Yes, I know the feeling. I bought the Composer on spec - imported - as there are/were none in Australian stores. I've done this before - you win some, you lose some. Often there's a decent used market for up-to-date phones, of course - and I've sold a few in my time to recover some of the...

Well, that is topical! I don't think I can add anything of substance to what I've written, and my personal preferences are probably clear enough. But I do think the trade-offs between these two phones are complex - hard to quantify. I can readily imagine listeners coming to opposite...

I'm with you on not wanting to remove the fine cover - a bridge too far! I don't know how Keith Howard calibrates his measurements - although he seems extremely careful.

I would add that, more than with most other phones I've owned, small 'improvements' seem audible. For example, I'm generally sceptical re cable swapping - but I think it's clear that moving from unbalanced to balanced cables can make a difference. Not because of any special cable architecture...

I suggest prospective purchasers listen to them all and make up their own minds.

For what it's worth, I think you're right. And not sufficiently well understood. I've found my Moon 430HA allows it to work well - which to my ear means improved control and weight. Tremendous phones!

I couldn't agree more. A significant improvement too. Keith Howard (HiFi News) recommended this some years ago - when reviewing the original HD800 actually - and repeated it when reviewing the HD800S years later. I'm surprised it's not more often done. He also mentioned in passing that this...

I’ve outlined some impressions and reflections by reference to the Sennheiser HD800S and the Audio Technica ADX5000 – and thought I might look at the AKG K812 too. My sense is that those of us who have had good experiences with the AKG may also be interested in the Composer. While I no longer...

I'll see if I can hunt some good recordings up ...

I guess we might remain at cross purposes. I've tried to describe why I like the Sennheiser and the Audio Technica when it comes to classical music. All phones (and other components for that matter) involve engineering compromises - I think the best we can do is avoid those that seem most...

I think that's true to an extent - although in my experience the basic character of decent phones doesn't change between decent amps having sufficient power to drive them. I'm interested here in a very critical consideration of these phones - which are all ambitious exercises in audio...

Having outlined some impressions and reflections by reference to the HD800S, I thought it might be useful to do the same by reference to the Audio Technica ADX5000 – which I’ve also owned and enjoyed for some time. Like the Sennheiser, the ADX5000 has a spacious, uncongested presentation. The...

Couldn't agree more - seeing it from another perspective is always interesting. One question that's occurred to me after reading some other views is whether the Composer reflects a larger move towards a market interested in more 'planar' tuning. I noticed some Oratory measurements which I take...

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...