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Abyss

AB-1266 Phi TC

Driver
Planar magnetic
Enclosure
Open-back
Weight
640 g
List
$5,995
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A frame machined from solid aluminium in Buffalo, New York, carrying planar drivers with a magnet design patented by JPS Labs. It weighs 640 g and contains no plastic parts.

Where to buy

List $5,995

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Title block

Maker
Abyss
Model
AB-1266 Phi TC
Made in
USA (Buffalo, New York)
Released
2019
Transducer
Planar magnetic
Enclosure
Open-back
Driver
66 mm
Weight
640 g
Impedance
50 ohms
Sensitivity
88 dB/mW
Frequency response
5 Hz – 45 kHz
List price
$5,995 USD

Drive requirements

Match an amplifier in the synergy calculator
LevelPowerVoltageCurrent
100 dB15.8 mW0.89 V17.8 mA
110 dB158 mW2.82 V56.3 mA
120 dB1585 mW8.90 V178 mA

Most headroom at 110 dB

Rated 88 dB/mW into 50 ohms. Estimated from published amplifier output.

Assembly drawing

1234567

Parts

  1. 1HeadbandPadded French leather strap; two-piece machined aluminum band
  2. 2YokeMachined solid-aluminum side frames; US-made stainless steel hardware
  3. 3GrilleAerospace foamed aluminum back panel, acoustically tuned
  4. 4FrameCNC-machined solid aluminum, black polymer-ceramic finish, no plastic parts
  5. 5Magnet arrayCustom neodymium magnets, JPS Labs patented slot pattern; low-carbon steel front baffle
  6. 6DiaphragmVery thin, low-mass planar diaphragm; matched pairs (thickness unpublished)
  7. 7EarpadsLambskin hybrid: Ultrasuede face layer, lambskin inner and perforated outer, memory foam core

Schematic planar magnetic assembly, annotated with the Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC’s published materials. Not to scale.

Engineering notes

  • Patented planar magnetic transducer with very thin, low-mass diaphragm, built in house
  • Custom neodymium magnet design patented by JPS Labs with optimized slot pattern and low-carbon steel front baffle
  • Foamed aluminum rear panel acoustically tuned to the diaphragm for an open back
  • Frame components machined from solid aluminum in Buffalo, NY; magnetically adjustable earpad positioning

Design language

Brutalist and unmistakable: an exposed aluminium frame, foamed aluminium back panels and magnetically positioned pads, built like laboratory equipment.

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