Austrian Audio’s new flagship headphones and amplifier could make the perfect desktop hi-fi system

Austrian Audio Composer and Full Score One
(Image credit: Austrian Audio)

Two exciting announcements from Austrian Audio today, as the Vienna-based company reveals The Composer premium reference headphones alongside its debut headphone amp, the Full Score One.

We’ve reviewed Austrian Audio headphones previously, however, they were all under the £300 mark, such as the five-star Hi-X65 and Hi-X15 headphones, but The Composer headphones are a new premium step up.

With a price tag of £2,249 / $2,699 / €2,499, The Composer reference headphones are significantly more expensive.

The Composer over-ear headphones feature a 4.9cm high-excursion driver, an open-back design, and include detachable cables to suit a number of different connections. This includes 3.5mm TRS, XLR, and 4.4 Pentaconn style connectors.

At 22 ohms, these headphones should be right at home hooked up to most devices. However, if you do need more juice, Austrian Audio’s Full Score One could step in to get the job done. 

The Full Score One headphone amp is set to cost £1299 / $1499 / €1499. Austrian Audio says that it was designed to be just as suitable for use at home as well as in high-end production settings. 

This amp can handle both low-impedance headphones down to 10 ohms as well as high-impedance models over 300 ohms, with the specs quoting 600 ohms as a top figure. This should make it a compatible choice of amp for just about most pairs of cans you’re likely to come across.

The Full Score One features two XLR and two RCA inputs, as well as two 6.35mm jack outputs and an XLR output. Digital inputs are absent from the amp. 

Both new models are available from December 2023.

We’re very interested in seeing what Austrian Audio’s new high-end offerings are capable of once we’ve had a chance to test them in our listening rooms. 

MORE:

Our picks for the best audiophile headphones in 2023

Closed-back vs open-back headphones: which one is best for you?

Best headphone amplifiers 2023: boost your personal listening

Staff Writer

Ainsley Walker is a staff writer at What Hi-Fi?. He studied music journalism at university before working in a variety of roles including as a freelance journalist and teacher. Growing up in a family of hi-fi enthusiasts naturally influenced his interest in the topic. Outside of work, Ainsley can be found producing music, tinkering with retro tech, or cheering on Luton Town.

Read more
Austrian Audio Full Score One headphone amp on desk
Head-fi nuts, there’s a new class-leading analogue headphone amp in town
Austrian Audio Full Score One headphone amp on desk
Austrian Audio Full Score One
Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa on a mixing desk
Audio-Technica's open-back reference headphones blend sonic precision with all-day comfort
A close-up of the FiiO FT7 headphones' earcups.
FiiO's FT7 flagship headphones take the fight to pricier rivals
13 of the world’s most expensive pairs of headphones
Sennheiser HD 550 on a blue background
Aimed at gamers and audiophiles alike, Sennheiser's detail-hungry wired cans seek to put you fully in the sonic picture
Latest in Headphones
Sony WF-C710N earbuds lined up in different finishes
They’re official! Sony finally takes the wraps off its WF-C710N budget wireless earbuds
Sony WH-1000XM4 on a table with a plant
Some of our favourite-ever five-star wireless headphones have plummeted to nearly half price – £172 off!
Fiio FX17 in-ear headphones
Fiio's flagship in-ear headphones are packed full of drivers to put your music in pole position
Apple AirPods Max 2024 in blue finish on bookshelf
Lossless audio and wired listening finally come to the AirPods Max
Sennheiser HD 550 on a blue background
Aimed at gamers and audiophiles alike, Sennheiser's detail-hungry wired cans seek to put you fully in the sonic picture
Bone conduction headphones
Samsung to launch its first bone conduction headphones this summer, report says
Latest in News
Sony WF-C710N earbuds lined up in different finishes
They’re official! Sony finally takes the wraps off its WF-C710N budget wireless earbuds
A flower on a TV screen with a gem in the middle.
TCL's new Mini LED TV range comes with huge brightness gains, reduced blooming and souped-up sound
Sony WH-1000XM4 on a table with a plant
Some of our favourite-ever five-star wireless headphones have plummeted to nearly half price – £172 off!
RCA Roku TV 24-inch (RK24HF1) small TV
My favourite kitchen TV has dropped to under £100 for Amazon Spring Deal Days
Sony XR-48A90K
Amazon has slashed the price of this five-star Sony OLED, but we have found an even better deal
Fiio FX17 in-ear headphones
Fiio's flagship in-ear headphones are packed full of drivers to put your music in pole position