Abyss Diana DZ | First Impressions!

Heard these in munich. It was just as bad as their other models. I also had it on that Felix amp. It had way too much energy in the lower midrange around 1k, making vocals sound honky and unnatural like a drive-through speaker and had very sharp recession around 4k that swallows all fundamental harmonic of string instruments. It's for people who want to believe it mimics a live recording by pushing back harmonic overtones, making everything echo slightly, but that comes at the cost of vocals and instrumental timber being off by a substantial degree.

Tungsten when

Crazy thought! Just purchased the DX9 & looking to find the perfect movie headphone to pair with it. Arya Organic is top of the list so far. Also good to see your boy in the background. Awesome first impressions!

This being inefficient is kind of a bummer. I am saving up to buy a really nice high-end headphone (as my sort of forever headphone) and the Diana line was what I was aiming for. But I only have a Topping Dx3pro+. I know it's not the best to run high end headphones in general, but I was hoping it could tide me over until I can then add a proper amp and dac later on.

Very hard purchase decision when Abyss “revise” their Diana lineup every year. If purchased brand new expect at least a $2000 drop on the secondary market when you try to sell them and upgrade to their newest model. I’ve been burned with a V2 I purchased and I’ll probably never buy another Abyss headphone again. Great review otherwise. 😊

I was meh 😑 when I heard the OG at Toronto last year ….these look to be more of the same.

I just can't get over the look. Everything is subjective but for me that headphone doesn't look pleasing to me ...none of those Diana's look pleasing to me nor does it's look even remotely justify the look vs price. And as far as sound ...there are tones of great sounding headphones. Seen way better built headphones and better materials especially looking at the cost. But hey good on them for the 10 year warranty, at least there is that. Meze for example makes way better looking headphones at way better prices and better materials. Diana's Headphones always look like a unfinished experiment.

If their intention was to make these like the 1266, then they went too far. Despite the 1266 having that lower mid rise making vocals sound like they were recorded through a drive-through intercom, they were still somehow "balanced" enough. These arnt, they gave them even more honk without the bass rise needed to make the transition still sound even. It's very boxy and unpleasant sounding.

Why don’t you just use a mic and separate iems for gaming instead on something like the Maxwell?

is there any chance you're gonna review the new meze alba iems?

A warning about "ReverendDr. Thomas". He has been spreading false information about certain people in this hobby, then deleting the evidence when he is caught. He is a vegan zealot propagandist. I suggest you stay away from him.

I want the abalone just so that I can have an idiotic discussion everytime to explain that no, its not "a baloney" inlay its abalone inlay, then repeat like 5 times

Anyone here have any thought about the Chord Hugo TT2 DAC, or a site that I can get an honest opinion on them?

I wish they have a version without any inlays. The squiggly edges are just not my taste.

FR. . . wonky? not wonky?

I was a big fan of them, would easily take them over anything from hifiman or audeze. Incredibly impressive headphones.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Diana TC or the 1266 but the new MR and DZ have really impressed me.

The wheels of your bicycle should be the other way around for best use.

You said that only few headphones can play rumbling subbass like a speaker system. Which ones?

Josh does such a great job with the quality of the visuals on these videos but he’s literally saying nothing. Just nonsense upon nonsense, word salad, audiophile crap.

We need Josh’s video editing with someone akin to Vincent from HDTVTest but for audio. That would be epic.

Finally, someone has a review... lol

How nice, they seem like headphones a toddler could put together in arts and craft. They're cheap, aren't they?

Would love to hear your thoughts on the Neumann NDH30's

How are these comparing to the Empyrean 2??

Modhouse Tungsten review, plz

I bought Argons based largely on your endorsements

Josh „abbys fanboy „review so many abbys cans, why ? abbys is so overpriced.

Expensive dog shit as usual from them. I heard them and these suck

Its impossible that you are honest about your impression about these headphones… I have not heard anyone who have heard them say anything nice about them…

My friend was at the High end show at München, he said that they were awful. Everyone he talk to said the same…

If you really are honest on your opinions about them, serious questions needs to be asked…

I’m reading his face. Reading faces works.😮

How does the DZ's detail/resolution compare to the Diana TC?

I can't help but notice the "all thoughts and opinions are my own" disclaimer is missing here.

Just wondering if you still own the SVS ultra towers. I'm in the market for a set of floorstanders that can render orchestral music decently and the SVS ultras are on my short list along with the Klipsch RP8000f II. I realize you are more of a headphone guy but any response would be appreciated. For myself, I am very satisfied with the Sennheiser 560s. Thanks for all your videos. I'm sure they are a lot of work but they are a pleasure to watch and also to learn from.

4 grand 😂

This brand is so polorizing with the hifi community. I don't get all the revisions and naming schemes. I agree their should be less marketing and more what the sou d of each you should be getting. And than you toss all these different pads. We're audiophiles and will go to great lengths to get good sound but if you can't with the stock pads I'm out and you will loose people . All that said I fully expect another stellar review of abyss headphones from Josh.

Test with song from Hi-Fi Set 🇯🇵

The Abalone Shell is amazing - If I could afford one that would be my choice.
Also the best test would be the Abyss Headphone Test featuring world's best triangle guy!

The Modhouse Tungsten sounds much better to me and it's half the price of the Diana DZ.

Abyss…deez nuts, haaa gateeem

I got the abolone and it's gorgeous! Love headphones that can also be a statement piece.

Nice little cliff hanger there

I tried Diana MR and they were horrible. Pad swapped, different amps, no help. I don’t think these will improve.

Joshua, thank you for another wonderful headphone review! 👌


Reverend Dr. Thomas,
✝️ The Vegan Vicar 🌱

But all the real music artists are using beats these audiophiles are just scams imo

🤦‍♂️

Cool to hear that you also like Tool's song for stage check.

Yo Joshua I think you need to check out the Dune soundtrack for your tests.
House Atreides could be your new torture tool for equipment.
İt has everything; range and scale

Abalone on headphones is genius. Not worth their upcharge though. You can get full fountain pens wrapped in seamless abalone for under $160. A $1000 upcharge I’d expect Timascus or heavy precious metals and not as just inlays.