I own 9 sets of headphones and I find that I only use one most of the time, so when I see a new headphone come on the market it usually elicits a “Been there, done that” sort of response. But every once in a while something comes along with a new approach that deserves checking out, and that’s what you’ll find with the Kali Audio HP-1 Multi-Reference headphones.
Three In One
The reason why they’re called “multi-reference” is because they’re actually three headphones in one, allowing you to listen to three different playback scenarios.
This includes voicings for:
- Studio: transparent, accurate sound for faithful translation.
- Bass-Heavy: replicates the sound of headphones that are popular with hip-hop and EDM creators and fans.
- Consumer: replicates the sound of popular headphones sold alongside phones and computers.
Users can switch between the three voicings at the press of a button. The LED on the right earcup will change color to indicate the selected tuning, and a voice prompt will also let the user know exactly what they’re listening to.
The Basics
The HP-1 is a closed-back, over-ear headphone with 40mm drivers with a reported frequency response of 18Hz to 22kHz. Its battery supports at least 40 hours of playback on a full charge and can be recharged using the included USB-C cable.
Features like active noise cancelling, wireless calling, and physical playback controls on the headphones let you take them along with you in your everyday life, instead of using separate sets for the studio and for travel.
Plus they can be connected to the sound source either via Bluetooth, or by using a wired connection for the highest quality.
The Kali Audio HP-1 headphones ship in a zippered carrying case and are available for a reasonable SRP of $199.
You can find out more here, or watch the video below.
