No it wont.
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When you say you need to build the system around it, what attributes of the TC do you mean? And how are you making the best of the pros while reducing the cons of the TC with the rest of your system?
I’m in the process of getting a TC right now, so I’d appreciate your insights.
Congrats man! I’d say, first thing is to make sure your headphone amp is up to the task of driving the Abyss. I prefer listening with my tube amp, over my solid state ones (hpa4/gsx mini). Next is to consider if you’re willing to fork out for the Superconductor cable (unless u already bought it with the deluxe set)… The stock cable is ok but I found it a bit sterile and edgy/grainy with a but too much emphasis on the highs. I also prefer it with my NOS dac (holo) over the X-Sabre Pro and dac3b. And I am also using my “warmest” sounding interconnects (if you believe in that aspect of the hobby).
Basically, give it enough power, and warm down the rest of your chain. The abyss highs are inherently crisp and clear, and there is a relatively subdued mid and mid bass region, so your system has to try and remedy/overcome this.
I have one system built around the abyss, and others systems for my other headphones.
But my advice is, listen to it for a while with your current setup and identify what you think might need changing out. And sorry for your wallet!
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Thanks a lot, that does help put things in perspective.
So far, here’s what I’ve got or done:
- I actually picked up a used 3m, dual 3-pin XLR Superconductor cable just a couple of days ago. I’d had my eyes out for a while and long been interested in one, so I got that crossed off the list before the headphones themselves
- I’ve got an original Cavalli LAu (Liquid Gold) amp, which was the old favourite pairing with the OG 1266, until the recent Xi Audio Formula S amp. I’m not sure how that will go, so I’ve also got a First Watt F1J to try off the speaker taps and a Xindak a600e speaker amp too.
- Then for the DAC, I’ve got a detailed, but warm’ish T+A DAC 8 DSD, which runs in NOS when you feed it DSD512, which I do.
I think it’s looking like my system is following most of your advice, so I think it should be a good start. I’ll have to follow through with grabbing the TC when I see one now and then getting on with the listening.
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Dude, sounds like you have all the bases sorted already!!
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It sounds more lucky than anything else. Haha, maybe a little confirmation bias, but I’m happy that it looks like hte key points you mentioned are ones my system aligned with.
For me, my target sound is wide, emotional, a bit bassy, with good imaging. I do like vocals, but they’re not the be-all-end-all for me.
What you were saying about the highs was interesting, it sounded like your impression of the Abyss was that the mids area a bit recessed and the highs are a bit harsh. Harsh highs are not too bad to deal with, but how do you fill in the mids? Does the Superconductor help there? Or that’s also what the tubes in the W22 can do?
Yeah the Superconductor was an overall improvement over the stock. But I do think the stock cable sounds more ‘lively’ and has slightly more low end punch. The Superconductor takes everything down a notch, but this may be a good thing in my opinion, and seems like just a better balanced sound over the stock cable.
As for tubes, with my wa22 I felt rectifiers played the bigger part with regards to soundstage and low end extension, and drivers had more influence on the highs/clarity. I dabbled in some power tubes, but felt only the 5998 and WE421a were good enough for the abyss.
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I couldn’t resist had to buy this headphone the Sennheiser HD25 Special Edition and @ a special price. I have no relation to this manufacturer 
I was a big fan for more than a decade of the HD414 that also had yellow foam… that triggered me to buy.
It’s Sennheiser 75 anniversary and they have 25K of the yellow edition world wide, I was lucky to get one. You order one and random they send a yellow one.
It’s not audiophile quality but nice to have it on my desk, connected to my Schiit Magni Heresy headphone amplifier.
https://en-uk.sennheiser.com/on-ear-dj-headphone-hd25
Maybe also available @ your local Sennheiser dealer
Cheers John
That’s my all time most liked headphone The HD414
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What’s your energizer @RodS?
@joel It is an SRM 717 in black. I have plans to get a KGSSHV Carbon when funds permit.
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My second headphone back in the mid 70’s.
The first were a pair of Koss pro4aa , they clamped the head like a vice ,which is why I went to the 414’s
Third pair were a pair of Stax sigma’s in '78
I had a pair up to two years ago, also purchased in’78, still working & now in regular use by my son. Wonderful phones.
My Dad had set of those. Brings back memories of his first hifi, that I inherited at some point.
@PixelPopper
Sold my sigma’s about 15 years ago as I went with active ATC 50A’s and had no power amp.Wish I’d kept them tbh.
Had the 009’s since 2015
I am urrently using Stax SR-507 Lambda, Stax SRM-006tII for office listening but they get no more than about 10 hours use in a year otherwise the SR009 would be my choice too.
Just bought a set of Focal Elear off the bay for a very nice price. Will feedback after they arrive. This is approaching endgame for main headphone listening , only now want to update amp for bedroom listening but can’t buy what I want at the moment none available.
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just finished setting up a second headphones system:
Allo USBridge/Topping E30/Drop THX AAA 789
E30 is definitely surprising for the money, just… don’t get me started on “scientists numbers/ratings” 
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+1 on the Clears…
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I ended up putting one of these on to protect the light grey underside of the headband. It’s a bit snug, but works fine. It was a useful tip I picked up over at the headphones.com forum.
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