I have nowhere near enough experience with headphones to comment on many of the things I am reading in this thread. I've only recently started using headphones regularly due to changed listening circumstances, and have just upgraded from my old UE Superfi 5 Pro IEMs that I've been using on my laptop recently. The last, supposedly good, headphones I had were Sennheisers (can't remember which) that cost me around £150 fifteen years ago. I found them disappointing in every way. They went in the bin about five years ago during a clearout having rarely being used.
That said, The Nightowls are incredible in almost every way! (except two...)
Five days ago I found a local dealer a few minutes away from my house that was good enough to unbox a set for me to listen to, and leave me alone in one of the AV demo rooms. I expected to spend a couple of hours listening to them (and told the dealer that) and then going home to think. Instead, after just half an hour, I bought them and took them home to carry on enjoying them in comfort.
They sound amazing, with everything I have listened to so far (everything from classical, through electronic to heavy metal). I'm wearing them for about six to eight hours continually in the afternoon/evening while my good lady watches the TV. They are so comfortable I can almost forget that I am wearing them, unlike the IEM's which caused pain after a few hours. The 'put them on and pull into position' headband works perfectly, just as it says on the box.
If they sound this good so far, I can't wait for them to finish loosening up! I also need to get a USB DAC/Amp (
suggestions welcome below £200) to try since I doubt my laptop's headphone output is doing the Nightowls justice.
The two things that aren't incredible... That hosepipe of a cord which has managed to knock over a cup of coffee it's so stiff and thick (and is barely long enough to reach my laptop when I'm sat back) and having to keep putting on my side light and glasses to tell which way around I need to put them on. I'll eventually get used to the asymmetry of the earcups and know from that I guess. Very minor points given the SQ.
I'm sure the cord is very good quality, given that's its AudioQuest, but I've no use for a smartphone button or a hosepipe hanging down my front. I'll probably make my own at some point, when I find a source of decent 2.5mm jacks. It does sting a little to have to do that having paid so much for the headphones. Especially since I blew my entire headphone/amp budget and more on these.
Still love them though
