Nomax came around with the Austrian Audio Composer and the Score One today, so I am able to share a few impressions. The Composer feels very light, fits perfectly, has space for large ears (and those with unusually shaped ears). The clamping pressure ist just right.
The gear used was the SP3000 in the Black and Copper versions, the RME ADI-2/4 PRO SE and the Score One (with the RME as DAC).
The Composer is a neutrally tuned headphone, without roll-of in the high frequency range, but also without a sub bass drop-off. The latter distinguishes it from most other dynamic models. The Composer therefore has a great level of tonal perfection, true hi-fi. Not least because of this, it reflects the character of the rest of the audio chain. On the SP3000 Black and the RME it sounded a leaner than on the SP3000 Copper and the Score One.
Bass extends low, so the composer does not need to cheat with a boosted upper bass instead. Kick bass bounces nicely and it also delivers impact when needed. No audible distortion, clean with good structure, all types of bass are reproduced realistically. Nothing is unduly increased, but nothing is taken away either.
The mids are neutral, without a one-sided focus on the presence range or on the body of voices and instruments. With these headphones and especially in combination with the Score One, the timbre of instruments is perfectly reproduced. Hardly any flagship headphones can achieve this level of perfection, imo.
The treble range is well lit, without any roll-off and does not feel exaggerated to me either. In any case, the composer has more treble energy than DCA Stealth and Utopia 2022 (both of which have been tamed there a bit), but without any tendency to sound sibilant. The illumination in the treble range also reveals details and spatial information that remain hidden with many other headphones.
The Composer places voices quite close to the listener, so the overall experience is rather intimate. The stage appears medium-sized, both in width, depth and height. Its soundstage is much larger than the Utopiaās, but more similar in size to the Stealth. The placement on this imaginary stage is precise, spatial effects appear very realistic.
Its transparency is good in general and particularly remarkable with the Score One, which reminds me of the best electrostats. What does the Score One do with the TTT button in terms of sound? The difference is not primarily tonal (yes, subjectively the composer seems to get a tiny bit more treble as a result), but rather the transients appear even faster and more seamless and details in the treble are drawn even more finely. The difference is not huge, but still audible.
Regarding the pairings: It is clear from the two SP3000s that the Composer is even noticeably easier to drive than the Utopia. Any DAP and probably even any smartphone should be sufficient for this. The RME brings out a few more details, which one would expect. Even more remarkable is the great synergy with the Score One. It provides a bit more substance, a pitch-black background against which even the finest ramifications in the music and in the spatial information (reverb) can be recognized. At the same time, the music feels so relaxed and natural that you can simply sink into the music. This is exactly the ideal that I am looking for and which is so difficult to find.
What I listened to with the composer (not exhaustive): Candy Dulfer, Parov Stelar, Paul van Dyk, Infected Mushroom, Eros Ramazzotti, Eric Clapton, Eva Cassidy, Buena Vista Social Club, Hans Zimmer, Nik BƤrtsch's Ronin, Metallica. It quickly became clear that this headphone excels with every music genre. I spent the rest of the time mainly with the DALI CDs. The Misa Criolla with Mercedes Sosa I even made me cry for joy.
It is hard to describe perfection, which is why one should definitely try the Composer. What should be mentioned as a limitation? Its soundstage is only medium sized, but I cannot think of anything else.
Who should definitely give the Austrian Audio Composer a try? Actually everyone with a few bucks left, but from my point of view the target audience is especially mobile users on one hand, but also lovers of electrostatic heaphones such as Stax on the other hand. The latter audience should to try it in combination with the Score One, which even seems to add some kind of secret sauce.
Cheers,
Bernie
P.S. Big thanks to
@Nomax for this really remarkable experience!
P.P.S. Kudos to the Austrian Audio guys. Just wow!
....When you hold the composer in your hands, the other one looks like a toy
)
ļøIts so easy....Everyone is free to choose
