Article: High-End Headphone Roundup: Meze Empyrean, Focal Utopia, Abyss AB-1266 Phi CC

[austinpop]

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[austinpop]

5 minutes ago, manisandher said:

Excellent article Rajiv. Another example of how reviews should be written, though I can only imagine how much time and effort you put into it.

 

Have you ever had a chance to try a pair of old AKG K1000 'earspeakers' driven by a decent amp? I find them particularly good with classical music because you can angle them out, creating some semblance of a real sound stage. If you open them up too much, I find you lose too much bottom end, but it's possible to find a nice balance.

 

Just wondered...

 

Mani.

 

No I haven’t. I’ll be on the lookout for them now!

[austinpop]

4 minutes ago, simorag said:

Great article as usual, Rajiv.

 

Could you just clarify whether you tried the Abyss CC or the TC?

 

Thanks!

S

 

CC. Hoping to hear the TC at AXPONA soon.

[austinpop]

54 minutes ago, manisandher said:

(Edit: 'Nit Khair Mansan Sohnia Main Teri' is my favourite Nusrat track of all time.)

 

They're all so good! I admit that one being in Punjabi is a bonus for me.

[austinpop]

18 hours ago, exdmd said:

@austinpop I look forward to you reviewing the RAAL SR1a headphones. Some reviewers who own both like Zhanming057 (see his review) even prefer them to the Abyss AB-1266 Phi CC.

 

These I have not heard yet. I'll add them to my list to check out.

[austinpop]

14 hours ago, wdw said:

Thanks for your work on this...we are in the market for this high level of headphone and are considering the HD800 and the Focal Stellia.  

My interest is piqued by the new closed back HD820.  Would love to read comments on that one.  No dealers in my market are planning to bring them in so we cannot audition.

 

I have not found closed back headphones to appeal to me, especially as I value a large soundstage and holographic imaging. Perhaps there are exceptions, but most seem to be a compromise to achieve the goal of eliminating or reducing noise leakage. And if that is your primary criterion, then both of these are great examples. But I like their open back siblings better.

[austinpop]

14 hours ago, JoshM said:

Great review @austinpop. I wonder if you could say more about your experiences with the HD800 Dekoni pads. Did any increase the lower bass without over-taming the high end?

 

Not to my complete satisfaction. That's why I liked the fenestrated sheepskin, as it mostly leaves the signature alone, while adding comfort.

[austinpop]

2 hours ago, TheAttorney said:

suggest you try the hifiman HE-1000 SE.

 

I've heard them many times, along with their more expensive siblings in the brand lineup. 

 

There are many outstanding headphones out there, catering to diverse tastes. Just like speakers, headphone appeal is very personal. I just picked the ones that appealed to me.

 

See my comments in the article about the mythical Acme Aural Exciter Mk II.

[austinpop]

47 minutes ago, chrille said:

Thanks for another great and very informative review!

 

The AKG 1000 is the headphone Jared Sacks used as monitoring headphones at recording sessions for the Mahler series. Unless he has changed recently ,those are what he used at the Mahler 3 sessions too.

 

I heard his pair during the Mahler 5 sessions in Budapest.

Very open and very different to most other headphones except the newer Myspheres and the old and NEW Jecklin Float electrostatic headphones.

Earspeakers would maybe be a better term for that type of headphones.

 

And very probably also the now much talked about RAAL SRH1A ribbons which I hope to audition next week in Singapore for the first time.

 

I have also yet to hear the NEW supposedly much improved over the old ones,Jecklin Floats but I have an old pair still back home.

And like the AKG1000 they deliver some the most open "out of the head" headphone listening available.

But are not very good for deep bass.

The BIS team in Minnesota monitor with Stax electrostatics I think.

I haven't been to any of those sessions. But at sessions in Gothenburg Sweden  they used Stax electostatics when I was there.

And I believe the  recording engineer who introduced me  personally to HD800, now also has a pair of Stax headphones as well.

So I am a bit surprised no electrostatics were included in your review at all?

 

The very resolving but a bit too bright,Utopias sound  too upfront and to "small" soundstage-wise with classical symphonic material, in comparison to the AKG1000 imho.

 

Very impressive in some respects, but tiring in the long run for me.

 

For classical music and large scale symphonic music in particular, which I listen to almost exclusively, I agree that the HD800 still are a VERY GOOD choice.

 

And this winter I have been travelling with my old HD800 with the velour Dekoni pads.

To my ears they do tame the treble peak a bit compared to the orginal pads and are much more comfortable.

And with Qutest/ HMS I get a lot of musical enjoyment from that combo.

Cheers Christer

 

Thanks for the great info. I've never really warmed to electrostatics. I've heard the Stax SR-007 and SR-009 with various amps and the more recent entrants from other vendors. A matter of taste, I suppose.