ABYSS has never aimed for the middle of the market, and the new Diana TC Signature arriving at CanJam NYC 2026 makes that clear from the start. Priced at $4,995, the latest addition to the Diana lineup steps directly into the upper tier of planar magnetic headphones where expectations are brutally high and the competition from brands like Audeze, Meze Audio, and Dan Clark Audio leaves little room for marketing fluff or half measures.
The Diana TC Signature combines ABYSS’ familiar precision CNC-machined chassis with its planar magnetic driver architecture, pushing the company’s design philosophy toward greater speed, clarity, and spatial presentation. ABYSS claims the headphone delivers the quick transient response often associated with horn loudspeakers while maintaining the wide, layered soundstage and extended low-frequency reach that planar magnetic designs are known for.
As with previous Diana models, build quality and materials are a major part of the package. The Diana TC Signature features finely machined aluminum components, premium leather accents, and a 10-year warranty, positioning it firmly in the flagship category. ABYSS also notes that the headphone is designed to scale with high-end source gear and amplification—an expectation rather than a suggestion at this level of the market.
ABYSS Diana TC Signature Features
Slim, Lightweight Aluminum Construction: The Diana TC Signature follows the design language of earlier Diana models with an ultra slim profile and lightweight chassis machined from aircraft grade aluminum. The rigid metal structure is intended to provide durability while keeping overall weight manageable for extended listening.
In House Planar Magnetic Drivers: At the core of the headphone are ABYSS built 63 mm planar magnetic drivers that use a large neodymium magnet structure and an ultra thin diaphragm. This design aims to deliver fast transient response and extended low frequency performance, reaching into the sub bass below 20 Hz.
Open Back Acoustic Design: The Diana TC Signature uses an open back frame with a CNC machined Fibonacci pattern grille, which ABYSS says helps maintain airflow around the drivers. The goal is to preserve bass extension while also creating a more open and spacious soundstage.
Comfort Focused Headband: The headband uses a leather strap with an Ultrasuede sling suspension system designed to distribute weight evenly across the head. Magnetic size adjustment and a flexible frame are intended to keep clamp force relatively low and allow the headphone to contour comfortably, even for listeners wearing glasses.
Hand Assembled Earpads: The pillow top earpads are hand assembled in the company’s U.S. facility and shaped to conform to the listener’s head with minimal clamp pressure. Materials include European lambskin leather and U.S. made foam, and the design includes a bass port option that can slightly alter the low frequency response.
Durable Finish and Custom Details: The Diana TC Signature uses an oven cured polymer ceramic finish combined with Corning Gorilla Glass inlays for added durability. Each unit features a laser engraved model and serial number and is signed by designers Joe, Jason, and Eric Skubinski, which is the basis for the “Signature” designation. A custom hard carry case with a velvet lined interior is included.
Optional JPS Labs Cable Upgrade: ABYSS also offers an optional JPS Labs Superconductor HP headphone cable, designed specifically for the Diana series. The cable is hand made and intended to provide improved ergonomics and signal integrity for users pairing the headphone with high end amplification and source components.
Specifications
| Diana TC Signature | |
| Product Type | Over-ear Wired Headphones |
| Price | $4,995 |
| Headphone Type | Open-Back |
| Drivers | ABYSS custom TC Signature 63 mm Planar Magnetic Transducer |
| Impedance | 72 Ω nominal |
| Recommended Amplifier Power | 2-8 watts (@50 ohms) |
| Sensitivity | 90 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 5 Hz – 58 KHz |
| Distortion | Average 0.025 % THD |
| Weight | 369 g (with stock ear pads) 299 g (headphone only) |
| Color | Black Tourbillon |
| Supplied Cable | JPS Labs high-quality headphone cable with a choice of 3.5 mm, 6.3 mm (¼″), 4-pin XLR, or 4.4 mm balanced plug. |
| Included in the Box | ABYSS Diana TC Signature Headphone Lambskin Pillow-Top Lambskin Bass Ported Ear Pads (installed) ABYSS Diana Headphone Cable (choice of length and connector type) Custom Hard Carry Case with Velvet Interior Quick-start Instruction Card |
CanJam NYC 2026 Listening Impressions
The listening chain at CanJam NYC 2026 was not exactly modest. The ABYSS Diana TC Signature was paired with the Woo Audio WA24 20th Anniversary Edition, fed by a dCS DAC and an iPad source. With the amplifier starting around $12,999 and the headphone priced at $4,995, the entire front end pushed well past $30,000. Expectations were not subtle. A system at that level should leave you staring into space wondering what just happened.
The WA24 20th Anniversary Edition itself is a serious piece of kit. Built in New York and engineered around four custom 3A/109E direct heated triode tubes, the Class A single ended design is physically imposing and impeccably finished. Everything about it feels expensive, from the industrial build quality to the premium tubes glowing on top. Woo claims extremely low noise performance, and that part checks out. With the Diana TC Signature connected, the background was absolutely silent.
But while the amplifier impressed immediately, the overall pairing never quite delivered the kind of moment you expect from a flagship system. At nearly $5,000, the Diana TC Signature enters a category where comparisons become unavoidable. Headphones like the Audeze LCD-5s, Meze Empyrean II, and Meze Elite Tungsten all sit in the same rarefied space and, in some cases, cost less.
Tonally, the Diana TC Signature sounded quite good with acoustic recordings, chamber music, and vocal driven material. The midrange was clean and natural, and voices were presented with good clarity and composure. Where things felt less convincing was in areas where flagship planars usually separate themselves: inner detail, overall transparency, mid bass impact, and dynamic contrast. Compared directly with competitors, the presentation felt more restrained and less revealing than expected at this price point.
For EIC Ian White, the result was a solid but not transformative experience. The Woo Audio WA24 clearly stands as a statement amplifier for listeners who want a luxurious tube design with extremely low noise performance. The pairing with the Diana TC Signature, however, didn’t quite produce the magic expected from a $30,000+ headphone rig. At this level, “quite good” simply isn’t enough.
Price & Availability
The ABYSS Diana TC Signature Audiophile Headphone is available for $4,995 at ABYSS and through Authorized Dealers. Customers that pre-order for delivery in April 2026 receive a FREE Superconductor HP upgrade cable set.
The ABYSS Diana TC Signature Audiophile Headphone is made in New York- Machined, finished, assembled, and tested in the Buffalo, New York, facility.
Related Reading
- HiFiMAN Arya & HE1000 WiFi Debut at CanJam NYC 2026 Bringing Planar Magnetic Headphones Into the Wireless Era
- HiFiMAN Isvarna Headphones Review: Our Second Listen Confirms Something for Closed-Back Planars to Brag About
- HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled Review: The Planar Flagship Returns—Because V2 and SE Still Weren’t Enough
- Shanling HW600 Planar Open-Back Headphones: Preview
