No worries!
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This was the mindset I had when I auditioned the Dv2 and I am sorry to admit that I let that misconception spoil my audition. It was not until the last couple days of my time with them that I really came to appreciate the Diana V2 but by then it was time to send them back…
The Diana V2 I auditioned had both the old style and new style pads - The old style pads were easier for me to get a sound signature I preferred, but the new style were more comfortable and after some experimenting with pad positions I was also able to end up with a signature I preferred.
That is an awesome headphone, Enjoy!
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My new Diana earpads arrived, so here’s some quick impressions of them compared to the old ones.
Sound-wise, I find the new pads to sound just a hair faster/tighter than the old ones, but we’re really splitting hairs, and I’m also like 90% sure that the difference in sound is just me getting a slightly better seal with the way the new pads fit. My guess is that if you normally listen to Diana V2 with an air gap, you might not hear any difference between the two pads.
Comfort-wise, I prefer the new pads, mostly because the way they fit on my head is a little more “normal,” but I also I like the feel of the material a bit better as well. The old Diana pads are comfy, but they are somewhat unusual. On the other hand, my girlfriend Ellen tried them both and has a strong preference for the old earpads (compared to my weak preference for the new earpads), so comfort is definitely going to be subjective.
So yeah, the sound is basically the same and comfort is hit or miss, so honestly, if you’re already happy with the earpads you have, I’d say just keep them and don’t bother “upgrading” to the new ones.
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In my experience, the revised pads provided a bit more “meat” in the lower mids. But the new pads also felt like the soundstage was the smallest bit more intimate/narrow compared to the old pads. But as you said, it is splitting hairs. But the lower mids is something I noticed right away after swapping pads.
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Just saw some Diana V2s on the market for $2100 and am thinking of an impulse buy… My only headphone right now is the 560s so it’d be quite a jump. But I love the idea of knowing “this is as good as it gets” (at least within my budget).
What do you guys think? Worth it just to listen? I imagine I could sell them for the same price if I hate them…
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What would you be driving them with?
Topping A90
I’d personally want to be higher with a Diana, but regardless of amp it’s still going to be a sizable step up over your senns, at that price if it’s in pretty good condition with the newer revision pads, I think it could possibly be worth a buy and try, and if you like them go higher on the source
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Put all the money in the headphones, right? I figured if I had the power to drive it, that’d at least give me 80% of the experience and I could build up the rest of the components if I felt the itch.
You really want to stay balanced if possible, but you can upgrade the amp and DAC later.
Something will always be a bottleneck in most systems.
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Good thing my systems already balanced I guess?
I’d personally want to spend around similar price for an amp and similar for a dac to stay balanced, this tier of headphone really do start to have heavy dependency on the source gear. Regardless of how good a headphone is, if the source gear can’t convey that information in an equally good manner to the headphones it’s not going to perform how it should
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I guess the real question for now would be: would a Diana with my gear sound better than a headphone in, say, around $1000-1500 with the same gear?
I think it would yes, but perhaps not as better as you’d expect considering the cost of the diana vs the 1500 headphone (let’s say LCD x or Arya for example)
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Yeah you’re probably right. I just saw an opportunity and thought it might be worth a shot. I just vaguely wanted “better” and “the journey” always seems so expensive and I’ve never been a fan of reselling or flipping.
Anyways, carry on. Don’t want to hog the thread anymore with a “should I buy X” question any longer than I need to.
I second this sentiment @Snooze. Imo you probabaky want to step higher in source gear but it will also be a big enough step up as is that its still worth it in general. Especialy given the price and the inclusion of the new pads. Personaly, I also found the tuning of diana exceptionally pleasing to the point where I honestky recomend people just skip the ~1k used price braket if they can afford it (with the exception of hd800s but those are wierd)
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Well, as usual, the stage gets absolutely wild if you make them horrendously uncomfortable 
But realy. Just playing with fit mostly right now. The treble kinda goes all over the place depending on how I have them set on my head. I actualy had it pretty good for a while but I had to get up and do something and cant find the sweet spot again
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Where the DianaTC sits being its an upgrade to Diana Phi with the same driver of 1266tc. The only decent in depth review I found is from Josh Valour using the Xi Broadway to evaluate this so not his thx this time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do_XNNMAnsM .
Basically he is saying its better than 1266s tonality with fixed & better midrange. What do you think?
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I have the Diana TC on loan. It is a slight upgrade from the Diana Phi, with a bit more sub bass, but not as good of treble. The TC is kinda more relaxed and warmer compared to the phi. But it is still an abyss house sound.
The midrange id say is on par with the phi.
Compared to the 1266, it is not quite to that level. The 1266 treble and bass are pretty awesome. 1266 mids are its weak spot, so yes, id say the Diana TC has “better” mids. But that does not make it better than the 1266 as a whole.
Now considering how the build is on Diana TC is, it’s pretty damn impressive, but I felt the same about the Phi and V2.
I do not like their new pads, its only “comfortable” in one position so I feel that I can’t really adjust the pads so that there is less seal, therefore less bass. Just pulling the pads a bit from my head REALLY enhances the bass. So that’s unfortunate. The DMS pad mod is better IMO.
To me this headphone doesn’t do much more than the other Abyss options. Just get the 1266tc.
My gear: Antipodes s30>Mojo Mystique>Cavalli LAu
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Thanks for clarifying in detail.
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