A Visual Guide to the 4 Flavors of Abyss 1266
The Abyss 1266 was practically born to be a legend. Let’s be real, very few people have the luxury—or the luck, like yours truly—to actually settle down and spend quality time chewing on every single version ever made. By far, the question I get slapped with the most is: So, what do these four versions actually sound like compared to each other?"
V1 (Original): The Vinyl Vibe (And the Amp-Killer)
V2, The Phi: Abyss 1266Φ, Flamboyant, Aggressive, and Loud
This is the best-sounding mid-range of the bunch—pure analog, vinyl goodness. It’s got that raw, textured grit and loads of bass. But let’s be real: it’s also the biggest amp-killer ever made. Good luck driving it.
Phi—yeah, pronounced like 'fie'. This is where the 1266 got loud and proud. Both the highs and lows stretched out massively compared to V1. It’s the sonic equivalent of showing off.
V3, The CC: Abyss 1266 Φ CC, Relaxed, Charming, and Misty
The CC version is more restrained in all aspects. The high and low frequencies and soundstage are more refined, and the overall density is improved. What's remarkable about this enhanced quality is the remarkably relaxed listening experience. Moreover, this is the only version with a slightly diffused sound, like love amidst the chaos of war—utterly captivating. The overall quality is improved over the previous version, the sound is cleaner, and the detail is better.
V4, The TC: Abyss 1266 Φ TC, James Bond in a Tailored Suit
If the Phi was a guy in a flashy party suit, the TC is Pierce Brosnan as James Bond—impeccably tailored, but packing serious muscle underneath. Pure elegance, zero fat.
You may have noticed that each version concludes with the same statement: "Improved in quality compared to the previous version, cleaner in sound, and better in detail." Yes, quality is constantly evolving. While the differences at this level aren't huge, each iteration is surprisingly noticeable, demonstrating a slight improvement in quality.
There's no inherent superiority of one over the other in terms of style; all four versions combine pleasing sound with high quality.
Owning even one is sufficient if you have the opportunity.
The manufacturer states that with the TC version, the 1266 is essentially finished, with no room for further improvement. There's no room for evolution, at least for the foreseeable future. Due to the pace of research and development exceeding production, the R&D efforts of the past two years have primarily focused on the Diana. The Diana Phi has achieved sound performance exceeding expectations.
This article was written on August 27, 2019, by Michael Xiao