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  #1  
Old 09-29-2020, 05:23 PM
PeterMusic PeterMusic is offline
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Default Into the Abyss?

So the pandemic has me thinking it's time for a pair of awesome headphones, and I've read the raves on the Abyss. But apparently there's no dealer in the Boston area, and the Abyss online store has a 20% restocking fee. I don't begrudge them that, but a $1K gamble (plus the headphone amp!) is mighty steep. Has anybody had any luck demoing these in New England?

Thanks
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  #2  
Old 09-29-2020, 06:13 PM
PHC1 PHC1 is offline
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Weight... It is a huge consideration with headphones.

I went through a headphone phase acquiring quite a few and quickly learned not only what I enjoyed in terms of a sonic signature but how much comfort matters when listening for extended periods of time in headphones.


I don't have Arnold Shwartznegger neck but I am not a scrawny guy either.

The problem with headphone listening is that they absolutely have to be comfortable or they start to distract from the listening enjoyment. If they don't fit well on the head or the weight starts to fatigue the neck, it is all over for enjoyment... the moment the fidgeting starts, it is bye bye listening session no matter how magical it was...

I do listen quite often in the late evenings and my listening sessions often extend into a few hours or more depending on the mood. The tubes are either lit at my computer desk or over by the stereo rack but I tend to listen to tubes approx 95% of the time. If I am in the mood to fire up the tubes, it usually means extended listening sessions because the longer it goes, the better everything starts to sound and I really get into the listening bliss.


Longest listening session in one of my absolute favorites HD-600 was 5.25hrs (260g)

Longest listening session in my current "reference" ZMF Auteur Blackwood is 2.75hrs. (482g)

I absolutely loved the Audeze LCD-3 and nearly cried when put them up for sale but the longest listening session was 1.25hrs. (543g)


So in conclusion, I hope you are considering the Abyss Diana Phi at (350g) and not the torture looking device AB-1266 at (640g)
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  #3  
Old 09-29-2020, 07:10 PM
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I have them, but I am not doing any demo’s for the foreseeable future. I also have Stax, Sennheiser, and every model Audeze, as well as many others.

I know that doesn’t help you either. I have a dealer account with Woo Audio.
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FLORIDA
MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES
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MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES

Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES
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  #4  
Old 09-29-2020, 07:24 PM
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My Stackzilla Rack;

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Ivan
FLORIDA
MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES
CAPE COD

MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES

Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES
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  #5  
Old 09-29-2020, 08:07 PM
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The Cable Company has a headphone “lending library,” they charge 5% of the retail price plus you pay shipping. If you buy, the 5% is applied to the price.
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  #6  
Old 10-01-2020, 08:39 PM
PeterMusic PeterMusic is offline
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Wow! Thanks for the great responses. Extremely helpful. Ivan, if not for covid, I would drive to the Cape. Someday, I will hope for another excuse! I just visited The Cable Company website. I will drop $250 to borrow a pair. Not sure if I will try the Dianas or the neck busters; but either way I will monitor comfort/endurance before buying.

Cheers!
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Old 10-01-2020, 10:24 PM
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I've recently demoed both the 1266 Phi TC and the Diana Phi from my local dealer and found both to be great headphones. The 1266 are the better headphone purely in terms of sound. I would highly recommend them if you plan on using them strictly in a stationary position. These are not headphones that accommodate moving around while wearing them. They take a little bit to fine tune the fit, but are quite comfortable once dialed in. The Diana Phi, on the other hand retain much of the sound of the 1266 but with a narrower sound stage and a bit less overall impact. The Diana feel much more like normal headphones and are more accommodating to moving around while wearing.

If you are going to demo from the Cable Company and are already going to put money toward a headphone I would highly recommend giving both a try. The 1266 are worth it in terms of sound quality, but if the unconventional fit isn't for you, the Diana might be right.

I would also recommend the Focal Utopia if you are okay going outside the Abyss brand.
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  #8  
Old 10-02-2020, 02:31 PM
PeterMusic PeterMusic is offline
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Thanks, Dan--

I tried the Focal Utopias for a few days already. They were very special compared to others I tried, but they did not move me the way my speakers do, and that's really what I'm shooting for. It could be because I ran them directly from my Mc C22 pre-amp and I really needed a headphone amp. Though my local dealer is excellent, and I think he would have loaned me an amp if that was the case.

I visited The Cable Company website again, and it looks like they will loan me both the 1266 and Diana simultaneously along with a headphone amp, so based on input from you and PHC's warning on weight, that's what I expect to do.

Aiming to schedule trial for late this month!
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Stax SR-009S with SRM-700T
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