I appreciate you dared to be really critical with this one. I find most reviews of high-end products too lenient given the multi-thousand dollar price tags. If the manufacturers charge that much they better deliver quality products in every way.
I completely agree. Glad you appreciated my approach. I always try to look at who a product WILL be good for, even if I'm not a fan, but these just don't stack up in any way that I can see.
They don’t usually do it because it can affect the relationship between reviewer and x company. I have a friend who reviews iems and shure ghosted him for leaving a lukewarm review for one of their high end earphones.
Yep. This is true. I have at least two brands that don't want to give me review products because I have said something negative about their products. In one case, the negativity was just that I thought the particular product was overhyped and that there were better options for the same or less money. I didn't even say the product was bad. 🤷
So basically they punished you for being an actual reviewer. That is sad. It seems some tech youtubers present themselves as „reviewers“ while in reality they are more of sales representatives. They should have their target audience’s (i.e. consumer’s) best interests at heart but instead they rather cater to the manufacturers to secure steady influx of products so they can keep making „reviews“ so they keep getting money... It is so deceptive. I mean I have been lurking in this hobby for several years and even I sometimes struggle to distinguish between actual quality and overhyped products. Now imagine how hard it must be for a newcomer to orient themselves in this mixture of honesty and ulterior motives. It is not fair.
Absolutely! I've had a few products come through where I can only assume certain other reviewers are being swayed (consciously or unconsciously) by affiliate revenue opportunities or something.
Happy to hear some actual clear criticism. At times I feel that Lachlan finds everything essentially nice in their own way, but this is a good example of discrimination in the best sense.
I try to find positives in every product because almost every product has been designed by someone with a clear reasoning for its purpose and design, even if it's not to my tastes. No doubt there are reasons the Dianas are designed and tuned as they are too, but I can't really figure it out in this case
Thanks a lot Lachlan for these reviews, as a person who's found commonality with you in terms of audio gear taste, this means these headphones would definitely feel like a big loss of my money too. Keep it up, we appreciate it.
Comfort and some of the tonal problems are fixed by getting the Dekoni Abyss pads. The pads are also cheaper and better than the official pads. I got the V2 open box about a year ago at 2k. I am really happy with them with dekoni pads and an AKG adhesive headband pad. Also, HD 700 cables work on these and you don't have to spend the crazy prices for official cables.
@@thor8334 yeah, but the dude's saying it's a good deal at 2k. I got mine for 1.4k and got Dekoni pads which were only £50. That's great value. But agreed, I wouldn't pay RRP for them.
There have always been some so called audiophiles, that just buy the expensive products because they can . The music lover with a lower budget, will always research the best sounding equipment for price . Simply because they cannot afford to get it wrong . Channels like Passion for sound are so important for trust and advise on audio gear .
As someone who has the V2 and quite likes them, it's an interesting review. When I first try them vs something like the HD800S I immediately notice the scooped upper mids but it seems to fade after your ears adjust. With a strong bass EQ and no seal break they absolutely thump hard right down to deep subbass, they take to EQ well.
EQing will definitely alter them and our ears do adjust over time. As a non-EQ user, these were never going to suit me. I'm glad you're enjoying them though.
Completely agree with you on this one Lachlan. Absolutely hated the v2s when I auditioned them. Found Some upper mid frequencies absolutely harsh to my ear and not enjoyable at all. Not to mention the terrible comfort. Joke of a headphone at its asking price. ZMF and Meze Elite are so much better in this price range or even better spend less on a Hi-Fi man Arya stealth.
Clearly among the very best reviewer out there. It’s so perfectly described and corresponds exactly what i experienced, but i would have never expressed it so well. Thanks a lot and hats off.
Wow. What a review....... I LOVED it. I've just started on my head-fi journey (Just bought the Focal MG Pro's and Audeze LCD-3's) While I know it's up to the individual if they like the sound of the cans, a review like this really helps someone like me that doesn't really know what I want/need yet. I think anything over $3K AUD is crazy money to spend on headphones. But in saying that. I no doubt will as I am really enjoying these new cans. I'ver never been one for headphones as I have a good hi-fi system and it's used all the time. I owned older Sony's for years. I was happy. But I managed to get a really cheap pair of Hifiman 400i's (older version) and they blew me away. Watching a few reviews online, and you can always tell their preference from the beginning. It's a breath of fresh air seeing a video like this. One thing I'd like to see (either in the video or description box) is what amps/dacs were used. As I am also new to that. Please keep up the superb work like this video.
Thanks Steve. I'm glad you found this useful and that you're enjoying your headphone journey. As for amps and DACs, I generally use a range of amps and DACs for reviewing so I don't tend to mention specific models unless there is a particular synergy (for better or worse) that I think will help people. Generally, the Chord Hugo TT2 is my reference DAC and amp, but I also regularly use the Schiit Yggdrasil OG DAC, Burson Soloist GT amp, Enleum AMP-23R and Linear Tube Audio MZ3 amp.
I tend to stay away from companies like this I've heard to many bad reviews and it seems like they make their headphones expensive just for the sake of selling expensive things
I have had the Diana V2 twice and my impressions align with yours, Lachlan. I wish Abyss could listen to reviews like yours and honestly just wake up. The tuning is so far behind from the build quality of their headphones... It's a shame... their drivers are incredibly fast... You can do better, Abyss!
Thanks for sharing your experiences. It would be nice to see them try a different tuning that's more natural and balanced, but the Diana TC doubled down on the tuning of the V2 and got even worse (IMO)
@@PassionforSound Yes, definitely. I never tried the TC, the tuning of the V2 kept me away from moving higher in the Abyss line up. Then, I tried the LCD-5 and found it to be a better alternative to what I was looking for in the Diana V2 form factor.
Love the fact you are honest, no bs wether its good or bad. I have NO clue how I didnt find this channel with all the reviews I watch. I just got the diana v2 today (got them for 1450), paired with the wa7 3rd gen, it was absolute amazing to listen to them. I honestly dont like the new earpads comfort as they are too stiff and they dont seal my ears in the bottom. for 1450 they sure worth it they are really awesome. that being said - i wouldnt pay 3500 for them. Oh and you earned a new subscriber. p.s sennheiser hd280 headband replacement should fit ur diana v2
I find it incredibly curious that reception towards Abyss headphones has been all over the place. The reviewer seems to favour warmer and softer sound signature so I don’t think Abyss will do it for him.
Yes, they are a very divisive tuning. Just because I favour a warmer aound though doesn't mean I can't appreciate a non-warm tuning (see my reviews of the Arya Organic & Ananda Nano, LCD-5, and Utopia 22 coming up). For me, the issue is the lack of tonal balance in the Abyss tunings where they over-emphasise certain frequencies and become distracting / unnatural as a result.
As the owner of all of these Abyss models plus at least a dozen more flagships from Hifiman to Audeze to Empyrean I could not disagree with you more. I have no idea how your experience is so different but I guess we all hear differently and feel differently. I am really puzzled.
At a recent Canjam I tested all the Hps from the Warwick Aperio, LCD5, CBRN, Final Audio D9000pro, the Italian Spirit Torino, Dan Clarkes, etc. I came away with the opinion , Sound source and the Hp equipment chain made a big impact on the final sound of the Hp! I liked the D9000 pro drivem by a MSB digital chain and the LCD CRBN. So personal tastes are v v dufferent , I guess? I found the Warwick Aperio Slightly boring! 😂 I will stick with my Abyss 1266 phi/cc (2nd hand for less thsn 2000 usd) for the moment until I find a CRBN on the used mkt
No doubt the source chain can make a difference, but I've also never heard a source chain take a headphone from unenjoyable to enjoyable so much as taking it from good to great or bad to worse.
When I tried a pair in 2021 my thoughts would line up mostly with this review. I then tried a pair this year with the latest leather ear pads and the vegan bass ported ear pads. Both make a massive difference from the previous version I had tried in 21. Turned what was indeed a bass light slightly off sounding headphone into a beautifully balanced and clear but smooth headphone. The leather pad gives you more information and prat while the vegan pad adds more bass and warms it up even more which is perfect for metal, poor recordings. I ended up buying one from the warehouse sale and selling my Verite and Empyrean as I enjoyed the Diana V2 more and due to weight it was for me a more comfortable headphone once the headband pad was installed.
They say the new Diana MR has less distortion and is closer paired to the harm curve than the previous. So I'm curious to see how the Diana MR's performance comes out.
I have a pair on order but, it may be a while before they ship. I'm curious as to how they'll stand up against my favorite headphone the Dan Clark Expanse. We'll see!@@PassionforSound
I found out what is causing the delay on the shipping they ran out of the cases for the Diana and said that it could be 2-3 weeks before they get more cases in. I might be able to get it shipped sooner though, just without the case@@PassionforSound
Not sure what version of ear pad you got there. They have a newer version pad which is a bit bigger and thicker and it does improve the sound quite a bit and also more comfortable too (I have V2 with both original and the new pads) Now they two more newer versions, one is a vegan pad which supposed to soften the over all sound and one with built-in bass port in the pad which supposed to improves the low end (I haven’t try these two yet) There are also third parties pad options as well… So apparently you can kinda “pad-roll” with the Diana headphones 🙃
Great honest review. Ive heard them and for me they sounded like trash. I wouldnt pay for them 100 bucks. You can get a pair of iems that cost >50 bucks and they will have a better tonal balance. Its a joke actually.
I tried all their headphones at a show. But their headbands just won’t fit on my head in order for the ear pads to fit properly. Regardless of how good or what fault they have on sound, their biggest fault is the headband for me. I even talked to one of their head staff. He said there’s nothing they can do about the fit of the headband and ear pads for my case.
i pair this diana v2 with my cayin idac 6 mk2 & iha6 and it blow me away , it's sound really crisp and low is good enough ,it is lovely piece of headphone
Well I thought they had a really wonky midrange when I first got them. I had to get the bass ported velour pads for them and it fixed all those issues. Also, if I had paid 3,500 I would have sent them back. But luckily these have been priced at 1,800 directly through Abyss in their "found in warehouse sale" for over a month now. Surprised you didn't mention that (unless this vid is a repost). And at 1,800 there is nothing else out there that can touch their technicalities, that I have found anyway. Especially once you have the right pads on them. They are a steal at that price. They are among the most comfortable to wear out of my 40 HPs. I suppose comfort is different for everyone. I would have agreed 100 on everything you said at the 3500 price. But half price changes everything for me now ; )
I record some videos (like this one) way ahead of time, especially when they are product loans from a viewer or patron. At the time of the review, these were still full price. I'm so glad you got them at a price that makes them more appropriately valued and that you're enjoying them so much!
The biggest issue with Abyss, from everything that I've been able to glean from talking to others, is that they are heavily source dependent. If you don't like what they offer out of the box, and there are people that do, you have to get the right amp to even out that wonky mid-range that's present in all of their headphones. Otherwise you are going to be disappointed. So if you aren't willing to "chase the dragon", as they say, then there are much better options than Abyss for the price.
@@PassionforSound Actually I disagree.. in my system .. I took power conditioning to the extreme and use a pair of Mosfet class A 30watt monobloc amps to drive them . A touch of EQ to add a slight bass shelf and lift at lower mids ! Result is a very very smooth even freq response and tonality! The Abyss Hps with the ultrs detail will show up distortion in the source and signal purity! That is why they can sound funny ! EQ i think not critcal but does help to smooth out the SQ! At the end of the day they are still a pair of hp with an exciting SQ tuning ! Obviously not for everyone!
I think the EQ factor is the key here. I review everything without EQ because you can ultimately EQ most headphones to achieve a tonality you want, but I don't like to EQ and I know many others who don't as well (I'm not saying EQ is wrong, just that some don't like to use it). So, what you're describing here isn't really the amps fixing the headphones, it's the EQ fixing the headphones while being driven by some nice amps.
abyss is one of those rare companies that have their head so far up their ass, the more you find out about them, the less you'd like them. At least that was my experience. Their youtube channel really didn't do them any favors. Their interaction just reeks of snobiness. Iono who they think their target audience is, because according to them, you'd need like a 10k chain to enjoy their headphones properly. The way they price their accessories is asinine, and judging most of the reviews out there. They make headphones for themselves in the worst way. It's like they made a headphone that only sounds good with the setup they have, listening to the tracks they listen to. If you're not, you're out of luck. I also remember when the v2 were like around 2k, which made them at least intriguing. At its current price, it's a hard no for me.
I wanted to love the Abyss Diana v2. The design of the headphones is still my favorite. Unfortunately the sound signature, especially the midrange is too shouty/wonky to my ears. That said, I thought the Diana TC would make up for it. Initially I did like the Diana TC, especially the sparkle in the treble. But after each subsequent listening session the sparkle was less noticeable being taken over by the shouty/wonky midrange similar to the v2. Abyss hinted that I might be experiencing a hearing loss. True I don't hear the upper frequencies like I did in my younger days. But there is no way my hearing changed so dramatically. Besides the results from my previous hearing test, before I purchased the Diana TC, is the same.
I heard a pair of these at a friends house & was not impressed at all. They sounded boring to me. My friend ended up selling them about a week later lol
I kinda wanted these like supposed to be my endgame but you're describing how felt about the focal clear ogs and the diana v2s are told atleast to me the next step. Now im looking at he1k line, meze liric or sony mdr z1r and I'm stuck on which to choose and don't have a bias of open or closed and the only reason audeze isn't in the selection is i don't want to deal with the weight but that can be fear made by reviews of audeze hps.
@@PassionforSound thank you so much! Going definitely been eyeing them. The he1000 naming scheme gets confusing I almost bought the stealth before I remembered there's and se and stealth😂
@@fez748Skip the Diana all together. The guys at Abyss are overconfident in their skills and just market their products to seem like the best. The sound still needs a lot of work. Honestly Abyss is a rip off.
A swing and a mess I think I’ll stay with my 650s until I can save up for something nice from Meze’s or the Calderas or any one of the others that you mentioned great video and as a fellow bearded man from Australia good on ya’ 🍕🥓🤦♂️🍕🔥
I had a chance to try out this headphone a year ago, and I can clearly remember the satisfaction in my mind. Right now, I'm using the HD660S, and I hope that one day I can achieve this big baby with a proper setup!
This company markets to people who expect expensive things to be the best......lol. Abyss means low-fi for hi-price. They are flawed and they don't care. Always new customers new to audio that will think price equates to "best". I'm sure abyss thinks you need another multi thousand dollar amp/dac setup and drop a few thousand on some of the BS cables to really unlock the sound.
They do recommend some expensive gear to pair with their headphones, but I don't know if that's necessarily bad because headphones like the 1266 (not so much the Diana) will benefit from higher quality sources.
I wonder how much these are tuned around the Xi (formula, Broadway, ppwerman, etc) family of amps and dacs that abyss recommends for their headphones. Perhaps others can chime in to see is the synergy helps ? Be curious to see if abyss would comment or respond bust guessing not. Thanks for your honest take! Meze elite would be a great option !
@@PassionforSound it also puzzles me that they have a dcs bartok and some have claimed that is a good pairing with their headphones but were talking $20k for the headphone edition. Though A full stack of Xi is pushing $10k. I haven't head any of abyss stuff myself so I will reserve judgment. I was close to buying a Diana once. Went the audeze route instead. Thanks !
@@PassionforSound I think I did with my first pair of audeze lcd 2021 editions and than for some reason I saw a pair of lcd 4 and had to try them. Are they better ? So far yea. Not wowing me like the lcd x so far. Not 4 times better for sure. Perhaps I'm not driving them to their fullest but I'm using them with audeze Deckard class a amp dac that puts out 4 watts per channel. I bought that cheap and on a whim. One of my best purchases as it does provide some desktop ppwer and the dac (not sure what it is as audeze doesn't say) is very underrated. And as a bonus it can power powered monitors I think. They are discontinued and older but perhaps you should pick one up to review for the channel. I was surprised how well it has sounded with other headphones like my sennheiser hd650 and ether flow open 1.1 from Dan Clark. Thank you !
Really really nice reviews! I am looking into building a headphone listening corner in my new house and have been researching a lot on many headphones in all price ranges but I cannot decide. I was very interested in the 1266, but the seal issue you mentioned is kind of a deal breaker for me. I am looking for the best experience to play genres such as Trance, Drum n Bass, Dubstep/Chillstep, Lo-fi etc, may I ask what would be your go to headphones for these types of genres nowadays, no matter the price. Thanks!
Glad you like the reviews! I'd probably look at the Meze Elites or the ZMF Calderas for the genres you're describing. Actually, HiFiMan HE1000SE is also worth considering.
Yes, generally speaking. I'd say it's about 70% / 30% headtime towards the Caldera. The Elites still do some things better though (like soundstage depth)
@@PassionforSound I still preferred the Hybrids as the Angled thin out the bass a little much for me but they create a pleasant airier sound. Although they are not for me I can definately see how some people prefer them. I also found them the most comfortable Meze pad available. I will be interested to hear your thoughts on them.
Which materials are you referring to? Did I get something wrong? The reason I don't research on detail is that I focus on the parts that I think will make a significant difference to sound quality, comfort and durability. Anything beyond that would add time to the review process and review duration without adding any value for viewers.
You know, when HiFiMan has better ergonomics than you.. it's probably time to bring in some outside help. Comfort doesn't have to be expensive either, Meze Neos are one of the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn for 200. I'm so confused with that headband. How does that make it into the final design? I think it's actually a good thing that Abyss has their own sound however wonky some people find it, clearly other people like it just fine, fine enough to keep buying new iterations of the Diana. There's always going to be a taste/preference barrier and how a headphone may perform could come down to various synergies and of course what you choose to listen to but man.. that's just not a welcoming form factor. If I spend over 3 grand a set of cans I want to be able to listen to them (effortlessly) all day. There's just much, much cheaper headphones that have solved this problem, and what good is all the detail retrieval and resolution in the world if it hurts to wear? Well hopefully they're open to the criticism, I have a feeling the more obnoxious negative comments sour the folks at Abyss with being more receptive to feedback. But this is definitely a video they should watch. I'd consider buying one of their headphones, wonk and all, if it were sublimely comfortable.
I've got the Ghosts in at the moment and I honestly don't get the hype. They're fine, but the 109 Pro parallels are a bit of a stretch to me. Glad you're enjoying them though - not saying you shouldn't, just commenting on the degree of hype around them.
Honestly this was one of the worst headphones I've come across at any price point. I realize there's a bit of subjectiveness but there's nothing even above average for the Diana minus the build itself. I grabbed a pair and thought everyone was just hating because of the company until I actually got them and compared them to the Aryas.
Yep, I tend to agree. They're a headphone that I don't think I'd buy for any price, but they definitely seem to really suit some people so subjectiveness, personal preferences and personal hearing differences will always be a factor
@@PassionforSound To me it's almost a litmus test for reviewers. The Diana v2 to me sounds like a bad 400-500$ headphone and I paired it with multiple setups (including one they recommended). I legit feel bad for anyone who blind buys them because they're going to either learn how horrible it is or even worse, convince themselves it sounds ok.
I'm surprised that the headband is made of leather, because Abyss have produced a vegan earpad for this product, so it seems superfluous. :( Anyway, I think I will be getting a pair of high-end HiFiMan, judging by the reviews I've been watching over the past couple of months.
Yep, I'd be going HiFiMan for sure. As for the headband, perhaps I am wrong about the materials. The underside might be Alcantara which is man-made I think, but the top surface does look and feel like leather.
Glad i ve deleted Valour subscibe channell.. Becouse he only takes in consideration american products..included abyss.. Not fair.. I really like your reviews Lachlan..
Guys, Hifiman HE1000se is currently going brand new for USD 2,000 on their website... And judging by this review, it'd eat the Diana for breakfast. 🙂It's certainly chewed up and spat out most of my headphones, only the Utopia is putting up a fight (the two complement each other well, though).
No! No one should buy these. Abyss is clearly running a scam operation. For $3000, you get a cheap looking shitty headphone in a meh bag. The company has also touted exorbitantly priced cables as audio nirvana. Avoid Abyss!! My trust in you and your channel has shot up one thousand fold! Thank you for speaking the truth. Three cheers! Hip! Hip! Hurray!
Lol. I used to be a bit like that with Tyl from Innerfidelity. What matters most is that you can predict if you'll like it or not so I'm glad there's consistency!
While I appreciate the honesty and love your reviews I wholeheartedly disagree with you. The Diana V2 is one of the world’s best headphones. We completely disagree with you preferring the Sendy Peacock over the Susvara and now the trend continues with the Diana. The Diana V2 is also $1700 right now with the warehouse sale.
@@lextr3110 I don’t listen to music with an FR curve. You probably haven’t even heard the Diana V2. Opinions like this without real world experience is nonsense.
I don't recall ever saying that I think the Peacock is better than the Susvara. Those headphones are in completely different price tiers. No problems that you disagree with me about the Diana v2, but calling it one of the world's best headphones seems a stretch to me.
@@PassionforSound In your Headphone Tier list 2022 you ranked the Sendy Peacock higher than Susvara. Obviously we share a different opinion on what we like in headphones and that’s okay. The Abyss Diana may not be for you. For my ears the Sendy Peacock was easily one of the worst headphones I’ve heard and you love them so we might just hear things differently. With you ranking the Peacock higher than Susvara and Verite Closed makes me think we don’t agree at all in what we both consider good sound. And that’s okay. Hobby is very subjective.
I understand what you mean now. To be clear, I wouldn't say to others that the Peacock is a better headphone than Susvara so it's not like I'm recommending the Peacocks over Susvara, but I would recommend either of those two over the Abyss Diana. As you say though, it's all subjective and we definitely do all hear things a bit differently because we all have slightly different ear anatomy.
