much to your decision.
The intended use matters, too. Samson describes the SR970 for studio applications such as monitoring and mixing, and its closed-back design is intended to provide sound isolation. The Hi-X25BT is also described as a professional closed-back headphone, but its distinguishing practical feature is connectivity across wireless, analogue, and digital options. Neither set of facts makes the headphones a substitute for products designed for a different category. For example, shoppers looking for the best ANC earbuds for glasses wearers should note that neither model lists active noise cancellation; both are over-ear headphones, and the Austrian Audio sheet lists noise control as none.
The same distinction applies if you are shopping for kids headphones for glasses wearers. Both product sheets describe these as adult over-ear headphones, not as children’s models. I would not choose either based on a child-focused fit or safety feature that is not listed. And if your search is for the best head phones for glasses wearers, start with the fit and connection requirements rather than assuming that a wider frequency range or a particular pad material guarantees comfort.
Finally, compare the supplied connections with your own equipment. Samson includes a 1/8-inch-to-1/4-inch adapter. Austrian Audio includes a 3.5 mm-to-6.3 mm adapter, plus jack and USB-C cables. Those details can reduce connection friction, but the right choice still depends on which inputs your devices use. If you are weighing value, check the current price on Amazon using the page’s button; I can’t determine value without current pricing, and the feature differences are the more useful starting point.
My Verdict
Neither product sheet confirms a glasses-specific fit. Samson lists plush velour over-ear cups; Austrian Audio lists soft, slow-retention memory-foam earpads. Those are useful details to compare, but comfort with glasses will depend on your frames and fit.
The Hi-X25BT sheet lists noise control as none. It is a closed-back over-ear headphone, but the provided information does not specify active noise cancellation.
The SR970 is wired, with a 3.5 mm headphone jack listed and a 32-ohm impedance described as suitable for mobile-device power. Check that your phone has a compatible headphone connection or adapter.
The Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT supports Bluetooth, analogue audio through a 3.5 mm jack, and digital audio through USB-C. The SR970 is listed as wired and includes an adapter for a 1/4-inch connection.
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