Problem is, the DSD ship has sailed.  Now if you don't include it in your new product you're missing something.  I get the impression the Schitt boys did't necessarily subscribe to the hype, but it's going to be in the new Schitt.

Yes, we are solidly in the Ayre/Benchmark/Linn camp. However, the number one question at the show was "When will you support DSD?"

Two best answers, both not from us:

1. "Fuck you." (from a software vendor)
2. "Sony's not supporting it, why should we?" (from a much larger manufacturer)

Unfortunately, we need to have an answer, thanks to the seemingly unending hype. I can't say what our DSD solution will be yet, but I can say:

1. It won't affect either of the currently available upgrades to our DACs.
2. It won't require you to send in the DACs for the upgrade.
3. It will be much, much less expensive than any other DSD DAC on the market.
4. To our ears, it sounds better than several currently available DSD DACs that we own. Of course, we are biased shilling commercial assholes aiming for your wallet, so YMMV.
5. It will be available this summer.

So, why are we "supporting" DSD, if we don't like it?

Well, like Benchmark and Ayre, who are not fans of DSD, but provide DSD playback systems (or will shortly), we realize that there are a lot of people either with DSD rips or curious about DSD, so we want to give them a good cheap way to play it. Then we can move past format wars--because, let's face it, the real battle isn't between DSD and high-rate PCM, it's *any* uncompressed music vs AAC. AAC/MP3 has won the public war.

How do we expect to get anyone to pay attention to high-quality music when we're squabbling over formats?

Some like to start earlier at 30kHz with a more gentle roll-off. Others like to start later but with a sharper "knee"

Couldn't disagree more w/ their assessment.

Did you end up getting a traditional full seal, or does it stay somewhat open? Have heard all kinds of things about this to date.

I dont get a complete seal, it is still somewhat open.
If I call the LCD3 and Beyer T1 100% seal, HD800 has 95% TH900 has 85% and Abyss has 80%, most Grados are also 80%.
I can get a near 90% seal with the Abyss by tilting the driver slightly backwards but it hurts the sq.
In the show I cannot get better than 50% seal.

I even tried to remove the pads and let it just sit on my head like the kk..

It takes time to figure out the best position with best sq and reasonable sealing and comfort, and I used one hour to acheieve that.

As Tari said the thick part should be in the bottom not the back. It is an angled pad but it does not work like the LCD or other angled pads which makes the driver line up parallel to your ears.

Like the lcd pads it has a line indicating the middle of the pads, common sense tells you it should point at 3o'clock(or 9 o'clock if you look from the other side)
For the abyss however it has to point at 1o'clock(or 11) to get the best fit for most people.