Abyss JOAL Review

In this review we check out the Abyss JOAL headphone, selling for $1,895 USD and €2,295 Euro.

Disclaimer: JPS Labs sent us the Abyss JOAL in exchange for this review. JPS Labs / Abyss is not related to Headfonia in any way.

JPS Labs / Abyss Headphones

Abyss’ parent company, JPS Labs LLC, has been around since 1990 in the business making high performance digital and analogue cables. After many years they have started to dip their toes into the über high end headphone segment and started developing their own planar magnetic drivers and planar headphones. After years of research and development they have introduced the Abyss AB-1266.

Introduced in 2013 the original AB-1266 was unlike any other headphone on the market. I am sure many of you have seen them, and once you did, you could pick them out of hundreds of headphones and know for sure it’s the Abyss. Its looks are very uncanny and some say it resembles a medieval torture device. One thing is sure though, that’s the best brand marketing you can do. Everyone who loves headphones, like we do, immediately knows your name.

We engineer, machine, and assemble our headphones from scratch using the finest materials. Patented planar speaker drivers deliver music to your ears with a speaker-like performance no other headphone can match.

In 2017 Abyss introduced their second model – the Diana. Unlike the 1266 it’s much lighter and more compact. I never had a chance to try this one out, but I’m sure it sports the traditional immersive Abyss sound. Since then, Abyss has brought out new driver technologies and has upgraded their AB-1266 and Diana to Phi models. The AB-1266 has even seen some additional iterations, the latest being the AB-1266 Phi TC. Over the last 2 years, Abyss released the Diana TC as well as the Diana MR and Diana DZ.

In this review we’re looking at the new Abyss JOAL headphone, which isn’t part of the Diana series. We however do advise to read up on the previous Diana articles here.

Now let’s get started!

JOAL

The Abyss JOAL is the latest member of Abyss Headphones’ line-up. You can find its dedicated website here. As with the Diana’s, it is an open back, over ear headphone.

Even though the JOAL looks and feels like a typical Diana headphone, it does not share the Diana name. JOAL stands for “Jack of all Listening” and it is Abyss’ most optimized headphone ever.

JOAL is a time machine for music, feeding your soul with sound that never ceases to amaze. Whether it’s rock and roll from the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, EDM, jazz, blues, classical, or even bluegrass, JOAL delivers an experience that must be heard to be fully appreciated.

Inside JOAL we find Abyss’ patented 63mm planar magnetic drivers for a full-range sound with – according to Abyss – deep, extended bass. The driver has a Frequency Response of 5Hz to 55 KHz and a distortion of on average 0.03% THD.

Abyss on their site mentions that the JOAL is built on over 15 years of research and development and that it represents the pinnacle of Abyss’ patented planar speaker driver technology. Known for its ability to reproduce music with breathtaking detail, deep bass, and an immersive soundstage, JOAL takes this legacy to yet another level.

JOAL basically is a do-it-all headphone, which should be easy to drive with an Impedance of 30 ohms and a sensitivity of 93 dB/mw. We will dive into the drivability later in this article.

If you like to know more about the JOAL, we advise to check out Abyss’ video on it here:

The copper alloy cable that comes with JOAL is custom made and according to JOAL, it is 3 times less expensive as their regular Diana cable. The cable has a two meter (6.6 ft) length and it is a (OFC) 16 core super soft cable terminated with a 4.4 mm plug. I found it to work perfectly with the JOAL and never felt the need to try a different (Diana) cable. It’s soft, flexible, looks great and the adapters do an excellent job. More on that later.

Comfort, Design & Isolation

Regarding these points the JOAL is very much like the Diana series in all possible ways.

The JOAL weighs 390 grams with ear pads, while the latest DZ iteration of the Diana weighs 375g. For a high end full-sized headphone, that is a very acceptable weight. Also, it’s a rather small, low profile full-sized over ear headphone and I like that it’s not as bulky.

This time the JOAL comes with pillow-top Ultrasuede (vegan) ear pads that gently hug your head. Abyss magnetic system, just like Meze’s, is one of the very best on the market and it’s a pleasure to work with.

The Ultrasuede pads feel nice and they perfectly surround your ears without delivering any discomfort. Do note that your ears can get warmer during longer listening periods, especially with the Ultrasuede pads.

The JOAL is very comfortable, and Abyss’ headband (with the “sling”) is doing an excellent job distributing the weight over your head. Gone are the hot zones on the top of your head and the weight now is perfectly spread out over the top of your head, resulting in a very comfortable listening experience.

The JOAL’s side pressure sit just right for me. It’s comfy but tight enough to make sire the headphone stays in place. The JOAL is a headphone you can have long listening sessions with, and it won’t bother you in any way.

Design wise the JOAL looks and feels like a Diana headphone. The JOAL is only available is a satin, matte black finish and it comes with just one set of pads, though you can of course buy Abyss’ extra pads if you want to experiment with the sound.

The ear cup side patterns are unique and I find the full-black JOAL to have a strong stealth vibe. As said, the JOAL looks a lot like a Diana headphone, and as such it has a special design. It of course depends on your personal preference if you like this typical look or not. I quite like it because it’s a rather unusual looking headphone.

The JOAL is a fully open headphone so don’t expect anything special isolation-wise. Sound leaks out, noise leaks in, so using it in a quiet environment is fully recommended.

Build Quality & Connection

Abyss headphones are renowned for their unmatched durability and craftsmanship and JOAL is no exception. Abyss backs that up by a 10-year private warranty for the original owner.

Handcrafted in their New York, USA facility, JOAL embodies everything that Abyss Headphones has learned about what discerning listeners want in a headphone. Its lightweight, Diana-inspired CNC-machined aluminum frame, durable finishes, low-profile magnetic-adjustable headband, and luxurious Ultrasuede materials provide pillow-like comfort for all-day listening.

Each JOAL headphone is hand-made in New York, and crafted from aircraft grade aluminum for a top-level strength. Build-quality-wise the JOAL is everything you would expect from a high-end headphone.

There are no flaws to be found and everything looks and feels superb. The pads also look and feel nice and are perfectly symmetrical. As said I love the black stealth like finish on this version, though it doesn’t look as refined as the Diana series.

I still love Abyss’ magnetic system for the pads, and I feel this proves how serious Abyss is with the build-quality. As you can see in the pictures, each JOAL (driver) is laser engraved with the signature model and serial number. Looking at JOAL’s materials used and the level of workmanship, we can only give top marks for what build quality is concerned.

The stock cable that comes with the JOAL is copper based and it feels soft and it’s very flexible. The stock length this time is 2m and Abyss opted for the 4.4mm balanced connector. You can get adapters to XLR and both unbalanced terminations directly from Abyss (or any cable maker for that matter).

Do note that the Abyss cables are finished with special connectors, and these only fit the Diana/JOAL series in one specific way. This means that it won’t be possible to use just any 2.5mm finished cable with the JOAL.

Price & Accessories

The JOAL is Abyss’ most affordable headphone and it is priced at $1,895 USD without adapters. With the 3 additional adapters included, the price increases to $2,045 USD. Still an excellent price.

The unfortunate news here is that the JOAL in Europe is much more expensive and that translates to €2.295 Euro without and €2.445 Euro with adapters. That’s quite steep compared to the US price to be honest, but EU pricing does include 20% VAT and delivery to your door.

The JOAL comes in Abyss’ typical white box, which has the black protective shell case with velvet interior on the inside. You will also find the premium 2-meter, 16-core super-soft OFC copper alloy headphone cable (with 4.4mm plug) as well as a quick start instruction card.

As mentioned earlier, the JOAL comes equipped with a set of vegan pillow top Ultrasuede ear pads (attached).

You can buy the Abyss JOAL directly from Abyss or through one of their dealers here or here. Don’t forget that the original owner gets an impressive 10 Year Private Warranty.

Full Feature List

• Made in the USA
• CNC-machined aluminum chassis with a high-durability black textured finish
• Laser-cut, annealed metal “Twist and Flex” headband with magnetic adjustability for a personalized fit
• Abyss Patented 63mm Planar Speaker Drivers for full-range sound with deep, extended bass
• Pillow-top Ultrasuede ear pads that gently hug your head and magnetically attach for easy swapping and smooth sound
  • Optional Hybrid Suede/Lambskin and Bass-Ported ear pads allow for easy sound customization
• Premium 2-meter, 16-core super-soft OFC copper alloy headphone cable with 4.4mm plug
• Velvet-lined protective shell travel case
• Low speaker impedance enhances compatibility with portable, battery-operated electronics
• Compatible with all existing DIANA headphone ear pads and cables (for existing Abyss customers)
• Vegan-friendly – no animal leathers used

Sound – Intro

In this section ze check out what the brands say about their own gear, and Abyss describes the JOAL’s sound as follows:

Every Track Feels Like a Master Recording! JOAL’s ability to extract the most subtle audible details from music and movies—recreating the space of the original recording—is uncanny. It’s like listening straight from the master tape, no matter the vintage or genre.

With a huge, open soundstage, incredible depth, and precise layering, JOAL lets you hear the space around every instrument and vocalist, making every listen an immersive experience.

Now it’s time to find out what it really sounds like!

The part on sound and the rest of the review continues on the second page. Click here or use the regular links below to keep reading.