AudioQuest Nighthawk

Nighthawk mod26 = basically mod22 (stock hybrid pads) with +/- foam. mod25 is smoothest measured but the lack of bass boost ruins the point (no longer fun). Shure pads I find after extended use uncomfortable like wearing a itchy knit sweater and the lack of bass boost is like eating dry toast. Hybrids stock pads are much cooler temps and less suffocating (larger ear holes). BASS - minus highs > all. I added the cursor markings at 1kHz so you can easier see the tonal signature which is not too bad, still small soundstage, bass reverb / resonance (aka release?) not annoying like stock so feels less closed and fatiguing, the most annoying thing now would be some rough treble . I promise to stop spamming (this thread). I'll PM you later link to mdat files @Lyander .

edit: since I said I wouldnt add anymore posts…

Removing a driver baffle vent may measure the same but it loses oomph. Hits like a light breeze. I think I was getting tunnel vision aiming for the most fatigue free sound so didnt realize that bassy music was now sounding light weight. Adding back all driver baffle vents sounds normal now.

edit2: i know

Listening to the Nighthawk cleared up is worse than listening to Nighthawk with it's bass 'sustain'. Imagine this: you have a noisy diesel vehicle. You'd think that you'd prefer if it were an electric vehicle. So you remove engine and replace with electric motor and batteries. Now your vehicle is so quiet and relaxing. But then you realize the lack of engine noise means you can now hear the tire and wind noise, and that rattle in the dashboard is making you go insane. That's my experience with Nighthawk mods. The rough treble is now all I can focus on, I miss the masking provided by the b-b-bass. The edgy bass cannon is much preferable to edgy lean-ier. imo. idunno.



^ mod27 aka Stock+, vs stock (black). It's just dense-ish open foam and tons of damplifier. No cup distancers, no open vents. Its all the ka-pow! and all the ka-ching! I still bet that the pound of damplifier pro added is beneficial and not just placebo. I will get measurements to @Lyander .

edit3:

Measurements sent to @Lyander ! Anyone else want a try please private message me or Lyander, the files are public.

BTW I listened to stock PLUS last night for an extended period and suffered ear fatigue, so overdone bass. Minus one baffle vent filter takes away some of the dynamics, impact, and release of the bass but it goes a long way to less ear fatigue so I'm going to leave headphones in "stock Plus minus one baffle vent filter" configuration - it's mostly good and not super bass lightweight like when combined with cup distancers.



^ Tried to match at 100Hz. These measurements were all taken at same sitting with amp and rew settings all the same, same pads and cables.

1. "stock stock" = Audioquest Nighthaw OG with no damplifier or foam.

2. "stock+" = mod27. It says Lyander in tag, they all do but only "stock+" was short enough for REW to include Lyander in legend.

3. "stock plus minus" = mod27 minus one baffle vent filter