[ghostchili]

The Audeze EL-8 ($699) and the AudioQuest Nighthawk ($599) will be released around the same time and priced within $100. I will be receiving one of the first Production Nighthawks from a local distributer. I am curious to see how the Head-Fi community receives both of these as there is not much info on either yet. If you've been lucky to hear both headphones what are your thoughts?

 

[kbuzz]

A someone who feels they are ensconced in the upper middle....but decidedly below the 1 percent, i eagerly await this thread development

 

[Jazz1]

I'm feeling like this is the "Golden Age" of headphones. So many choices. It is a good time to be a headphone geek.

 

[wahsmoh]

  The Audeze EL-8 ($699) and the AudioQuest Nighthawk ($599) will be released around the same time and priced within $100. I will be receiving one of the first Production Nighthawks from a local distributer. I am curious to see how the Head-Fi community receives both of these as there is not much info on either yet. If you've been lucky to hear both headphones what are your thoughts?

 
 

  A someone who feels they are ensconced in the upper middle....but decidedly below the 1 percent, i eagerly await this thread development

 
 

I'm feeling like this is the "Golden Age" of headphones. So many choices. It is a good time to be a headphone geek.

bump. lets get this thread going once these headphones start rolling out :]... SoCal Can Jam is going to be coming up soon

 

[robfol]

I was blown away by the Audeze EL8 at CES, driven by Pono and my iPhone 6+, very easy to drive
 
Definitely preferred the open-back model, which had a more spacious sound (as expected) 
 
Very comfortable despite excess clamping force which Audeze said would be reduced in production models
 
Can't wait to take a pair on a longer date (-:

 

[Joeybgood]

I will have an opportunity to audition the Nighthawk tomorrow evening at the Music Matters event at SoundWorld. I'll post my impressions. If they sound as amazing as they LOOK I will expect to be blown away! Hope to get my hands on the EL-8 as well. The only Audeze cans this boy can afford!!

 

[ghostchili]

I will have an opportunity to audition the Nighthawk tomorrow evening at the Music Matters event at SoundWorld. I'll post my impressions. If they sound as amazing as they LOOK I will expect to be blown away! Hope to get my hands on the EL-8 as well. The only Audeze cans this boy can afford!!

You can do what I did and get some LCD2.2 like new for $700. I am very happy with mine.

 

[money4me247]

sub

 

[Joeybgood]

ahhhh... good point. good advice. tks

 

[Joeybgood]

I'm also going to have the pleasure of experiencing Martin Logan's flagship/30th Anniversary Neolith speaker system. Don't know about anyone else, but I have never had an opportunity to hear what an $80,000 pair of speakers sounds like. Can't even fathom what I should expect.... perfection perhaps?

 

[Jazz1]

Okay, I've just spent another lazy, Sunday afternoon with my HifFiman 400i. The iTunes Americana mix is really doing it for me . Especially "Por Vida: A Tribute to The Songs of Alejandro Escovedo" as well as Chuck Prophet's "Temple Beautiful"
 
I'm really happy with the 400i's as I've been listening to my AIFF files via my desktop iMac, DAC, and headphone amp.
.
I'm hoping that the Audeze EL-8 is even better. The 400i seems to be the "gateway drug" to planar magnetic headphones I can't wait for the reviews! I'm so glad that there are "Upper Middle Class" headphones out there. I've got other vices to serve like photography equipment.

 

[reddog]

Subscribed

 

[ghostchili]

Okay, I've just spent another lazy, Sunday afternoon with my HifFiman 400i. The iTunes Americana mix is really doing it for me . Especially "Por Vida: A Tribute to The Songs of Alejandro Escovedo" as well as Chuck Prophet's "Temple Beautiful"

I'm really happy with the 400i's as I've been listening to my AIFF files via my desktop iMac, DAC, and headphone amp.
.
I'm hoping that the Audeze EL-8 is even better. The 400i seems to be the "gateway drug" to planar magnetic headphones I can't wait for the reviews! I'm so glad that there are "Upper Middle Class" headphones out there. I've got other vices to serve like photography equipment.

I just got done burning in my HE-560's and I'm liking them a lot. They sound great and feel much better than my LCD-X on my head. As for the EL-8 (Elate) and the Nighthawks, I should have my hands on them to compare in April. I consider the HE-560 to still be in the upper middle class, I will be pleasantly suprised if either of those headphones can out perform the 560's.

 

[reddog]

Sweet looking forward to hearing you impressions on these headphones. Thanks for your time

 

[reddog]

I especially would like to know if the EL-8 is portable.