Anyone have any recommendations on a xlr to banana cable?
Thought about contacting arctic for one. I’d like to stay reasonably priced (DHC is a little wild haha).
Edit: I have an option figured out. Appreciate the help @orrman
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Only one I know of is Amazon. low priced low ___?
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Anyone know why Abyss has two different prices for their SC cable? The 1266 version is much more expensive. Same cable right? Just different connectors?
Headphone termination??? does not specifically give details other than 1266 one has Rhodium??
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I know. I’m going to email them and see. I have a Diana SC and I’d like to get it terminated for the 1266. But I noticed the price difference and made me think, there has to be a significant difference or they’re really up charging
It makes me wonder if it isn’t a case of more $ for the headphone so more $ for the cable.
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The 1266 cable is a thicker gauge than the Diana SC cable
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Now that makes sense! I appreciate the help.
Funny it’s not mentioned on the site. Or maybe I missed it.
Do you know if the 1266 cable is much heavier than the Diana? I like the feel of the Diana SC cable.
I would guess it is. I had the 1266 superconductor and it was quite heavy, hard to imagine it being comfortable with the Diana weight
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Ok cool. I guess I never paid attention and thought they were the same. That’s a shame because I really liked it with the Diana.
I’ll still give it a shot tho. Seems like it’s really recommended with the 1266
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Yes, 1266 cable is a fair bit thicker and heavier, and also less flexible, I don’t know what material changes there may be, but there’s absolutely more wire there than the diana sc cable (or maybe more shielding lol, never cut into it to really see)
Worth it as long as the rest of the chain is up to snuff
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Well I’m not spending anymore on hardware so it’s going to have to do 
.
Just cables and small tweaks from here.
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You’ve got nothing to worry about in that regard lol
Makes sense
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I believe I’ve heard that assertion before from you… 
I know I’ve made similar claims, yet here I am.
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Some impressions of the Abyss exhibition at CanJam. I spent the most time in this room.
There were tons of tiers of gear to try the Joal on as well as their other headphones. I spoke to the Abyss guys and from some of the impressions of others, i was expecting them to be a bit standoff-ish or act better-than-thou. But they were extremely easy to talk to.
Anyway, I started with the Dianna DZ and Woo Audio 20th anniversary amp being fed by some Holo gear and an iPad with Apple music streaming. This was probably my favorite set up of the show. I am not sure what i was expecting from the abyss but probably something more neutral, a analytic, slightly sterile, but very close and technical. It was some of those things but it surprised me with a lot with what it wasnt. It was very technical, but not closed in, it was more neutral but definitely on the warmer side of it and definitely not sterile. It was a lot like the Yamaha YH-5000 where it wants to give you everything, but it trades the Yams texture and super extreme resolution in a super deep stage for more meat on the bone and earthy resolution and placement. Both also had lighter bass but a much more detailed low end. If i was told i had to get rid of all my gear but i could purchase just 1 set up with a value of $15k or under it would be this, but swap the dac a piece that has more bottom end like the mojo
Next, the Joal. They werent lying, it is super comfy. I have a big head and while some say the dianna gives them fitment issue, it fit well for me. But the Joal seemed perfect. Where the dianna fit but seemed loose, the joal was nice and snug but somehow just blended in to where i didnt notice them. HD800s are like light frames that hardly tough you, the Yams are do light and inoffensive you forget theyre there, ZMFs are like an over sized comfy but weighty hoodie. The Joals fall towards the ZMFs where they’re a welcome hug, butvthat suede is so cozy and the light weight helps them blend in and disappear.
I tried the Joal on both the cavalli liquid gold and eleven source gear to try to pin down what was the headphone and what was the gear. Starting with stage i heard good depth but things were kept pretty intimate, which is something i like especially with vocals. Width was not the widest and may be the only thing i would say i would need improving or may do better on another amp. It was like it was a cone with the wide part in front if you but it comes in tight at your temples. Going from the bottom, the bass had plenty of heft and bop but it stays in check and keeps the feet tapping. It wasnt overly detailed, textured, or articulate but there was “more bass” than the DZ. The mids had great timbre, a few tiers better than the yamaha yh-5000 which i couldnt get past the hollow feel, and they had a great lushness. It wasnt overly warm or gooey, but maybe a lukewarm tilt. Treble was non-offensive, maybe a slight roll off but not missing detail or extension like some ZMFs. I heard a few say it is laid back and im not sure about that. Maybe easy going as its not offensive but i feel it had a bit of energy and it was very much pointed “at” you.
I heard someone relate it to the lcd pre fazors. Kind of, but at least on what i heard not really. I think the PFs had a syrupy dark liquidity that i have not heard elsewhere. It is also a decently warm headphone with a kind of low-fi fuzz to it that makes it perfect for 90s rock. The joal is much more even kiltered and resolute. The PFs also were are a truly unique laid back but engaging with energy feel. It is a bigger, more wrappings space and so liquid and coherent. The joal seemed more towards the modern, played straight sound.
I think listening to it after the DZ may have been not ideal as it was a clear drop down, and not unexpectedly so as the price was 1/2 the DZ rig. It felt a bit congested on the Cavalli and not much better on the Eleven. I really wonder if the amps didnt do it justice ur if thats just the Joal. I wish i was able to try it on a really high end amp to see if it scales as well. There is lots of talk about it being good on low end gear but nothing about scaling up.
Tbh, i am not sure how i feel about them soundwise. Maybe i am expecting too much for $1900 or just have gotten used to costlier pieces. I would like to hear other’s impressions as many seemed to love it.
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I’m curious about the JOAL. I’ve always wanted to try Abyss Diana’s lineup, but the price is a concern. When the MR dropped to $2k used, it caught my attention. Seeing some members here like it, I wanted to try one. Now, the dilemma is between the MR and JOAL. I almost went with a new JOAL at launch price with adapters for around $2K, but there’s an MR with accessories three pads total and an XLR cable for around the same price.
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Ibam not sure if there was an MR there. There was a bad swap station band maybe those were MRs but i didnt listen, tbh. If they gave a launch discount to $1600 i would be inclined to grab a pair.
@orrman and the others who were at the show, what are your thoughts on the Joal?
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I really liked the MR. DZ was solid too but thought with the price difference I could live with the MR. Maybe the DZ on a better amp it would pull ahead a little more. Didn’t have the AIC at the time.
And yeah, I saw some of those used MRs around 1.7-1.8. That’s a solid deal. Haven’t heard the JOAL but seems well received and I’m sure it competes with the MR. It would have to IMO.
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I should also add while the room wasnt noisy, i guess i listen to volumes lower than many others. The person next to me during my tests had theirs dialed up to where i could easily hear his music over mine during Joal testing.
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How would you compare the DZ and MR? The low price on the MR used is kind of interesting me.
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