[betula]

  So, help me get this straight.
 
A HeadFi member purchases a new hp, perhaps a version of the NH, finds it to be better in many ways over his previous hp, but can't refer to this as an upgrade?
 
I'm not part of the HeadFi elite, so perhaps I need to read the rule book of what words can or cannot be used to describe a new hp.
 

Depends on the previous headphone that the member used. After a certain level of quality we can rather talk about 'sidegrades' than upgrades based on personal sound preference.

 

[nwavesailor]

  Depends on the previous headphone that the member used. After a certain level of quality we can rather talk about 'sidegrades' than upgrades based on personal sound preference.

OK, that seems fair...........'Sidegrades' it is!!! (sorry, better run this by EdwardPL)
 
Is 'sidegrades' a real word, betula???  

 
 
edit:

 

[betula]

 
OK, that seems fair...........'Sidegrades' it is!!! (sorry, better run this by EdwardPL)
 
Is 'sidegrades' a real word, betula???  

 

Probably not, but it is widely used on Head-Fi. (Btw English is my second language, so it is better to ask a native speaker.)

 

[Bitsir]

Fellow Nighthawk lovers, I currently drive my NH with the Magni 2 Uber and a Dragonfly.
 
What do I upgrade first? Dac or Amp? And do you have any suggestions on what synergizes well with the NH? 
 
Will a Jotunheim (balanced) be a big enough jump in SQ over a Magni 2 Uber, or is it better to save up for something like a Feliks Elise?
 
My suspicion is that a stronger amp (current wise) will do more for the Nighthawk as it is only ~25 Ohm.

 

[MattTCG]

  Fellow Nighthawk lovers, I currently drive my NH with the Magni 2 Uber and a Dragonfly.
 
What do I upgrade first? Dac or Amp? And do you have any suggestions on what synergizes well with the NH? 
 
Will a Jotunheim (balanced) be a big enough jump in SQ over a Magni 2 Uber, or is it better to save up for something like a Feliks Elise?
 
My suspicion is that a stronger amp (current wise) will do more for the Nighthawk as it is only ~25 Ohm.

 
IMO, the only reasonable upgrade past the DFR would be Jotunheim. The synergy is good with NH plus Jot. I don't see much "scale" past that amp with NH. Some prefer tube with NH, not me. 

 

[Bitsir]

   
IMO, the only reasonable upgrade past the DFR would be Jotunheim. The synergy is good with NH plus Jot. I don't see much "scale" past that amp with NH. Some prefer tube with NH, not me. 

I also think a solid state would be better for the Nighthawk. It doesn't really need a tube solution to do any more treble smoothing. My hope and belief is that the raw power provided by Jotunheim would make the bass even more controlled and tactile, and by extension make the treble and midrange be even better defined and more present. 
 
Jotun it is.
 
Which DAC would be a logical and meaningful step up from the Dragonfly?

 

[MattTCG]

  I also think a solid state would be better for the Nighthawk. It doesn't really need a tube solution to do any more treble smoothing. My hope and belief is that the raw power provided by Jotunheim would make the bass even more controlled and tactile, and by extension make the treble and midrange be even better defined and more present. 
 
Jotun it is.
 
Which DAC would be a logical and meaningful step up from the Dragonfly?

 
Depends on your budget. The add-in dac is pretty decent and would be an upgrade. But the logical solution to add to the Jot would be Modi MB. 

 

[HipHopScribe]

I got my protein leather pads today, ordered directly Audioquest's website, and they don't have the "L" & "R" printed on the inside fabric like my microsuede pads. Not a big deal, but just thought that was odd since they are advertised with the print inside 

 

[TheTrace]

I got my protein leather pads today, ordered directly Audioquest's website, and they don't have the "L" & "R" printed on the inside fabric like my microsuede pads. Not a big deal, but just thought that was odd since they are advertised with the print inside 

Nice. Please do share how you like them once you get a sense of them.

 

[EdwardPL]

I'm going to have to disagree with the Jot paring. It's fantastic for the bass definition and the impact you get paired with the Hawks but the Jot like the NH also has a rough treble and the paring just accentuates the NH's treble roughness.

You would have to hear it yourself to see if you like it but if you are a young person with good ears I would not recommend it personally.

I think the Vali 2 is a better match. It's not quite as resolving as the Jot, it's close though. It is one of the few amps from Schiit that has a smooth treble so it does pair better.

I find the Mojo to pair best with the NH out of everything I've tried. Slight digital grain on the Mojo but treble is smooth.

 

[NigelJ]

I got my protein leather pads today, ordered directly Audioquest's website, and they don't have the "L" & "R" printed on the inside fabric like my microsuede pads. Not a big deal, but just thought that was odd since they are advertised with the print inside 

Are you certain that they have not accidentally shipped a set of the Hybrid pads (ie the original NightHawk wood pads) rather than the new pads? It would be surprising if the new pads did not have L/R identification since the NighHawk Carbons do not include L/R markings on the ear cups, at least this was true for the prototype I tried at CanJam London 2016.

 

[adeeb]

Anyone EQ'ing their NightOwl? i'd be curious to try out your settings. (using Roon 1.3's parametric EQ)

Thanks!

 

[MattTCG]

^^ Please don't cross post. Ask you question in one thread only unless you own BOTH the NH and NO. Thanks...

 

[mks100]

Are you certain that they have not accidentally shipped a set of the Hybrid pads (ie the original NightHawk wood pads) rather than the new pads? It would be surprising if the new pads did not have L/R identification since the NighHawk Carbons do not include L/R markings on the ear cups, at least this was true for the prototype I tried at CanJam London 2016.

They are the Boost/Protein Leather Pads. I received a pair as well without the markings. According to AudioQuest the only difference is cosmetic. The Pads were in production prior to the Carbon/NightOwl.

 

[Nitreb]

In my experience, a different amp does not change how an headphone sounds. Of course, a tube amp will sound different from a solid state amp, but comparing a tube amp to another tube amp or a solid state amp to another solid state amp, there's no really a difference. An hybrid amp (tube/solid state) or a solid state amp designed to have a tube-like sound, like the Polaris or the Graham Slee Ultra Linear may sound different from a tube-only or solid state amp, thought. I tried a Graham Slee Ultra Linear a few years ago, and the sound of my Grado GS1000i was smoother. more liquid than with the solid state amp I had.