[Trance_Gott]

  Well, I must say I can hear a difference with the Stax at least. I do feel the Stax is at a higher level of sound quality than the various planars I have heard, though not in bass or dynamics, but rather in transparency, smoothness, and speed.

Did you hear the Abyss? Oh my god, it is damn fast, faster then all other planars.

 

[jhljhl]

I do not know if this is appropriate to post here but I have a NEW Cavalli Liquid Gold for sale in the sale forum which I understand pairs very well with the Abyss.

 

[Elrondo]

  Did you hear the Abyss? Oh my god, it is damn fast, faster then all other planars.

Yes I have heard it, but only under show conditions. It looks like a very sturdy headphone. I could not distinguish the sonic superiority so many others have noted (compared to the HiFiMan HE-6 or Audeze LCD-3 at least). But then in general I feel the previous generation of magnetic planars  sound very nice, especially in the area of dynamics and bass. But the build quality of the Abyss seems so good, and the build quality of the HE-6 seems so abysmal I can see why the Abyss would be preferred on that basis alone. I'm glad so many have found the Abyss to be so great, that's what this hobby is all about, and it's fun to find a headphone you really love. Next year, when I come to the next Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, it will be fun to hear the Abyss again, to see if it has been improved, or to see if I can possibly hear what everyone is raving about in this forum. 

 

[ShanghaiT]

I ended up getting these after not seeing anything of interest from CES. And while I wasn't initially taken by them at the store demo a few weeks ago, My first 24 hours with them has been very pleasurable and given me a much greater appreciation for them. Just waiting for my liquid gold to clear customs now.

My impression echoes much of same observations made by previous reviewers in terms of speed, soundstage and bass extension, yet I do find vocals just ever so slightly recessed and lacking the air and transparency of the stax 009s.

 

[mulder01]

Congratulations man, glad you decided to give them another try after a not-so-good audition.  I had a chance to have an extended listen to them in a quiet store and thought they were brilliant, then I heard them again months later at a show and wasn't really blown away. I think you need a bit of time and quiet to be able to appreciate them properly.  
 
On another note, I noticed you have the edition 5 and the 009 - In your opinion is the edition 5 on the same level sound wise as the Abyss / 009 (because it's price is roughly the same) or are you just paying for the exclusivity of the 555 limited edition and it's just a nicer version of the edition 8?

 

[ShanghaiT]

I don't think the Edition 5's is at the same level as the 009's or the Abyss in terms of pure sound quality. However, I purchased them for an entirely different reasons: portability and isolation. And once those are factored in, I don't think anything out there beats them. I travel quite bit and also needed a pair for the office. I was able to compare them to the best closed headphones on the market and think they readily beat most of them. 
 
That being said, I think the price of the limited editions is a joke though given that the recently released the unlimited versions for nearly half the price. I was able to compare them side by side and they are identical. Unfortunately the unlimited's were not released when I purchased my ED5's
 
A review I recently wrote of them:
 http://www.head-fi.org/products/edition-5/reviews/12271

 

[ShanghaiT]

Any Abyss owners tried any upgrade cables with any success? Im a huge fan of Nordost and am contemplating the heimdall 2 set.

 

[Nomax]

The Stock Cable from JPS LABS are the best,so you don't need other Cables for this Masterpiece

Here a picture from CES 2015 ABYSS&MOON NEO -And it's also my OWN PERFECT SOLUTION




Regards NOMAX

 

[Kiats]

Any Abyss owners tried any upgrade cables with any success? Im a huge fan of Nordost and am contemplating the heimdall 2 set.

I'm currently using the Abyss with Toxic Cables' Copper Venom. I also use the Abyss with Tralucent's Uber cable.

 

[Kiats]

 

[negura]

I'm currently using the Abyss with Toxic Cables' Copper Venom. I also use the Abyss with Tralucent's Uber cable.

 
Would you say there were any sound improvements?

 

[Fririce0003]

I'm currently using the Abyss with Toxic Cables' Copper Venom. I also use the Abyss with Tralucent's Uber cable.

I'd also like to hear your thoughts on the cable change, wouldn't mind getting the abyss a tad more intimate but still retaining their speed and weight. Especially heading a friends LCD3F's and how intimate and emotive they are with anything acoustic or vocal.
I might write up a quick comparison of the two after dinner, I found the results rather interesting.

 

[Fririce0003]

Got some food in me, so here are my findings comparing my Abyss with the LCD3F.
The setup was Aurdivarna>Davinci DAC>WA234 using Tung Sol round plates, Takatsuki 300B and 274B tubes. Power cords were Shunyata going through the shunyata triton and typhon. Interconnect were cardas clear and USB was a LH light speed.
Ok first up the parts you expected from the abyss, they were faster, had more bass quantity and slam as well as a wider soundstage and slightly more detail. The way I'd describe it is emulating a big rig speaker setup.
Now onto the part that surprised me, I had heard the LCD3 before and it was nice, nothing particularly grabbed my attention though. Now switch to the 3F, it has got to be the most emotive, intimate and immersive headphone I've ever heard. Lush mids, staging makes it seem as though your right up face to face with the vocalist with the band playing around you. Sure you trade off some speed and slam but if my main listening was acoustic, jazz, classical or vocal I'd honestly choose the 3F over the Abyss. I'd also choose the 3F over the Abyss if you've got a properly setup big rig, the Abyss would just seem far to similar. So with the headphone side you may as well go something unique to headphones and that would be intimacy.
On the vocal and instrumentals I listened to the 3F the Abyss just seemed detached from the music comparatively, technically impressive, but not as immersive.
For my listening I still prefer the Abyss, since I mainly listen to electronic, vocaloid, rock and J-Pop, the extra speed and weight to the bass makes it a more engaging listen for those genres to me. For me the 3F gets a tad too contested for some electronic and j-pop tracks when you've got vocals, guitars, drums, bass and electronic effects. The extra spacing and wider soundstage of the abyss comes in handy for that. Which was the only draw back for the 3F's intimacy.
Overall I'd say the 3F is a great performer for the price, especially if you're after an intimate, emotive affair. It still has a good amount of bass extension and weight, just not quite as much as the Abyss.
The Abyss doesn't quite represent as good value for money, but it does present a sound which is unique to the abyss in how well it emulates a big rig. That's what I was drawn to and it also suits my taste in music... But if you're looking at the price, $7000 AUD, and expecting it to be all and end all your going to be disappointed. It's one headphone I'd suggest to listen to, go home think on it and then go listen again to confirm because it is a big investment and you'd have to be after the sound it produces.
I'm still happy with my Abyss purchase, but after hearing the 3F I have to admit it has a great price/performance ratio especially if you're after the sound signature it produces.

I also had a brief listen to a BHSE 009 rig but it wasn't for me. If you'd like my opinion on that feel free to ask, but keep in mind since I wasn't after that type of sound it may be a tad bias.

Hope that helps anyone who's on the fence about an Abyss purchase. And also if you have a chance audition the SR-009 and LCD3F before your purchase. I say this because these offer 3 different sound characteristics at an "end game" level.

 

[isquirrel]

Got some food in me, so here are my findings comparing my Abyss with the LCD3F.
The setup was Aurdivarna>Davinci DAC>WA234 using Tung Sol round plates, Takatsuki 300B and 274B tubes. Power cords were Shunyata going through the shunyata triton and typhon. Interconnect were cardas clear and USB was a LH light speed.
Ok first up the parts you expected from the abyss, they were faster, had more bass quantity and slam as well as a wider soundstage and slightly more detail. The way I'd describe it is emulating a big rig speaker setup.
Now onto the part that surprised me, I had heard the LCD3 before and it was nice, nothing particularly grabbed my attention though. Now switch to the 3F, it has got to be the most emotive, intimate and immersive headphone I've ever heard. Lush mids, staging makes it seem as though your right up face to face with the vocalist with the band playing around you. Sure you trade off some speed and slam but if my main listening was acoustic, jazz, classical or vocal I'd honestly choose the 3F over the Abyss. I'd also choose the 3F over the Abyss if you've got a properly setup big rig, the Abyss would just seem far to similar. So with the headphone side you may as well go something unique to headphones and that would be intimacy.
On the vocal and instrumentals I listened to the 3F the Abyss just seemed detached from the music comparatively, technically impressive, but not as immersive.
For my listening I still prefer the Abyss, since I mainly listen to electronic, vocaloid, rock and J-Pop, the extra speed and weight to the bass makes it a more engaging listen for those genres to me. For me the 3F gets a tad too contested for some electronic and j-pop tracks when you've got vocals, guitars, drums, bass and electronic effects. The extra spacing and wider soundstage of the abyss comes in handy for that. Which was the only draw back for the 3F's intimacy.
Overall I'd say the 3F is a great performer for the price, especially if you're after an intimate, emotive affair. It still has a good amount of bass extension and weight, just not quite as much as the Abyss.
The Abyss doesn't quite represent as good value for money, but it does present a sound which is unique to the abyss in how well it emulates a big rig. That's what I was drawn to and it also suits my taste in music... But if you're looking at the price, $7000 AUD, and expecting it to be all and end all your going to be disappointed. It's one headphone I'd suggest to listen to, go home think on it and then go listen again to confirm because it is a big investment and you'd have to be after the sound it produces.
I'm still happy with my Abyss purchase, but after hearing the 3F I have to admit it has a great price/performance ratio especially if you're after the sound signature it produces.

I also had a brief listen to a BHSE 009 rig but it wasn't for me. If you'd like my opinion on that feel free to ask, but keep in mind since I wasn't after that type of sound it may be a tad bias.

Hope that helps anyone who's on the fence about an Abyss purchase. And also if you have a chance audition the SR-009 and LCD3F before your purchase. I say this because these offer 3 different sound characteristics at an "end game" level.

Great insightful post, my findings exactly. It all comes down to your musical preferences.

 

[Kiats]

I'd also like to hear your thoughts on the cable change, wouldn't mind getting the abyss a tad more intimate but still retaining their speed and weight. Especially heading a friends LCD3F's and how intimate and emotive they are with anything acoustic or vocal.
I might write up a quick comparison of the two after dinner, I found the results rather interesting.

To me, at least, the mids are more engaging with the aftermarket cables.