VANA Ltd. Chosen as US Distributor for New Audiophile Gear by Austrian Audio, Based in Vienna
Austrian Audio, known for professional-grade equipment since its inception in 2017 after the AKG offices closed in Vienna, is now branching into high-end home audio. Founded by 23 former AKG employees, including three directors, the company aims to honor its manufacturing legacy while innovating in the industry.
Having made its mark in the professional market, Austrian Audio is introducing its inaugural products tailored for discerning home listeners. The company’s premier consumer offerings, slated for release in December 2023 and January 2024, include a reference-grade headphone and a headphone amplifier.
The Composer Headphone
Featuring an impressive frequency range of 5 Hz to 44 kHz and an astonishingly low Total Harmonic Distortion of less than 0.1% (up to three times lower than some high-priced competitors), The Composer promises exceptional clarity, intricate detail, and authentic sound reproduction.
The open-back design of The Composer incorporates the acclaimed Hi-X (High Excursion) technology used in Austrian Audio’s professional headphones, housing a 49mm driver cleverly integrated into the cup with ample space for enhanced airflow, ensuring an optimal fit for any ear shape.
The HI-X49 DLC driver’s diaphragm is coated with diamond-like carbon, imparting exceptional rigidity and shifting the break-up frequencies to higher levels. This critical feature influences the membrane behavior, ensuring precise sound reproduction.
The ear pads attach magnetically, allowing for easy replacement or swapping. The earcup assembly boasts a precision-machined ring magnet system utilizing powerful N52 grade neodymium magnets. Prioritizing comfort, The Composer features tiltable earcups with four adjustable positions, memory foam earpads, and a breathable mesh headband.
With a low-sensitivity, 22-ohm impedance, The Composer is compatible with a wide range of devices. Weighing only 400 grams and designed for flat-folding, these headphones are convenient for travel, wear, and storage. Various connectivity options are catered to with included cables: 3.5mm, XLR 4-pin, and 4.4mm Pentaconn.
Full Score One Headphone Amplifier
Complementing The Composer, Austrian Audio introduces its debut headphone amplifier, Full Score One, designed to exceed the requirements of both home and professional setups. It effortlessly drives a diverse range of headphones, from low-impedance models starting at 10 Ohms to high-sensitivity headphones surpassing 300 Ohms.
The main amplifier comprises:
- Wide-band, fully symmetrical voltage feedback circuit with a triple emitter follower output stage biased in class B
- High-speed, complementary push-pull gain stage
- Cascoded, parallel differential input stage
This design results in extremely low Total Harmonic Distortion across all output levels and frequency ranges, ensuring every detail of the recording is faithfully reproduced, even with less sensitive headphones requiring more amplification.
The volume potentiometer utilizes a custom curve for smoother adjustment in lower regions, eliminating the need for a gain switch.
An exceptional feature of the amp is its optional True Transient Technology (TTT), toggleable via a dedicated button on the chassis. TTT faithfully delivers sharp audio transients with a short, voltage-invariant rise time and a high maximum slew rate. This feature is designed to be switchable, considering its compatibility with older audio productions designed for slower systems.
Both The Composer and Full Score One made their debut at CanJam SoCal in October. Detailed specifications, retail information, and comprehensive product overviews will be progressively released from the first week of January 2024. The Composer will be available for purchase in the US starting December 2023, while Full Score One is expected to be available by mid-January 2024. Recommended retail prices will be 2699 USD for The Composer and 1599 USD for the Full Score One, respectively.