Kali Audio might not be on the radar of every high-end headphone collector, but in the pro audio world, they’ve been making serious noise since 2018. Based in Burbank—right in the gritty audio-industrial heart of L.A., surrounded by soundstages, speaker designers, and enough mixers to flood the valley—Kali has carved out a reputation for delivering pro-level gear that doesn’t kill your credit card.
Their focus? Engineering-first design and honest-to-goodness R&D—not snake oil and chrome. They’re best known for studio monitors, subwoofers, immersive audio rigs, and multimedia speakers that have become staples in budget-conscious studios and broadcast setups across the country. Each of their product lines is named after a California city, but make no mistake—this isn’t some surfboard-and-sunshine marketing stunt. These are serious tools for people who make sound for a living.
With the launch of the HP-1, their first-ever headphone, Kali’s stepping out of the control room and onto your head. Let’s see what they’ve cooked up.
The new HP-1 comes packed with DSP brains and mixing muscle. Designed with mixing, mastering, and real-world QC in mind, the HP-1 isn’t just chasing audiophile clout—it’s trying to be the Swiss Army knife of pro headphones—and with high-end brands like Beyerdynamic, Audeze, and Sennheiser firmly established in the category, Kali Audio needs any genuine point of differentiation that it can find.
At the core of the HP-1 are three built-in voicings that you can toggle through with a single button:
- Studio: a flat, transparent tuning for critical listening and mixing that actually translates.
- Bass-Heavy: the kind of hyped, low-end-heavy signature you’d hear on the cans favored by hip-hop and EDM producers (and their fanbases).
- Consumer: mimics the tuning of mass-market headphones bundled with smartphones and laptops.
Each mode is color-coded via a small LED on the right earcup, and there’s even a voice prompt to keep you from guessing which sound you’re getting.
Kali knows that not everything happens in the studio, so the HP-1 supports both wired and wireless playback. A 3.5mm analog jack keeps it old-school and lossless, while Bluetooth with built-in ANC, voice calls, and playback controls makes them suitable for everything from Zoom calls to zoning out on flights.
Under the hood, you’re getting closed-back 40mm dynamic drivers with a frequency response of 18Hz–22kHz, and a battery that delivers 40+ hours of playback per charge. Charging is handled via USB-C, and everything comes packed in a zippered travel case.
The HP-1 isn’t just another wireless headphone. It’s Kali Audio’s attempt to bridge the gap between pro audio gear and real-world utility—and it might just pull it off.
Specifications
| Product | Kali HP-1 |
| Type | Wireless/Wired |
| Style | Closed-back |
| Fit | Circumnaural (Around the Ear) |
| Driver Size | 40mm |
| Noise Attenuation | Active Noise Cancelling |
| Frequency Response | 18 Hz – 22 kHz |
| DSP Latency | 17 ms |
| DSP Bypassable | No |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth (AAC, SBC) 3.5mm stereo plug USB-C for charging |
| Controls | Button Controls |
| Built-in Mic | Yes |
| Features | Reference tunings for popular headphones Wireless Calling Play/Pause/Next/Previous Controls |
| Latency | 17 ms |
| Power | Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery |
| Battery Life | 40+ Hours |
| Foldable | Yes |
| Color | Black |
| Carrying Case | Yes |
| Replaceable Earpads | Yes |
| In the Box | HP-1 Headphone USB-C Charging Cable 3.5 mm cable 3.5 mm to ¼-inch headphone adapter |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (150g) |
The Bottom Line
At $199, the Kali Audio HP-1 is aggressively priced—and deceptively smart. For mixing engineers, content creators, or anyone who toggles between Pro Tools and Spotify playlists, the HP-1 offers something those classic wired studio cans like the Sony MDR-M1 or Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro X can’t: versatility with voicing profiles and Bluetooth baked in.
Are they going to replace a planar magnetic Audeze in a treated studio for final mastering? No. But that’s not the assignment. What Kali’s offering is a headphone that lets you hear your mix like your audience will, whether they’re using Beats, AirPods, or some tinny laptop speakers. Add in 40 hours of battery, ANC, and onboard controls, and you’re looking at a legit hybrid solution—equal parts reference tool and daily driver.
Can they compete? In this price bracket, with these features? They might just rewrite the playbook.
Where to buy: $199 at Sweetwater
Related Reading:
- Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO X Review: German Studio Precision Goes Mainstream—Finally
- Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO X: The Studio Legend Gets A Cable That Finally Lets Go
- Audio-Technica Launches $99 ATH-R30x: Affordable Open-Back Headphones Join R-Series Lineup
- Audeze MM-100 Open-Back Studio Headphones: Review
