Stock image: Best Buy
Originally published 6/26/17.
Updates:
- 9/9/19.
- 4/19/22. Article revisit.
Sup friend and Welcome aboard!!
Before we get into the Audioquest NightOwl Review, grab a snack, sit back and relax because…
You’ve come to the right place!!
What I will bring you in this review
- Ratings/Price
- Specifications
- Summary
- Pros
- Cons
- Video Review
- Amp/DAC requirements
- Who benefits?
- Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
- Consensus/Conclusion
- Final Word
Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!
Audioquest NightOwl
Specifications
- Price: Check Amazon! | Check eBay!
- Type: Closed Back. Closed back vs. Open back headphones.
- Impedance: 25 Ohm. What is Headphone Impedance?
- Sensitivity: 99dB
- Weight: 12.2 Oz.
- Chord Length: 1.3m
- 1/4″ adapter: Yes
- Drivers: 50mm and angled, providing a pain-free listening experience by avoiding contact with your ears. What is a Headphone Driver?
- Volume Control: No
- Noise Cancelling: No
- Bluetooth: No
- Mic for taking calls: No
- iPhone control: No
- Lightning Control: No
- Android Connector: No
Introduction
What can I say about these beauties? Well, a lot. When I think of the NightOwl, I think about how the only constant in change is life.
Strike that, reverse it.
The only constant in life is change.
Sure, that may sound cliche, but take a moment to think about what you were doing 5 years ago. How different your mindset was.
Perhaps your focus was elsewhere. Your concerns were different. Maybe you were struggling with something that you’re not struggling with today.
It could be that you grew up a little as I have.
If you’re reading this, the NightOwl has actually been discontinued and AudioQuest no longer manufactures headphones.
Life is strange, indeed my friend.
The year was 2017.
DF Red goes to the beach.
I was in my local Audio Advice determined to demo the Audioquest Dragonfly Red (a portable USB Amp/DAC), but the sort of weird, know-it-all, half-way-friendly (but kind of arrogant), matter-of-fact old man informed me that they need time to be “broken in.”
“About 100 hours,” he says.
I was reluctant to argue with him and didn’t demand that I needed it now, while just kind of agreeing with what he was saying because I knew he knew better than me even though I wanted to be like “Well why did you ask me what I wanted to demo if you’re just going to dump all over it and suggest something else?” Lol.
Anyways.
I had a reason to be skeptical of his “recommendation.”
You see, I was all gung ho on trying out the Audeze EL-8 Closed-back since I had written an article on the EL-8 Open back and absolutely loved them.
The old man had better ideas.
And boy howdy what an idea it was to give me the NightOwls instead.
But what made me almost say no was the fact that he had recommended the Audeze LCD-X a while back and I absolutely hated them.
I’ve since come to adore them but that’s neither here nor there. I trusted his judgment this time around and I’m glad I did.
The old man and I developed a strange, off-kilter, sort of awkward bond, but he’s since retired from the company and wholeheartedly deserves the ride off into the sunset after decades of service.
Ivan at Audio Advice was an incredibly hard worker, never complained, was extremely passionate about his job, and was always there to help.
That’s what I will always remember about him.
Common themes
I’ve found a common theme with headphones like the NightOwl.
They fall in that weird $300-$600 range where it’s not quite clear what actually represents a real improvement over headphones in the $100-300 range.
The mid-fi area has always been a sore subject for many – some people call it mid-fi purgatory – and that sentiment isn’t too far off.
In short, there’s a reason why the people who listen to these sorts of headphones are called “Audiophiles.”
They’re just borderline special (i.e. challenged) when it comes to gear, placing way too much emphasis on it rather than the music.
I too have fallen prey to this phenomenon, and I’m still recovering.
In one sense, I could never go back to low-grade dog food type of headphones (Caddyshack anyone?) It’s just not going to happen.
Not when I’ve heard what I’ve heard.
What has been heard, cannot be unheard, as the saying goes.
If you’re not paying attention, the NightOwl may sound just like any other headphone.
But that’s the thing, they DEMAND attention.
You may miss out on some juicy details! Good thing there’s a rewind button for that though 😛
A Different Animal.
Summary
I would describe them as “fun,” as the old man put it. He had that weird “I know everything” smirk on his face before telling me how fun they were.
Bass & Treble
I would have to agree. The bass is what immediately jumped out at me and for good reason.
Like the M50x, it’s quite elevated across the entirety of 20Hz – 200Hz, but it never feels overdone like your mom’s meatloaf.
It definitely can reach down when it needs to, but this is an extremely articulate bass. You start to hear each and every note.
It’s lush. It’s warm. It’s… inviting. It makes you want to get up and dance around.
They can get a tad sibilant at times, but it’s nothing too extreme. It’s very subtle.
- Related: What does Sibilant mean?
I’m willing to bet most of this has to do with the quality of the source file.
The sound is absolutely pristine with good quality FLAC from a CD.
Mid-Range
What I love most about these is the accuracy involved. Everything becomes so much more prominent, clear, and detailed.
I can make out what the artist is saying better.
You’re never going to be able to hear every single lyric, but I sure as heck can understand a lot more of what’s going on, both vocally and instrumentally. More on that in a bit.
There is clarity and warmth about these babies that really go together well. They’re both clinical (meaning extremely precise) and inviting at the same time.
One issue you may have is that the mid-range takes a dip after 1kHz and comes back up around 3, not unlike a HIFIMAN 400 Series headphone.
Did I find this to be an issue?
Well, it’s been a while since I’ve heard these, but I would say that AudioQuest handled it just about as well as realistically possible.
Build Quality
The build is phenomenal. They’re actually made of liquid wood that’s been combined with renewable materials such as plant fiber, lignin, various resins, and waxes that have been heated, liquefied, and injection molded.
This material is thicker than plastic and thus harder to break.
It’s a carbon grey metallic high gloss finish that exudes class.
This isn’t a Beats by Dre type of gloss, but rather an attractive one that won’t gather fingerprints!
The headphones themselves feel extremely solid in your hand and are a tad bulky, but it’s not a bad thing. They’re just a bit bigger than your average-sized headphone.
The ear-cups from the outside actually do remind me of an Owl’s eye which is a nice added touch and makes sense with the name given.
Comfort
Oh my, what a wonderfully comfortable headphone.
I absolutely love the hammock-style headband and think more companies should implement it.
No need for adjusting as it self-adjusts to the size of your big freakin’ melon. 😛
Not only that, but you never feel the urge to take them off.
They’re light and fluffy enough to securely fasten to your head while also not clamping too hard like a Vice Grip.
I would dare say these rank as some of the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever worn.
Pros
- Incredibly detailed sound. Details are revealed all over the place.
- Textured, intimate, and enjoyable bass. You can actually hear full bass lines rather than just bits of it.
- Ridiculously comfortable. The hammock-style headband contours to your dome wonderfully, and the earcups are soft and plush.
- Durable as heck. They feel very sturdy in your hands and come with a thick, tangle-free cable.
- Good noise isolation. You’re able to enjoy these without distraction.
Cons
- Sibilant at times.
Video Review
Subscribe to Z!
Amp/DAC requirements
At a mere 25 Ohm Impedance and 99dB/mW Sensitivity, the NightOwl is a breeze to drive and doesn’t need amplification.
If you do invest in something, an E10K or K3 is just about right. Anything more than that and you’re wasting money.
Who benefits?
I would say these do well with most genres. I liked them with:
- Indie
- Classic Rock
- Pop. They do sound good with pop but can get a little “essy” at times at high volumes.
- Hip-Hop
Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
Open quality
The cool thing about the NightOwl is that they are closed-back, but have hidden vents beneath the outside of the circular enclosure that allows the sound to escape through an airflow-resistive port, even though you can’t see it.
So they’re a closed-back design with open-back qualities.
This explains the immersive and great Soundstage that they provide. I got a sense of instrument placement so well that my mind could clearly map out the sounds on a piece of paper in their fixed positions. They just open up very nicely.
Indicators
The Left and Right indicators for your ears are located on the insides of the ear cups which I thought was interesting.
Cable
The cable is extremely durable, thick, and tangle-free. It terminates in your standard 3.5mm jack, is detachable, and forms a Y that plugs into both earcups.
Accessories
Accessories include Two pairs of earpads, a 51″ straight cable, a 3.5mm-to-1/4″ adapter, two cleaning cloths, and a luxuriously padded zippered storage case.
Earpads
One set of ear pads is an extremely soft protein leather which I have come to love.
These seal very well and improve the treble response. The second pair is suede, and these provide a deeper bass wallop.
If you notice, the ear-cups are shaped very similarly to that of the human ear, and fit very well, contouring with ease because they are wider at the top and narrower towards the bottom.
Bass
What most impresses me about the NightOwl is the bass; I just can’t get over it. It’s like every note is clearly defined, and it has an impact when the song calls for it.
It’s very versatile in this regard, but the texture and detail are incredible. I started hearing the bass line in its entirety, rather than bits and pieces.
It’s incredible how much our brains have to piece together things without actually hearing them. Over the years, you start to form assumptions about sound based on what you’re given.
I think the Owl is a perfect example of a headphone that fills in those missing gaps, or puzzle pieces if you will. I talked about this a lot in my PM-3 review as well.
We tend to hear only about 45-75% of the song depending on how good the headphones are. Once you start getting into the mid-level stuff, that gap starts to close, and perhaps you instead hear about 95-100% of what the song provides.
Small, subtle, afterthought-type details become extremely enjoyable and prominent because you realize how much actually goes into a recording. You start to appreciate the artists and how much they pour into their craft.
Consensus/Conclusion
The NightOwl is a durable, comfortable headphone with an elevated bass response and a smooth, liquid character.
The mid-range does dip and the treble can be a tad hot at times, but for what these are it’s rather forgivable – especially given how articulate the bass is and how much fun they are overall.
Final Word & Update
I really adored this headphone and I’m glad I got a chance to demo it being that it was never on my radar.
I do think that if you’re in the market for a headphone like this, it’s still well worth a look – whether that be on eBay, locally, etc.
Just be advised of people trying to make a huge profit seeing as how it’s no longer in circulation. So I wouldn’t spend more than a couple hundred dollars.
If you’re looking for headphones like these with more emphasis on the bass and/or hip-hop, check out my complete guide:
NEXT: THE BEST HEADPHONES FOR HIP-HOP
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Audioquest NightOwl review.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
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Any experience with the now discontinued NightOwl? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
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Audioquest NightOwl
Pros
- Comfort
- Build
- Soundstage
- Detail retrieval
- Bass
Cons
- Sibilant at times
2 comments
Outstanding NightOwl review… great minds obviously think alike! 🙂
This baby is definitely at the top of my list, not only for its musicality but also because it’s “Numero Uno” in comfort. A friend actually offered to GIVE me the Hifiman 400, but it started to hurt my head after half an hour’s use, so I politely declined.
That said, you recently threw out a profound comment about the 400S: “These things kind of change the way you hear music to be honest.” YES! With the 400’s I wasn’t merely grooving to the sounds but listening very intently, as if each note were hitting my eardrums for the very first time. Don’t know how long this would have kept up—or how long I would have kept listening with such intensity—because I started feeling too much pressure from the headband, and it took me away from the music.
Well, maybe the Nightowl’s aren’t quite as detailed or present, but they’re amazingly “musical,” if you’ll pardon my admittedly subjective use of the term. I’m looking for a long-term relationship with the NightOwl’s, and I expect to spend hours at a time under its spell.
Say, regarding that hint of sibilance you heard, do you think it might have originated from the source music rather than the cans themselves? Is your Spotify stream compressed at 160kbps or 320? (160 compression might very well sound a bit harsh.) I heard absolutely no sibilance using iTunes at 265kbps, but maybe I chose undemanding music.
Anyway, with cans this good I’d be inclined to listen mostly to uncompressed tracks, CD quality or better. But that’s me; your ears may vary.
Based on my admittedly subjective biases, is there another set of cans you think I should be auditioning? I’m “all ears”!
Appreciate your enthusiasm!
Hey Bart!
Yeah I agree about comfort. It’s like little pillows on your head, and that protein leather (or whatever it is), feels amazing to the touch.
I love the 400i and S, but yeah they both can get a tad uncomfortable after awhile. It’s so true about the sound of the 400S though: With this one rap song I’ve heard a bunch of times it was like hearing it for the first time. I would say the Timbre of the instruments and voices really comes through differently. It’s like stuff starts to actually have a character of it’s own.
Yeah, that’s actually a good way to describe the Night Owl’s. They’re warmish, with an incredibly articulate bass that also happens to sit extremely well in the mix. I never felt like they were trying to be front and center.
I would definitely try out the Audeze EL8 Open backs. Amazing articulation and Timbre. Music actually sounds radically different than what I’m used to. It’s almost like a glimpse into the soul of the sound. It’s personality, etc.
-Stu