I heard a much earlier version of these, and they are one of the most satisfying headphone I have ever heard. This was at a headphone meet years ago. I will never be able to get these. But it was fun to hear what is possible. The Woo Audio Amplifier it was connected too was epic. I never had a better time listening to music with Headphones ever. Some people can't handle the truth as Nicholson said in that movie. But I was blown away by those headphones and was over 5 years ago! These I can only imagine much more these are compared to those I heard. Everything else I heard was downhill from there. There was some amazing stuff. I kept coming back to the Woo Audio and Abyss setup, it was just amazing.
Vincent. If I told you to save up for a $6k car ( a hoopdie junker) you would say why would I limit you. If you want these bad enough start saving and working for them now. Give it a few years and I know you can achieve this. Cheers
My original Abyss 1266's right driver just died recently all of a sudden. Kudos for Abyss to fix (upgrade) the drivers albeit at a steep price. Would have appreciated it more if there's any explanation why the driver failed and how it could have been prevented in the first place knowing DMS saying "everything about this is designed to last your entire lifetime" in Linus' review.
I have replaced my Hifiman HE1000SE with the Abyss PHI TC and for me personally, the Abyss is significantly better than the HE1000SE in every area. I find the Abyss even more comfortable to wear because it does not generate any pressure on the ear pads like normal headphones.
@@vancybergoth Interesting, so how do you wear it then? When I tried it on, the dealer adjustrd it so that would not clamp at all, so it was basically swinging about on the suspension band as soon as my head moved.
@@allydea Abyss Headphones made a video "Set up the AB-1266 TC Headphone" this video was very helpful and I don't have the feeling that the Abyss is sitting unsafe on my head. As mentioned in this video you have to get used to it and a quick visit to a dealer will not be enough
JOSHUA - I use the SUSVARA, at my friends mixing studio, for the last year. If you gently pull the ear pads away from your ear (about 1/4 inch - 1/2 inch) you get the same insane bass that you are describing from the ABYSS 1266. The bass sounds like it is coming out of the studio walls. I can feel the bass rumble from the drivers that is way below my hearing. It takes the SUSVARA to a whole new level. You can even swivel the drivers while they are hovering above your ears to move the bass and stage extension aft or forward your center stage perspective.We are creating ear pad extensions that only have three points to touch your head. They are kinda like DEKONI NUGGETS. Two nugget extensions at 10 and 2 o'clock above your ears. Also, one nugget extension at 6 o'clock below your ears. These position points provide enough stability on your head but also allow the SUSVARA headphones to hover about 1/4 -1/2 inch of space between your ears and the actual pads. I talked to METAL571 and RESOLVE (HEADPHONE SHOW) about this audio phenomenon. Andrew (RESOLVE) is aware of this effect and confirmed this factor with the SUSVARA. Perhaps, this is why ABYSS wants their 1266 headphone to kinda hover or not touch your ears with too much clamp to create this bass extension that you are describing. G
I mean they make the screws for it in-house. "Nothing met their standards"... Here I am sitting here hoping some Chi-Fi company can duplicate the performance but in a less expensive over the top package.
@@sitseout That's absurd. You really believe that? I image Joe Skubinsky and his team sitting around a table discussing their 1266 design and someone says "So far we can only charge $4500, let's manufacture our own screws so we can charge $5000". I suppose that's how it happened. Not.
@@enkahhh its to increase the percived price. Not the cost in itself. Joshua has talk about It in a couple of videos. I think one is called "are flagships worth It?"
@@vangledosh True, you have to factor in the cost of the entire chain. I like good quality sound so I have a 6-driver custom IEM (Unique Melody Miracle) which I bought many years ago for ~1k USD, powered by a Chord Mojo DAC/amp. But this is the upper limit of what I'm willing to spend. "Ordinary" people don't even understand why my IEMs are so expensive (when in fact there are many IEMs that are much more expensive).
The perfect duo; these and the Empire Ears Odin (for on the go). Both insanely expensive but one could hope to win the lottery and retire from the audiophile game with just those two.
Great review! The 1266 Phi TC is a top 3-5 HP available bar none... Raal, Susvara, Orpheus, Stax, and Shang Gr la would all be arguable on that list as well. I would repeat again and again that if you're going to be the Phi TC you need to save $2k minimum for a decent enough amp to power it and at least another $1k for the Dac. Do not spend $5k on headphones and expect to get by with a topping A90/D90 as you will be disappointed.
I have the LCD-4 and Susvara to listen through the Chord Hugo TT2 DAC and M Scaler and I love them both. They are totally different animals and one sounds better than the other for certain kinds of music and not as good as the other in other kinds of music, etc. Of all the hi-fi reviewers I see on YT, I have to say I trust Joshua the most since he seems to hear things most closely to how I hear things. Hey, we all hear things very differently and no two people will ever hear things exactly the same but you always have to consider the reviewer's thoughts and opinions and examine if this person tends to hear things as you do. I'm extremely curious about this "Holy Grail" headphone and I already know it's a matter of time before I take the plunge. I just need to pay off a few things I mentioned above. Haha. I've been waiting for a while now for Joshua to do a review on this and all it does is get me that much closer to finally getting it. It'll be very funny to see myself or my wife wearing this but, hey, it's all about the sound quality, right?
Nice review as always :) Little bit of video feedback: There was noticeable noise in this video, which I don't usually seem to pick up in your videos. Signal path: Oneplus 7 Pro max vol. > OTG into Quidelix 5k (usb DAC mode, Performance + 1Vrms mode) > PC38X, I don't really think it was on my end, music didnt feature that same hiss.
I've had the pleasure of hearing both the Abyss 1266 and Stax 009S. My opinion? Jack Daniel's Old No.7 Tennessee Whiskey vs. Jonnie Walker Gold label Scotch Whisky. Pick your flavour... Oh, and more than most other headphones...the amplifiers count greatly towards the final sound. Probably more so for the 009S.
@@Serjgap Hmm, I'll try to break it down to the top level component differences: 1. Bass - The Abyss rules in this department. Unprecedented slam, lots of quantity, good quality. 009S Bass is slight but high quality (very amp dependent though). It's like being slapped in the face by a feisty 6ft Italian Super Model vs. the cute librarian. The librarian sure is desirable (in an intellectual sort of way), but you like the excitement and fire of the Super model. 2. Treble. Abyss has a little more emphasis on the leading edge (attack or fundamental). It is clear and high quality however (not piercing). The 009S however has Decay (harmonics) that seem to go on forever. Fundamental is still clear, of high quality but fast (gone before you know it). 3. Midrange. Nothing to see here...move along...move along. (both are good perhaps a bit diffuse). There is no one headphone to rule them all. I take the approach of owning least two of differing tonal signatures. One for daytime listening when you want some drive and energy (that would be the Abyss) and the other for the night time when your ears become more sensitive to treble and you just want to relax (009S). I own a few along these lines, eg: HifiMan HE6SE (Day) | Stax L700 (Night) Sennheiser HD600 (Day) | HD650 (Night) Sorry but I don't see much point in making statements on particular genres of Music / songs. Recording engineers are a random sort and it really comes down to how a track was mastered and that can determine which headphone is best for a given listening session...my opinion only of course. Hope that makes some sense.
I have this combo. Life is sweet :) the diana phi also sounds good on the wa33, as does the hd800s. The sr009 sounds great too. Variety is good in this hobby
@@Matthew-oh1wg i never heard the lcdi4 on a good system. And heard the z1r on a AK Khan. Not even close to the technical abilities of the Odin with the dx220 max. The sound is very 3 dimensional. Layers upon layers of detail and sound. I love it.
"You can tell you are listening to a processed version of a human voice, not a human voice" This was the issue with the Sony MDR-SA5000s I had back in the day. They were seen as the detail master but they just sounded off. Records I had heard 1000 times sounded very strange.
@@tweedpenguin712 I enjoy listening to them. Yes they have a treble and highs emphasis but they're also not without bass either. The bass is also pretty good on the diana phi. I have no financial interest except as a user of the products :)
@@tweedpenguin712 I wouldn't say it's a v shape. I have other headphones for v shape sound like Sony mdr-z1r. This is a lot clearer than that, treble and highs are more noticeable than z1r, but i dont think theyre piercing. They're enjoyable in their own different way. They're expensive but worthwhile for a different kind of sound. I also have stax sr9000 and those are much brighter than these, and yet I still enjoy those also. :)
It’s the mics used that the 1266 picks up on. Mic’s like the Earthworks SR40, the Lewitt 940 or 640 TS all produce a “they are not using a mic” effect.
Awesome stuff. These videos help me in understanding the limits and ranges in sound and I really enjoy them. So thanks! Any chance you remember the tracks that were used? There's the one at the beginning and also one at 5:30. No stress if you don't remember them off the top of your head. Take care!
Lol I'm not even in the ballpark 😂😂😂😂 I'm looking at the Beyerdynamic DT pro 1990 while currently still using my oppo PM-3's .... oh and currently bidding on a schiit stack
"....too crisp, almost alien..., 'strange vocal' ..." - even if I could afford them, they would be a big "?", despite other positive quantities. I would like to see measurements. I think the more we get into ultra hi-end, the stranger the product may sound. How about review of something more down to earth: Audio Technica ATH-R70X - open back, tailored towards studio applications, wearable without too much gimmicks, at not too challenging $350. A lot of people like them a lot, measures well. Time for Josh too put it on the table and compare against other studio based headphones, like DT-1990, Shures 1840, HD 6** series.
If you could afford these headphones you'd probably want to audition them first like most sane people who are about to drop this kind of money on a pair of headphones (yes, I deem most audiophiles sane). I knew I did. Even though I value Josh's judgement, his taste and preferences don't necessarily match mine and people do perceive the same sound differently. With the 1266, people's opinions seem to be split between love and hate with little in between. Especially when it comes to looks and comfort. Another reason to audition first.
I owned those headphones for about 3 weeks but they didn't convince me to keep them... After trying out the Abyss I went directly to Stax 009 and I don't regret it at all. If you ever have a chance in your life make sure to try the higher tier Stax like 007,009,009s. I think you might be surprised what they are capable of...
I have both these and the stax009. The amps i use to drive them are the bhse for the stax and wave for the 1266. The voicing on the stax is eerily good but the bass on the 1266 wins :) so depends on the mood and the songs as to which are better
@@antonhelsgaun Their build comfort and tonality is top notch. Detailed high end headphones sounds like tin can while empyrean sounding very impressive.
The issue with the vocals... could it be that you are finally hearing how the mic coloration sounds like without adding its own? Just a thought because I haven't heard these myself
When demoing these headphones, this is exactly what I thought I was hearing. It was quite apparent when comparing different Fleetwood mac albums, very noticable change in how her voice sounded.
After the revelation that Abyss' products are over priced botique headphones that measure like crap and have high amounts of distortion, I hope people stop listening to youtube reviewers like Joshua Valour, DMS, Zeos. So far, Resolve is the only decent reviewer left, everyone else is a paid shill.
I currently own the Raal Sr1a and I am saving to get the 1266 phi TC to compliment the Sr1a. I've heard from people who own both that the Sr1a is more technical(speed, resolution,texture, timbre,stage and imaging) than the 1266. However, the 1266 is more all around than the sr1a.
You sound like someone who loves wearing weird, uncomfortable stuff. I've also tried the headphones you mention and you couldn't pay me to use them. Just goes to show how different people are.
@@allydea at first, I didn't even care about the sr1a since I am skeptical about the design. However, it changed my mind once I heard it, that weirdo sings. Lol
Which headphones would compliment the ab1266? I have the ab1266 and I'm looking for something that will complete it, I don't want to get bored with the ab1266, so I need something when I want to change and take a small break from them...
Those are my end game lucky you have them on your head 19:17 my favorite word in this whole video hehehe 😁😁😁 those headphones are definitely at my alley I'm glad I have a small to medium ish head
For everyone pining to get the 1266 but not being able to afford it: look around for a second hand unit. I got my 1266 Phi (not TC) for way less than the Empyrean or the Diana V2. Don't forget that you need a good amp though as these headphones will reveal all the shortcomings of your chain. Even though for instance a Drop THX 789 will have the wattage to drive these, it wont do them justice.
That's the first time that I've heard a 789 not being enough, also what do you think I could find a second hand Empyrean or Diana V2 for if that's the case?
@@emmanuelferguson I didn't say the 789 can't drive the 1266 but it doesn't do it justice. I would consider such a setup to start off but in the long run I'd suggest saving up for something better. The 789 simply lacks resolution and sounds somewhat gray and dull IMHO. My point of reference is a Chord Hugo TT2 + mScaler.
@@emmanuelferguson he is right ... the 789 isnt good enough.. I have the 1266 with a 789 and thats the first time that the 789 isnt good enough but at about 60% volume you can listen see that the amplification in the 789 isnt up to the task.. But its a 300 Dollar Amp with a 5000 Dollar headphone so its a bit unfair :)
@@emmanuelferguson Have a look at hifishark for used prices. I sold my Empyrean for around 2000€. I'm afraid the Empyrean and the Diana V2 are still all the rage and not many can be found second hand. Good luck!
These could be audeze killers if they aren't careful.. seriously abyss is insane, though I'm sure audeze will keep up perfectly well.. they'll be innovating through and through
Wait...so....do you recommend them? Lmao with your Diana V2 review I definitely got the "if you have the money these are one of the best you can buy" message. With this review I am still confused if the V2 would be better?
Depends on what you want. If you're in in for pure detail, the 1266 are better. If you want a smoother sounding headphone that you can just put on which weighs a lot less than prolly the v2
Yes, but we would like Josh to review it - maybe it would change his perception of how headphones should sound like. Sennheiser was/is most of the time about making headphones that would sound more or less like acoustical event (without too much added fakeness), not studio manipulation, and unfortunately a lot of reviewers have their sound in mind when choosing and evaluating equipment. For me it's easier to listen to 6** series than say Beyers, yet DT-1990 in Josh's book sits higher than any of the 6** headphones.
@@pliedtka I'm not sure about your evaluation of Senn as a whole, but I listened to the Orpheus in the same session with the 1266 and Diana Phi and to my ears there was a night and day difference betwwen the two brands. I loved the Orpheus. It didn't blow my mind or anything (I have listened to too many headphones to have my mind blown at this point) but it was the best sound I had ever heard. It didn't take any getting used to (you know, that period of time your brain needs to adjust to the crap it's hearing). I just put them on and they sounded amazing straight away: very powerful while at the same time super natural. The Abyss completely failed to impress* stand alone (because I listened to them first) and even less so in contrast with the Orpheus afterwards. *it's possible that with the 1266 I may not have had the best fit. Back to your point, yes, it would be great to see Josh review the HE-1, his reviews are beautiful. Unfortunately, the HE-1s are hard to come by, especially for multiple days of listening, which I think is needed to form a correct opinion. And it pains me to say it, especially because I'm one of his patreon members (meaning that I really like his work), but I'm seeing some trends in Josh's review style that are starting to put me off. The production quality keeps getting better, but I sense a coruption of the opinions expressed therein. :-(
@@allydea What kind of corruption of opinion are you referring to? He has been doing quite a bit of super expensive gear lately and I suspect he's simply been spoiled by its sound quality.
@@enkahhh There's a lot to say here, but in short, I think his opinions were "cleaner" back when he was reviewing equipment sent in by "friends of the channel" who were actual users/owners instead of manufacturers or people dirrctly affiliated with manufacturers. Josh should be smart enough to know that while "all thoughts and opinions are his own", those thoughts and opinions are no longer unbiased/uncolored. I still think he's doing a good job staying objective, but this job is a lot harder now and you can only be so good at it. It's just a shame, because the amount of audience he has is not really enough to justify the effort he puts into his work, so I guess he is forced to look for alternative ways to keep the interesting content rolling.
I know its sort of a random headphone but I would love to see your review of the Koss KPH30i. I own it and its one of my favorite headphones I've listened to and an amazing value.
The HiFi world needs a standardized "run over with a jeep" test. Just sayin.
That should be a law
Soooo how about a drop test?
@@leonphung7812 No need for that. That's an improbable event. Now the jeep, that's what we need to know about.
@@leonphung7812 lol yeah. 1 foot and it'll die
One mighty swing of a 10 dollar hammer will do the trick
You didn't cry?
then it's not that good.
Hahahaha,
Sorry I don't usually comment just to say this: but you really made me laugh, hehe, :)
Poor Linus...
They really did get Linus good with that one. Tbh, I'm jealous! 😅
Maybe if you take someone who's listened to 20$ headphones their whole life and give them this. on a good day I think anyone would cry.
Or burst into laughter. Those are the truly good headphones.
:( the only abyss i see here is my bank account
😂😂😂❤❤❤👏👏👏
😂😂😂😂
hAHAHAa epic
The abyss will lead you into a new world. You won't need your bank account there.
@@oluvsentmehere6427 Made in Abyss ^.^
Finally I can listen to my Spotify Free account
Bwahaha
Good point. Where are you supposed to get such high resolution recordings? There aren't that many around I don't think.
I'm not an audiophile but I guess you have to look for FLAC albums on piratebay?
@@rossivanov6618 qobuz or tidal
@@gabrielgoncalves2763 you can, yeah.
Finally something that i can use on a go
Pmsfl 😂
I heard a much earlier version of these, and they are one of the most satisfying headphone I have ever heard. This was at a headphone meet years ago. I will never be able to get these. But it was fun to hear what is possible. The Woo Audio Amplifier it was connected too was epic. I never had a better time listening to music with Headphones ever. Some people can't handle the truth as Nicholson said in that movie. But I was blown away by those headphones and was over 5 years ago! These I can only imagine much more these are compared to those I heard. Everything else I heard was downhill from there. There was some amazing stuff. I kept coming back to the Woo Audio and Abyss setup, it was just amazing.
Vincent. If I told you to save up for a $6k car ( a hoopdie junker) you would say why would I limit you. If you want these bad enough start saving and working for them now. Give it a few years and I know you can achieve this. Cheers
But I don't need nor want this that badly. I have other things of higher priority than this even if it is amazing.
@@xray111xxx Trust in your self Vincent. Cheers.
DAMMIT vincent, dont make excuses. DONT GIVE UP. WE -- believe -- in -- You.
Those intro shots were fantastic. You have an amazing eye Josh.
My original Abyss 1266's right driver just died recently all of a sudden. Kudos for Abyss to fix (upgrade) the drivers albeit at a steep price. Would have appreciated it more if there's any explanation why the driver failed and how it could have been prevented in the first place knowing DMS saying "everything about this is designed to last your entire lifetime" in Linus' review.
Lmao they made you pay to have a $5000 headphone fixed
Wow this makes me not want to buy them now thanks
YASSSSSSSSSS YOU FINALLY REVIEWED THEM. I HAVE BEEN WAITING SO LONG. I even asked Abyss when you would be doing this.
Me too :D Listening to this on my own 1266 TC :P
@@adriananonym8258 damn, lucky guy
@@adriananonym8258 Really?
@@adriananonym8258 wtf
I have replaced my Hifiman HE1000SE with the Abyss PHI TC and for me personally, the Abyss is significantly better than the HE1000SE in every area. I find the Abyss even more comfortable to wear because it does not generate any pressure on the ear pads like normal headphones.
And as proof that I really own the Abyss PHI TC, I even made an unboxing video. 😄
Do you put your head in a neck brace, or do you just focus on not moving your head at all while you listen?
@@allydea 😂 I must have a strong neck. I don't need a neck brace and can move my head without any problems. Regular weight training is also not bad.
@@vancybergoth Interesting, so how do you wear it then?
When I tried it on, the dealer adjustrd it so that would not clamp at all, so it was basically swinging about on the suspension band as soon as my head moved.
@@allydea Abyss Headphones made a video "Set up the AB-1266 TC Headphone" this video was very helpful and I don't have the feeling that the Abyss is sitting unsafe on my head. As mentioned in this video you have to get used to it and a quick visit to a dealer will not be enough
JOSHUA - I use the SUSVARA, at my friends mixing studio, for the last year. If you gently pull the ear pads away from your ear (about 1/4 inch - 1/2 inch) you get the same insane bass that you are describing from the ABYSS 1266. The bass sounds like it is coming out of the studio walls. I can feel the bass rumble from the drivers that is way below my hearing. It takes the SUSVARA to a whole new level. You can even swivel the drivers while they are hovering above your ears to move the bass and stage extension aft or forward your center stage perspective.We are creating ear pad extensions that only have three points to touch your head. They are kinda like DEKONI NUGGETS. Two nugget extensions at 10 and 2 o'clock above your ears. Also, one nugget extension at 6 o'clock below your ears. These position points provide enough stability on your head but also allow the SUSVARA headphones to hover about 1/4 -1/2 inch of space between your ears and the actual pads. I talked to METAL571 and RESOLVE (HEADPHONE SHOW) about this audio phenomenon. Andrew (RESOLVE) is aware of this effect and confirmed this factor with the SUSVARA. Perhaps, this is why ABYSS wants their 1266 headphone to kinda hover or not touch your ears with too much clamp to create this bass extension that you are describing. G
My Hekv2 is the same way, I leave the bottom of the earpads unclicked and it really brings it to me heights.
As a headphone it seems extraordinary but the ridiculousness is with all parts of the headphone including the price yet seems worth it.
I mean they make the screws for it in-house. "Nothing met their standards"... Here I am sitting here hoping some Chi-Fi company can duplicate the performance but in a less expensive over the top package.
@@ShortHandedNow they do that in order to increase the price.
@@sitseout That's absurd. You really believe that? I image Joe Skubinsky and his team sitting around a table discussing their 1266 design and someone says "So far we can only charge $4500, let's manufacture our own screws so we can charge $5000". I suppose that's how it happened. Not.
@@enkahhh its to increase the percived price. Not the cost in itself.
Joshua has talk about It in a couple of videos.
I think one is called "are flagships worth It?"
@@enkahhh You can get a machinist to make custom screws at a relatively low cost. These are headphones, not F1 vehicles.
For those who don't know, the headphone is priced at $4,995. Enough to create an abyss in your wallet. 😁
And that’s not even including the extra 5-10k for dac and amps you need to get them to sound their best. I think I’ll stick with HD650😅
@@vangledosh True, you have to factor in the cost of the entire chain. I like good quality sound so I have a 6-driver custom IEM (Unique Melody Miracle) which I bought many years ago for ~1k USD, powered by a Chord Mojo DAC/amp. But this is the upper limit of what I'm willing to spend. "Ordinary" people don't even understand why my IEMs are so expensive (when in fact there are many IEMs that are much more expensive).
I went with the Stax X9000 instead
Been waiting almost a year for you to review these Joshua! These are my dream cans! Great review.
Love your production quality. Your videos have been a treat to watch.
D E T A I L S L U T
Need those details all over my face and lower back
@@ssg2991 So much detail that u listen the soul of the singer
Thanks for the review, I really like it if you call out the songs you test the product with!
The perfect duo; these and the Empire Ears Odin (for on the go). Both insanely expensive but one could hope to win the lottery and retire from the audiophile game with just those two.
I am a fan of the design, they have a pleasing retro look to them.
Love the music you use in your videos. Very high quality sheen.
Love that glass head/skull headphone holder
Any chance to review the SR1a True Ribbon Earfield Monitor from Raal Requisite?
Great review! The 1266 Phi TC is a top 3-5 HP available bar none... Raal, Susvara, Orpheus, Stax, and Shang Gr la would all be arguable on that list as well. I would repeat again and again that if you're going to be the Phi TC you need to save $2k minimum for a decent enough amp to power it and at least another $1k for the Dac. Do not spend $5k on headphones and expect to get by with a topping A90/D90 as you will be disappointed.
I have the LCD-4 and Susvara to listen through the Chord Hugo TT2 DAC and M Scaler and I love them both. They are totally different animals and one sounds better than the other for certain kinds of music and not as good as the other in other kinds of music, etc. Of all the hi-fi reviewers I see on YT, I have to say I trust Joshua the most since he seems to hear things most closely to how I hear things. Hey, we all hear things very differently and no two people will ever hear things exactly the same but you always have to consider the reviewer's thoughts and opinions and examine if this person tends to hear things as you do.
I'm extremely curious about this "Holy Grail" headphone and I already know it's a matter of time before I take the plunge. I just need to pay off a few things I mentioned above. Haha. I've been waiting for a while now for Joshua to do a review on this and all it does is get me that much closer to finally getting it. It'll be very funny to see myself or my wife wearing this but, hey, it's all about the sound quality, right?
What about a comparison with the high end Stax headphones?
Nice review as always :)
Little bit of video feedback:
There was noticeable noise in this video, which I don't usually seem to pick up in your videos.
Signal path: Oneplus 7 Pro max vol. > OTG into Quidelix 5k (usb DAC mode, Performance + 1Vrms mode) > PC38X, I don't really think it was on my end, music didnt feature that same hiss.
I've had the pleasure of hearing both the Abyss 1266 and Stax 009S. My opinion? Jack Daniel's Old No.7 Tennessee Whiskey vs. Jonnie Walker Gold label Scotch Whisky. Pick your flavour...
Oh, and more than most other headphones...the amplifiers count greatly towards the final sound. Probably more so for the 009S.
I have both and I agree
Can u get into a bit more details, like which one is batter in which song or thing? Cause I don't dig into alcohol
@@Serjgap Hmm, I'll try to break it down to the top level component differences:
1. Bass - The Abyss rules in this department. Unprecedented slam, lots of quantity, good quality. 009S Bass is slight but high quality (very amp dependent though). It's like being slapped in the face by a feisty 6ft Italian Super Model vs. the cute librarian. The librarian sure is desirable (in an intellectual sort of way), but you like the excitement and fire of the Super model.
2. Treble. Abyss has a little more emphasis on the leading edge (attack or fundamental). It is clear and high quality however (not piercing). The 009S however has Decay (harmonics) that seem to go on forever. Fundamental is still clear, of high quality but fast (gone before you know it).
3. Midrange. Nothing to see here...move along...move along. (both are good perhaps a bit diffuse).
There is no one headphone to rule them all. I take the approach of owning least two of differing tonal signatures. One for daytime listening when you want some drive and energy (that would be the Abyss) and the other for the night time when your ears become more sensitive to treble and you just want to relax (009S).
I own a few along these lines, eg:
HifiMan HE6SE (Day) | Stax L700 (Night)
Sennheiser HD600 (Day) | HD650 (Night)
Sorry but I don't see much point in making statements on particular genres of Music / songs. Recording engineers are a random sort and it really comes down to how a track was mastered and that can determine which headphone is best for a given listening session...my opinion only of course.
Hope that makes some sense.
@@UnknownS0und thank you very much!
This headphone and the Woo audio wa-33. Bonkers! One of the best headphone setups I heard, yet.
I have this combo. Life is sweet :) the diana phi also sounds good on the wa33, as does the hd800s. The sr009 sounds great too. Variety is good in this hobby
@@Matthew-oh1wg i heard them all. I'm currently running the Empire Odin with the dx220 max. That also sounds pretty freaking sweet.
I have yet to hear the Odin. :) I have the lcdi4, sony z1r iem and sure kse1200. How do those compare?
@@piotrosinski-petestradamus6204
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@@Matthew-oh1wg i never heard the lcdi4 on a good system. And heard the z1r on a AK Khan. Not even close to the technical abilities of the Odin with the dx220 max. The sound is very 3 dimensional. Layers upon layers of detail and sound. I love it.
Always loved your work, watched them in dms and linus videos, and curious since to know more about them, ❤️😊
Awesome review Josh. Each one is just getting better and better. Congrats buddy ... 👌
"You can tell you are listening to a processed version of a human voice, not a human voice" This was the issue with the Sony MDR-SA5000s I had back in the day. They were seen as the detail master but they just sounded off. Records I had heard 1000 times sounded very strange.
@Aunchient Pistol You would HATE the SA5000. Very unique headphone. Wish I never sold mine.
Another sick review. Absolutely love my TCs.
Josh I don't watch other reviews. I need the beautiful cinematic B roll with your masterful review description.
Hey Josh, love your reviews. Could you do a review on Final D8000 pro? Thanks.
@Joshua Valour How long did you spend with the 1266?
The 1266 are the greatest sound I've heard. I was so impressed I bought a diana phi to go out and about with :) money no object
Heard it’s too peaky in the treble and unnatural sounding so I think you’re hyping them too much.
@@tweedpenguin712 I enjoy listening to them. Yes they have a treble and highs emphasis but they're also not without bass either. The bass is also pretty good on the diana phi. I have no financial interest except as a user of the products :)
@@Matthew-oh1wg so a v shape?
@@tweedpenguin712 I wouldn't say it's a v shape. I have other headphones for v shape sound like Sony mdr-z1r. This is a lot clearer than that, treble and highs are more noticeable than z1r, but i dont think theyre piercing. They're enjoyable in their own different way. They're expensive but worthwhile for a different kind of sound. I also have stax sr9000 and those are much brighter than these, and yet I still enjoy those also. :)
@@Matthew-oh1wg nothing is worth it from a company selling a 2000 dollar cable 😃
That design reminds me of CYBERMAN from Doctor Who 🤣
oooo dat b-roll though. Very nice.
It’s the mics used that the 1266 picks up on. Mic’s like the Earthworks SR40, the Lewitt 940 or 640 TS all produce a “they are not using a mic” effect.
should come with its own amp and dac for that much.
I think it does come with it's own DAC and amp. The whole thing is like $35.000
Awesome stuff. These videos help me in understanding the limits and ranges in sound and I really enjoy them. So thanks! Any chance you remember the tracks that were used? There's the one at the beginning and also one at 5:30. No stress if you don't remember them off the top of your head. Take care!
Lovren by Rapier
Lol, Princess Leia -- Or a Saw III trap, edit it to show it destroying/shattering the glass head, epic.
These or M50x? Cant decide.
Lol I'm not even in the ballpark 😂😂😂😂
I'm looking at the Beyerdynamic DT pro 1990 while currently still using my oppo PM-3's ....
oh and currently bidding on a schiit stack
These are the best headphones for sweaty long distance runs ....
"....too crisp, almost alien..., 'strange vocal' ..." - even if I could afford them, they would be a big "?", despite other positive quantities.
I would like to see measurements. I think the more we get into ultra hi-end, the stranger the product may sound.
How about review of something more down to earth:
Audio Technica ATH-R70X - open back, tailored towards studio applications, wearable without too much gimmicks, at not too challenging $350. A lot of people like them a lot, measures well. Time for Josh too put it on the table and compare against other studio based headphones, like DT-1990, Shures 1840, HD 6** series.
If you could afford these headphones you'd probably want to audition them first like most sane people who are about to drop this kind of money on a pair of headphones (yes, I deem most audiophiles sane). I knew I did. Even though I value Josh's judgement, his taste and preferences don't necessarily match mine and people do perceive the same sound differently. With the 1266, people's opinions seem to be split between love and hate with little in between. Especially when it comes to looks and comfort. Another reason to audition first.
All I can hear when I see them on, is "DELETE, DELETE"
Joshua. Would you review the Ergo 2 helmet phones, if I send it to you? I haven't bought it yet. If you want ridiculous, it doesn't get much crazier.
I owned those headphones for about 3 weeks but they didn't convince me to keep them...
After trying out the Abyss I went directly to Stax 009 and I don't regret it at all. If you ever have a chance in your life make sure to try the higher tier Stax like 007,009,009s. I think you might be surprised what they are capable of...
I have both these and the stax009. The amps i use to drive them are the bhse for the stax and wave for the 1266. The voicing on the stax is eerily good but the bass on the 1266 wins :) so depends on the mood and the songs as to which are better
dude light of seven is my favorite ost ever ! now i have to work my ass out to buy this !
Meze Empyrean and Abyss headphones are just different. They are art.
They sure cost like art.
My kidney is also an art
What's with the empyrean? Aren't they less detailed than every other headphone at the price?
@@antonhelsgaun Their build comfort and tonality is top notch. Detailed high end headphones sounds like tin can while empyrean sounding very impressive.
Hi, can you compared with the Raal Requisite SR1a? Thanks. Excellent review!
The issue with the vocals... could it be that you are finally hearing how the mic coloration sounds like without adding its own? Just a thought because I haven't heard these myself
When demoing these headphones, this is exactly what I thought I was hearing. It was quite apparent when comparing different Fleetwood mac albums, very noticable change in how her voice sounded.
After the revelation that Abyss' products are over priced botique headphones that measure like crap and have high amounts of distortion, I hope people stop listening to youtube reviewers like Joshua Valour, DMS, Zeos. So far, Resolve is the only decent reviewer left, everyone else is a paid shill.
What revelation and who made it? Can you provide a link?
Awesome video Josh ☺😊👍
I've only watched the intro so far. But I need to know. Which camera and lens combo did you use for those macro shots?
Awesome review but what headphone amplifier will it use?
I’ve listened to my friends original Sennheiser Orpheus headphones and they sound amazing, are the Abyss better or just different ?
I just added these to my wishlist. As soon as I hit my next $25,000 week, I am rewarding myself with these.
so did you get them
If they came in silver, you could like a Cyberman from a Dr. Who adventure!
Susvara review when?
I currently own the Raal Sr1a and I am saving to get the 1266 phi TC to compliment the Sr1a. I've heard from people who own both that the Sr1a is more technical(speed, resolution,texture, timbre,stage and imaging) than the 1266. However, the 1266 is more all around than the sr1a.
You sound like someone who loves wearing weird, uncomfortable stuff. I've also tried the headphones you mention and you couldn't pay me to use them. Just goes to show how different people are.
@@allydea at first, I didn't even care about the sr1a since I am skeptical about the design. However, it changed my mind once I heard it, that weirdo sings. Lol
the epic batol between joshua valour and the forces of evil.
Which headphones would compliment the ab1266? I have the ab1266 and I'm looking for something that will complete it, I don't want to get bored with the ab1266, so I need something when I want to change and take a small break from them...
It looks like a medieval torture device.
i thought exactly the same
But, did it make you cry?
It would be interesting to see you review the jvc Iems
Can only imagine what hi res SteelyDan would sound like on these cans..
If i had $15k to spare id gladly get this and a woo audio wa33, itll be a long LONG time till that happens
Or get a used one for 1500 and a decent amp for 1000
That intro though 🥶🥶
How are these for gaming ? :) Is this an upgrade from DT1990 pro for that?
Lol
They are incredible for gaming I use mine for that from time to time when they are in the living room setup.
Funny question but i own both i will try to compare then and let you know :D
@@adriananonym8258 how's that comparison going?
What should be used as amp/dac for this? If I use astell&kern 2000t? Do I need dac or only amp will do?
What amps did they give you to use?
Hey Josh. Do you know when you'll get around to your Susvara review?
I'm still waiting for an affordable Diana
12:12 Bass response review.
Please help to chose! LCD-5 , Susvara , meze elite, Diana tc , 1266 or stax sr-x9000??? I didn’t have opportunity to try them at the same time.
Hope you bought the Susvara
Those are my end game lucky you have them on your head 19:17 my favorite word in this whole video hehehe 😁😁😁 those headphones are definitely at my alley I'm glad I have a small to medium ish head
For everyone pining to get the 1266 but not being able to afford it: look around for a second hand unit. I got my 1266 Phi (not TC) for way less than the Empyrean or the Diana V2. Don't forget that you need a good amp though as these headphones will reveal all the shortcomings of your chain. Even though for instance a Drop THX 789 will have the wattage to drive these, it wont do them justice.
That's the first time that I've heard a 789 not being enough, also what do you think I could find a second hand Empyrean or Diana V2 for if that's the case?
@@emmanuelferguson I didn't say the 789 can't drive the 1266 but it doesn't do it justice. I would consider such a setup to start off but in the long run I'd suggest saving up for something better. The 789 simply lacks resolution and sounds somewhat gray and dull IMHO. My point of reference is a Chord Hugo TT2 + mScaler.
@@emmanuelferguson he is right ... the 789 isnt good enough.. I have the 1266 with a 789 and thats the first time that the 789 isnt good enough but at about 60% volume you can listen see that the amplification in the 789 isnt up to the task.. But its a 300 Dollar Amp with a 5000 Dollar headphone so its a bit unfair :)
@@emmanuelferguson Have a look at hifishark for used prices. I sold my Empyrean for around 2000€. I'm afraid the Empyrean and the Diana V2 are still all the rage and not many can be found second hand. Good luck!
There's a "ABYSS 1266 Phi Deluxe Ultimate" for less than €1300.
Damn that is kinda tempting
Worthy for the Hall of fame headphone list ?
Whats the name of the song that you used in the intro? Thanks in advance!
These could be audeze killers if they aren't careful.. seriously abyss is insane, though I'm sure audeze will keep up perfectly well.. they'll be innovating through and through
Machined forged carbon fiber might drop some weight but keep it as strong or stronger.
What amplifier would bring out the best of this headphone ?????
What is that song in the start of video
Sounds great through my $60 Pyle receiver
It lets you listen to sound in the Astral Layer
Do these sound better than beats?
lol I just rewatched zeos review of the 1266
serious cyberman vibes from this
Wait...so....do you recommend them? Lmao with your Diana V2 review I definitely got the "if you have the money these are one of the best you can buy" message. With this review I am still confused if the V2 would be better?
Depends on what you want. If you're in in for pure detail, the 1266 are better. If you want a smoother sounding headphone that you can just put on which weighs a lot less than prolly the v2
So, actually it is a SoundProcessor...(": ?
Still waiting for the orpheus review
Here's my review: they sound brilliant!
Yes, but we would like Josh to review it - maybe it would change his perception of how headphones should sound like. Sennheiser was/is most of the time about making headphones that would sound more or less like acoustical event (without too much added fakeness), not studio manipulation, and unfortunately a lot of reviewers have their sound in mind when choosing and evaluating equipment. For me it's easier to listen to 6** series than say Beyers, yet DT-1990 in Josh's book sits higher than any of the 6** headphones.
@@pliedtka I'm not sure about your evaluation of Senn as a whole, but I listened to the Orpheus in the same session with the 1266 and Diana Phi and to my ears there was a night and day difference betwwen the two brands. I loved the Orpheus. It didn't blow my mind or anything (I have listened to too many headphones to have my mind blown at this point) but it was the best sound I had ever heard. It didn't take any getting used to (you know, that period of time your brain needs to adjust to the crap it's hearing). I just put them on and they sounded amazing straight away: very powerful while at the same time super natural.
The Abyss completely failed to impress* stand alone (because I listened to them first) and even less so in contrast with the Orpheus afterwards.
*it's possible that with the 1266 I may not have had the best fit.
Back to your point, yes, it would be great to see Josh review the HE-1, his reviews are beautiful. Unfortunately, the HE-1s are hard to come by, especially for multiple days of listening, which I think is needed to form a correct opinion. And it pains me to say it, especially because I'm one of his patreon members (meaning that I really like his work), but I'm seeing some trends in Josh's review style that are starting to put me off. The production quality keeps getting better, but I sense a coruption of the opinions expressed therein. :-(
@@allydea What kind of corruption of opinion are you referring to? He has been doing quite a bit of super expensive gear lately and I suspect he's simply been spoiled by its sound quality.
@@enkahhh There's a lot to say here, but in short, I think his opinions were "cleaner" back when he was reviewing equipment sent in by "friends of the channel" who were actual users/owners instead of manufacturers or people dirrctly affiliated with manufacturers.
Josh should be smart enough to know that while "all thoughts and opinions are his own", those thoughts and opinions are no longer unbiased/uncolored.
I still think he's doing a good job staying objective, but this job is a lot harder now and you can only be so good at it. It's just a shame, because the amount of audience he has is not really enough to justify the effort he puts into his work, so I guess he is forced to look for alternative ways to keep the interesting content rolling.
What's the best for bass heads?
Great for underwater listening apparently
What amplifier would work well with this one?
you forgot to mention how RIDICULOUS the price is as well!
how much is it? I didnt find it on amazon
@@74neverlast The cheapest package is 5000$..
@@paulpaulster3132 wow.... ok so not the candidate of headphones that you hoard at home in case your portapro break. ;-)
74neverlast base model is 5000$ usd and deluxe 6000$, yeah I think I’ll take a hard pass.
The aren't a ripoff.
It looks like the type of phones ya put on a Lego figurine. But a really nice figurine lol
I know its sort of a random headphone but I would love to see your review of the Koss KPH30i. I own it and its one of my favorite headphones I've listened to and an amazing value.
I was waiting to hear what kind of amp would one need to power these bad boys??
I ordered it yesterday. Im still kinda shaking.