[Àedhàn Cassiel]

Has anyone done measurements of the Phi compared to the OG anywhere? It seems like most of the reviewers stopped with the OG. Tyll never followed up with the Phi for example.

 

[HiFiGuy528]

measurements won't tell you how any audio product sounds playing music. Measurements are performed using test tones, typically 1kHz.

TC is even more transparent than Phi CC. Both are superior to the original 1266.

 

[Àedhàn Cassiel]

Whatever the demerits of measurements may be, they certainly communicate more useful information than someone else's personal opinion when you likely have different tastes, listen to different music, etc. For example, what one person would call "bass-lite" another person would call "neutral." Correlating that to the numbers on the graph is really the only way to allow the two of them to communicate anything meaningful. The graph would show you that they aren't disagreeing over the actual properties of the headphone, they just have different tastes in how much bass volume one should have. I'm not trying to argue about measurements, just find out if anyone knows where any are... That said, the biggest reason I'm interested in the Abyss is I'm personally convinced soundstage is the one trait headphones differ in that doesn't show up in FR at all, and drivers held away at a distance deliver more of it.

 

[Jon L]

Well, who would've thought it? Abyss Phi TC is sounding GREAT from Schiit Jotunheim R (for Raal SR1a) IF driven via DIY 4-pin female XLR to 4-pin female XLR adapter (different pinout than normal headphones). This is the regular Jotunheim reworked to deal with Raal's extremely low impedance and need for high current delivery, so perhaps low impedance planars that thrive on current do well here.

0408201821 by drjlo2, on Flickr

 

[BrowChan]

Well, who would've thought it? Abyss Phi TC is sounding GREAT from Schiit Jotunheim R (for Raal SR1a) IF driven via DIY 4-pin female XLR to 4-pin female XLR adapter (different pinout than normal headphones). This is the regular Jotunheim reworked to deal with Raal's extremely low impedance and need for high current delivery, so perhaps low impedance planars that thrive on current do well here.

0408201821 by drjlo2, on Flickr

Well well. How better is it than the other AMPs that cost below and above $1K for Abyss? If this is very good I might replace my BasX for it. Leave a review here if you can.

What’s funny is that I completed overlooked this pairing. JR (I don’t own it yet but I heard it) is priced pretty good for what it’s offering.

 

[Jon L]

Well well. How better is it than the other AMPs that cost below and above $1K for Abyss? If this is very good I might replace my BasX for it. Leave a review here if you can.

What’s funny is that I completed overlooked this pairing. JR (I don’t own it yet but I heard it) is priced pretty good for what it’s offering.

I asked Schiit if this was safe, and they said it won't hurt anything but "not recommended" due to low wattage developed by Jot R relative to Jot despite gobs of current Jot R generates. However, Abyss/Jot R is able to get as loud as I want with authority. Abyss/Jot R combo is sounding good enough that I am going back and forth with Raal/JotR and shaking my head. I sure wish I had a regular Jotunheim here to compare, but I can't keep buying more and more stuff this month...

 

[DJJEZ]

could a benchmark HPA4 drive these headphones well?

 

[BrowChan]

I asked Schiit if this was safe, and they said it won't hurt anything but "not recommended" due to low wattage developed by Jot R relative to Jot despite gobs of current Jot R generates. However, Abyss/Jot R is able to get as loud as I want with authority. Abyss/Jot R combo is sounding good enough that I am going back and forth with Raal/JotR and shaking my head. I sure wish I had a regular Jotunheim here to compare, but I can't keep buying more and more stuff this month...

Thanks for that. Would using an adapter help to deal with the wattage issue (I’m not an expert, so I might have misunderstood it)? Sound quality better than any AMPs that cost over $1K from your experience?

 

[F208Frank]

could a benchmark HPA4 drive these headphones well?

Most definitely. I used hpa4 with great results. Joe from Abyss also praises that pairing.

 

[DJJEZ]

Most definitely. I used hpa4 with great results. Joe from Abyss also praises that pairing.

Awesome thanks

 

[MacedonianHero]

Awesome thanks

I used my Phi TC when reviewing this amazing amp here:
https://www.headphone.guru/the-benchmark-hpa4-headphone-amplifier-the-leader-in-transparency/

Bought the amp after the review as I was so thoroughly impressed.

 

[jlbrach]

the amp has the exact same power rating as the formula s/powerman which was built to be ised with the abyss TC ....and the formula s also works great with the susvara FWIIW

 

[DJJEZ]

the amp has the exact same power rating as the formula s/powerman which was built to be ised with the abyss TC ....and the formula s also works great with the susvara FWIIW

Much prefer the aesthetics of the HPA4

 

[F208Frank]

I'd have to agree there. The build looks much more polished on the HPA4.

 

[jlbrach]

the build on the formula s while little flash is very solid and well built