jello
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Post by jello on Apr 26, 2016 16:04:45 GMT
You don't like the hd650? For me, they're a 'grown up' headphone. Kind of like a reference headphone that I compare others to. Kind of like a Fostex T50, they're sort of underwhelming until you start comparing. Not at all. I think it's a great headphone and quite grown up sounding as you say. It's more a case over the last couple of months or so that I've been enjoying the convenience and more fun nature of some of my 'lesser' headphones. The Pandora is seing literally no use either and you know how much I rate that one! Ironic really as I consider both among the top 5 headphones I've owned. Don't worry though I'll get back to them...this is just a temporary fling
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 26, 2016 16:05:28 GMT
No, I just feel guilty sometimes for putting people onto things!!
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jello
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Post by jello on Apr 26, 2016 16:08:41 GMT
You've not given me a bum steer yet Ian...and the DT990 and MDR-1A are two of the reasons for the HD650 being put on ice. And you spoke highly of them too.
No regrets about the HD650. It's a fine headphone . Besides I'd wanted to try it for a number of years so it would've happened one way or another.
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jello
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Post by jello on Apr 26, 2016 16:09:56 GMT
I do blame you though
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jello
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Post by jello on Nov 29, 2016 23:25:11 GMT
After the shenanigans with the NH cables AQ are still on the naughty stool, so not worthy of a new thread imho. personal.audioquest.com/nightowl-carbonClosed back offering this time. Hopefully they've done something to inject a bit of much needed air into this one because the semi-open NH sounded awfully closed in and 'stuffy'. Had some likeable qualities though but a well rounded headphone it was not. Will be interested to see how these turn out but won't be making another trip into the Twilight Zone
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Nov 30, 2016 7:33:07 GMT
heard the carbon and the closed version. Still the same sound signature. Muddy and dark, yet some swear by it.
Same driver, same cups... the owl is just a closed version, slightly different sounding but not much.
At the meet some people who loved them only gave the likes of HD700 (not so well sounding to me) HD800 and LCD4 not too much time either. It is said to have such low amounts of distorion but the 400i and HD800 measure better.
I have periods where some headphones don't get much usage. Haven't used the HD650 for about half a year or so...my DT990 for years. Mostly the HD800 (EQ) and HD662-EVO that have my attention. May change again after a while.
Currently in contact with someone selling his LCD2.2F (brand new Fazor one). The guy also has the 2.2C (same driver just no plastic fazor) and prefers that one, the Fazor is slightly brighter to him. The weight and price is putting me off.
Also got a continuous beep in my left ear for 2 weeks now. Very soft and high pitched not hindering during the day and night. Haven't listened loud before that time though and no loud sounds... it just appeared one morning. Had a beep every blue moon or so but always went away within 30 seconds (is normal) but this one doesn't. Affects sound in that area as well and learning how to ignore the distortion it gives.
Still hope it will go away one day, but not optimistic about it any more. Contnuous beeps are usually there to stay.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Nov 30, 2016 8:29:09 GMT
What a nuisance, Frans. For quite some time, I had a very high pitched whistle or hiss in my ears. I learned to hear 'on one side' of it. Sounds mad, but I worked at actively tuning it out. In the end it did decrease, but other problems might contribute.
Mine got worse when I was tired or stressed. High blood pressure might have been the cause. Best to check just in case. I now have pills for it and noise has gone.
I also found headphones like Grados set it off. I think the treble peaks were doing it. Maybe time to start using a more rolled off sound? Or drastically lower volume for a while.
All I got from the doctor for a long time was..... 'What do I expect, given the job I did?' In fact, he wasn't aware that I wore ear plugs for years in those situations. The plugs didn't block sound, but reduced all energy. They were originally designed for drummers and probably saved my hearing
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Nov 30, 2016 16:57:23 GMT
Will have the BP measured. I know it was elevated a while ago but 1 week later it was 'normal' again.
With me the HE350 and HD800 (in stock form) set it off, other headphones do not. Both have +10dB peaks (or there about) in that range. On Kameleon those peaks are gone and can listen to it all day without envoking it now.
The beep is only heard when it's really quiet and perhaps may get used to it and won't notice it. Hope it doesn't get louder over time.
I listen at low levels anyway... it's a thing you can learn.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Nov 30, 2016 17:22:25 GMT
It can be a depressing thought thinking that you have to live with a noise in your ears, I thought I was stuck for life with mine, but it did actually go or my brain switched it out. I used to wonder whether a peak at the same pitch set mine off. Grados sent my ears mad!!
Normally with blood pressure, it's both ears and more like a hiss. At least that's what I got. It was worse with closed headphones which seemed to send the hiss back gain into my ears when I wore them with no music playing.
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jello
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Post by jello on Nov 30, 2016 20:19:04 GMT
That's no fun at all Frans. Hopefully it's something that is treatable or at least doesn't worsen over time. Probably best to go easy on the headphones until you've seen the doc / audiologist, although if you are a low level listener then perhaps just one of those things that can happen as we grow older. Shame about the Nightowl. Like it or loathe it the Nighthawk certainly took a fresh approach to headphone sound but ultimately to me it felt like a work in progress rather than something fully realised. Had hoped that the next one would be a bit special but sounds like it's a case of more of the same., which I'm sure those who've been hoping for a closed back version of the NH will be happy about though. I never really understood the low distortion thing and it's something I've seen mentioned a number of times. Perhaps what I heard wasn't distortion but when I peeled back some of the layers (EQ'd the hugely boosted bass down to more revealing levels) it seemed rougher than a badger's bottom. Almost felt like the bass boost was at least in part a smokescreen to paper over some of the cracks
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kev
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Post by kev on Dec 7, 2016 20:16:53 GMT
Just curious if anyone here likes the Nighthawk? I do & know many who love them. Listening through an Ember II & using the BW angled velour pads
kev
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jello
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Post by jello on Dec 7, 2016 20:28:00 GMT
The Nighthawk is a funny headphone and seems to divide opinion like no other.
It took me a while to adjust to its unique sound but I found it quite endearing in its own way. Never quite got to the point where I loved it but I can see why others do.
How does the sound change with the BW angled pads? I tried the non-angled velours but felt they reduced the bass quantity too much. Hard to believe but the NH actually sounded a bit anaemic!
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kev
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Post by kev on Dec 7, 2016 20:53:10 GMT
The Nighthawk is a funny headphone and seems to divide opinion like no other. It took me a while to adjust to its unique sound but I found it quite endearing in its own way. Never quite got to the point where I loved it but I can see why others do. How does the sound change with the BW angled pads? I tried the non-angled velours but felt they reduced the bass quantity too much. Hard to believe but the NH actually sounded a bit anaemic! Initially, before burn-in, I felt that some female vocals like Jennifer Warnes The Well & a few others were masked somewhat by the mid-bass & the overall sound was somewhat conjested. After many hours & the angled velour pads, it sounded like she stepped out from behind the bass player & took her proper place on the stage. I think that there are 2 factors at play here. The pad's materials reduced the mid-bass slightly & moving the drivers farther out opened up the soundstage some. I can replicate the more congested sound by pressing in on the earcups. Not sure if the pad thickness or materials has made the biggest contribution, but until the new AQ pads are available I am not experimenting further. I'm hoping the AQ Boost pads have a similar effect & I will probably get the AQ suede pads too. Not inclined to swap around pads now because I have to reuse the plastic brackets for all non-AQ pads. Cheers, kev
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Dec 7, 2016 21:52:16 GMT
I found the Nighthawk a strange listen. Mark very kindly sent his out to me and then I sent it to Solderdude for measuring before it went back to Mark.
At first, I found it very coloured and boxy but after a while, I was able to adjust and enjoy its sound although I was always aware of it being tonally 'strange'. Solderdude found weird things in the frequency response when he measured them.
I think given a longer period, I could adjust to them but for me that is quite unusual. Normally, I'm able to adjust very quickly to most headphones but the Nighthawk was a struggle for me.
What helped me was a Radio 3 broadcast, which I felt sounded really nice through them. They did sound quite speaker like although I was always aware that they sounded like speakers!! Hated the wire.
If they weren't so expensive, I'd stick with them for a while but at that price, I felt it was way too much for me to be bothered about them TBH.
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