Abyss Joal

The reviewer and a guest give their first impressions of the Abyss Joal headphone, praising its sleek black design, comfortable fit, and warm, consumer-friendly sound signature. They note that while it has a slightly less premium finish than the more expensive DZ model, it offers excellent build quality and a more accessible price point, making it a strong contender in its class.

The reviewer praises the Abyss JOAL as the best headphone the company makes, highlighting significant improvements in comfort, ergonomics, and balance compared to previous Abyss models. They note it is lighter, more comfortable, and has a more balanced sound while still retaining detail, and they consider it a great value at under $2,000.

The reviewer compares the Abyss JOAL and Meze POET, both around $2,000, and finds them excellent but with different strengths. The JOAL is more neutral, detailed, and transparent, with superior treble and instrument separation, while the POET offers a warmer, punchier bass and a more intimate, full sound. The reviewer concludes that the JOAL is better for audiophiles seeking fidelity, while the POET suits bass lovers and those preferring a more colored, engaging presentation.

The reviewer finds the Abyss Joal to be a beautifully built and comfortable headphone with a unique, warm vocal presentation and excellent clarity, but is frustrated by its inflexible ergonomics and inconsistent bass response that varies greatly with fit. While the sound is enjoyable and detailed, it lacks the linear bass extension and engaging low-end of competitors, making it a niche product that depends heavily on the listener's head shape.

The reviewer praises the Abyss JOAL as a phenomenal open-back headphone that offers exceptional value at $2000, highlighting its warm-neutral sound signature, superb bass impact, and premium all-metal build. He notes it is comfortable, easy to drive, and scales well with better amplification, making it a standout in its price range despite minor caveats about clamping force and midrange performance.

The reviewer finds the Abyss Joal to be an exceptionally versatile and enjoyable planar magnetic headphone that handles a wide range of genres with ease, praising its build quality, comfort, and detailed yet non-fatiguing sound. While it lacks deep sub-bass rumble and uses a proprietary cable connection, the reviewer considers it a strong contender for a 'jack of all listening' headphone, especially given its relatively accessible price in the Abyss lineup.