AudioQuest is pretty well known for AV cables. Now, they are attaching some of those cables to a pretty cool pair of headphones. The NightHawk is the company’s first entry into the headphones market.
The NightHawk is an around-the-ear semi-open model, designed and engineered by Skylar Gray. It has a 50mm pistonic driver with a biocellulose diaphragm, which boasts rigidity and mechanical integrity at high frequencies. Another perk is a patented split-gap motor, which is designed to reduce intermodulation distortion.
All of that technology is super cushy, too. These headphones have ear cups made from “liquid wood.” That’s not as trippy as it sounds, but it is environmentally friendly. It also boasts a nice fit with the ability to minimize unwanted resonances and vibrations.
Another interesting tidbit is that the NightHawk is being made with a 3D-printed part—and claims to be the first pair of headphones to do so. That piece is a biomimetic grille with diamond-cubic latticework. It doesn’t just look cool, but also makes for better sound quality.
Other features include a patent-pending suspension system to accommodate heads of any shape or size, a flexible headband, and more.
“The mandate I received from [AudioQuest founder] Bill Low was to follow my passion,” said Gray. “I was able to take all the time I needed to create the product that I felt was necessary—a product that we hope changes the way the world thinks about headphone design, creates a truly immersive listening experience, and provides a deeper emotional connection with music.”
AudioQuest recently received accolades for the NightHawk at the 2015 CES, being named a 2015 CES Innovation Honoree (Headphones) and Best of Innovation Winner (Eco-Design and Sustainable Technologies). The company plans to start selling the NightHawk headphones sometime in March or April. Expect them to be available through the company’s dealer network, priced at $599 per pair.
Want to know more about picking out headphones? Read our recent write-up about finding the best headphones.
Leave a Reply