Suggestion for Nightowl Mod

Discussion in 'Modifications and Tweaks' started by gibtg, Jul 6, 2018.

  1. gibtg

    gibtg New

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    United States
    I feel as though the NIghtowl is a modest improvement over the Nighthawk but now the midrange peak is too pronounced and is noticeable to me, is there any mod that could be done to lessen this?
     
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,771
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Light them on fire?
     
  3. gibtg

    gibtg New

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    United States
    At least you can count on one thing here, a lack of professionalism!
     
  4. Case

    Case Anxious Head (Formerly Wilson)

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2016
    Likes Received:
    6,034
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Ohio, USA. Home of the eclipse
    It's not SBAP
     
  5. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2017
    Likes Received:
    10,961
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Philippines, The
    I mean, no one here really takes themselves too seriously, and the occasional bout of messing around is only to be expected, yeah?

    People are generally encouraged to do as much research as possible before committing to a purchase, or ideally demoing something out of familiar gear. Sounds like you didn't quite manage either? Not hard to see why that might invite some silliness, but at the same time don't take it to heart, it's nothing personal :))

    I'm assuming you mean the 3.5kHz spike? It's a bit hard to push midrange honk down, and you might totally deaden the "air" if you were to use front filters dense enough to do much about the spike. As per my playing around rear dampening might actually boost the mids a tad, so that's a nope. Honestly, while @purr1n's response might have grated on your nerves I agree with the general sentiment; it may be in your best interests to find a new home for your Owls and just pick up a pair of cans that suits your ears better unless you're willing to go down the same route as @Eudis Fernandes where he basically salvaged the drivers out of a Fostex TH-X00 and essentially built a new pair of cans around them (that was you, right? memory might be fuzzy).

    Or, I dunno, use a software EQ? Or get a Schiit Loki maybe, if software EQ isn't your thing, it's not too pricey and I've been curious to try one out myself.

    P.S.
    I'm actually kinda annoyed because I expected this to be a thread about someone successfully modding these, and I was really curious to see how that'd have turned out :p
     
    Last edited: Jul 6, 2018
  6. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

    Staff Member Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,145
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Exit stage left....
    @purr1n had it right.
    while it might be a waste to throw Nightbird in the trash, it seems recycling them to some Head-fi noob at a bloated used price is the typical move.
     
  7. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    Dunno. Mod them yourself and report back with what works.
     
  8. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    14,051
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I thought this was a thread about off hour moderation of the forum. Wtf
     
  9. maverickronin

    maverickronin Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2018
    Likes Received:
    313
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Midwest, USA
    Honestly, with either of the AQs your best bet is precision EQ. Those drivers are super clean, with excellent power handling but let down by an inexplicably dark tuning.

    If your source doesn't allow that, mods to fix it may get pretty invasive since I'm not sure how easy it would be to take apart. IF's measurements show that 3k-ish peak corresponds with a bump in the electrical impedance curve so I'd guess you'd need to change both front and rear damping of the driver to rebalance its acoustic impedance.
     
  10. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,461
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Winnipeg
    The best thing the Nightowl did was bring new pads which improve the Nighthawk. Beyond that... *shrug*
     
  11. Eudis Fernandes

    Eudis Fernandes Aurorus Audio - MoT

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2016
    Likes Received:
    117
    Trophy Points:
    33
    I did many mods. Including modding a Nightowl.

    Ripped thx00 drivers out of their baffle and built a headphone around it. Modded t50rps, etc.

    Working HP3 mod now.

    As for nightowls, try removing center driver damping replace it with medipore tape and poke a hole size of pencil tip in it (if you use an xacto you can peel off the adhesive and stick back on) Remove the grill, swap pads to hm5 or another hybrid pad and remove all black internal damping and replace with cotton to offset backwave phase cancellation that will happen around 600-800hz. Do not cover cup hole or any part of the driver with cotton.

    See what happens.
     
    Last edited: Jul 6, 2018
  12. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2017
    Likes Received:
    10,961
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Philippines, The
    HP-3 as in the Klipsch? Huh. I rather like where I have em now with a bit of dampening and the bass vents, but I'd be curious to see what you come up with! What are you aiming to do?

    ... Sorry, veered off topic :))

    Relevant: what would applying said mods do to the Owl? So the OP doesn't get confirmation-biased, feel free to send a PM, haha
     
  13. Eudis Fernandes

    Eudis Fernandes Aurorus Audio - MoT

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2016
    Likes Received:
    117
    Trophy Points:
    33
    HP3:
    Removal of paper behind grill.
    Made Pad adapters for different pads
    Changed up driver damping
    Changed up Baffle damping to offset the need to break pad seal and utilize a passive baffle seal
    Added foam to the cups
    Gotta clean up the treble.

    Owl:
    Sure try it be mindful I never did on the owl so expect more back wave reflection and the need to use cotton over the driver.
     
  14. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2017
    Likes Received:
    10,961
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Philippines, The
    Holy crap, that's cool. Really looking forward to seeing where that goes! Are you documenting the changes each step makes to the sound or just going by ear and taking measurements every now and again? I'll admit, if you can find a way to tame the treble a bit and bring the midrange up I'd be happy to send some good booze your way for your troubles :p
     

Share This Page