Abyss Headphones — Manufacturer

Abyss is one of the most recognizable US summit-fi headphone makers; its flagship AB-1266 Phi TC is a benchmark reference planar and a frequent 'best headphone ever' pick, while the smaller Diana line broadened the lineup. Uniquely, parent JPS Labs makes its own planar drivers and high-end cables in-house rather than sourcing OEM drivers.

Abyss Headphones is a high-end American planar-magnetic headphone brand operating as a division of JPS Labs LLC, a family-run audio company founded by Joe Skubinski in 1990 (originally a bass-filter and cable maker). Abyss launched with the AB-1266 in 2013 after roughly five years of R&D by Joe and his son Eric, and the brand is known for uncompromising, price-no-object flagship headphones. Its products are designed, CNC-machined, and hand-assembled in-house at the company’s Lancaster/Buffalo, New York facility, which also manufactures its own planar drivers. All headphones carry an industry-leading 10-year private warranty.

At a glance

Type

Manufacturer

Founder

Joe Skubinski

Founded

2013

Headquarters

Lancaster, New York, United States

Price range

Summit-fi

Makes / sells

planar-magnetic headphones, high-end headphone cables, headphone accessories

Known for

planar-magnetic drivers, CNC-machined construction, summit-fi flagship headphones, in-house driver manufacturing, bespoke/luxury finishes (Alcantara, lambskin)

Website

abyss-headphones.com

Notable products

AB-1266 Phi TC — Flagship open-back planar-magnetic headphone; original AB-1266 launched 2013, current Phi TC starts at ~$5,995 (up to ~$12,195 in complete/upgraded configs). Widely regarded as one of the best headphones ever made.

Diana MRx — Compact reference planar headphone with enhanced sub-bass; ~$3,295.

Diana TC Signature — High-end compact planar with expansive soundstage; Diana TC ~$4,495.

Diana DZ — Bespoke luxury edition of the Diana with exotic finishes.

JOAL — Entry-level model positioned as the 'gateway into the ABYSS ecosystem'.