THE COMPOSER OPEN BACK FLAGSHIP by AUSTRIAN AUDIO

[jamesjames]

These seem to get better and better more I listen to them, honestly they are equal to Susvara at this point. Depth, dynamics, transparency. These have it all imo. Also a real hidden gem I've been enjoying lately is the surprise banger of a headphone the IBasso SR3.

FWIW, I'm also increasingly impressed by the Composer. I guess I might simply be adjusting to a presentation that initially seemed a little unnatural at times (and still does). But all phones and speakers are idiosyncratic in one sense or another, and I'm beginning to find the Composer's idiosyncracies less intrusive than those of most other phones. I've mentioned that I find its transparency striking, and I now feel it's probably that which makes it so satisfying from my point of view. Recordings often seem just a little more interesting with it than with many other phones I've used. I recall I had a similar reaction to the Utopia when I first encountered it - only to find that case, however, that certain aspects of its presentation became increasingly intrusive and unnatural to my ear. But, as I say, the Composer is sounding better to me over time. The HD800S has remained very appealing over many years - and I continue to think it just shades the Composer. But I feel any prospective buyer interested in classical music really should listen at least to both the AA and the Sennheiser.

EDIT
I should add for completeness that to my ear the ADX5000 also just shades the Composer in terms of realism. It's been interesting as I've become more accustomed to the Composer to compare these three phones - which seem to me the most satisfying dynamic phones available at the moment for classical music. There's no doubt in my mind that the Composer is at least as good as the other two in terms of providing great insight into recordings. Imaging is also first rate I think, but very slightly 'closer' than the other two - a more conventional 'headphone' presentation I think. It presents a less diffuse image than the other phones, with sounds more forward and vibrant. The question is whether this seems hyper-real or appropriate. I guess personal preferences here may well turn on whether the goal is a more distanced presentation than the Composer seems able to achieve. And also whether the slightly bass-heavy presentation of the Composer is attractive.

 

[noplsestar]

Okay guys, this is a full package offering for all of you who want to experiment with the Composer´s abilities.

As I plan to upgrade to an Arctic Cables flagship cable for the Composer, I have to fund this acquisition first, so here is the deal:

I am selling my as new Suede pads and Spacers in mint condition (and of course with the original packaging) as well as my beloved Arctic Cables Aeris with 4.4 mm Pentaconn plug from Furutech, length: 1,2 meters (https://www.arcticcables.com/ac-store/Aeris-V3-p369698263). Arctic cables do have a lifetime, transferable warranty (!!) and you can always send them in for free plug change.
Here is the link to the review I wrote: https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/arctic-cables-aeris-v2.27328/reviews#review-34428

All together for € 930.-
(For shipping in Europe - when payed with PayPal friends/family - I would like charge an extra 15.- Euros, for worldwide shipping an extra 25.- Euros)

In addition I am throwing in two cables for free I got from Romi Audio to test for the Composer (all without the original headphone plugs, but as you know, they can be bought through Aliexpress by now and if you have basic solder skills, that wouldn´t be a problem). But those two cables are for free anyways
1. https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/romi-audio-pure-silver-cable-for-austrian-audio-composer.87901/
2. https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/romi-audio-copper-cable-for-austrian-audio-composer.87902/

BTW I am selling the pads and spacers because I mainly listen to electronical music and so at the moment I wouldn´t need those (but as I know myself, I will probably buy them later again when I have enough money)

So with this package you would have a lot possibilities to change and fine-tune the sound of the Composer. Just write me a DM if you are interested!

Ps.: As I was asked, I could also sell them separately: 590 euros for the Arctic Cables Aeris inclusive the two Romi Audio cables!
And 340 euros for the Suede Pads and the Spacers.

 

[Trance_Gott]

I now also have the spacers here.
At last I can use the leatherette pads without my ears hitting the drivers. The spacers enlarge the sound stage, especially the depth increases. The leatherette pads are a must-have for me, also because of the comfort. Together with the suede pads, the mids are slightly more recessed. It reminds me a little of the Abyss 1266 TC. I don't find this presentation any worse and, depending on the recording, I even prefer this duo. The spatial representation is remarkable.
Suede pads with or without spacers make the Composer sound like an electrostatic. With suede pads, with or without spacers, it sounds warmer/more earthy. The spacers allow you to tune the soundstage with more/less mids. AA thus covers almost everything.
However, the spacers have one disadvantage that should not go unmentioned: they are not exactly light and increase the weight of the composer considerably!

 

[plakat]

I now also have the spacers here.
At last I can use the leatherette pads without my ears hitting the drivers. The spacers enlarge the sound stage, especially the depth increases. The leatherette pads are a must-have for me, also because of the comfort. Together with the suede pads, the mids are slightly more recessed. It reminds me a little of the Abyss 1266 TC. I don't find this presentation any worse and, depending on the recording, I even prefer this duo. The spatial representation is remarkable.
Suede pads with or without spacers make the Composer sound like an electrostatic. With suede pads, with or without spacers, it sounds warmer/more earthy. The spacers allow you to tune the soundstage with more/less mids. AA thus covers almost everything.
However, the spacers have one disadvantage that should not go unmentioned: they are not exactly light and increase the weight of the composer considerably!

Reflects my experience quite well. I received my suede pads last weekend and today tried the spacers with the leatherette pads at my local shop. The weight is a factor, but comfort is not noticeably changed for me. Overall the spacers did not change the tonal balance, just the impression of space. The slight reduction of upper mids with the suede pads was exactly what I was looking for, very happy with those.

 

[Zmey69]

As I plan to upgrade to an Arctic Cables flagship cable for the Composer, I have to fund this acquisition first, so here is the deal:

Could you please tell me which particular arcticcables model you are planning to switch to, if I may ask? The thing is that arcticcables’ entire top-line range has a very large cross-section, including 16-conductor options. While that’s impressive, it affects usability. I had the Norn Audio Vygarde hybrid cable (copper + silver), which was definitely better than the stock cable in terms of sound quality, but it was not suitable for composers due to its heavy weight. It literally pulled the headphones down, so I sold it.

If anyone is interested in my recommendations regarding a cable for composers:

1. Do not get a thick cable with more than 8 conductors. 8 conductors is the maximum. The conductor thickness should be 28-26 AWG. Do not go for larger cross-sections or 16 conductors. These will be heavy cables that will pull your composers down. You need to choose a light, flexible cable.
2. I do not recommend silver for composers. Composers are on the bright side. Silver will add even more brightness and detail, especially in the upper midrange. Dark silver is extremely rare and hard to find. But even so, the detail level will be higher, which is unnecessary since it’s already at a level unmatched by many competitors. Even hybrid options like the Norn Audio Vygarde enhance this area. And there’s no need to enhance it. Get the best copper for composers. Copper is perfect.
3. Do not get rhodium or silver connectors; only copper. It doesn’t matter if it’s 4.4 or XLR, etc. Only copper! For 4.4, it’s EarrBond or the branded Pentaconn. Rhodium spoils the upper register, making the high-frequency sound unnatural.
4. If you take a large cable, you won’t be able to install it in the small connectors of composers. It simply won’t fit. 8 conductors of 26 AWG fit just barely to close the banana plug cover. And even that can only be done by an experienced cable solderer. No 16 conductors will fit there! And most importantly!!! Pay attention! The connectors that AA offers to print on their website using a 3D printer are huge and bulky. They are 3 times larger than what is sold on AliExpress. Composers are elegant, lightweight headphones; do not ruin their usability with huge, heavy cables. It’s a bad idea. I dismantled those connectors from the Norn Audio Vygarde before selling it. It’s certainly an aesthetic horror… What NOMAX writes a lot about. I understand him and support him, so I ask cable makers to create only the best, beautiful, and convenient for my composer! Nothing else.

My main cable is the Abyss JPS Labs Superconductor HP upgrade cable set for Abyss DIANA. It’s pure copper cable with aluminum used in the manufacturing process, which I modified for the Composer and listen to with the XLR connector from JPS on the Teac UD-701N. The copper in the cable is not varnished, unlike other litz wires (litz wire). That’s why the tube and cable sheath give such an amazing effect. The main dielectric is air. It turned out to be a lightweight cable for composers, very convenient. You don’t feel it with the headphones. Nothing pulls anywhere. It sounds amazing. I’ve already written about it in detail.

I made another cable. It’s in the photo. It’s the latest development from neotech cable featuring copper with graphene technology. Unlike other cable manufacturers (especially Chinese ones), graphene is not applied to the surface but is integrated into the copper structure itself. This is the G-UPOCC cable line.
I made it with a 4.4 pentaconn connector using the EarrBond plug. It’s an outstanding plug, currently the best in terms of sound quality, even better than the branded Pentaconn plug. I’m waiting for an XLR to 4.4 adapter to compare the sound. However, I’ve already listened to the composers with the Luxury Precision EA4 + LPP6Pro. With this cable, the composers sounded amazing – detailed and rich sound, excellent bass response, pristine midrange, and extended high frequencies. If I were listening to music on the go, I would pair my composers with the Luxury Precision EA4 portable amplifier. They sounded absolutely fantastic together, both in tube mode and AB amplification. But of course, a stationary setup is definitely better! )

PS:
The neotech cable G-UPOCC is waiting for its portable source for composers. Most likely, it will be the latest QLS MUB5. It’s a Discrete R2R portable DAC + headphone amp. Many people are eagerly awaiting it. Clark has done an amazing job on it and deserves maximum respect! He doesn’t release an incomplete R2R to the market that doesn’t sound EXCELLENT! This is what it means when a product is brought to completion! As they say, there are many good players on the market, but only a few of them are truly perfected.

Recalling the recent video interview with the guys from AA, who also deserve maximum respect for their hard work and perseverance in creating the best solution when developing composers and accessories. The R2R should be an absolutely amazing portable combination with the composers!

 

[noplsestar]

Could you please tell me which particular arcticcables model you are planning to switch to, if I may ask? The thing is that arcticcables’ entire top-line range has a very large cross-section, including 16-conductor options. While that’s impressive, it affects usability. I had the Norn Audio Vygarde hybrid cable (copper + silver), which was definitely better than the stock cable in terms of sound quality, but it was not suitable for composers due to its heavy weight. It literally pulled the headphones down, so I sold it.

If anyone is interested in my recommendations regarding a cable for composers:

1. Do not get a thick cable with more than 8 conductors. 8 conductors is the maximum. The conductor thickness should be 28-26 AWG. Do not go for larger cross-sections or 16 conductors. These will be heavy cables that will pull your composers down. You need to choose a light, flexible cable.
2. I do not recommend silver for composers. Composers are on the bright side. Silver will add even more brightness and detail, especially in the upper midrange. Dark silver is extremely rare and hard to find. But even so, the detail level will be higher, which is unnecessary since it’s already at a level unmatched by many competitors. Even hybrid options like the Norn Audio Vygarde enhance this area. And there’s no need to enhance it. Get the best copper for composers. Copper is perfect.
3. Do not get rhodium or silver connectors; only copper. It doesn’t matter if it’s 4.4 or XLR, etc. Only copper! For 4.4, it’s EarrBond or the branded Pentaconn. Rhodium spoils the upper register, making the high-frequency sound unnatural.
4. If you take a large cable, you won’t be able to install it in the small connectors of composers. It simply won’t fit. 8 conductors of 26 AWG fit just barely to close the banana plug cover. And even that can only be done by an experienced cable solderer. No 16 conductors will fit there! And most importantly!!! Pay attention! The connectors that AA offers to print on their website using a 3D printer are huge and bulky. They are 3 times larger than what is sold on AliExpress. Composers are elegant, lightweight headphones; do not ruin their usability with huge, heavy cables. It’s a bad idea. I dismantled those connectors from the Norn Audio Vygarde before selling it. It’s certainly an aesthetic horror… What NOMAX writes a lot about. I understand him and support him, so I ask cable makers to create only the best, beautiful, and convenient for my composer! Nothing else.

My main cable is the Abyss JPS Labs Superconductor HP upgrade cable set for Abyss DIANA. It’s pure copper cable with aluminum used in the manufacturing process, which I modified for the Composer and listen to with the XLR connector from JPS on the Teac UD-701N. The copper in the cable is not varnished, unlike other litz wires (litz wire). That’s why the tube and cable sheath give such an amazing effect. The main dielectric is air. It turned out to be a lightweight cable for composers, very convenient. You don’t feel it with the headphones. Nothing pulls anywhere. It sounds amazing. I’ve already written about it in detail.

I made another cable. It’s in the photo. It’s the latest development from neotech cable featuring copper with graphene technology. Unlike other cable manufacturers (especially Chinese ones), graphene is not applied to the surface but is integrated into the copper structure itself. This is the G-UPOCC cable line.
I made it with a 4.4 pentaconn connector using the EarrBond plug. It’s an outstanding plug, currently the best in terms of sound quality, even better than the branded Pentaconn plug. I’m waiting for an XLR to 4.4 adapter to compare the sound. However, I’ve already listened to the composers with the Luxury Precision EA4 + LPP6Pro. With this cable, the composers sounded amazing – detailed and rich sound, excellent bass response, pristine midrange, and extended high frequencies. If I were listening to music on the go, I would pair my composers with the Luxury Precision EA4 portable amplifier. They sounded absolutely fantastic together, both in tube mode and AB amplification. But of course, a stationary setup is definitely better! )

PS:
The neotech cable G-UPOCC is waiting for its portable source for composers. Most likely, it will be the latest QLS MUB5. It’s a Discrete R2R portable DAC + headphone amp. Many people are eagerly awaiting it. Clark has done an amazing job on it and deserves maximum respect! He doesn’t release an incomplete R2R to the market that doesn’t sound EXCELLENT! This is what it means when a product is brought to completion! As they say, there are many good players on the market, but only a few of them are truly perfected.

Recalling the recent video interview with the guys from AA, who also deserve maximum respect for their hard work and perseverance in creating the best solution when developing composers and accessories. The R2R should be an absolutely amazing portable combination with the composers!

Hi there, it seems you haven’t heard a silver cable from Arctic Cables. They sound nothing like a typical silver cable. The ones from Lavricables sound like typical silver cables, not the Arctic! They sound natural, don’t change the sound of the headphone but just elevate what’s there. I have the Aeris with the Composer and this combo is nothing but great.
If you take your time to read the Arctic thread (maybe search for Euphoria impressions), you could see that every single person who buys a silver cable from them is stunned that it doesn’t reflect the typical „silver cable“ sound.

In addition I want to add that the weight is a personal decision. What’s heavy for you could be just fine for anyone else.
Also what fits into the Composer‘s plugs depends on the expertise of the Arctic Cables technicians. They will see what’s possible and if it’s possible they will make it happen.

Also: I had the Mub1 in for review. Was good at that time. But I sold it after testing the CMA18P. And then I sold the CMA18P when testing the Calyx K on the right source. So I will test the Mub5 but I am definitely not getting my hopes high

 

[Zmey69]

Arctic Cables

in any case, this is just my opinion, as a person who has made a pair of cables for compositor and passed certain tests. Send your results by cable. It will be interesting

 

[TRHH]

The Composer has a sensitivity: 112dBspl/V

But what is the sensitivity in dB/mW?

Thanks

 

[plakat]

The Composer has a sensitivity: 112dBspl/V

But what is the sensitivity in dB/mW?

Thanks

That would be ~99 dB/mW at 22Ohm

 

[TRHH]

That would be ~99 dB/mW at 22Ohm

Thanks @plakat

If you add the information from AA - 112dBspl/V and 22 Ohm - into this tool, you get a different number:

https://benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/calculators/headphone-sensitivity-converter

Same goes for this tool:

https://reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/dbv-dbmw.php#gsc.tab=0

 

[stersa]

Undoubted synergy...as it could not be otherwise. LAIV Stack as a DAC and PRE...

Best Regards

Sisco

 

[Nomax]

Yes, as I have already mentioned several times, it depends very much on how you control the Full Score One amplifier correctly

NOMAX

PS.The Composer on this amplifier can sound anything......from mediocre to excellent
I would advise everyone to connect something to this amplifier that has at least a SNR and a dynamic range of at least 128 or even more
(My playing partner for the Full Score One even offers values above this)

Nice Weekend to all.... .... I have a date with Steve and Willie
(Yes, forty years have flown by.....but the melody and the lyrics from 1983 are still relevant today)

 

[Zmey69]

LAIV Stack

And if you connect without the Full Score One, is the stack from the LAIV amplifier enough? The LAIV is a very interesting R2R stack, the only thing is that you also need to purchase a streamer for it, or connect some of source, and that’s all extra expenses

 

[stersa]

And if you connect without the Full Score One, is the stack from the LAIV amplifier enough? The LAIV is a very interesting R2R stack, the only thing is that you also need to purchase a streamer for it, or connect some of source, and that’s all extra expenses

LAIV Stack gives very good sound,dynamics,soundstage,but it’s maybe too powerful for The composer
As a Dac and pre for me it’s better
I m waiting maybe the best headphone for LAIV HPA..
SUSVARA OG
Witg RME ADI with 7 volts pre out

I ll comment the impressions

Best Refards

Sisco

 

[b000merang]

Received my suede pads this week. Soundwise I can join other comments before: More depth in soundstage and a slight modified tonality.
BUT:
With all this talk about price and quality, I wanted to ask you something, since Nomax has repeatedly emphasized how difficult it is to get the cover over the foam without wrinkles. So, do you think this is "wrinkle-free"?

Can other owners of the suede pads please show photos to see if this fold is common, or has my pad actually failed quality control in terms of being wrinkle-free?
Please provide feedback so I can possibly file a complaint about the pads in time.