[Music Alchemist]

 
http://abyssheadphones.com/abyss_diana.html
 
Thought I'd create a proper thread for the new Abyss Diana. (General rumors and discussion are in this thread.)
 
Things are going to get confusing, because most people refer to the Abyss AB-1266 as simply the Abyss. Now, we will have to specify which Abyss we are talking about. I suppose this was inevitable...
 
Anyway, I will post updates here and add the most relevant info to this first post.
 
And of course, we can post impressions once the headphone is available.
 
Updates:
 
The official name is: "Diana, by Abyss" or simply "Diana"
 
(Though it would be difficult to get everyone to say it like that. Most people will probably just call it Abyss Diana.)

 

[CaveManta]

Oh, man. I'll just kinda forget that the older Abyss exists. Or maybe I'll still call it the Abyss =P.
All I can say is; Please don't be ugly! From the picture, it does look a lot different than the [Squinting eyes] AB-1266. It seems to look like the Superlux Evo. Possibly because it's white.
(Oops, actually meant to send this as a PM to Music Alchemist. But it still works here. Darn smartphone!)

 

[audionewbi]

So this is what nomax was talking about. Well expect this to cost well over 2000 USD.

 

[Music Alchemist]

So this is what nomax was talking about. Well expect this to cost well over 2000 USD.

 
I read that the target price was $3,000, but I believe it is unconfirmed.
 
I invited @Joe Skubinski (owner of JPS Labs and Abyss Headphones) to share details here in the future.

 

[NZtechfreak]

This should be interesting. From what I can see in that picture it looks like it'll be ugly as sin though. Will reserve judgement on aesthetics until I see more though.

 

[Music Alchemist]

This should be interesting. From what I can see in that picture it looks like it'll be ugly as sin though. Will reserve judgement on aesthetics until I see more though.

 
I think I'm one of the few people who thinks the AB-1266 looks cool. Gotta say, though, the preview photo of the Diana looks pretty bland. Of course, the sound is what ultimately matters. Hope it complements the Abyss -- er, I mean, AB-1266 -- instead of just being an inferior version of the same sound signature.
 
Another thing I heard is that the Diana will be a supraaural headphone. This makes me a little concerned about the comfort.

 

[NZtechfreak]

I actually don't mind the looks of the AB-1266 either, they look dorky as all get out when worn, but I could care less what they look like on my head. I only commented on the aesthetics given not much else to say right now.

Supraaural probably means these aren't for me, but no way to know for sure until we know more about these.

 

[Joe Skubinski]

Diana will be good looking, and comfortable-- let's put that aside.

What you currently see is a computer rendering of a portion of Diana. The actual headphone components are still being sculpted and fine tuned. More to come as details are finalized...

As noted to our dealers...

For those who seek absolute playback, the AB-1266 is not going anywhere, and will remain the strictly bad-ass, high-performance reference headphone that it is.

Diana is about style, and sound. She’s someone you like to have around.

We hope to have the first glimpse of Diana at the Rocky Mountain Audiofest and CanJam first week of October. Pricing and timing are not available, target is under 3000 USD.

Diana is to be a high-end, open back, on-ear planar, the first of it’s kind. Finishes and comfort are top priority. The sound.. we kinda have that down.

 

[reddog]

Subbed

 

[goodyfresh]

Will Tyll from Innerfidelity be getting a review-pair of these from the first production run?  His super-detailed reviews are always very enlightening, and since it would be a long long time before I myself might ever be able to AFFORD a headphone such as this one, I'd love to know the impression it makes on someone like him

 

[Joe Skubinski]

Why wouldn't he?

 

[reddog]

I am looking forward to reading more about Dianna. However the first Abyss 1266 still beguiles me.

 

[Joe Skubinski]

It should have. It's a headphone designed by a team who has been in two channel audio practically their entire lives, myself being in the industry for 30 years. If you're not ready for the AB-1266, it can be a bit of a conundrum.

 

[Music Alchemist]

It should have. It's a headphone designed by a team who has been in two channel audio practically their entire lives, myself being in the industry for 30 years. If you're not ready for the AB-1266, it can be a bit of a conundrum.

 
I've been ready for so long...but my bank balance doesn't quite agree with me. Gotta stop being such a lazy Alchemist. Maybe once I can get the AB-1266, the Diana will be ready too!

 

[remilio]

Open-back and on-ear? Makes no sense to me. So it's not portable and most probably not very comfortable.