That calmness in your voice and the beautifully shot / edited video... WOW. Your videos are made for TV, not for TH-cam. There is Z Reviews who inspire people to start a TH-cam channel, and when we watch your videos, it’s like , we all need to sit back and watch this, because there’s no way in hell we can even come close to this production, let alone to do better. Thanks for the high quality!
Hey, in your opinion what’s the difference between the two. As indicated in another comment I’ve got my heart set on a V2 but reviews are still just far too limited
The ab-1266 phi tc makes up for all the weaknesses stated in the vid. It's like going form lcd3 to Lcd4, you get more of the X factors, better bass, dynamics, staging. Although I prefer the slightly warmer tonality of the Diana Phi.
If you're watching this to aid your purchasing decision, you have my respect. Josh - New lens? @2:03 , @2:13 , @3:05 Just messing around? @1:30 Gorgeous. More of this. 👏
Alas that was my goal. Now I am lost. It takes a $7k amp to make this great? Even Z thinks this is not a "buy". It seems confusing. At the Abyss site they say this has very limited soundstage.
You sold me. I just pulled the trigger on this headphone. The only way I could afford the buy was to get a demo model from a headphone store in France. The price I got was a Christmas miracle but I'm still in Dutch with the wife. I did it on your good authority (You and DMS are, by my far, my favorite reviewers) so if she kicks me to the curb, I'm blaming you. ;-)
I'm a great Grado fan and I mostly use only their headphones. These Abyss Diana Phi really caught my attention. I've tried them and they are really wonderful. Thank you for sharing such high quality contents. Be well and take care
This video is easily the best I’ve seen amidst the entirety of your work, I greatly appreciate the passion that goes into the editing and shots you take.
Dying to hear your V2 review. I got the Arya at the start of this year baaaassicallllyyy off your recommendation (and they were in a weird sweet spot for price to performance in AUS at the time). For a while I was thinking of LCD-X or HD800 as my next headphone but ever since I found out about the V2 I’ve been keeping my eyes and ears peeled.
i own the Foca; Stellia and following your recommendation I tried the Arya ,and the V2 , buying the V2 because it seems to complement better the Stellia, maybe the HD800 ,will give you a better perspective than the V2 in your specific case.Good luck.
Sensational presentation in this video, Josh. I feel like the quality of production of your reviews is consistently getting better and better. I've watched a ton of your reviews and really appreciate and enjoy your insight.
Thanks for this one, Josh. I first heard these when they were just coming out at CanJam. Loved them. They were some of the best sounding headphones that I've ever listened to. However, at CanJam, things are never exactly quiet. So hearing the nuances of headphones can sometimes be an issue. Nice to hear your opinions since these are on my shortlist of wants. Appreciate it!
If you're an audiophile and you don't have at least $15k for an equivalent set of speakers and amp, this really isn't a bad investment. If you don't think it's worth the price then don't buy it.
The way you do comparisons makes your reviews very good and detailed 😊. Personally I wouldn't compromising on what my Sennheiser HD 800 can do in terms of soundstage.
Josh - loving your content. Got to ask though. I can't see how you are doing those macro shots with just your lenses. Are you using a macro tube or helicoid on the sigma 18-35? Or do you also have that weird laowa telescope looking lens?
Josh, can you do a HEDDphone review? Purchased the HiFiman Arya recently and would love your take on comparison. Love your content. Keep up the great work! Thanks!
Well I have been watching Abyss' TH-cam videos every now and then and I remember one of the things they said is that the Diana Phi is suppose to be a close and personal sounding headphone and if you want sound stage, there is the 1266.
Where does one buy the DMS mod pads? And is the iFi Audio xCAN High Power Bluetooth Amplifier really compatible with this headphones according to Abyss website?
There's a thing I don't get it.... How someone can spend more than 3 hundred dollars for the abyss and 8 bucks for a akg k553 headband strap for confort?
I am going to wait till they drop to 800$ and then snatch one on sale at 400$ Great direction you have going there for yourself review-wise, Joshua (tree hihihii). Building on what was already equal to none cinematography and solid observations. Also, this new pace favours your speech and lets us absorb the ideas and thoughts better. Only thing I would suggest at this point, is that since your going through your whole wardrobe from take to take, throw in a few jazzy shirts. Like go lit ;)
I hope that's a joke. All products have a half life in potential worth. Like a real half life of a atom, they follow a curve that eventually becomes practically a straight line as its next half life becomes to small to measure. In 2018 you could get a gtx 780ti for around $150, two years later they're $130. I promise you, with a brand as highly regarded as abyss and audio products not aging in general, it will never fall below 1.5k, if you're even lucky to see one used.
I would really love a comparison or impression of the ZMF Verite Closed. I love the Phi due to its size compared to the other TOTL, but I love a bit of bass too!
i also love how accurately and confident you describe sound. i can get an idea of how a piece of audio equipment sounds without ever listening to it. best channel
1266 Phi TC owner... Intrigued by the Diana Phis.. Currently struggling with amp pairing with the 1266's and likely will be going directly from a speaker amp taps (bananas) to xlr... My headphone amps simply haven't been enough and going up to a WA33 / Nimbus US4 / Balancing Act / xi audio formula s simply isn't in the cards for me.
I am wondering if the youtubers are saying the name right, I can see "Phi" as 'fy' like HiFi But as someone has pointed out the spiral is a fibonacci spiral, could it supposed to be pronounced 'fee' ? Anyone check with Abyss?
The fibonacci sunflower spiral on this headphone is a clear indication of the pronunciation. Phi is the Greek letter which is used mathematically to represent the golden ratio, which is what we see in the pattern. The pronunciation of Phi is (ˈfaɪ) such as in when you say the word finally (ˈfaɪ.nl̩.I).
@@davidgarza8915 Nope. Go ask any Greek speaker and they’ll say it right. It’s prounounced “Fee” but Americans always arbitrarily butcher languages at their whim. Notice how people use the correct French pronunciation for “timbre” yet can’t pronounce “niche” correctly.
Hello! How's the Diana Phi will Lana del Rey's Love or John Legend's Ordinary People? The way you describe the lushness of vocals with this set made me curious.
What the hell do you do that allows you to own so many of these expensive headphones? I know that these were sent to you for review and knowing Abyss, they probably asked for them back. But looking in the background there are so many high-end headphones and high-end DACs and Amps. I am super jealous.
What do you mean by 'DMS modded pads' (I know who DMS is, I don't know that these are pads he mods ? lol) Abyss' website has 'original' and 'V2' Diana pads - so do you mean the the 'V2' pads ?
I think the criticisms from the HD6xx amp/dac video were overblown but still moderately valid. This video feels like a meld between your typical style and what you attempted in the aforementioned one. I like the panning shots while talking and the ethereal music playing lightly while speaking. I think people forget why they started watching you in the first place and this should help them remember. You were the first guy to pay attention to lighting, shot composition, B-roll, etc. This is a massive improvement over a first-person go pro view or a camera just sitting on a desk. As you said in a pinned comment for the 6xx amp/dac video, you're trying new things and exploring new videography as well as moving to a script and in my humble/subjective opinion the ladder is not an improvement. I bought the Hifiman Arya because of you and one line in particular, "it just sounds fucking huge." I don't think you would have said that via script and I don't want you to lose that part of your candor. Perhaps that's selfish but I don't think I'm alone there. As someone that's been watching since you had a few hundred subs, I commend you for trying to push the video making aspect ever further and I wholeheartedly appreciate you pushing yourself as a maker. Complacency is the death of creativity and I will always encourage people to try new things no matter what.
Both Amazon links today, July 15, the day you posted this video say the item is unavailable. This isn't helpful. Additionally, I have a real issue with a headphone that NEEDS a pad swap to be useable. So the manufacturer has no concept of their shortcomings and sells it as a 3K+ headphone anyway?
@@irondad007 Really? Zeos had the original and said they were unconfitable, but the new v2 fit him correctly. What are the dms ones doing differently then that?
En Joshi-Godrez Josh covered that in the video. They distribute the pressure on your head differently so you don’t get a hot spot right above the ears.
Did I miss the part where you talk about cost and value/performance? 🤔 They are 4K. I think that’s something you need to discuss in your videos especially when you are taking about top of the line headphones. Thanks for the review, keep the good work.
Just tested the Diana Phi with THX887 + SMSL M400 !!! It's a Great headphone… but I still prefer my Stax L700 mk2 for listening metal music (more clarity, sound stage and dynamic) ^_^ Maybe my THX amp is not enough powerful to drive the Diana Phi.
i love that you pay attention to your own production value considering you're an audio enthusiast. so many other channels just let their echoy rooms and onboard camera mics wreck their reviews. then you include some of the most full, lush music and outstanding B-roll
Keep chasing the TH-cam dream, but have you thought about using your (considerable) video production skills commercially? There must be a stack of companies that would pay well to have their products promoted with such gorgeous sound and visuals.
I love to save your reviews for days when I'm off from work. I get back from work with that beautiful feeling of knowing I don't have to work the next day. Get a cup of whiskey and sit on my recliner to watch your videos. Great start to my "weekend". Thank you, Sir.
These appear to be designed with some portability in mind, the low impedance and compact design is suggestive of that but the open back design would give it some limitations with portability. I'd be interested to know how they pair with an Astell and Kern dap or something similar as i think these headphones were designed to be used that way and not so much with a desktop amp.
The audio and video quality in your videos are really underrated.
Ikr
I concur. His skills should be put to use on more than headphone reviews. Good music too.
That calmness in your voice and the beautifully shot / edited video... WOW. Your videos are made for TV, not for TH-cam.
There is Z Reviews who inspire people to start a TH-cam channel, and when we watch your videos, it’s like , we all need to sit back and watch this, because there’s no way in hell we can even come close to this production, let alone to do better. Thanks for the high quality!
th-cam.com/video/NNC0kIzM1Fo/w-d-xo.html
Great b-roll! Love the macro slider shots.
to my ears, Diana Phi and v2 are the most tonally correct headphones I've used to-date. Comfort is also A+ which is why I own both versions.
Hey, in your opinion what’s the difference between the two. As indicated in another comment I’ve got my heart set on a V2 but reviews are still just far too limited
The ab-1266 phi tc makes up for all the weaknesses stated in the vid. It's like going form lcd3 to Lcd4, you get more of the X factors, better bass, dynamics, staging. Although I prefer the slightly warmer tonality of the Diana Phi.
When you need a Speaker Stand to hold your Tube Amp, you know what you got yourself into.
If you're watching this to aid your purchasing decision, you have my respect.
Josh - New lens? @2:03 , @2:13 , @3:05 Just messing around? @1:30 Gorgeous. More of this. 👏
Alas that was my goal. Now I am lost. It takes a $7k amp to make this great? Even Z thinks this is not a "buy". It seems confusing. At the Abyss site they say this has very limited soundstage.
You sold me. I just pulled the trigger on this headphone. The only way I could afford the buy was to get a demo model from a headphone store in France. The price I got was a Christmas miracle but I'm still in Dutch with the wife. I did it on your good authority (You and DMS are, by my far, my favorite reviewers) so if she kicks me to the curb, I'm blaming you. ;-)
3:38 Timbre is actually pronounced as tam-ber. Timber is a type of wood lol. English is very weird.
i was going to comment on that haha.
French, which is where the word comes from.
yeah love your channel josh bit please stop saying it wrong, it makes your otherwise informative videos feel uninformed
Yes. Thank you!
TIIIIMMMMMMMMMMM-BERrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
I'm a great Grado fan and I mostly use only their headphones. These Abyss Diana Phi really caught my attention. I've tried them and they are really wonderful. Thank you for sharing such high quality contents. Be well and take care
This video is easily the best I’ve seen amidst the entirety of your work, I greatly appreciate the passion that goes into the editing and shots you take.
These past few videos your shots have been insane thoroughly impressed
The review i have been waiting on, awesome.
Love the reviews Josh! As always well done on the quality
Dying to hear your V2 review. I got the Arya at the start of this year baaaassicallllyyy off your recommendation (and they were in a weird sweet spot for price to performance in AUS at the time). For a while I was thinking of LCD-X or HD800 as my next headphone but ever since I found out about the V2 I’ve been keeping my eyes and ears peeled.
i own the Foca; Stellia and following your recommendation I tried the Arya ,and the V2 , buying the V2 because it seems to complement better the Stellia, maybe the HD800 ,will give you a better perspective than the V2 in your specific case.Good luck.
Jesus Christ man, your videos somehow remind me of Blade Runner 2049's cinematography. Great shots. Great music. Please never stop.
your reviews and production are AMAZING
The people over at Abyss seem great - I love their passion about what they make.
@Hersey Berry you obviously made this comment based on zero research on how they are made. Ignorance shouldn't be your main goal in life.
Sensational presentation in this video, Josh. I feel like the quality of production of your reviews is consistently getting better and better. I've watched a ton of your reviews and really appreciate and enjoy your insight.
Great cinematography and B-roll! Keep up the good work
Man, those macro shots are beautiful.
You are my go-to for all audio reviews. For a subjective matter, you are the most objective and well reasoned!
Thanks for this one, Josh. I first heard these when they were just coming out at CanJam. Loved them. They were some of the best sounding headphones that I've ever listened to. However, at CanJam, things are never exactly quiet. So hearing the nuances of headphones can sometimes be an issue. Nice to hear your opinions since these are on my shortlist of wants. Appreciate it!
You are the Mkbhd of audio world. ❤️👏
Ps: DAT B ROLL OF WOO AUDIO AMP WITH PILLARS WAS LIT AF💜💜💜
I just wanna say the B-roll shots in this video are insane, especially 1:30. Big props to you Josh.
Every video you have different setup behind you. Amazing
Q: Who is this for?
A: Certainly not the poor. 😂
Fisher Man these are the phi version 4 thousand dollars
Fisher Man He didn’t even mention cost in the video 😳
Even millionaires are skeptical of dropping $4k on these.
If you're an audiophile and you don't have at least $15k for an equivalent set of speakers and amp, this really isn't a bad investment. If you don't think it's worth the price then don't buy it.
for the stupid.
GOD, I LOVE THE ABYSS PRODUCTS !!!!
Great video Joshua!
Keep up the amazing work!
The way you do comparisons makes your reviews very good and detailed 😊.
Personally I wouldn't compromising on what my Sennheiser HD 800 can do in terms of soundstage.
Josh - loving your content. Got to ask though. I can't see how you are doing those macro shots with just your lenses. Are you using a macro tube or helicoid on the sigma 18-35? Or do you also have that weird laowa telescope looking lens?
Josh, can you do a HEDDphone review? Purchased the HiFiman Arya recently and would love your take on comparison. Love your content. Keep up the great work! Thanks!
Bro, your B-Roll is on point lately
Hoping for you to eventually review the Verite open / Verite closed. Also Aeolus if you're on a ZMF spree. Cheers!
Josh, your video went from legit to IMMACULATE. Well done. 🤙🏼
Well I have been watching Abyss' TH-cam videos every now and then and I remember one of the things they said is that the Diana Phi is suppose to be a close and personal sounding headphone and if you want sound stage, there is the 1266.
Where does one buy the DMS mod pads? And is the iFi Audio xCAN High Power Bluetooth Amplifier really compatible with this headphones according to Abyss website?
Did you ever test that WA33 with the HD800s?
There's a thing I don't get it.... How someone can spend more than 3 hundred dollars for the abyss and 8 bucks for a akg k553 headband strap for confort?
I am going to wait till they drop to 800$ and then snatch one on sale at 400$
Great direction you have going there for yourself review-wise, Joshua (tree hihihii). Building on what was already equal to none cinematography and solid observations. Also, this new pace favours your speech and lets us absorb the ideas and thoughts better. Only thing I would suggest at this point, is that since your going through your whole wardrobe from take to take, throw in a few jazzy shirts. Like go lit ;)
I hope that's a joke. All products have a half life in potential worth. Like a real half life of a atom, they follow a curve that eventually becomes practically a straight line as its next half life becomes to small to measure. In 2018 you could get a gtx 780ti for around $150, two years later they're $130. I promise you, with a brand as highly regarded as abyss and audio products not aging in general, it will never fall below 1.5k, if you're even lucky to see one used.
can a magnius drive this headphone?
Fantastic review, Josh! I feel like I got a lot of information in a beautifully shot&edited video.
Btw, what are we looking at @1:33?
That's inside the WA-33. (between the two levels). :)
Fantastic review. A headphone probably not for my taste but would be nice to hear it some day.
I would really love a comparison or impression of the ZMF Verite Closed. I love the Phi due to its size compared to the other TOTL, but I love a bit of bass too!
i also love how accurately and confident you describe sound.
i can get an idea of how a piece of audio equipment sounds without ever listening to it.
best channel
1266 Phi TC owner... Intrigued by the Diana Phis.. Currently struggling with amp pairing with the 1266's and likely will be going directly from a speaker amp taps (bananas) to xlr... My headphone amps simply haven't been enough and going up to a WA33 / Nimbus US4 / Balancing Act / xi audio formula s simply isn't in the cards for me.
What is the DMS pad mod and how do you do it?
The B-Roll is amazing!
I am wondering if the youtubers are saying the name right, I can see "Phi" as 'fy' like HiFi
But as someone has pointed out the spiral is a fibonacci spiral, could it supposed to be pronounced 'fee' ?
Anyone check with Abyss?
The fibonacci sunflower spiral on this headphone is a clear indication of the pronunciation. Phi is the Greek letter which is used mathematically to represent the golden ratio, which is what we see in the pattern. The pronunciation of Phi is (ˈfaɪ) such as in when you say the word finally (ˈfaɪ.nl̩.I).
@@davidgarza8915 Nope. Go ask any Greek speaker and they’ll say it right. It’s prounounced “Fee” but Americans always arbitrarily butcher languages at their whim.
Notice how people use the correct French pronunciation for “timbre” yet can’t pronounce “niche” correctly.
Hello! How's the Diana Phi will Lana del Rey's Love or John Legend's Ordinary People? The way you describe the lushness of vocals with this set made me curious.
Can anyone link that pad for the headband he showed at the start?
When will you review the Heddphone by Hedd? That's by far the most ludicrous albeit exciting headphone in the market today.
Josh, we are waiting for that review of the HeddPhone
That this video only has 14k views is a fucking travesty. Love your videos, man, and I hope to afford this pair with a proper setup one day.
Those macro shots are so nice.
what's that track at 7:41?
What the hell do you do that allows you to own so many of these expensive headphones? I know that these were sent to you for review and knowing Abyss, they probably asked for them back. But looking in the background there are so many high-end headphones and high-end DACs and Amps. I am super jealous.
Between this and the 1000 SE which way to go?
Next review D8000 pro ? And after a comparaison between Diana Phi and D8000 pro ?
Does anybody know what song plays @ 3:30 ?
What do you mean by 'DMS modded pads' (I know who DMS is, I don't know that these are pads he mods ? lol) Abyss' website has 'original' and 'V2' Diana pads - so do you mean the the 'V2' pads ?
This review is so cinematic it deserves an oscar...even forgot about the Diana!
love the upgraded soundtrac...
Can you review the beats studio?🤣
would you take these over the arya?
Wow that form factor though.
I think the criticisms from the HD6xx amp/dac video were overblown but still moderately valid. This video feels like a meld between your typical style and what you attempted in the aforementioned one. I like the panning shots while talking and the ethereal music playing lightly while speaking. I think people forget why they started watching you in the first place and this should help them remember. You were the first guy to pay attention to lighting, shot composition, B-roll, etc. This is a massive improvement over a first-person go pro view or a camera just sitting on a desk. As you said in a pinned comment for the 6xx amp/dac video, you're trying new things and exploring new videography as well as moving to a script and in my humble/subjective opinion the ladder is not an improvement. I bought the Hifiman Arya because of you and one line in particular, "it just sounds fucking huge." I don't think you would have said that via script and I don't want you to lose that part of your candor. Perhaps that's selfish but I don't think I'm alone there. As someone that's been watching since you had a few hundred subs, I commend you for trying to push the video making aspect ever further and I wholeheartedly appreciate you pushing yourself as a maker. Complacency is the death of creativity and I will always encourage people to try new things no matter what.
So what exactly is timbre ?
Whats the name of the song?
I love the music usage in your video. It's everytime amazing to hear this especially with Headphones on.
Someone should cover the Koss GMR Air. No one has really covered them as an audiophile.
1:28 DaVinci maybe, but would it make Jony Ive weep?
Both Amazon links today, July 15, the day you posted this video say the item is unavailable. This isn't helpful. Additionally, I have a real issue with a headphone that NEEDS a pad swap to be useable. So the manufacturer has no concept of their shortcomings and sells it as a 3K+ headphone anyway?
The v2 doesn't have the pad confort issue. If you buy them new, you will recieve the new pads on them.
En Joshi-Godrez it’s not the V2 pads that these need. It’s the DMS modded pads and they cost extra.
@@irondad007 Really? Zeos had the original and said they were unconfitable, but the new v2 fit him correctly. What are the dms ones doing differently then that?
En Joshi-Godrez Josh covered that in the video. They distribute the pressure on your head differently so you don’t get a hot spot right above the ears.
@@irondad007 I see, so did josh have the v2 pads as standard? Sorry, I wasn't really paying attention.
Can you review the new Shure Aonic 50?
Did I miss the part where you talk about cost and value/performance? 🤔 They are 4K. I think that’s something you need to discuss in your videos especially when you are taking about top of the line headphones. Thanks for the review, keep the good work.
4:35 Mentions price. 😊
Just tested the Diana Phi with THX887 + SMSL M400 !!! It's a Great headphone… but I still prefer my Stax L700 mk2 for listening metal music (more clarity, sound stage and dynamic) ^_^ Maybe my THX amp is not enough powerful to drive the Diana Phi.
The b roll on this video is nuts. Great work. (Btw timbre is pronounced “tamber”)
i love that you pay attention to your own production value considering you're an audio enthusiast. so many other channels just let their echoy rooms and onboard camera mics wreck their reviews.
then you include some of the most full, lush music and outstanding B-roll
can you review grado hemp headphones?
Josh does it take your No.1 spot ?
Nice macro shots!
Keep chasing the TH-cam dream, but have you thought about using your (considerable) video production skills commercially? There must be a stack of companies that would pay well to have their products promoted with such gorgeous sound and visuals.
Woo Audio WA33.. Please do a review
I love to save your reviews for days when I'm off from work. I get back from work with that beautiful feeling of knowing I don't have to work the next day. Get a cup of whiskey and sit on my recliner to watch your videos. Great start to my "weekend". Thank you, Sir.
Kudos to your beautiful 4K content, looks really nice on the TV. 👍🏻
DMS pads ! Oh yeah !
And here I wanted to use it on my smartphone xD
this chain is probably more expensive than what the mixing and mastering engineers used while making the record 😂
These appear to be designed with some portability in mind, the low impedance and compact design is suggestive of that but the open back design would give it some limitations with portability. I'd be interested to know how they pair with an Astell and Kern dap or something similar as i think these headphones were designed to be used that way and not so much with a desktop amp.
Timber?
Just a friendly reminder that "timbre" is pronounced like "tamber"
In French. It’s also a Spanish word.
My wallet won't let me finish this video
what? no signing off?
This looks to be some kind of a teaser
Maybe a closed Diana?
-> 10:14
Vegan leather option ?
Don't pretend like that cord-on-collar at 4:19 didn't bother you! I'd be incredibly annoyed.
It looks very small and portable, but considering the power it requires... never mind.
You sound like a psychologist in this review. We need a Versus video between HEKse and this. Lol
1:30 I thought this is going to be matrix fan-made movie 🍿 lol
I was hoping to hear “dollars” after you said “this is only 350...”😲
You Look weird when you had it on your head, might be the lack of padding on the earcup
350gms - what?!!?!
🔥