IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — AudioQuest, the company best known for its high-performance audio/video cables, officially introduced its first set of headphones, NightHawk, at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show, held January 6-9, in Las Vegas. Named 2015 CES Innovation Honoree (Headphones) and Best of Innovation Winner (Eco-Design and Sustainable Technologies), NightHawk is an around-the-ear semi-open model, designed and engineered by Skylar Gray.
Many of NightHawk’s design elements are successfully implemented in today’s most innovative loudspeakers, but have never been used in headphones. NightHawk uses a 50mm pistonic driver with a biocellulose diaphragm designed to take advantage of the material’s outstanding rigidity and mechanical integrity at high frequencies. A patented split-gap motor significantly reduces intermodulation distortion. NightHawk’s earcups are made from “Liquid Wood,” an environmentally friendly material that offers outstanding acoustic properties and vast geometric possibilities. The sophisticated earcup enclosures incorporate support beams that enhance structural integrity and minimize unwanted resonances and vibrations.
NightHawk is the first completely original production headphone to use a 3D-printed part–a biomimetic grille that uses a complex diamond-cubic latticework to diffuse sound and defeat resonances. NightHawk’s patent-pending suspension system allows its earcups to move freely, accommodating heads of any shape or size, while decoupling the earcups, further counteracting harmful resonances. The flexible headband efficiently distributes the headphones’ weight, providing a sure fit while minimizing clamping force and enabling long listening sessions.
Said Gray: “The mandate I received from [AudioQuest founder] Bill Low was to follow my passion. 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.”
Early critical response has been positive. NightHawk was named a TWICE Picks Awards Honoree, What Hi-Fi? “Star of CES 2015,” and SoundStage! Network “Best of CES 2015” Winner. Stereophile writer Herbert Reichert reported, “The NightHawks had me choking back tears of musical appreciation.”
Full production of AudioQuest’s NightHawk headphones is scheduled for March/April 2015. NightHawk will be available through AudioQuest’s dealer network, with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $599 US/$699 CAD/EUR599/£499 (EU and UK, VAT included).
For more information, visit nighthawk.audioquest.com.
Contact: Stephen Mejias
AudioQuest, VP Communications
Phone: (949) 585-0111
SOURCE AudioQuest
AudioQuest
Web Site: AudioQuest.com
