If you care about studio microphones and headphones that are built with serious precision, Austrian Audio deserves your attention. Founded in July 2017 by a core team of 22 former AKG Acoustics employees, the brand was born directly out of the closure of AKG’s Vienna operations. In less than eight years, Austrian Audio has gone from a fresh startup to one of the most talked-about names in professional studio audio.
The company sits in a clear category: Vienna pro audio built for people who record, mix, and perform at a professional level. It does not chase the consumer wireless market or make lifestyle products. It makes tools.
Born From AKG Heritage:
When AKG permanently closed its site in Austria, Austrian Audio was founded by engineers from management, acoustics, electronics, testing, mechanical design, wireless technology, and software. That depth of specialization is not common for a company of its size.
The team spent more than a year developing its first microphone capsule, the CKR12, before releasing its first two products, the OC818 and OC18 large diaphragm condenser microphones, in 2019. That approach, taking time to get the core technology right before going to market, set the tone for everything the brand has released since.
The OC818 Sets The Standard:
The OC818 is the product most people associate with Austrian Audio, and for good reason. It offers multiple polar patterns, high SPL handling, and a dual output design that allows post-production manipulation of polar patterns. That last feature is genuinely useful in a recording session where you want flexibility without resetting the mic mid-take.
The optional OCR8 Bluetooth remote adapter, paired with the free PolarPilot app on iOS and Android, lets you remotely control polar patterns, high pass filters, and pads from the monitor position. For engineers working alone in a room, that saves real time.
Hi-X Headphones That Perform:
Austrian Audio’s headphone lineup carries the Hi-X name, which stands for High Excursion. The Hi-X55 uses a 44mm ring magnet driver, chosen because Austrian Audio’s testing identified it as the optimal size to move the largest amount of air while resisting unwanted resonance.
Specs on the Hi-X55 include a frequency range of 5 Hz to 28 kHz, sensitivity of 118 dB SPL per volt, total harmonic distortion under 0.1% at 1 kHz, and an impedance of 25 ohms. The closed-back design makes it practical for tracking sessions, not just critical listening.
The Composer Wins Awards:
Austrian Audio launched The Composer at the end of 2023, and in August 2024 it won Best High-End Headphones at the EISA Awards, marking Austrian Audio’s first recognition from the long-standing association representing publications and organizations across more than 30 countries.
The Composer uses Austrian Audio’s 49mm Hi-X Driver Design and is aimed at both creative professionals and discerning listeners who want full frequency performance for studio and personal use. At €2,499, it sits firmly at the top of the range.
Five-Year Warranty Coverage:
One practical detail worth knowing before buying: Austrian Audio extended warranty coverage to five years across its professional headphone lineup, applying to The Composer, Hi-X65, Hi-X60, Hi-X55, and Hi-X50. Buyers register their products on the company’s website and retain proof of purchase to activate coverage.
That kind of commitment is uncommon in the pro audio space, where most warranties cap at two years. For buyers spending several hundred euros on studio headphones, five years of coverage is a meaningful difference.
DPA Acquisition in 2025:
In early 2025, DPA Microphones acquired a majority share in Austrian Audio. Austrian Audio continues to develop and manufacture products under its own name in Vienna. The two brands complement each other well. DPA specializes primarily in miniature microphones while Austrian Audio focuses on large diaphragm microphones, giving the combined entity a broader product range for sound engineers in broadcast, live events, musical theatre, and recording studios.
Austrian Audio will continue to innovate and develop products under its own name, with both brands maintaining separate identities and manufacturing. For buyers, this means ongoing Vienna production, and the engineering team remains in place.
Who Austrian Audio is for:
If you are building a professional home studio or upgrading a commercial recording setup, Austrian Audio belongs on your shortlist. The OC818 works well for vocals, acoustic instruments, and overhead recording. The Hi-X55 is a strong closed-back option for tracking. The Hi-X65 targets open back mixing and mastering work.
Austrian Audio has been building its presence in audio engineering since 2017, with a team that blends decades of experience across electronic engineering, mechanical design, research, wireless, and software. That combined background shows in how the products are built and how they perform over time.
Austrian Audio is not trying to be everything to everyone. It makes professional microphones and studio headphones, does it with precision, and backs the products with serious warranty coverage. For anyone serious about Vienna pro audio gear, that focus is exactly the point.
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