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These retro-futuristic headphones might just be the coolest way to hear your midlife crisis
Published onApril 30, 2025
- km5’s Lightwear Hp1 joins a growing class of retro-inspired wireless headphones
- Features Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C wired playback, ANC, transparency mode, and dual-mic calling
- Just 103g, with a stainless steel frame, 40mm drivers, and swappable magnetic ear pads
- Available now for $189 USD in Japan
The km5 Lightwear Hp1 is here to make you feel like it’s 1985, but function like it’s 2025. Lightweight, wire-free, and unapologetically retro, these newly launched on-ear headphones bring Walkman-era aesthetics into the Bluetooth age, following in the footsteps of previous throwback models like the JLab Rewind Wireless Retro, but upping the ante with sharper design and a more premium build.
Weighing just 103 grams, the Hp1 is lighter than most over-ear headphones, featuring a polished stainless steel headband and minimalist housings that nod to Sony’s vintage headphones but with square edges on the earcups to house a pair of 120mAh batteries and 40mm dynamic drivers. The headphones support Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless connectivity and wired listening via USB-C playback. A unique split USB-C cable also handles charging for the independent left and right earpads.
The Hp1 is available in black or white, with swappable magnetic ear pads in carmine, turquoise, light gray, and black. The controls are physical—no swiping, no guessing—and they promise up to 24 hours of playback on a single charge. They even have active noise cancelation and a transparency mode to make them truly modern on the tech front.
km5 is pitching the Hp1 as a sweet spot: lighter than traditional headphones, more breathable than in-ears, and better-looking than either. It also fits stylistically with the brand’s minimalist CD players, leaning into a full analog-meets-digital aesthetic.
The headphones are available now through km5’s official site and as part of a retail launch with Japan’s bPr BEAMS, with display units at stores in Harajuku, Shibuya, Umeda, and Yokohama.
While the Lightwear Hp1 won’t be for everyone, it offers a distinct option for those who want modern features in a vintage frame. With its lightweight build, swappable pads, and unmistakable throwback styling, it’s a thoughtfully designed package that retro tech enthusiasts are sure to appreciate.