Abbas Psyche and Hermes

[LanschePlasmaGuy]

I’m not sure about that. I ordered sometime late Feb, and its SE version.

Wow!! If it's Feb this year that is crazy quick! I can't wait to hear your impressions and how you find it in comparison to other dac's (and sources) you have experienced.

LPG

 

[shashank]

Abbas Psyche SE internal view.

 

[LanschePlasmaGuy]

Abbas Psyche SE internal view.

Wow!!! You Psyche SE looks beautiful! Look at all those transformers, tubes and lovely looking vintage parts!!!

Can't wait to get your listening impressions!!

What other sources have you / do you have in your system to compare it to?

It looks like "Christmas in July" for you Shashank!!!!!!

LPG

 

[gerihifi]

Abbas Psyche SE internal view.

Enjoy and be patient to burn it in at least 100h+ ...it will change in a good way - believe us

 

[LanschePlasmaGuy]

Enjoy and be patient to burn it in at least 100h+ ...it will change in a good way - believe us

Hi Gerald.

How is your ABBAS going? Have you noticed any changes or made any more observations since your last update?

You can tell those of us who are on the order list are living vicariously through all the lucky bunnies who have already received theirs!

LPG

 

[shashank]

Wow!!! You Psyche SE looks beautiful! Look at all those transformers, tubes and lovely looking vintage parts!!!

Can't wait to get your listening impressions!!

What other sources have you / do you have in your system to compare it to?

It looks like "Christmas in July" for you Shashank!!!!!!

LPG

Currently don’t have any good DAC to compare. I had Abbas 2.2 se until recently but I’ll be able to compare with Abbas signature phono. That will be interesting.

 

[shashank]

Enjoy and be patient to burn it in at least 100h+ ...it will change in a good way - believe us

Sure. I had to burn in 1000 hrs for my integrated amp to sound best.

 

[Artnet]

but I’ll be able to compare with Abbas signature phono. That will be interesting.

True.
I sit definitely in the analogue camp for the shear involvement it brings. I dont however avoid digital when Abbas can make my CD's sound so good!!
Look forward to your comparisons

 

[Paul49720]

I received Hephaestus RIAA today after a 7 day journey from Kyiv and posted a few notes under "Abbas phono"

 

[shashank]

Hi, I received my DAC. Build is awesome. I’m not sure about checking bias voltage on output tubes. How often checking is needed?

 

[gerihifi]

Hi, I received my DAC. Build is awesome. I’m not sure about checking bias voltage on output tubes. How often checking is needed?

Hi, congrats!

You should have get some little user manual, where he also explains in pictures how to validate bias!

ALWAYS ask Abbas first, he knows best ;-)
Gerald

 

[sbt]

Keep calm, it is not Pachanko Labs style!!

All of us owning Abbas gear and I personally had now 3 pieces from him the last 4 years (yes, ordered in his worst war attacks), I can tell you: he is not a blender/seller as some of contenders!!

He is NOT the average "company" and he is NOT working with distributors too avoid all the hassle and preasure! He doesnt do any fancy facebook/insta posts of his gear, nor fancy YT-videos how extraodinary engineer he is, as some in the Industrie....they are 2 people, with even vanishing their own PCB, so you can imagine how much he spent's in his Workshop, instead in front of computer/social media!

Payment partially up front, of course as any manufacture! I always paid fully upfront and he even says:not needed and he will not proceed faster. Order by order ...

Thats why we always say: read his vita, read his article and than you will understand. He is NOT another DAC Ultrafi vendor, because market is overheated, he does it DAC design the same principles the last 10+y...you will find very, very rarely those kind of manufactures left in hifi Industrie, look around what currently happens!!

Rgds
Gerald

P.S.: I'm not an Abbas reseller, not getting any marketing money. I'm somone chasing the perfect digital chain for many years now and have a lot in the house and much more tested!

Perfectly described. He builds his products like a Stradivarius. One needs to be extremely patient with him. I have 3 products from him, including the Psyche Signature. Each product takes time to build, and that also gives you enough time in between to get their essence. You get an exquisitely crafted product from him that shows the commitment and dedication.

There are power issues in Ukraine - 6 to 8 hours average daily, shipping services in & out are via Polish borders. One needs to understand the constraints and the deluge of orders he has to fulfil.

@jespera FYIP...i got my Psyche signature last December ;-). Now I am after him to get his Octal DDC which he finished testing earlier this year but hasn't productised yet.

 

[sbt]

Update:
I replaced the Telefunken RGN 1064 with a Telefunken RGN 2004 using an adapter built by Plasmod3. It was a very nice improvement. The 2004 added more weight and authority to the music while maintaining the beautiful delicacy of the 1064.
John

This is his home system, this is where all the complicated experiments happen! He knows his game well!

Excellent tube, congratulations. This dac truly deserves such tubes.

 

[sbt]

Hi, I received my DAC. Build is awesome. I’m not sure about checking bias voltage on output tubes. How often checking is needed?

Congrats Shashank. Don't mess about changing the bias or the output tubes. Stick with the stock as Abbas has sent it. The bias pots are sensitive and can fail the germanium transistors which then will require sending it back to Abbas that could take several months. Besides, the 6080s are microphonic as well, so just leave this section as stock. The 6080s will last at least over a decade if not more. You can dabble with the rectifiers. The SPDIF input tube is ECC88? Which tube did you get with it?

 

[sbt]

I received Hephaestus RIAA today after a 7 day journey from Kyiv and posted a few notes under "Abbas phono"

Congratulations. A dear friend, and a WBF member also got his Hephaestus preamp for his Carys a few months ago. Yet another masterpiece that never ceases to amaze!

 

[shashank]

Congrats Shashank. Don't mess about changing the bias or the output tubes. Stick with the stock as Abbas has sent it. The bias pots are sensitive and can fail the germanium transistors which then will require sending it back to Abbas that could take several months. Besides, the 6080s are microphonic as well, so just leave this section as stock. The 6080s will last at least over a decade if not more. You can dabble with the rectifiers. The SPDIF input tube is ECC88? Which tube did you get with it?

Thanks @sbt.

In my case I had a bad tube I guess so had to change entire set. I got another pair of GE 6080, RCA JAN 5U4G and using stock ECC88. I’m unable to verify bias voltage but music is playing fine.

 

[sbt]

Excellent tube, congratulations. This dac truly deserves such tubes.

Just be cautious of not using this tube on the digital board. The TDA1541 needs 200mA. With the analog board this is fine.

 

[sbt]

Thanks @sbt.

In my case I had a bad tube I guess so had to change entire set. I got another pair of GE 6080, RCA JAN 5U4G and using stock ECC88. I’m unable to verify bias voltage but music is playing fine.

Was it the 6080 that had failed?

Let it settle in for a month or so. You may have the instructions in the user manual on how to check the bias using a proper multi-meter. Let me know if you haven't got that and I can guide but for now just enjoy it.

 

[gerihifi]

Good morning Hifi enthusiasts,

wanna share some of MY experience with my YG’s Carmel 3 and latest DAC comparison. Which showed me, how important it is, what type of speakers you have (transparent/neutral vs. more nicely coloring)! Abbas is still my number 1 tube-based DAC, but here my comparison...there is no-best-DAC for all chains!

DAC tested directly at the same audition:
- Abbas Audio HERMES Signature (PCM63k) via AES/EBU to Antipodes K22 G4 & chinch to Preamp
- Grimm MU2 via XLR to PreAmp
- Ideon Audio ION via Ideon Audio USB Siren to Antipodes K22 & XLR to Preamp

All 3 DACs are connected to my Soulution 725 PreAmp (Soulution for sure is a transparent powerhorse, like CH Precision, so no coloring here). Class-A Monos (LinnenberG G.F. Händel, German handcraft).

Roon Core Grimm MU2 (latest firmware!) and Antipodes K22 configured als Roon bridge only. Highly optimized and cascaded Hifi-LAN setup. Last mile to Antipodes & Grimm: EAL-1000 Hybrid LAN-Filter.

Conclusion:
- I always preferred the Grimm MU2, but was really shocked, how much coloring happened! I don’t mean it in a negative way, but showed clearly, there digital filterung is for shure on the smooth side, as I’ve seen by many Tube-based, FPGA and R2R-Ladder DACs. So this DAC is now my preferred one in my fullrange (Cube Audio) chain, as many know, those speakers are highly sensitive and Ideon Audio was way to transparent!

- Abbas is still for me an Audio Note/Aries Cerat Helena killer! His price class is unbeatable and his smooth voice/instrument separation is really for complete non-fatigueing-listening! Use it also for my CD-transport. Of course Grimm MU2 is clearly showing more depth and slightly more detailed (some would say: more treble in the mids), but for anyone looking for those kind of digital smoothness: go for it!

- Ideon Audion ION is the complete opposite and for sure some of the prominent Sabre ESS9028Pro representative. There USB implementation (additional ESS chip) and clocking is outstanding. I’m confident with their own ESS firmware, the have perfected the optimal digital filtering for the DAC chip. Many Sabre-DACs I know, focus mainly on FPGA programming and/or analogue output stage. This DAC shows the brutal truth to my YGs, it is so damn transparent, you hear everything! I love it :slight_smile:

Peace from Germany & happy christmas holidays!
So here my primary chain, which I’ll sticker longer with…