[tm4347]

Hated having little black specks all over my ears and head.

 

[Hi-Fi EDU]

My headband straps finally got stretched out to the point the bar on the top was resting on my head. So, I replaced it with the following Arctis 3/5 headband, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081S6B8HF/. I started by pushing a nail in and out of the spot shown in image 1 and 2. I then put the bar that holds the original strap with the short side and long side as shown through the hole. It's held in with some rubber/plastic that you can easily move apart to remove that piece. I found pulling the nail completely in and out of the hole helped break some of the fibers and after a few minutes of fiddling allowed one of the ends to push through the new band. Scratching the fibers the end was trying to push through helped move them out of the way and allow it to finally push through with some struggle. Then, just pushing it sideways and popping the other end through was easier. You can press the velcro against the fabric and it will hold to it better than what is shown in the photos. Adjusting would be moving the bar to another position.

Optionally, since my straps were practically unusable and the ends for it were falling off I just yanked it out breaking what was keeping it in. Then, using the tool shown I shoved my new band/straps through the old band trying my best to keep it from twisting or folding. Some smoothing and adjustments helped it look a bit better than in the photo. Doing so seemed to either stretch it a bit, or keep it stretched slightly so keep that in mind it may sit higher/lower. Both with and without the original band worked well. The leatherette material has already rubbed off on both my ear cups and the original headband so that using them is not an issue anymore.

Best of luck to anyone else who needs to make a similar modification!

Just ordered this and will attempt to replicate! I basically only need something more functional than I have now, which is a headband that remains connected to the hinges when in use or not. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Swann36]

Love how easy they are on sensitive ears.

My girlfriend tells me the Nighthawks are the best ever hps on her ears , normally she can't wear hps for more than about an hour at a time but thanks to the terrific pad and lightness of clamp the NHws get 2hrs and sometimes 3 with barely a whisper made about her ears

 

[waynes world]

I can't use the Nighthawks as often as I like due to their sound leakage. But when I do, I get totally drawn into the music. And when I snap out of my blissful trance, I come here and announce to the world that the Nighthawks rock!!!

 

[Mink]

After a year or so finally plugged in the NightHawks again.
I prepared myself for a short periode of adjustment to their sound, but it took longer than expected, in fact the sound remained completely dreadful! Hollow, congested, not much depth and width. I could always plug this pair in everything that has a headphones output and it would sound great after a short while. What is happening? Well it is the first time I have used them with my Audio GD R2R 11. Maybe changing the gain would help?
Bingo!
The NightHawks sound horrible on low gain with this amp. But how come? The Nighthawks never sounded poor on my iPhone, in direct connection with my laptop or my TEAC UD-301, which has a weaker amp than the Audio GD. Both my HD650s and Avantone Planars, which are less sensitive and more difficult to drive sound identical in low and high gain on this amp. This is truly the first time I have experienced the benefit of a high gain setting (but in where high gain shouldn't have been needed at all?)
Weird!
Oh, these NightHawks are still a great pair of headphones!

 

[Angel III]

Check the cables and clean the connectors with ethyl alcohol.
It could be an abnormal contact, move the connectors with small rotations when listening to the music.

 

[Mink]

What amazes me about the NightHawks and the Owls is how dynamic these headphones actually are. And with dynamic I mean micro-dynamics, the way how instruments pop, bring themselves in the spotlight, there is drive and tension behind every note, it makes instruments sound tactile and 3D. When people talk about the NightHawks and Owls it is often the relaxed and non fatiguing side that is mentioned. But with many recordings, especially classical music they sound so engaging, so much texture and tactility. I cannot think of any other pair of headphones that comes close. The Avantone planars have this 'pop' as well, but it is a relaxed, observant type rather than an active one, there is a 3D effect but with less drive.
In this regard I find it baffling that Crinacle's Headphones ranking rate the Hawks technical grade as a mere B-, The K601 and HD650 are rated as a B and HD600 and R70X as B+. To my ears the drivers of the Nightbirds are clearly superior. All these headphones may appear to be more detailed, but they lack that pop and texture, instruments are not as fleshed out and tactile.

 

[kman1211]

What amazes me about the NightHawks and the Owls is how dynamic these headphones actually are. And with dynamic I mean micro-dynamics, the way how instruments pop, bring themselves in the spotlight, there is drive and tension behind every note, it makes instruments sound tactile and 3D. When people talk about the NightHawks and Owls it is often the relaxed and non fatiguing side that is mentioned. But with many recordings, especially classical music they sound so engaging, so much texture and tactility. I cannot think of any other pair of headphones that comes close. The Avantone planars have this 'pop' as well, but it is a relaxed, observant type rather than an active one, there is a 3D effect but with less drive.
In this regard I find it baffling that Crinacle's Headphones ranking rate the Hawks technical grade as a mere B-, The K601 and HD650 are rated as a B and HD600 and R70X as B+. To my ears the drivers of the Nightbirds are clearly superior. All these headphones may appear to be more detailed, but they lack that pop and texture, instruments are not as fleshed out and tactile.

That is what I liked about them too, they have a nice tactility and texture to them. I always thought they had excellent drivers. This tactility is consistent across systems too. Few drivers seems to inherently have a similar level of tactility across systems. I’ve come across others that do this but none are cheaper honestly. The AQ headphones sadly died too early, I’m sad because I was looking forward to future releases, the closest thing now is probably the T1/T5 Gen 3 which sort of fill the gap but are more expensive.

The K601/612 and the R70X are kind of weird in terms of synergy and this can lead to mixed impressions on their fidelity. I found the R70X for instance can sound blurry and undefined on some systems but change it up and it’s clear, tactile, and defined, this change can be caused by something as simple as swapping from USB to optical (or vice versa) on a dac. The AKG’s vary a lot in terms of tactility based on the system, it can either be subpar to excellent.

 

[Arcamera]

Yeah, good point about NH dynamics. I've always appreciated that as well. A certain fluidity.

Or I should say, a certain fluidity that makes the music come alive. I don't usually listen to Classical with them, but listening to some Bach keyboard concertos now, and it's thoroughly satisfying.

 

[volly]

Heading in to Autumn/Winter now....Tube amp time is upon us....Bifrost/Valhalla2 just gives the Nighthawks that little, extra brilliance it deserves!

Goose bumps!

 

[volly]

Chilled out fuzz rock from the north of Sweden

 

[Jose Hidalgo]

In this regard I find it baffling that Crinacle's Headphones ranking rate the Hawks technical grade as a mere B-, The K601 and HD650 are rated as a B and HD600 and R70X as B+. To my ears the drivers of the Nightbirds are clearly superior. All these headphones may appear to be more detailed, but they lack that pop and texture, instruments are not as fleshed out and tactile.

I think that is merely because:

• Rankings are very subjective
• crinacle's ranking, like many other rankings, compares un-EQed headphones. So, apples and oranges. That's pointless. I mean, comparing un-EQed headphones isn't about "is this headphone great" but about "do I personally like its default frequency response". That isn't fair. We don't care about the reviewer preferring a given FR to another. We should care about the reviewer preferring a HP to another, but only when both have the same FR.

Today a headphone isn't about its default frequency response. It's about unlocking its fullest potential (by reasonable means for everyone: no hardmodding). If I had to do crinacle's job, I would maybe do an "un-EQed ranking", but I would CERTAINLY do a "EQed ranking" and it would be the most important one. Because THEN we are comparing apples and apples.

I have two Nighthawks (Wood and Carbon), a HD 600, a Sundara and a 99 Classics, among other cans. My favorites (when EQed to the same target curve, whatever it may be) are definitely the HD 600 and the Nighthawks. The Sundara (supposedly 'everyone's favorite headphone', lol) is great, it does a lot of things well, but to me there's some magic missing. And they really aren't comfortable enough when compared to the HD 600 (light as a feather) and the Nighthawks (THE most comfortable headphone money can buy, at least to my knowledge). And when you're alone with your headphones, comfort is more important than most people dare say publicly.

The HD 600 is better than the Nighthawk from the midrange up. Plus it's open so you are closer to the 'naked truth'.
The Nighthawk is WAY better than the HD 600 in the bass range, obviously. Linear bass down to 20 Hz plus no distortion.
If only we could combine them both...

 

[volly]

Villagers of Ioannina City - Age of Aquarius (Full Album)​

 

[innocentblood]

I am looking to replace ear-pads on both my NightHawks OG and Carbon. any recommendations for what is available out there would be much appreciated. I've tried the usual suspects such as Brainwavz and Dekoni but I don't think they are making them anymore. Or perhaps I am just looking in the wrong places... ? thanks guys

 

[Jose Hidalgo]

I am looking to replace ear-pads on both my NightHawks OG and Carbon. any recommendations for what is available out there would be much appreciated. I've tried the usual suspects such as Brainwavz and Dekoni but I don't think they are making them anymore. Or perhaps I am just looking in the wrong places... ? thanks guys

Don't look for Nighthawk-specific pads. Follow this guide and have any size-fitting pads work on your hawks: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/aud...scussion-thread.749762/page-107#post-12209435

Ideal pad size is 105x85mm, but 110x90mm fit too and are easier to find.