Packaging and Closer Examination

This particular unit of the Altiat CAL.1H is brand new and was not used at all during the show, although of course Altiat did not have the full retail packaging here. It was provided inside a branded cloth drawstring bag along with a hand-filled warranty card and the headphones cable inside a foam wrap. Seen alongside is the product box as this Mystique Edition ships from the UK, for reference.


Altiat ships the CAL.1H with a 3 m long cable that you choose the source termination of—3.5 mm single ended TRS or 4.4 mm balanced TRRRS—depending on what works best for you. In addition, depending on the source termination, you will also get an adapter (6.35 mm or full-size XLR) which were not accompanying this show demo unit. I have the single-ended 3 m long cable here, and we see the connector housing is on the larger side here to where I would have preferred something more low profile. The cable is also slightly stiffer than I'd like, although non-microphonic and thankfully does not retain any memory or kinks once shaped to your liking. It's a no-frills cable in black using oxygen-free copper conductor in four braided strands, which split into two per channel past the splitter—if you can even call it that. On the other end are two mini-XLR connectors, one of which has a red mark to help identify the right channel. The wiring matches those used by the likes of Audeze or ZMF, so you can find plenty of aftermarket cables if you so desire.


Irrespective of which version of the CAL.1H you go with, they will all adhere to the same design language. This includes a common headband system too, and the product can go from being clean and subtle to something far more flashy as is the case here. The headband is simple yet effective, it uses spring steel with a cutout in the middle for added weight savings and comes pre-shaped to fit over and around your head. The suspension band appears to be made of suede/protein leather and is similarly designed, down to the cutout in the middle which here can help prevent hotspots from forming on the top of your head. I do wish the suspension band was larger though, but it is at least thick enough to provide adequate support for most people. Delrin buffers/spacers help put these together as they slot into the aluminium chassis on this unit, with the model name and L/R markings on the outside to help identify the left and right channels, respectively.


Vertical sizing comes via the suspension band moving up or down the rods on the side as seen above. There are no discrete steps here to make it easier to line up both sides, and I am not sure how well this system will last over time in the absence of a locking mechanism. That said, the CAL.1H is not a brand-new release and I have not seen anyone complain about the headband getting loose over time so maybe it works enough when combined with the fit and clamp force over your head. There is enough spacing here to help accommodate those with heads small or large alike.


Unfortunately, the nature of this headband assembly prevents any earcup swivel. This means you may have to work on positioning the ear pads and headband at a different angle than ideal to ensure a good seal and fit, and this may be in contrary to what you would prefer for better comfort. I would say most people would still be fine with achieving a good seal without compromising much on comfort owing to the large ear pads and the cups already being positioned in a more ergonomic angle, but I urge Altiat to come up with a more customizable mechanism going forward. There is plenty of ear cup rotation along its vertical axis at least, as seen above.


Given the company's design and manufacturing background, the CAL.1H pleasantly surprises with a touch of art added to the industrial design. Helping further is the part where you can choose between different materials, although note that most of the options are aluminium-based. If you prioritize a low-weight set of headphones, Altiat offers a single wood option in the form of unstained, unprocessed solid ash. Then there's "Aluminium Silver" which is sandblasted raw aluminium, and a few different colors using anodized aluminium. If you prefer a more glossy finish, there are also automotive grade paint finishes, some of which can also get a ceramic coat on top. Pricing will thus vary based on the options, and this particular unit has the so-called Mystique Edition automotive paint + ceramic coat finish making for a pearlescent green/blue/purple/pink spectrum. The CAL.1H is open-back and thus we also see a metal grille with hexagonal holes cut in it, allowing a peek at the driver behind. The ear pads are installed similarly as most headphones, with a groove in the ear cups that the pads stretch over and into. I have the alcantara pads here which cost $49 more than the velour option but are more comfortable to use. These are oval-shaped, large enough to accommodate pretty much all ears, and have protective screens between your ears and the drivers. Altiat also uses tuning paper between the pads and the driver, usually done for damping, and removing it allows a closer look at the 50 mm dynamic driver used here.


On the bottom of the ear cups are cutouts where we find the mini-XLR ports for the cable connectors to easily click in place. They are directed at a slight angle downward to prevent the cables from hitting your shoulders directly, and the cable then heads to the source based on the termination chosen. The cable is not as premium looking or feeling as the headphones themselves, although I can get past it since I understand Altiat isn't really up charging the product for the cable, and you can get replacement cables fairly easily, including in different lengths. Also, if you plan to use a headphone stand, then get one which allows the CAL.1H to be supported off the metal headband rather than the suspension band, to avoid unnecessary wear.