Headphones

LA’s Highland Park is home to artists and producers who make music in small spaces with neighbours they don’t want to disturb close by. The HP-1 has been designed with this in mind and offers a unique range of facilities for personal listening.

A closed-back, over-ear design, it offers both Bluetooth and wired connection, and is supplied with a cable terminated with a 3.5mm jack and 6.3mm adapter.

One of the two buttons on the right earcup is used to select the various DSP voicings – the default setting being Studio mode, which Kali says offers a transparent and accurate sound for mixing and studio use. Bass-Heavy mode adds a low-frequency boost of around 10dB between 60Hz and 600Hz, a 3dB boost centred around 1,100Hz, and a slight dip in the top end for listening to hip-hop and electronic dance music. Finally, Consumer mode adds a more subtle boost to the lows and a similar dip in the top-end response for use with mobile phones and computers. There’s a USB-C connection for charging and a suitable cable comes bundled.

Sound quality
I start off testing with an audiophile recording of the National Symphony Orchestra with the Brighton Festival Chorus performing Beethoven’s Symphony No.9. With the default voicing of Studio mode, the full orchestra is clear and open, with very good imaging of the instruments of the orchestra on show. When the soloists and choir kick in during the final movement, I find the vocals are powerful and clear. Bass-Heavy mode results in a somewhat boomy bass and is totally unsuitable for this sort of music, as expected. Consumer mode gives an overall duller presentation, which doesn’t really do the headphone justice.

For some classic jazz, I spin a superb remastered LP of Count Basie & His Orchestra playing Lullaby Of Birdland from 1962. Studio mode results in amazing realism, with excellent stereo imaging and great clarity. The location of each instrument is clear within the soundstage. Switching to Consumer mode softens the presentation, which many will find makes the jazz smoother and easier to listen to. Bass-Heavy mode certainly ramps up the lower frequencies, but very much at the expense of the tight and punchy drums.

With some more modern jazz and a recording of That’s What It Takes by the Norwegian Lyder Roed Quintet, the triangle in the opening sections comes through with a clear tinkling that is very distinctive. The piano on the right, Roed’s trumpet in the middle and drums on the left are well positioned. When the double bass has the solo spot to the left of centre, it is rich and very clear. The trumpet is very musical and strident without being overly harsh. Again, I prefer Studio mode for the overall ease and accuracy of the presentation.

I next switch to a Bluetooth connection with the headphone in Studio mode and play music stored on my mobile phone. The sound quality is very good overall and this form of connection is perfect for portable music listening. With a digital recording of Locatelli’s Concerto in F major for 4 Violins Op.4 No.12 performed by Musica Antiqua Koln, the opening Allegro is bright and energetic. Instrument imaging is very good and the top end is excellent, with the strings open and not at all harsh throughout. This is very impressive for a headphone at this price point.

Conclusion
The HP-1 is an undeniably excellent value-for-money, feature-rich headphone that offers excellent sound quality with a variety of different music, especially in my preferred Studio mode voicing. NR    

DETAILS
Product: Kali Audio HP-1
Type: Closed-back headphones

FEATURES
● 40mm drivers
● 3.5mm jack
● 40-hour battery

Read the full review in  Issue 537