New Audiophiler who purchased Abyss/XIAudio stack looking for opinions

[gallionetech]

Are you out of the 14 days return window they seem to advertise on their own website ?

Return Policy

RETURNS Please contact us for a Return Authorization Number prior to any return. In general, unopened sealed product may be returned for refund within 14 days of purchase date. Shipping charges both ways, along with any non-refundable credit card fees, duties and taxes paid, will be deducted...

jpslabs.com

View attachment 258605
Or am I misunderstanding their own return policies ?

Might try disputing through my CC company, they’d probably side with me seeing I technically contacted them within their return window.

 

[FrantzM]

@gallionetech :

Do you still have the Sennheiser HD-6XX?
You still have the Topping Stack or will have it soon?
Do you use/have a Windows PC or laptop?

If "yes" to all 3 questions, please do the following:
Download Equalizer APO HERE, click here.
Download (click on the link)

Peace Equalizer, interface Equalizer APO​

Shouldn't take more than 10 minutes. Report here on this thread; people will guide you how to setup these software... and input the EQ settings for the Senheiser.

Listen and you'll understand..


Peace.

 

[MayaTlab]

I bought through Abyss not the JPS Labs website. They are claiming I am outside the return window when my email was sent 13 days in and they responded on the 15th day

13 days vs. purchase date or when your received the delivery ? You're in North America ?

Looking at Abyss's EU website, I see some mentions that are in direct contradiction with EU law, so it's rather clear to me that they don't seem to take the return procedure seriously.

 

[gallionetech]

@gallionetech :

Do you still have the Sennheiser HD-6XX?
You still have the Topping Stack or will have it soon?
Do you use/have a Windows PC or laptop?

If "yes" to all 3 questions, please do the following:
Download Equalizer APO HERE, click here.
Download (click on the link)

Peace Equalizer, interface Equalizer APO​

Shouldn't take more than 10 minutes. Report here on this thread; people will guide you how to setup these software... and input the EQ settings for the Senheiser.

Listen and you'll understand..


Peace.

I don’t still have the HD6XX, but I plan on purchasing another pair as they were amazing for the money IMO.

 

[gallionetech]

13 days vs. purchase date or when your received the delivery ? You're in North America ?

Looking at Abyss's EU website, I see some mentions that are in direct contradiction with EU law, so it's rather clear to me that they don't seem to take the return procedure seriously.

13 days when I received delivery

 

[gallionetech]

13 days vs. purchase date or when your received the delivery ? You're in North America ?

Looking at Abyss's EU website, I see some mentions that are in direct contradiction with EU law, so it's rather clear to me that they don't seem to take the return procedure seriously.

Yes I’m in Florida, United States

 

[MayaTlab]

13 days when I received delivery

Mmm it seems that they explicitly mention "purchase date" on their website, not the date when you receive it - I don't know much about US customers protection laws, other than that they suck. I wish you good luck with them :/.

 

[gallionetech]

Mmm it seems that they explicitly mention "purchase date" on their website, not the date when you receive it - I don't know much about US customers protection laws, other than that they suck. I wish you good luck with them :/.

Crazy, wish I read that. I don’t understand how you can go off purchase date lol. They took 4 days to get it to me alone.

 

[MayaTlab]

I don’t understand how you can go off purchase date lol.

It's idiotic, isn't it ? Which is exactly why under EU law (and many stores in the US anyway), it's the date when you receive the item that starts the 14 days return window, not the purchase date.

 

[phrwn]

I’m looking for the best sounding setup I can get.

You haven't said what your budget is, at least not on the first page, but you could just skip the entire miserable process of cycling through many options and get the HE-1, which is a complete set-up, and then never worry too much about whether or not there might be something better out there.

 

[Killingbeans]

Expanse + A90 = $4500

HE-1 = $59000

No matter how good they sound, they can't possibly sound $54500 better

 

[gallionetech]

You haven't said what your budget is, at least not on the first page, but you could just skip the entire miserable process of cycling through many options and get the HE-1, which is a complete set-up, and then never worry too much about whether or not there might be something better out there.

I don’t have a specific budget in mind. Right now the HE-1’s setup is too big for the space I have for a headphone setup. That’s the only thing that holds me back from the HE-1s.

I think the Topping A90/D90SE is great value and a good choice based on its power output. I am going to Florida Audio Show next month and I’m hoping to try the Sasvara’s which if I like I’ll pick those up. For right now happy to try out the Expanse and pick up the Stealths for travel as well if I’m happy with the Expanse’s.

I know that having no budget is crazy but I’m looking for the best possible audio experience I can find within reason. I enjoy my hobbies

 

[steabert]

Having no budget is not crazy, it's a luxury, one I don't have. My entire system costs much less than what you spent on cables. But that means you should be even more careful where you spend your money. I feel for you dealing with that horrible company.

Basic rules:
- get well measuring electronics that have all features you will need
- get some Truthear Crinacle Zero in-ear, they are truly amazing for 50$ and great to have laying around
- experiment with headphones, they will differ a lot in how comfortable they are to wear, not only about the sound. Tryopen, closed, etc.

Audio show:
- always tell people you have a very limited budget
- most people there will swear their music sound like a veil was lifted after they tweaked x or y, just nod
- try to listen to stuff without listening to someone else raving or dissing it before hand
- many will make claims that to us don't (or no longer) make sense, sine it's proven to be placebo, all listening there is sighted with someone next to you telling you what you're hearing

Good luck

 

[gallionetech]

Having no budget is not crazy, it's a luxury, one I don't have. My entire system costs much less than what you spent on cables. But that means you should be even more careful where you spend your money. I feel for you dealing with that horrible company.

Basic rules:
- get well measuring electronics that have all features you will need
- get some Truthear Crinacle Zero in-ear, they are truly amazing for 50$ and great to have laying around
- experiment with headphones, they will differ a lot in how comfortable they are to wear, not only about the sound. Tryopen, closed, etc.

100% agree, definitely a learning lesson for me as a beginner in this hobby. there’s many more useless products being pushed by everyone in every direction you look at than other fields I’ve been exposed to. Glad to have found a source that flushes out the good from the bad.

I actually already have the Truthears coming Monday, i figured it couldn’t hurt to play with them. Also have the Blessing 2 Dusks coming as well.

 

[Galliardist]

Having no budget is not crazy, it's a luxury, one I don't have. My entire system costs much less than what you spent on cables. But that means you should be even more careful where you spend your money. I feel for you dealing with that horrible company.

Basic rules:
- get well measuring electronics that have all features you will need
- get some Truthear Crinacle Zero in-ear, they are truly amazing for 50$ and great to have laying around
- experiment with headphones, they will differ a lot in how comfortable they are to wear, not only about the sound. Tryopen, closed, etc.

Audio show:
- always tell people you have a very limited budget
- most people there will swear their music sound like a veil was lifted after they tweaked x or y, just nod
- try to listen to stuff without listening to someone else raving or dissing it before hand
- many will make claims that to us don't (or no longer) make sense, sine it's proven to be placebo, all listening there is sighted with someone next to you telling you what you're hearing

Good luck

A couple of things to consider re shows:

I found it best to tell people I would just be able to stretch to the product in a few weeks. For some reason that gets a better response.

When listening to headphones in particular, make absolutely certain of the other products in the chain. I've been caught out thinking I was listening to headphones with a basic amp, only to find that the cable went to a fancy tube job behind a screen. (in fact this worked against them, because the tube amp was pretty awful and I was blaming the sound on the phones!)

Watch out if someone tries to demonstrate cables and suchlike. They have a few tricks they can use, like playing different music files to make an expensive cable sound better, or using a very high RF source in the area to make a heavily screened cable sound better, when in normal use you'll get no difference.

Take your own music along (USB, CDs if you have them) and if you find something you are interested in, ask to hear them with that music. That way you know you aren't getting confused with a different master or something.

Only buy from a show if you are getting a good discount, and make sure you understand the terms of sale - and don't buy something refurbished with a 90 day warranty by mistake. A purchase where you can return the product and buy with a bit more leisure is better.

 

[Killingbeans]

100% agree, definitely a learning lesson for me as a beginner in this hobby. there’s many more useless products being pushed by everyone in every direction you look at than other fields I’ve been exposed to. Glad to have found a source that flushes out the good from the bad.

It's really crazy how much the high-end audio industry is focused on exploiting ignorance and spreading misinformation.

I wrote down some of my personal observations in this thread:

What are the things you wish you knew when starting out in this hobby?

One I can think of is the more it costs or the hype behind it seriously doesn't mean the better the music gets.

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[usern]

Contacted Abyss and asked if they would accept cable returns if I return in original packages, pay for shipping, and pay a huge restocking fee. Request was denied.

I bought through Abyss not the JPS Labs website. They are claiming I am outside the return window when my email was sent 13 days in and they responded on the 15th day

Mmm it seems that they explicitly mention "purchase date" on their website, not the date when you receive it - I don't know much about US customers protection laws, other than that they suck. I wish you good luck with them :/.

Wow. They know exactly what they are doing and what their "superconductor" cables are worth.

Actual superconductors require cosmically low temperatures and are cooled with expensive technologies. This is nuclear reactor and maglev level tech, but in audio it would not make any difference.

 

[gallionetech]

A couple of things to consider re shows:

I found it best to tell people I would just be able to stretch to the product in a few weeks. For some reason that gets a better response.

When listening to headphones in particular, make absolutely certain of the other products in the chain. I've been caught out thinking I was listening to headphones with a basic amp, only to find that the cable went to a fancy tube job behind a screen. (in fact this worked against them, because the tube amp was pretty awful and I was blaming the sound on the phones!)

Watch out if someone tries to demonstrate cables and suchlike. They have a few tricks they can use, like playing different music files to make an expensive cable sound better, or using a very high RF source in the area to make a heavily screened cable sound better, when in normal use you'll get no difference.

Take your own music along (USB, CDs if you have them) and if you find something you are interested in, ask to hear them with that music. That way you know you aren't getting confused with a different master or something.

Only buy from a show if you are getting a good discount, and make sure you understand the terms of sale - and don't buy something refurbished with a 90 day warranty by mistake. A purchase where you can return the product and buy with a bit more leisure is better.

Jeez lol, that’s crazy! I plan on avoiding all cables. If I do make a purchase it’ll be for headphones, first thing I’ll be asking is return policy.

Really appreciate the advice! Can’t believe how sketchy these vendors can be lol

 

[gallionetech]

Having no budget is not crazy, it's a luxury, one I don't have. My entire system costs much less than what you spent on cables. But that means you should be even more careful where you spend your money. I feel for you dealing with that horrible company.

Basic rules:
- get well measuring electronics that have all features you will need
- get some Truthear Crinacle Zero in-ear, they are truly amazing for 50$ and great to have laying around
- experiment with headphones, they will differ a lot in how comfortable they are to wear, not only about the sound. Tryopen, closed, etc.

Audio show:
- always tell people you have a very limited budget
- most people there will swear their music sound like a veil was lifted after they tweaked x or y, just nod
- try to listen to stuff without listening to someone else raving or dissing it before hand
- many will make claims that to us don't (or no longer) make sense, sine it's proven to be placebo, all listening there is sighted with someone next to you telling you what you're hearing

Good luck

Just got the truthears. Did some testing with it plugged into a simple Apple 9$ dongle. Holy crap, I can’t believe these things are 50$. This is an amazing reference point for comparing IEMs to. After listening to these for 50$ I can see the Diana TCs are crap tbh lol.

 

[BlackTalon]

ASR has saved many of us. It's amazing how much BS is thrown at people looking to buy audio gear. They try to make you believe even spending $20k is not enough to get 'good sound'