Abyss Diana DZ Review

Abyss is a boutique headphone brand that’s known for its hi-fi sound, grassroots appeal, and quality products. The Diana line of headphones have been touted by some reviewers as the “greatest headphones” ever produced. Although the high praise can be a great thing, this means that the brand has to keep innovating and pushing in order for them to compete with other high-end brands. The new iteration of the Diana DZ is an upgrade from their previous release, the Diana MR. Positioned between the TC and MR in terms of price, they’ll start at $3,995 and range depending on the termination and cable length selected. Let’s find out if the Diana DZ is a real upgrade in the Diana DZ review.

Look And Feel – Diana DZ

In terms of aesthetics, it’s a subjective opinion. I personally believe that the new violet abalone inlays on the driver housing are the best looking headphones on the market. Abyss’ use of rare materials and curated colors speak to the level of detail that these headphones are designed with. I’m sometimes shocked with headphones in this price-range that expand on a company’s aesthetic template. Offering consumers products that look like their lower-end models isn’t necessarily a downside if they’re comfortable and useful. At the same time, these headphones look and feel as luxurious as they sound. Although looks are subjective, I’m certain these headphones will catch some eyes.

The main complaint that I heard about the Diana MR and TC was in it’s comfort. Although the pads were supremely plushy, the headbands sloping curves didn’t make much sense ergonomically. Simply put, if you didn’t have a square head, they weren’t that comfortable. The DZ has improved upon this tremendously. The leather headband covering now conforms onto the listeners head. Add this to the fact that they’ve reduced the weight by 75g when comparing to the MR. This has become a much more comfortable and ergonomic design.

What’s In the Box?

• Includes a high quality headphone cable by JPS Labs with choice of 3.5 mm, 6.3 mm (1/4″), 4 pin XLR or 4.4 mm balanced plug
• Custom hard carry case with velvet lined interior
• Abyss Diana DZ Headphones

Technical Specs

• 63MM Planar Abyss Driver
• 50 Ω Impedence
• 92dB/mw
• Frequency Response 5 Hz-65 KHz
• 315 Grams
• Optional accessories include upgraded JPS Labs Superconductor HP cable, and vegan earpad options
• 3.5MM, 6.3MM, 4.4MM, and 4-Pin XLR cable options
• CNC-milled Aluminium Frame
• USA Designed and Assembled

Soundstage – Diana DZ

The Abyss DIANA DZ offers an exceptional soundstage that sets it apart from a lot of its competitors. The spatial presentation is both wide and accurate, creating an immersive listening environment that audiophiles and professionals will appreciate. I felt the MR had a bit of distance supplementation which becomes more intimate and realistic in the DZ. The distance of sounds feels more nuanced here, allowing me to perceive all 3-dimensions in the music. The recreation of sounds is unparalleled, with incredibly accurate stereo imaging that clearly defines the position of each instrument in the soundscape. 

An impressive aspect of the DIANA DZ is the absence of driver bleed. I had a great time listening to the clean and precise audio presentation. Although sounds do have a little more reverb than a dry pair of reference headphones, I absolutely believe you could mix and master using the DZ. This separation undoubtedly adds to the headphone’s ability to recreate a lifelike soundstage. If you’ve ever listened to the Audeze MM-500, imagine that accuracy on steroids. Everything blooms a little more, with sounds growing taller and wider to the ear. Perhaps the most impressive characteristic of the DZ’s soundstage is its height. This vertical expansion creates a sense of openness and air around the music that is often missing in lesser headphones. It becomes evident that there’s no perceived “ceiling” to the sound, giving me that stage-like height that’s often sought after. 

The combination of width, accuracy, and height in the DIANA DZ’s soundstage results in holographic audio that can make listeners feel as if they’re in the same room as the performers. This immersive quality enhances the enjoyment of all genres of music, from intimate acoustic recordings to large orchestral pieces.

Listening Impressions – Diana DZ

Lows

Bass in the Abyss Diana DZ is round, full, and warm. These headphones deliver a low-end response that is both satisfying yet refined. This is a perfect headphone for audiophiles who appreciate accurate and musical bass reproduction. One of the strengths of the Diana DZ’s low-end is its effectiveness with live tracks that often lack lows. The headphones manage to bring out the bass in these recordings without making it sound artificially boosted. Brightly mixed tracks and live tracks take on a much more balanced and natural quality.

The bass extension of the Diana DZ is impressive, reaching low enough to provide a solid foundation for the music. Sub-bass frequencies are present and felt, but they’re not offensively loud. This tuning allows listeners to experience the full range of bass frequencies without them overwhelming the rest of the mix. Clarity in the bass region is an issue for warm sounding headphones, but it’s not on the DZ. The low frequencies are well-defined and articulate, rarely muddying the overall sound. This clarity allows for easy differentiation between different bass instruments and notes.

The Diana DZ’s bass performance contributes significantly to the headphones’ overall timbre and resounding sound quality. The low-end provides a sense of weight and authority to the music without dominating the layers of a song. This balance results in a rich and engaging listening experience across various musical genres. Whether reproducing the deep, resonant notes of an upright bass in a jazz recording or the powerful electronic bass in modern pop and hip-hop tracks, the Diana DZ delivers a low-end performance that is both palpable and enjoyable. This feels like an adult bass-head product. The level of refinement and control in the low-end that justifies their position in the premium headphone market.

Mids

The midrange of the Abyss Diana DZ is a testament to the headphones’ well-thought-out tuning. One of the notable aspects of the Diana DZ’s midrange is its non-aggressive nature. The mids don’t push or poke out in the mix, instead integrating smoothly with the rest of the frequency spectrum. This tuning choice results in a natural and fatigue-free listening experience, even during extended sessions.

There’s a slight roll-off from the low mids that helps maintain a warm yet clean character. This gentle transition prevents any boxiness in the lower midrange, unless the track itself has a very mid-forward mix. The result is smooth and pleasant. A subtle boost around 800 Hz brings a powerful punch and fantastic force to sounds in this range. This is particularly noticeable with snare drums, which sound terse but powerful. The track “Sinister” by Sadistic Intent showcases this quality, with snares cutting through the mix with clarity and impact. This balance allows for excellent vocal reproduction and instrument separation, ensuring that complex mixes remain intelligible and engaging.

Despite not being the focal point of the Diana DZ’s sound signature, the midrange performance is crucial in tying together the headphones’ overall presentation. I really enjoyed the presence of instruments and vocals, which allowed the enhanced bass and treble to shine. This careful balance results in a cohesive and musically satisfying listening experience which sounds great on metal, pop, rock, and alternative music.

Treble

The most notable characteristic of the Diana DZ’s treble is the clarity and articulation that it provides without introducing sibilance. This delicate balance is crucial for long-term listening comfort and makes these a great headphone for any application. This careful voicing allows for the reproduction of fine details and textures in the music without becoming harsh or piercing. As a result, the DIANA DZ can reveal the nuances in complex recordings while maintaining a smooth and pleasant treble character.

One of the strengths of the Diana DZ’s treble performance is its ability to add shimmer and airiness to vocals and other elements in the mix. This quality is beautifully demonstrated in tracks like “Sociopathic Dance Queen” by Amaarae, where the ethereal quality of the percussion and synths is enhanced by the headphones’ excellent transient response in the high frequencies.

The overall frequency response of the Diana DZ could be described as pleasantly “V-shaped,” with the treble being less pronounced than the bass. However, this tuning doesn’t compromise the timbre or overall balance of the sound. Instead, it results in a warm yet shaped presentation that many listeners will find organic and full. Rather than competing with the bass, the treble serves to support and complement the low-end, resulting in a cohesive and well-integrated sound signature. Although I think a little more high-end would make these absolutely wonderful, I’m thoroughly impressed with their performance.

While some listeners might prefer a slightly brighter tuning to further balance out the sound, the Diana DZ’s treble performance is generally excellent. It provides enough detail and air to satisfy critical listening needs while maintaining a smooth and non-fatiguing character that allows for extended listening sessions.

Summary

In conclusion, the Abyss Diana DZ’s treble performance showcases the headphones’ high-end pedigree. It offers a refined and detailed high-frequency presentation that complements the strong bass performance and well-tuned midrange, resulting in a cohesive and engaging listening experience across various musical genres. The engaging and natural soundstage should be pleasing to listeners across a wide variety of genres. It’s multiple termination options and reduced weight make these comfortable and suitable for nearly any listener. This product has been designed with consumers in mind and I don’t have a doubt in my mind that the high-end price-tag is justified by the Diana DZ’s performance.

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