Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC Review (Headphone)

[solderdude]

Utopia, ... I don't know if this is marketing or something, maybe they just don't pair well with tube amps?

Utopia are VERY sensitive to output impedance. Just 10 ohms will already change the bass. Much higher and it will start to sound bloated.
So... if that tube amp had a high output resistance (some do) then yes... the Utopia is a bad match.

And yes... for some people a certain tonality/tuning/EQ can make them prefer just about any headphone.
The fact that you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear is evident. You need to have at least some good properties amongst them comfort and fit.

 

[909808]

Has anyone noticed some dampness appear behind the cups? Actual drops of water sometimes. I don't use my headphones in a humid country, nor use them with my head wet, nor use them when sweating, but every now and again I remove the cups to find some drops of water besides the grill part. I assume this may have to do with condensation but is there any way to prevent it?

It has not damaged or had any impact on my headphones sound and it doesn't seem like it goes in, just sits there in the cold metal. I read online its normal for water to behave this way.

Any advice?

 

[Mr Swing King]

I’m a bit late to this review, but it’s still quite an interesting read. Thanks Amir.

I believe this headphone falls in the unique ‘olive-range’ - y’know the types of headphones that people either love and start building large plinths in honour of…or loathe it with every fibre of their being.

Personally I find the Abyss completely nonsensical. It’s uncomfortable, I can’t lie back in a sofa with it and it weighs over 600 grams. That in itself is inexcusable for a headphone imho.
Soundwise? Jazz!!! Not that jazz sounds great over this headphone (it does not!) but the whole thing just feels like a jam - what sorta happened when some pads were fitted to the cups…and we ended up with a strange headphone take on Albert Ayler.
This is why I prefer older headphone makes like fx Sennheiser; where headphones feel fully developed by people why know how to tune stuff and also know how to make something sound great without weighing in at over half a kilo. The sound also always feels intentional, y’know planned. I prefer my free jazz vibes to emanate from the music in my headphones..not from the headphones themselves.

Having said that, I still kinda dig a similar tuning from the D7200 - another olive. The Denon though is comfortable, can be driven by mice farts AND sounds much better than the Abyss.