Abyss JOAL Headphone- Jack of all Listening

[preauxtip]

I think someone mentioned earlier these aren't actually measurements of JOAL.

Post in thread 'Abyss JOAL Headphone- Jack of all Listening'

Feb 8, 2025

That’s not really how they measure, right? Because that looks awful.

No it’s just a joke, that’s actually from ultrasone 10s

• Digital Enigma

• 

It's an Ultrasone

 

[JackarlTwo]

It's an Ultrasone

That makes sense. I used to own one (not the Edition 10, but a cheaper model I can't remember the name of). One of the few headphones I sold.

Similar experience to this:

 

[Not so fat head]

I like Abyss, seems like a group of hard working guys. A small company that must hit ground running every morning to survive in this industry…. Best of luck to them . Maybe I’ll look into these at the end of the year, especially if they are reported to sound great on portable gear,

 

[smodtactical]

Abyss 1266 TC is one of my favorite headphones of all time. I am just waiting for a Vegan friendly version.

 

[geoffalter11]

I see pages of negativity for a product that nobody has even heard yet. Super sad state if this is what HeadFi has boiled down to.

Sounds like nobody else has anything positive to say so I guess I’ll be the outlier.

I’m stoked about this release. They’ve combined all of the best features of their past Diana releases and got the price down to under $2K. The suspension strap, their best pads, best case and 4.4mm cable are all included in the price so nothing needs to be purchased separately. On top of that we get a headphone that can be driven with super modest equipment.

What’s not to like.

Here Here... thank you for being a voice of reason. I bought one today. I am quite excited to hear them and to own them. So, I guess I can give some impressions when they come. I have never wanted to spend $4000 and up on an Abyss headphone, so based on what I've heard so far I am very excited to see how these sound and fair. I am optimistic and thank you for the positivity.

They make it very clear in the video that they were able to find ways to reduce cost through process, not by making something that doesn't sound good. They are very clear that they cut the cost of the cable by 1/3rd by going to a all copper cable, which for me is perfect since I prefer all copper cables. Especially with Planars.

 

[RogueCrusher]

Are we forgetting what they did with their "high end" power cable? I certainly wouldn't put it past Abyss to use an off the shelf Aliexpress cable and call it custom.

I heard nothing, please enlighten me and/or direct me to the scoop.

Also, I didn’t feel as if this promo video was polished or they weren't terribly articulate or smooth, not that that would or wouldn’t convince me or anyone to purchase their new offering, just sayin

 

[The Grongle]

That makes sense. I used to own one (not the Edition 10, but a cheaper model I can't remember the name of). One of the few headphones I sold.

Similar experience to this:

The edtion 10 did ultrasone in for the west. they didnt deserve that..

 

[Kevintj604]

Here Here... thank you for being a voice of reason. I bought one today. I am quite excited to hear them and to own them. So, I guess I can give some impressions when they come. I have never wanted to spend $4000 and up on an Abyss headphone, so based on what I've heard so far I am very excited to see how these sound and fair. I am optimistic and thank you for the positivity.

They make it very clear in the video that they were able to find ways to reduce cost through process, not by making something that doesn't sound good. They are very clear that they cut the cost of the cable by 1/3rd by going to an all copper cable, which for me is perfect since I prefer all copper cables. Especially with Planars.

Hoping you like what you hear. I’ve had mixed experiences with Abyss as a brand but I don’t understand why people feel like they have the right to pan a product just because they can. Nobody’s even heard the headphones or seen the cable yet.

What if they sound phenomenal and the cable isn’t from AliExpress like some claim. Why would someone personally contribute to misinformation.

Would love to hear your early impressions and see what your source chain is.

 

[geoffalter11]

Hoping you like what you hear. I’ve had mixed experiences with Abyss as a brand but I don’t understand why people feel like they have the right to pan a product just because they can. Nobody’s even heard the headphones or seen the cable yet.

What if they sound phenomenal and the cable isn’t from AliExpress like some claim. Why would someone personally contribute to misinformation.

Would love to hear your early impressions and see what your source chain is.

I will absolutely give you impressions when it arrives. I, too have had mixed feelings and experiences with Abyss. This is actually the first time I've purchased anything of theirs. I have never felt the sound warranted the price. But this one intrigues me so I sold something to pay for it and now we will see.

Chain is 3 different end points. Two different DACs, Musician Taurus R2R, Cen.Grand DSD Deluxe. Amps are Mjolnir Pure BiPolar MK2 (only one ever made), CFA3, Eddie Current Aficionado and a Meier Corda Soul MK2. I am actually most interested in how it will sound on the Soul, but will give it a go on all of my amps. I have a Shiny Eyes Tube amp en route to audition, so I will try that as well. Then all hooked through a Roon Rock and a Streamer. We will see, but I am cautiously optimistic...

I agree, there is no reason to bag a product before its been heard. Some need measurements to make up their mind. I need to put it on my head and listen to it in my chain and then I will understand it. I have also learned that I need to spend enough time with it to get past my first impression and really understand what I am hearing. I am not the catch and release type unless it gives me an immediate headache. Which is a very rare occasion.

 

[Abyss Headphones]

Not sure what the big deal is here with this headphone cable.

For JOAL, as we stressed in the video, in order to keep costs low we didn't have the wire itself made for us. We rocked through dozens of different wires from various Asian wire manufacturers (different colors and dielectrics, different conductor counts, different conductor materials) and ultimately found one that [almost] perfectly fit our criteria, then contracted out the assembly using our custom 'D' shaped 2.5 mm mono connectors that fit into the D shaped opening on JOAL (and Diana). The cable assembly is made to our spec. As it sits JOAL's stock cable is not sold anywhere else as no one but us has our 2.5 mm plugs.

With Diana headphone cables we injection mold the 2.5 mm connectors to the cable. For JOAL we created a solderable 2.5 mm plug shaped to perfectly fit inside JOAL's frame that can be terminated by anyone skilled in the art (without the need for an injection molding machine). We also make available for purchase these D shaped 2.5 mm mono connectors to other cable makers, some whom Diana customers requested to terminate their aftermarket cables with.

Side notes... All the aftermarket 8/16/xx multicore woven headphone wires you see out there are sourced from Asia (mainly China). US and European wire manufacturers don't make this stuff, not competitive.
And as far as audio connectors go, since we've been making cables for over 30 years we have a sh'tload of connectors in-house. Many we designed for our various cable lines, and many more made by others such as WBT, Wattgate, Furutech, etc. If someone want's a cable made with a particular connector, just ask. Otherwise trust in us to choose the right connector for the job.

Thanks guys!

 

[Digital Enigma]

I heard nothing, please enlighten me and/or direct me to the scoop.

Also, I didn’t feel as if this promo video was polished or they weren't terribly articulate or smooth, not that that would or wouldn’t convince me or anyone to purchase their new offering, just sayin

Short story Is $10 stock power cord dressed up and sold at $300

 

[Thester]

Sounds like in order for me to get the authentic experience from the manufacturers, it's time for me to go to the source: China.

 

[Barone Birra]

Not sure what the big deal is here with this headphone cable.

For JOAL, as we stressed in the video, in order to keep costs low we didn't have the wire itself made for us. We rocked through dozens of different wires from various Asian wire manufacturers (different colors and dielectrics, different conductor counts, different conductor materials) and ultimately found one that [almost] perfectly fit our criteria, then contracted out the assembly using our custom 'D' shaped 2.5 mm mono connectors that fit into the D shaped opening on JOAL (and Diana). The cable assembly is made to our spec. As it sits JOAL's stock cable is not sold anywhere else as no one but us has our 2.5 mm plugs.

With Diana headphone cables we injection mold the 2.5 mm connectors to the cable. For JOAL we created a solderable 2.5 mm plug shaped to perfectly fit inside JOAL's frame that can be terminated by anyone skilled in the art (without the need for an injection molding machine). We also make available for purchase these D shaped 2.5 mm mono connectors to other cable makers, some whom Diana customers requested to terminate their aftermarket cables with.

Side notes... All the aftermarket 8/16/xx multicore woven headphone wires you see out there are sourced from Asia (mainly China). US and European wire manufacturers don't make this stuff, not competitive.
And as far as audio connectors go, since we've been making cables for over 30 years we have a sh'tload of connectors in-house. Many we designed for our various cable lines, and many more made by others such as WBT, Wattgate, Furutech, etc. If someone want's a cable made with a particular connector, just ask. Otherwise trust in us to choose the right connector for the job.

Thanks guys!

Thanks for clarifications.

Could you give some details about the pads? Are they the same suede ones as the Diana line? How would the sound change using the lambskins of my MR?

Anyway I like the aesthetics of this JOAL. It reminds me of that industrial look of the 1266 more than the Dianas.

 

[Abyss Headphones]

JOAL stock ear pads are the same materials as Diana Vegan Ultrasuede pads, different magnetic ring assemblies. Both are assembled in-house.

Moving to the less absorptive, more reflective lambskin Diana pads would increase high frequency resolution, tilts the spectral balance slightly upward.

 

[Abyss Headphones]

Short story Is $10 stock power cord dressed up and sold at $300

It’s a made-up story from over 20 years ago, same as this thread’s beginnings. It’s morphed into what is regurgitated today. Twenty years ago it was $30, now it’s $10.