glad your enjoying them, I definitely recommend eventually getting over to the suedesā¦ I find them much better for sound personally and to me they are a little more comfortable. Nonetheless, nighthawks are incredibly good dark headphones
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Updates after many hours of listening with pleather pads: I found that there was something definitely missing in the bass, namely bass punch. While the bass was well defined and clear (probably the highest quality bass I have heard in terms of tonality and cleanliness), I couldnāt quite feel the impact. It was basically the only thing I felt was lacking in a sound signature I otherwise liked. I remembered people said that the microsuede pads definitely increased bass impact so I reached for the microsuede pads.
I am disappointed to report that I am probably one of the few people who does not fancy the sound with the microsuede pads. The mid bass definition definitely increased, resulting in a punchier sound. However, it felt like the bass of the SHP9500 in the sense that the mid bass punch was there but the bass did not feel full or satisfying. I would definitely use these pads if I was learning a song on electric bass guitar since bass guitar notes become front and centre of the focus and easy to hear. But the bass feels otherwise incomplete.
On top of that, the sound felt relatively thin compared to the pleather pads. While this gave a more spacey feel in less busy music, it definitely gave an edgy harshness in the mids in some music. I did find myself enjoying simple things like slow rock songs with clean guitars and clean singing (songs like Iron Maidenās āProdigal Sonā). But I missed the more even frequency response of the pleather pads, and did not like this thinness I was hearing.
The worst was the treble response. The treble response definitely becomes super uneven with the microsuede pads. I listen to lots of classic metal, which has lots of high hats and cymbals. I was so confused because in some songs they sounded muffled, but in some songs they sounded super emphasised, almost sibilant (which wouldnāt be an issue if the rest of the frequency response was more even). And in some songs I even detected sibilance in vocals (s and t sounds).
After some swapping back and forth, I definitely feel that the more even frequency response of the pleather pads is something I prefer very much. At least for now, I will be putting the microsuede pads away. I managed to EQ in some of that bass impact I was looking for by experimenting with the 80-100Hz region and did the following boosts:
32Hz: +0.2dB
40Hz: +0.4dB
50Hz : +0.8dB
63Hz: +2.1dB
80Hz: +3.0db
100Hz: +3.0dB
125Hz: + 1.5dB
160Hz: +0.6dB
I may still make adjustments to taste as I go along, but filling in this region seems to retain the overall sound signature except the bass is more impactful (while remaining clean and defined).
Iād like to hear the thoughts of others, as to whether my experience mirrors yours or if what I am saying sounds very different from what you hear. Iām definitely not trying to argue ārightā or āwrongā here - Iām just curious what the experiences of others are with the different pads.
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Iāve definitely encountered this (also a metalhead). I havenāt tried the pleather in ages, but will give it a try again, and then see what your EQ does for it.
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If I remember correctly after I got through burn in the FR really evened out with both pads, so definitely get that 150hrs in. The interesting thing about the subbass is that is there just not the quantity that most people are used too. I chalk this up to the low distortion driver and the reason I say this is in the car audio world you get the same feeling with bass. i.e. you can hear it/feel it but it seems like the quantity isnāt there. Check out information on xbl^2 drivers.
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Sitting here listening to a set of OG Nighthawks that I just picked up for $150 (they need some TLC). This is after buying a set of Nightowls a couple of weeks ago and really enjoying them.
Iām just baffled as to why they are not producing headphones any more. With the limited time Iāve spent with both sets, I can tell that these are very very good headphones, and unique. Did they just price themselves out of the market?
And yet, their R&D is done. Maybe their manufacturing process was just too expensive? IDK, I feel like they could put these things out for $300 new and theyād constantly be recommended.
Am I wrong? What competes with these things in the $200-$300 price range? I havenāt tried anything in that price range that I like as much as either of these sets.
And the comfortā¦
Again, baffled.
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Just my 3 cents but I believe they originally listed at around $750. For that price people were hesitant I would surmise. I have the OG Hawks myself and have had them about a year. Brand new package when received. They will be on my head when they bury me so to speak !!!. I also have other more expensive cans like my Audeze LCD 2 pf and 4 Zmfās. so for the Hawks to stay they must have something, right?
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Well, we must have pretty darn similar taste, because I love my LCD2PF as well. I guess the only thing left for me to try is that Bifrostā¦ but thatās a big pill to swallow.
BF2 is a small step in price for what it can do to the sound of your system. I also had a hard time with that āpillā , so frickin glad I took that step as what it provides for my amps to āampā is incredible !!! When you think your stuff sounds really good then you add the Bf2, it just launches you to ānext levelā sound as far as I am concerned.I have 3 main amps, Asgard 3,(SS) Feliks audio echo) (OTL tube amp) as well as my LP . The sound is unreal in my opinion!
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Yes, well, it is still on my list. Iāve actually attempted to trade for or buy one several times, but just canāt ever quite get the deal I want to go through. Darn things hold their value so wellāusually means that they are a quality product (in my experience).
Iāll definitely keep that in mind and give the microsuedes another chance down the line.
Also I donāt know, but the timbre characteristics of the NHC seem super good? Iām not an expert in what good timbre really means but I feel like the tone of things is really smooth and non-offensive.
I tried to A/B against my TYGR and man was it was like the TYGR was a whole different headphone. I am getting used to the NHC, so hearing the TYGR I could hear all the things the TYGR isnāt doing as well. Except imaging. The TYGR is hands-down better for that. During really fast drum rolls, for example, the NHC seems to choke in terms of driver speed but the TYGR doesnāt break a sweat.
I tried the pleather again. The treble definitely gets smoothed over (in a good wayācymbals donāt hurt any more), but the bass impact isnāt as good, although the EQ you provided does help. I think Iāll keep that setting around, thanks for sharing it. Pleather+EQ makes these more flexible across metal sub-genres than the suede.
Agreed, I got the bifrost a couple months back from my boi Don, and it did the most to my system over anything else. And In particular it did exactly what I hoped it would do to my speakers. Since then itās been living with them
Glad it helped. Since then I filled in a few more frequencies and found minor improvement over the settings I last suggested. Basically same as above except
125Hz: + 2.1dB
160Hz: + 1.2dB
200 Hz: + 0.8dB
I tried other adjustments in different amounts, but it changed the character of the Hawks too much. Let me know if you find manage to find other improvements if you end up fiddling more with the EQ!
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Hey NH gang! Finally made it through the threadā¦ 
Itās been less than a week since I got my pair of NHC and I have been enjoying them immensely. Never had a pair of big cans but these sound really good to me. I will grab them over my Fiio FH3 and Sony MH1 iems most of the time but maybe cause they are new. Or maybe cause of their superior clarity and sound signature to my ears. Not really good with audiophile words but I like them a lot. You guys have done enough writing for me to choose them over anything else in the marketā¦ 
Thank you very much for your time and love.
What I wanted to ask you guys is about connecting these to the balanced output of my BTR5. I have read that there are improvements to be heard and Iād like those. Booklet says the cable is balanced and adapters can be used but internet says itās dangerous to just use an adapter from 3.5 to 2.5 from what I understand at leastā¦ The cable is kind of atrocious but I have noticed itās getting better as it softens up so I thought I might be able to get away for some time with just an adapter instead of a new balanced one.
What you guys think?
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So what are you OG Nighthawk people using as replacement pads? Iāve got the set that came with mine cleaned up, but theyāre pretty rough. Tried the pleathers and some Brainwavz micro suede, but I donāt like either as much as stock hybrids. Iāve got Brainwavz hybrids and perforated ordered. Anything else I should try?
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Buy Nighthawk Carbons, take leather pads, sell Carbons, Repeat
Glad to hear you are enjoying them!
Hmmā¦ I need to go look at the documentation again. I donāt believe the stock cable that comes with the NHC is balanced. It does have 2 rings on the 3.5mm shaft like a TRRS balanced cable, however one of those is controlling the signal to the mic. So you would need to pick up a balanced cable instead of running adapters. For a well built, reasonably priced cable I would point you towards Hart Audio Cables or something similar.
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It does say itās balancedā¦ If it is, isnāt an adapter enough to have a balanced to balanced connection between the BTR5 and headphones? I am curious why I havenāt read anyone in the thread mention thisā¦
The jack on the cable with the two rings is TRS if I am not mistaken and not TRRS which has three rings, right? But the 2.5mm jack on the adapter should be TRRS for the mic to work, no?
I came across some audio store selling the stock pleather pads on Amazon UK (or so the picture suggested), so I bought it for Ā£50. I got the last pair. It just arrived today, but itās the microsuede. I thought of returning it since itās not what I ordered, but I guess Iām planning to keep it since itās the pad that will wear out quicker if I decide to start using it frequently. Itās also the more popular one so I might be able to sell it at some point and break even.
Iāve tried all the Brainwavz variants from my ear pad emporium, e.g hybrid, pleather, sheepskin, velour and micro suede, and so far iāve stuck with the velours. The sound signature might not be to everyoneās taste but for my fairly old ears it removes some of the darkness, low end is well emphasised, mid range is more airy and a bit more forward and treble is brighter but not in a negative way. Sound stage is less veiled. In conclusion they bring out the beast/best of the NHās!
Definitely worth a try if you can afford to shell out for a new set of ear pads 