šŸ”¶ Audioquest NightHawk

I have this. Pretty good quality.

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Revisiting the leather pads

So out of curiousity i went back to the leather pads a day ago and have been listening to these headphones and oh my i must say that iā€™m incredibly happy that i gave these pads another chance because they really have their own place imo. They sound immediately more engaging and lively while with the suede pads (depending on volume) they are much more relaxed and only agressive on higher volumes. Like regular headphones they surround your head much more while with the suede pads most of the soundstage is in front of you. If i had to describe the type of sound of the hawks with the suede pads i would say that they sound clouser to having your headphones on mono than stereo with how the sound is presented while with the suede pads it circles you much more like a normal headphone (still not the same tho imo since the ksc75s still circle you a bit more). In addition, for some reason the s isnā€™t as sizzling at higher volumes with the leather pads which is sweeeeet for pop. Honestly just much more fun sounding than the suede pads. been enjoying these thoroughly for kpop and other ā€œbrighterā€ music. I still prefer the suede pads for when iā€™m trying to concentrate on the music and for basically all indie music and hip hop but when i need something more engaging the leather pads are the way to go for sure

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I thought I was loosing my mind while reading this lol. Which is which again?

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dang let me edit that lol. suede pads for when all im focusing on is music. like to have an expirience. the leather for when iā€™m doing shit like walking and need something to be more engaging

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OG Hawks on eBay $289 BIN new condition. 4 available: https://www.ebay.com/itm/274127646031

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After more days of using the leather pads, i can say that for completely different reasons i really do love these. With the suede i was not forced but more inclined to listen to hip hop and indie however with these i am finally inclined to listen to my kpop again and basically anything that has a easy threshold to be sibilant at higher volumes. Itā€™s not a bright headphone, but still has the treble of a brighter headphone when using the leather pads. that, and what i am assuming is the W shape that people talk about has made me listen to all my kpop in a super different way. Itā€™s like listening to completely different songs, the major difference between the hawks with leather and a bright headphone i would say is that in my expirience bright headphones obviously focus on treble, have some bass and vocals have been pulled back alot of the time while the hawks(leather) have very very fun focus on treble WITH bass and the bass slams really well (in fact even tho there is less bass than when compared to the suede pads the bass actually either slams more or because there is less the slam is more noticeable) in addition the vocals are still very forward, present and rich. Itā€™s been an expirience in itā€™s own right and iā€™m mad at myself for not giving these time in the past. I would argue that it takes more time to get used to these than the suede lol. But yeah now honestly i have a headphone that with a pad swap encourages me to listen to all of my music, not just a few genres over others. I am incredibly happy and have been having alot of fun listening to my kpop (and a few how should i put it, brighter sounding(?) stuff like kishi bashi, oliver tree).

If you try to make me choose the suede over leather i love both so much that i would rather kill a stranger than choose

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I actually bought my pair from this guy. They shipped fast and got here across the country from him fast. (Cali- NC) Just donā€™t come with the MicroSuede pads which are impossible to buy. Just a heads up. But they do come with the Hybrid pad which Iā€™m enjoying a lot! (I donā€™t have any alternitive pads to compair sound)

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Well thatā€™s good that you are enjoying them, any thoughts on them that you havenā€™t mentioned so far?

This is proving to be a really nice match :+1:

Also @Jose_G I think youā€™re onto something with the leather padsā€¦ gives them a nice even (comparatively) sound that works well with certain genresā€¦ the leathers will no longer be collecting dust

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looks like a beautiful match, and nice to hear that your leather pads will no longer be collecting dust either :+1:

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I may be crazy but I think Iā€™ve also liked the leather more. The suede is so comfy but I feel like the bass gets a tad too high for my taste. And they block sound more and create to much of that seashell effect for me.

But damn do the suede feel so much better on the skin ha.

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Didnt mean to insinuate I liked them more lol but rather just saying I think they shouldnā€™t be written off completely (to Joseā€™s point)ā€¦ they both have their place for sure :+1:

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Oh my bad. I meant to say I think Iā€™m the only one that likes them more. I think I just like that tad bit of more treble. And a tad more airy.

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i will say, that i canā€™t choose between both. because they are pretty sweet

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I think it depends on genre. I like the suede more for stuff that should be bass heavy or relaxed music. Suede is also better for old recordings because it makes the harsh recording sounds more pleasant.

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wait lol, you wrote suede for both. which one did you mean for which?

For both I would assume and Iā€™m inclined to agreeā€¦ recently zeppelin and hendrix are sounding pretty harsh on a thing like a sundara but sounds great on the hawks

And hip hop and electronic is suede everytime

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iā€™ve heard that alot about the suede for edm etc. which honestly really surprises me, for some reason i donā€™t like that genre with the suede at all. prefer brighter stuff for that like the 4xx or the pleather pads

Not really edm more like massive attack, portishead, tei shi, etc ā€¦ much slower bass than edm

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Yeah I meant it for both. Suede for relaxing and bass heavy music and for old music like Motown.

Then I like leather more for acoustic, 70s rock things like that where I want less bass and more treble.

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