If you’ve ever bounced between different pairs of headphones to check how your mix sounds on studio gear, bass-heavy cans, or everyday earbuds, Kali Audio’s new HP-1 headphones might save you the trouble. Designed for both studio work and casual listening, the HP-1 offers wired and wireless playback, active noise cancellation, and a clever built-in feature: the ability to switch between three different sound profiles with the press of a button.

Launched under the internal name Project Highland Park, the HP-1 is Kali Audio’s first headphone product. Known mostly for its budget-friendly studio monitors, the California-based company is now bringing that same philosophy—function over flash—to a portable, over-ear headphone priced at $199 at Amazon.

What sets the HP-1 apart is its selectable tuning modes, or what Kali calls “voicings.” With the tap of a button on the right earcup, you can cycle through three presets:

• Studio Mode gives you a clean, flat response that’s ideal for mixing and critical listening. If you’re working on a track and want to hear it as accurately as possible, this is the one to use.
• Bass-Heavy Mode boosts the low end, mimicking the kind of sound you’d expect from bass-forward headphones popular with hip-hop and EDM fans.
• Consumer Mode softens the edges and mimics the tuning of the headphones that come bundled with smartphones or laptops—more colored, less clinical.

Each mode is designed to help you hear your audio from different perspectives without needing multiple pairs of headphones. There’s even a voice prompt and color-coded LED to tell you which mode you’re in, so you don’t have to guess.

The HP-1 comes with a 3.5mm cable for wired listening, which is great if you need the lowest possible latency for recording or video work. But if you’re just kicking back with a playlist or taking a call, the Bluetooth connection gives you more freedom to move around. It supports SBC and AAC codecs—common formats used by phones and laptops—though it skips on higher-end codecs like aptX or LDAC.

You’ll also find active noise cancellation (ANC) built in, which helps block out distractions whether you’re in a noisy environment or just want to stay focused. There’s a built-in mic for calls and physical controls on the earcups to manage playback without reaching for your device.

The HP-1 offers up to 40 hours of battery life on a single charge, which should cover you for long sessions or several days of casual use. It charges via USB-C, and everything packs neatly into a zippered carrying case that’s included in the box.

In terms of build, the headphones use 40mm dynamic drivers and a closed-back, over-ear design to help isolate your sound. The headband and ear cushions are wrapped in vegan leather, and the earcups are replaceable—a plus if you plan to use them regularly in the studio or on the go. The whole thing weighs just 0.4 pounds (181 grams), and the foldable yoke makes them easier to store or travel with.

The HP-1 seems designed for people who wear a lot of audio hats:

• Music producers and mix engineers can use the Studio mode for accurate playback, then flip to Consumer mode to hear how it sounds on average earbuds.
• Content creators who need both wired and wireless options might appreciate the flexibility and long battery life.
• Everyday listeners who want something that works at home, on a commute, or at a coffee shop will find familiar features like ANC and Bluetooth onboard.

It’s a single pair of headphones that can fill multiple roles—and that’s the real appeal here.

With the HP-1, Kali Audio isn’t reinventing the headphone, but it’s adding something genuinely useful: the ability to switch between sound profiles instantly. Whether you’re working on a mix, listening to music on the go, or just trying to focus with some noise cancellation, the HP-1 is built to handle all of it without a lot of extra gear.

The Kali Audio HP-1 headphones are available now for $199 at Amazon.