New Abyss AB-1266 v2 incoming....

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by Thenewerguy009, Mar 28, 2017.

  1. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    Joe Skubinski over at HF just said they made a new improved drivers for the Abyss & will be calling it the "Abyss AB-1266 Phi", after the lower case Greek symbol φ.

    There is a Sennheiser HD800S, a Hifiman HE1000 V2, multiple revision of the Stax 007, practically all the Audeze LCD line & now this.

    Wonder what other TOTL headphone is going to get a version 2 revision?
     
  2. MarcusV123

    MarcusV123 Friend

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    Hifiman Edition 6 v2

    It isn't even out yet but I'm going to go ahead and call it.
     
  3. Johan

    Johan New

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    I'm sure hifiman sells prototypes as retail ready products to offset RND costs
     
  4. TomNC

    TomNC Friend

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    Now Hifiman Susvara has competition in both sound and price. Wait to see which will win the game.
     
  5. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    The real question, for me, is what it'll cost to get the new drivers for existing owners (assuming they're actually better).

    Whatever they'd charge for replacement/repair over a stock AB-1266 would be fine, and is where I guess they'll come in. For some reason I didn't think that was that expensive, either, relatively speaking at least, but we'll see I guess.
     
  6. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Did he say in what way the drivers were improved and how that will change the sound?
     
  7. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    I think it's just thinner, more powerful, magnets (Abyss has a single-sided magnet array) that yields faster response and better transparency. Depending on the construction of the driver internals (never taken mine apart), it might be a simple "replace the magnets" upgrade. Will post when I hear.
     
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I would have preferred that the worked on the ergonomics first. Did they work on the ergonomics? Love the sound, but got rid of them because the metal top of the headphone kept hitting the headboard on the bed.
     
  9. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    I don't think so.

    The new ones are up on the main Abyss site already and everything else looks identical.
     
  10. TMRaven

    TMRaven Friend

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    I hear the frame of the Abyss v2 is made of Osmium for improved ergonomics.
     
  11. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    Probably shouldn't wear during sex.
     
  12. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    Beat me to it.
     
  13. Xecuter

    Xecuter Brush and floss your amp twice a day

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    Man I love the original abyss so much.. I'm so worried this 'upgrade' will be worse.
     
  14. Bagged Milk

    Bagged Milk Friend

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    For $1500, they sure as hell better let you keep the old drivers too.
     
  15. Toolman

    Toolman New

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    I sense an Edition 8 is in the work by now?
     
  16. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    So much for having a reasonable price.

    For that price, I would at the very least expect a lifetime warranty.
     
  17. AMW1011

    AMW1011 Friend

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    The price of the upgrade is such shit. Its obviously priced so that its more logical to just sell the current one and buy a new one outright. I suppose you can't expect much more from a cable company. I at least hope its a real improvement, the Abyss is at the top of my try list still.
     
  18. GTABeancounter

    GTABeancounter Friend

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    Ha! this is just further evidence that they really were designed with S&M / 50 "shades" type activities in mind. It is just crazy to me that one could spend $1500 to upgrade and get NOTHING in the way of aesthetic improvements.

    It still blows my mind that the same company sells the "Diana"... "You can have any style theme with our bespoke headphones as long as its a) medieval torture metal blackness or b) unicorns and cotton candy whiteness"... sorry for the rant :)
     
  19. Rockin_Zombie

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    Really want to try the abyss some day. So far the 4k+ headphones haven't wowed me enough to justify twice the pricetag of the HD800S. Abyss is the only one in that category I haven't tried yet. It just looks so damn ugly..but if it's "comfortable" (can wear 4+ hours at a stretch) then the ugliness can be forgiven. That price though....nah I am happy with my poor HD800S.
     
  20. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    These guys got them built-in.
    Cybermen.png
     

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