Affordable substitution: Kali Audio's reference headphones now stand in for three premium over-ear models, providing a surprising value for money.
In the realm of audio production, ensuring that tracks and mixes sound great on a variety of headphones can be a challenging task. Different headphones have distinct sonic characteristics, making it difficult for engineers to guarantee that their productions will sound consistent across various listening devices.
To address this issue, Kali Audio has developed the HP-1 studio over-ears. Claimed to be a solution for audio and video professionals, these headphones are designed to emulate the sound of various types of headphones, helping engineers create mixes that will sound good on a wide range of headphones.
Priced at £199 / $199 / €199 (about AU$407), the HP-1 headphones are closed-back over-ears with 40mm drivers and a frequency range of 18Hz to 22kHz. They offer connectivity via a 3.5mm cable for studio use and Bluetooth for casual listening.
What sets the HP-1 headphones apart is their three built-in selectable voicings. These voicings mimic the sound characteristics of popular headphones, improving mix consistency across different listening environments. The voicings are toggled with a single button and indicated by colored LEDs and voice prompts:
- Studio mode: Provides a flat, transparent, and accurate tuning designed for critical listening and mixing that translates well across systems.
- Bass-Heavy mode: Emulates the pronounced low-end response typical of headphones favoured by hip-hop and EDM producers and fans.
- Consumer mode: Mimics the tonal characteristics of mass-market headphones commonly bundled with smartphones and laptops, reflecting how mixes will sound on everyday consumer devices.
This multi-voicing approach uses onboard digital signal processing (DSP) to offer mix engineers and producers a way to quickly audition their work as it might sound on a variety of common headphone types, helping ensure mixes translate better and are balanced for real-world listening scenarios.
Whether you're in the studio or on the go, the HP-1 headphones offer versatility. They have a battery life of up to 40 hours, ensuring long hours of uninterrupted use. With their built-in DSP, users can switch between different sonic signatures with the press of a button, making them an invaluable tool for audio professionals.
The HP-1 studio over-ears are available for purchase from kaliaudio.com, providing a cost-effective solution for those seeking to improve the consistency of their mixes across various headphones. With the HP-1 headphones, engineers no longer need to acquire multiple different types of headphones to find out how their productions sound on those headphones. Instead, they can switch between different sonic signatures with ease, ensuring their mixes translate well across a variety of listening devices.
[1] Kali Audio. (2021). HP-1 Studio Over-Ear Headphones. [Online]. Available: https://www.kaliaudio.com/products/hp-1-studio
[3] Mixdown. (2021). Kali Audio HP-1 Review: A Versatile Pair of Studio Headphones. [Online]. Available: https://www.mixdownmag.com.au/reviews/gear/kali-audio-hp-1-review-a-versatile-pair-of-studio-headphones/
[5] Sound On Sound. (2021). Kali Audio HP-1 Studio Over-Ear Headphones Review. [Online]. Available: https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/kali-audio-hp-1-studio-over-ear-headphones
- The HP-1 studio over-ears, designed for audio and video professionals, stand out in the technology sphere by employing built-in digital signal processing (DSP) to emulate the sound of various types of headphones, catering to engineers who aim to create mixes that sound consistent across numerous gadgets.
- These versatile gadgets, the Kali Audio HP-1 studio over-ears, are not only beneficial in the studio setup but also ideal for casual listening on the go, thanks to their long battery life of up to 40 hours and the ability to switch between different sonic signatures with a single button press, making them a valuable tool in the realm of technology and audio production.
