Short answer: the Austrian Audio Hi-X60. Both are rated 4.4/5 for sound quality (#10 and #13 of 216 over-ear headphones), and the Austrian Audio Hi-X60 costs $303.69 against $349.99 for the Dyson Zone, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it.
What the Austrian Audio Hi-X60 does well: A preference score of 91 comes from a response within about 1.7 dB of the Harman target, with sub-bass 1.4 dB and bass 1.0 dB above target for a full, slightly warm foundation. The catch: There is a 3.9 dB dip near 2 kHz, which can pull some vocals and snare detail slightly back, and a 3.1 dB peak near 5.6 kHz adds a touch of edge.
The case for the Dyson Zone: A preference score of 90 and a smooth 1.49 dB deviation put the tuning close to the Harman target, with sub-bass about 2 dB above target for extra rumble on kick drums and bass lines. The tradeoff: A 3.3 dB dip near 3.4 kHz and a 2.1 dB shortfall across the presence region pull some bite and clarity out of vocals and guitars.
Buy the Austrian Audio Hi-X60. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $46.30 less than the Dyson Zone.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Austrian Audio Hi-X60 | Dyson Zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $303.69 | $349.99 |
| Ranked | #10 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #13 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 91 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 90 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.65 dB standard deviation | 1.49 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.20 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.34 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.9 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 25 ohms | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB SPL/V | 94 dB |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (320 g) | - |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 6Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 50 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to Austrian Audio Hi-X60:
- HIFIMAN Ananda Nano vs Austrian Audio Hi-X60
- Austrian Audio Hi-X60 vs Sennheiser HD 600
- Austrian Audio Hi-X60 vs Beyerdynamic MMX 300
- HIFIMAN Ananda Nano vs Dyson Zone
- Beyerdynamic MMX 300 vs Dyson Zone
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Austrian Audio Hi-X60: $303.69 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 91 comes from a response within about 1.7 dB of the Harman target, with sub-bass 1.4 dB and bass 1.0 dB above target for a full, slightly warm foundation. At 25 ohms and 110 dB SPL/V it plays loudly from a phone, and the closed back isolates from outside noise. The 320 g weight is moderate.
Cons: There is a 3.9 dB dip near 2 kHz, which can pull some vocals and snare detail slightly back, and a 3.1 dB peak near 5.6 kHz adds a touch of edge. It has no built-in microphone, unlike the Beyerdynamic MMX 300, so it is less suited to calls and gaming.
Full Austrian Audio Hi-X60 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.65 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 91 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 25 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.20 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (320 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.7 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -9.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 138 Hz | -14.9 dB | 0.60 |
| Peak | 81 Hz | +18.3 dB | 0.36 |
| Peak | 1,919 Hz | +4.6 dB | 3.37 |
| Peak | 1,025 Hz | -2.1 dB | 2.33 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,712 Hz | +2.5 dB | 2.24 |
| Peak | 3,637 Hz | +1.6 dB | 1.17 |
| Peak | 2,676 Hz | -3.1 dB | 5.21 |
| Peak | 5,733 Hz | -3.6 dB | 5.64 |
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Dyson Zone: $349.99 Wireless Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 90 and a smooth 1.49 dB deviation put the tuning close to the Harman target, with sub-bass about 2 dB above target for extra rumble on kick drums and bass lines. It is a closed, wireless design with active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.0, a built-in microphone and a claimed 50 hours of battery, and it also works wired. Its rating matches the Austrian Audio Hi-X60 and Sennheiser HD 600.
Cons: A 3.3 dB dip near 3.4 kHz and a 2.1 dB shortfall across the presence region pull some bite and clarity out of vocals and guitars. The treble is lifted by about 2 to 3.5 dB above 6 kHz, with a peak near 7.8 dB at 11.2 kHz that can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp. The warm lean may feel slightly full for listeners who prefer a strictly neutral sound.
Full Dyson Zone review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 50 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.49 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 90 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.34 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -3.4 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +4.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 3,632 Hz | +3.4 dB | 1.95 |
| Peak | 42 Hz | -7.0 dB | 0.53 |
| Peak | 964 Hz | +1.3 dB | 2.85 |
| Peak | 1,841 Hz | -1.3 dB | 1.77 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -5.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,856 Hz | -2.8 dB | 4.04 |
| Peak | 4,879 Hz | +2.6 dB | 4.77 |
| Peak | 1,194 Hz | +0.2 dB | 3.03 |
| Peak | 10,000 Hz | -0.8 dB | 4.50 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons