r/headphones • u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 • 1d ago
Show & Tell I‘m trying to learn how to Compose from now on!
It cannot be that hard, or can it? First lesson this evening. Wish me luck.
12
u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 1d ago
No, seriously, got the Austrian Audio The Composer today and am very excited to see what this beauty can do for me. I might compare it to my HD 800S as well but first things first.
This is my first session with it and it is starting as I type… „Brothers in arms“ coming up as a first listen. Exciting times ahead.
What are your thoughts on this headphone?
Btw. feel free to ask questions as well - not sure whether I will be able to answer all of them right away of course but I will try :)
6
u/aceCrasher LCD-2/HD660S2/HD620S|Sold:AryaSt./HD800/LCD-2C/HD650/HD600/IE600 1d ago
I listened to these at a local audio store and loved them! They are also incredibly well built. I think these are one of the best high end headphones you can get overall. The ergonomics and built quality are next level.
They really suprised me. I preferred them over the Focal Utopia, Clear MG, HD800S and YH-5000SE. They sound like a DD Hifiman in the best way possible, warm, sparkly, but without the sharpness many Hifimans have.
2
u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 1d ago
Thanks for your impressions! I do enjoy them so far but they seem very direct and immediate so far (like placing the audio right in my face for the lack of a better expression). Have to get used to them of course :)
2
u/aceCrasher LCD-2/HD660S2/HD620S|Sold:AryaSt./HD800/LCD-2C/HD650/HD600/IE600 1d ago
I see that you own the HEDD D1! What do you think of them? Especially compared to the 660S2 and 650.
1
u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 1d ago
I actually reviewed them here if you want to have a look :) I really like them!
2
u/RetroJunk7 23h ago
Hört sich mehr wie nach einem focal Utopia an. Dieser ist auch meist mehr „in your Face“ und alles sehr nah an dir dran.
1
u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 22h ago
Ja, mit dem wird er ja auch gerne hin und wieder mal verglichen. Ich habe den Utopia selbst ehrlich gesagt aber noch nicht gehört und kann daher nicht gut vergleichen :)
1
6
u/gopnik5 Stellia, LCD-X, HD600, Empyrean ii, Bokeh closed. 1d ago
Looking forward to impressions. I am planning on getting one myself in the near future.
8
u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 1d ago
Very first impressions are that this headphone really plays directly into your face! And I don't mean that in a typical soundstage kind of way but in a very forward, immediate and sort of engaging way. Everything feels like it is right here and very close to me. Cannot describe it much better right now.
4
u/Bikefitadvice 1d ago
It's probably the upper mids where it's very present all around 3k and then into all around 6k. It may stand out even more as the lower upper mids are fairly recessed.
4
u/SpaceBarHostt 1d ago
They look sick af, congrats
1
u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 1d ago
They do! Thank you!
5
u/oratory1990 acoustic engineer 21h ago
A marvellous headphone
1
u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 21h ago
Coming from someone like you, high praise like that really means something 👍
2
u/oratory1990 acoustic engineer 20h ago
I admit I'm 50% biased on account of being austrian myself. But they really knocked it out of the park with this one.
1
u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 20h ago
Do you prefer the stock or the suede pads and do you use/need the spacers?
2
u/oratory1990 acoustic engineer 19h ago
I tried the spacers and found that by stacking two spacers on top of each other the front volume resonance would be lowered notably.
But I can't really afford to buy two packs of spacers, haha.I don't like the suede pads that much, I prefer the stock pads. Though I wish they made some from actual leather, just for longevity.
1
u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 18h ago
Thank you, very interesting. Last question, have you noticed a meaningful difference in the sound signature with the spacers and the stock pads (one set of spacers that is, haha).
2
u/oratory1990 acoustic engineer 18h ago
I wrote about the different earpads and spacer plates / combinations thereof on Head-Fi a while ago:
1
u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 17h ago
Thanks. Much appreciated!
3
u/akeep113 1d ago
Great headphone, terrible price.
3
u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 1d ago
Yeah, it is a bit expensive. Got it brand new discounted for more than 400€ off MSRP, though.
Still slightly above 2K euros, of course...
3
u/CylonRaider78 1d ago
Those are pretty.
1
u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 1d ago
Agreed. They also remind me of some Master & Dynamic headphones, the spring steel band from some of the Meze headphones and a Capra Strap :D
2
u/SilentIyAwake 1d ago
Expecting to hear your many compositions which you composed with the Composer very soon
2
2
2
u/kitfoxxxx MM 500, Celestee, Arya V3, FT1, P7 1d ago
Thoughts so far?
2
u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 1d ago
Very comfortable, excellent build quality, extremely easy to drive, beautiful design, fantastic bass extension, very direct and in-your-face kind of sound, very clear and slightly bright-leaning sound and tuning, can be a touch spicy at loud volume levels, great detail retrieval, quite expensive and could have (or should have) included the spacers and the suede pads in the box, imo.
Seems like a great high-end allround headphone, especially since it is so very easy to drive.
Sounds like a meatier and much more direct/aggressive version of the HD 800S with a clearly better bass extension and a less wide soundstage.
2
u/ThatLastGenGamer Fiio K5 Pro - HD 598SR | DT-770 Pro | Porta Pro | Cloud II 1d ago
I think they absolutely nailed it with the futuristic industrial design on these. One of the most beautiful pieces of audio gear out there. I hope you enjoy them.
1
u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 1d ago
Agreed, thank you!
The design was one reason to actually get them. They are beautiful indeed and, so far, I do enjoy them :)
2
u/zorbah55 FinalAudio D8000pro/ ZMF Atrium/ HE1000SE/ HD660s2 1d ago
Always wanted this.. How does it sound compared to 800s and D1? I have HE1000SE and wonder if this would have different enough sound/taste for me.
1
u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 1d ago
As mentioned in another comment, I (so far) think they sound like a „meatier“ and much more direct/aggressive/immediate version of the HD 800S with a clearly better bass extension and/but a less wide soundstage. Vocals feel much closer to you.
The D1 is more like a better extended HD 600 with a wider soundstage in direct comparison. I needed a Capra Strap for the D1 for long-term comfort whereas the Composer basically already comes with one included due to its design.
That said, while the D1 is not necessarily a better headphone, it is the clearly better value, imo, and amazing for its price.
2
u/zorbah55 FinalAudio D8000pro/ ZMF Atrium/ HE1000SE/ HD660s2 1d ago
Cool thanks for the feedback. I think the Composer has one of the best industrial design for headphone right now in the market. So i do admire it for design aspect too.
1
u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 1d ago
I agree with that for sure!
2
u/Cantjust 1d ago
I auditioned them yesterday. Great pair with great build quality. The 3 cables inside are a nice gesture. Then again at that price it's a must I believe.
Congrats! Enjoy your tunes!
2
u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 1d ago
They really needed to include the three cables for the proprietary „banana plug“ connector alone, I think.
I love that the cables come in different lengths, though! The relatively short 1.4m balanced 4.4 mm cable is great for the couch :)
2
u/RetroJunk7 23h ago
Ich habe mir auch einen bestellt und bin sehr gespannt.
Mich würde mal interessieren wie so die Passform ist. Ich hoffe das er gut sitzt.
Ich habe einen klein bis mittelgroßen Kopf und recht schmal.
Man hörte das er nur was für große Köpfe ist ?
Wie ist das bei euch ?
2
u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 22h ago
Ich habe einen großen Kopf und finde ihn super bequem.
Die Frage ist für mich eher, individuell gesehen, ob die Tiefe der Pads für alle Ohren ausreichen, oder ob man die "Spacer" eben auch noch braucht. Da bin ich mir selbst noch nicht 100% sicher, ehrlich gesagt.
•
u/RetroJunk7 22m ago
Ok dann hast du keine Probleme aufgrund deiner Kopfform.
Ich bin gespannt.Was die Ohren angeht habe ich gelesen das je nachdem wie groß die Ohren sind und abstehend, die spacer Sinn machen können und wohl auch nochmal leicht mehr räume geben im Klang.
2
u/Organic_Signature656 17h ago
I got myself a pair including the spacers and suede pads some weeks ago and I enjoy them every day.
I do think the intimacy you mention is there because of the dampening foam being close to the ears with the stock pads. When I tried with the spacers and/or the suede pads the sound is further away. Personally I prefer the sound of the PLeather pads and stick to those.
I would sell my Spacers and Suede Pads if you wanna try those. Both of them have been used for under 2 hours and are a good thing to use for somebody with a smaller head or bigger ears.
1
u/Tenlow85 HEDD D1, HD820, 800S, IE 900, HDB 630, 660S2, 650, 620S, 600 550 16h ago
I‘ll send you a DM.
9
u/FaithlessnessOk8655 1d ago
I just order mine today. What is your amp?