Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The JOAL was a loan from a friend of the channel. Thanks!
Buy from Audio46 (affiliate link): audio46.com/products/abyss-joal-performance-headphone?ref=reviewsbywavetheory
Buy from Abyss: abyss-headphones.com/collections/abyss-headphones/products/abyss-joal-headphone
Want to support the channel? Consider becoming a member! Or you can join my Patreon here:
patreon.com/wavetheory1
Or make a 1-time donation through PayPal here:
paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=7N7Z8WRLWQ36E
My other Abyss Reviews…
AB-1266 Phi TC: youtu.be/TrKxdX_CkSk
Diana Phi: head-fi.org/showcase/abyss-headphones-diana.22827/reviews
Diana TC: youtu.be/r5ebdUUYt4g
Diana MR: youtu.be/LBTFGWJSVds
Test Gear…
All music files were lossless/hi-res FLAC or DSD files played locally, or in the case of FLAC also streamed from Qobuz, through Roon.
Chain 1…
FiiO SR11 (youtu.be/YuagbK8p0FA) USB output into Schiit Mimir (youtu.be/JnT_3HpAHt0) or SMSL D200 (review soon!) into Schiit Jotunheim 3 (youtu.be/GhLNMFzcr74)
Chain 2…
Cambridge Audio EXN100 Streamer & DAC (youtu.be/VH4lAGaJ_LA) then XLR output into Niimbus HPA US5 Pro (youtu.be/lLlPJyvGSIQ).
Chain 3…
Sonore opticalRendu Deluxe (review coming) into Berkeley Alpha USB (youtu.be/94AvDeeRjHA) into Berkeley Alpha S2 DAC (youtu.be/JY3c4HEyH0s) into Niimbus HPA US5 Pro
Chain 4…
Roon into MacMini running HQPlayer (review coming!) resampling all to DSD128, then USB output through JDS Labs Synapse USB Isolator (youtu.be/m3stCPEl3Q8) then into Lampizator Baltic 3 DAC (youtu.be/QShvh2rqETc) then XLR output into LTA Z10e amplifier (youtu.be/Bft6HUsYDhE)
My Enleum HPA-23RM Review: youtu.be/HX_Cr6bmiFk
Compared Headphones…
DCA E3: youtu.be/wzUqM7OJlTk
HEDD HEDDphone Two GT: youtu.be/UW2Jpc6FA4U
HiFiMan HE1000se: youtu.be/imqRAlflJZE
Meze POET: youtu.be/ToMLotew-zQ
Modhouse Tungsten DS: youtu.be/mrwZ2OArNTM
Timestamps...
00:00 Intro, Pricing, Disclaimer
01:45 Shameless Self Promotion
02:12 Use Timestamps! & General Takeaways
04:54 My History with Abyss & Why That Matters
08:34 About the JOAL
11:22 Build, Pads, Stock Cable
18:10 Test Gear in Description!
18:31 Sound
28:59 Comparison with HEDDphone 2 GT
30:40 Comparison with DCA E3
31:54 Comparison with HiFiMan HE1000se
34:41 Wrap Up
The JOAL was a loan from a friend of the channel. Thanks!
Buy from Audio46 (affiliate link): audio46.com/products/abyss-joal-performance-headphone?ref=reviewsbywavetheory
Buy from Abyss: abyss-headphones.com/collections/abyss-headphones/products/abyss-joal-headphone
Want to support the channel? Consider becoming a member! Or you can join my Patreon here:
patreon.com/wavetheory1
Or make a 1-time donation through PayPal here:
paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=7N7Z8WRLWQ36E
My other Abyss Reviews…
AB-1266 Phi TC: youtu.be/TrKxdX_CkSk
Diana Phi: head-fi.org/showcase/abyss-headphones-diana.22827/reviews
Diana TC: youtu.be/r5ebdUUYt4g
Diana MR: youtu.be/LBTFGWJSVds
Test Gear…
All music files were lossless/hi-res FLAC or DSD files played locally, or in the case of FLAC also streamed from Qobuz, through Roon.
Chain 1…
FiiO SR11 (youtu.be/YuagbK8p0FA) USB output into Schiit Mimir (youtu.be/JnT_3HpAHt0) or SMSL D200 (review soon!) into Schiit Jotunheim 3 (youtu.be/GhLNMFzcr74)
Chain 2…
Cambridge Audio EXN100 Streamer & DAC (youtu.be/VH4lAGaJ_LA) then XLR output into Niimbus HPA US5 Pro (youtu.be/lLlPJyvGSIQ).
Chain 3…
Sonore opticalRendu Deluxe (review coming) into Berkeley Alpha USB (youtu.be/94AvDeeRjHA) into Berkeley Alpha S2 DAC (youtu.be/JY3c4HEyH0s) into Niimbus HPA US5 Pro
Chain 4…
Roon into MacMini running HQPlayer (review coming!) resampling all to DSD128, then USB output through JDS Labs Synapse USB Isolator (youtu.be/m3stCPEl3Q8) then into Lampizator Baltic 3 DAC (youtu.be/QShvh2rqETc) then XLR output into LTA Z10e amplifier (youtu.be/Bft6HUsYDhE)
My Enleum HPA-23RM Review: youtu.be/HX_Cr6bmiFk
Compared Headphones…
DCA E3: youtu.be/wzUqM7OJlTk
HEDD HEDDphone Two GT: youtu.be/UW2Jpc6FA4U
HiFiMan HE1000se: youtu.be/imqRAlflJZE
Meze POET: youtu.be/ToMLotew-zQ
Modhouse Tungsten DS: youtu.be/mrwZ2OArNTM
Timestamps...
00:00 Intro, Pricing, Disclaimer
01:45 Shameless Self Promotion
02:12 Use Timestamps! & General Takeaways
04:54 My History with Abyss & Why That Matters
08:34 About the JOAL
11:22 Build, Pads, Stock Cable
18:10 Test Gear in Description!
18:31 Sound
28:59 Comparison with HEDDphone 2 GT
30:40 Comparison with DCA E3
31:54 Comparison with HiFiMan HE1000se
34:41 Wrap Up
