More is (almost) nothing - high -end headphone battle

Last Monday, I had the pleasure of visiting a customer to try out and compare some of the best headphones in the world.
After a few weeks of waiting until we were both fully vaccinated against Covid-19, we could finally get started.

The impressive setup consisted of:

Sources

• dCS Bartók (Roon Endpoint)
• iPad & Laptop with Roon Library

headphones

• Spirit Torino Valkyria

• Abyss AB-1266

• Hifiman Susvara

• Focal Utopia

... but first coffee

After a relaxed chat over coffee, we got started. The Susvara and Utopia were quickly put aside, as they didn't meet both of our expectations for the desired sound. Both models are tuned to be rather neutral or flat, while my customer's AB-1266 and the ST Valkyria offer a much more emotional music reproduction.

Of course, this is purely a matter of taste. Therefore, this should by no means That means these are bad headphones! My client and I simply prefer a more "musical, emotional, full-bodied" style of playing.

The AB-1266 and ST Valkyria offer exactly that. And yet they are quite different. I suspect there's hardly a pair of headphones that can perfectly cover the entire musical spectrum. Hence my customer's request to complement the AB-1266 with another pair of headphones.

The AB-1266 is a perfect fit for his favorite EDM music: driving bass, clear highs, and plenty of detail. That's what's needed, and that's exactly what the Abyss delivers.

For classical music, orchestral soundtracks, jazz and live recordings where perfect vocal reproduction is essential, something else is needed:
The Spirit Torino Valkyria is the first choice here.

After taking turns to listen to the samples (of course in compliance with all Covid regulations of the Federal Office of Public Health, including disinfection of the equipment used), we largely agreed. The following impressions are of course only my own.

Abyss AB-1266

• Very "airy" treble reproduction
• Massive bass and sub-bass, can bleed a little into the midrange and cover it
• Excellent detailing with treble extension, can sometimes be a bit harsh, some sibilance
• Slightly subdued and somewhat artificial sounding midrange, especially with voices
• Excellent stage and spatiality
• Lack of coherence: All parts are very good on their own, but they do not "click" together
  
  

Spirit Torino Valkyria

• Intimate, direct representation
• The bass is clean, tight and fast with less sub-bass extension compared to 1266
• Voices are directed slightly forward, sound more natural and more penetrating, both female and male
• Excellent coherence
• Guitars and string instruments as well as piano sound sonorous and very natural
• The stage is smaller than at 1266, but much more intimate, perfect for live experiences

My conclusion

Both headphones offer outstanding features, are quite different, but complement each other very well.Depending on your musical taste, you may prefer one model or the other.

Being able to test these high-end headphones on such a dream setup was a fantastic experience and an absolute highlight for me. It clearly demonstrated what an impressive music experience is possible with headphones!

The exciting conversations and exchanges with my client rounded off the experience and made the day unforgettable for me. Fortunately, it certainly won't be the only one of its kind!

More blogs && Reviews of Spirit Torino

Visit from Italy - Spirit Torino headphones

Headphone Showdown- Spirit Torino Super Leggera vs. Focal Clear

The Treasure Chest - Unboxing a Jewel

Elemental Force - Spirit Torino Radiante