Having had the Composer at home for a while now I thought I might outline a few impressions, and some reflections on the HD800S which I’ve owned and enjoyed for some time. I listen to classical music. My system comprises a Marantz SA10 digital player on its balanced analogue outputs to a Moon...

I found the iESL in combination with a range of good high-voltage conventional amps to be the most satisfactory option out there for use with my SR-009S (including STAX and the usual run of 'boutique' drivers). So I'm not surprised to read that the Phantom also performs well.

For another perspective, I'd be inclined to say the Susvara is competitive in some respects only for a huge price and debilitating amp requirements ...

If we include non-current phones, I think the Sony MDR-MA900 is also worthy of mention. Around $200AUS (good used) for terrific phones that will work with anything.

While I'm a fan a crossfeed, I'm not sure this is the place to write more about it. I've described my thoughts at greater length on the relevant Computer Audio thread on this site for anyone interested - including the question whether headphone mastering is affecting the issue in more modern...

I agree - I don't listen these days without crossfeed (except binaural recordings). The basic point is that phones don't present information the way loudspeakers do - and most music is engineered for loudspeaker presentation. Crossfeed addresses this to some extent. I accept crossfeed might...

That's been my experience too.

Yes, the HD800S of course! Cobra records (Tom Peeters - available NativeDSD) seems to be adopting just this approach - separate binaural and standard stereo recordings of each release (multichannel also). So, you might like to check them out if you're interested in the catalogue. They're...

I think that's spot on! I've never understood why it's so frequently dismissed out of hand (and, as you say, seemingly on the basis that it's only relevant to old recordings). I've tried to describe in more detail how I feel crossfeed improves listening on the relevant thread on Computer...

Well, for what it's worth, I don't see anything odd in what you write! I too prefer phones to loudspeakers - and that's after spending quite a bit of time with good loudspeaker systems (for monitoring and pleasure). I think you're right to point out that it's quite feasible with phones to...

Thanks for that - helpful. I take your general point re mids (and lows!) - and interesting observation re the 800 and pro market. I'm particularly interested in your thoughts re HD800(S)/Composer as I could almost be persuaded with some recordings that it might be the ADX5000 that's the real...

Yes, I wouldn't be surprised to find we're using some of these terms bit differently - I find it's hard to convey the sense of what I mean at the best of times - let alone when I'm trying to describe how things sound! Re the SR-007, I think I see what you mean, and would agree there's a density...

It's interesting to see the reference to the SR-007 here - which tends to polarize opinion I think. I find both the SR-009S and the SR-700MkII more to my taste - with the SR-007 seeming too 'diffuse' in its presentation. My experience with amps (with many phones) is that they don't drastically...

The HD800S certainly seems more realistic to me - although the HE1000SE presents a very spacious image, I think. I no longer own it or the Susvara but did have them both for some time. This tended to confirm for me that the Susvara is relatively rolled-off at higher frequencies - and really is...

I must confess I'm no fan of Focal phones - but they're popular, including with some who listen to classical music. Re the HD800/S issue, I've flip-flopped over the years myself - my preference for the S depends on removal of dust covers - and then seems to a touch more natural to me. I'm...

Yes, I'm looking forward to hearing the Composer - as a paid-up member of the AKG appreciation society ...

For what it's worth, I think there's probably something in this. I don't listen to genres other than classical but accept that the phones I've enjoyed over the years are often not preferred by those who listen to other kinds of music - and phones recommended by those same people are often (in...

It's worth bearing in mind I think that mechanical transformer hum is very common. And it's very unlikely to be affected by the introduction of any upstream gadget in the AC line. In fact, if the upstream gadget has a transformer (like many in-line power sources) it may well also hum. I find...

A final brief thought here, based on some more recent listening - I've been lucky enough to have some time recently to test some of my own long-held prejudices and assumptions! I'm inclined to think that, as good as the MA900 is, it doesn't quite match the HD800S when it comes to the very best...

I'm repeating myself here - apologies - but I think the 'value' of crossfeed might well depend on the types of music and recording you're interested in. I listen to classical music, typically recorded to capture the ambience of the performance space. I think this is a big part of why I find...

Thanks - I'll look into this.

For what it's worth, I also prefer the stock pads. I agree they sound different; and that all the third-party replacements sound different in their own ways. I suspect this may be controversial, but I've always found them to feel cooler than leather or faux leather. I'm a heavy user, and find...

Many thanks indeed for taking the time with this - greatly appreciated. I've often used foobar in the past - including the general crossfeed settings - and experimented with different combinations. But I certainly haven't followed the approach you've described here. I would like to try it one...

The impressions of @TheAttorney re the Virtuoso sample tracks are very close to my own with all the digital approaches I've heard (I haven't used Virtuoso or the Wandla - but have heard many others). For whatever reason, with the acoustic music I listen to, I find the analogue CF I've tried...

I generally use crossfeed, and also find the Phonitor to be excellent. Together with the Moon 430HA, I think these crossfeed implementations are the most satisfying out there (I prefer the Moon slightly). They're both analogue, of course. I've tried many digital approaches but haven't so far...