KAIKU WAVE – Finnish noise-canceling headphones from Kuopio

Finnish company Kaiku Acoustics has launched the KAIKU WAVE noise-canceling headphones. The Kuopio-based manufacturer is producing over-ear Bluetooth headphones that combine active noise cancellation, an aluminum construction, and a wooden headband handcrafted in Finland.

Kaiku Acoustics' story is different from the usual headphone brand. According to the manufacturer, the company's background began with the idea of ​​building headphones for himself made of wood. Since then, the project has involved product design and audio expertise, and the company has grown from a small craft-based production to a commercial headphone manufacturer. The company is based in Kuopio, and its CEO is Markus Laukkanen.

The most distinctive structural solution of the KAIKU WAVE is the wooden headband. According to Kaiku, the headband frame is handcrafted in Finland from certified Finnish wood, with surface veneer options of oak and walnut. The rest of the headphones use anodized aluminum, which aims to improve both durability and the feel of the finish.

On the technical side, the KAIKU WAVE uses 40 mm drivers, 32 ohm impedance and, according to the manufacturer, a frequency response of 20–20,000 Hz. Bluetooth codec support covers SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive. The battery capacity is stated to be 1000 mAh and the operating time is up to 100 hours at 60 percent volume.

Noise cancellation is a key new feature of the WAVE model. According to the manufacturer's presentation page, the maximum active noise cancellation is approximately -36 decibels. The headphones also have multiple microphones for calls and remote meetings.

KAIKU WAVE was introduced to the public at Habitare in September 2025, when the event was held simultaneously with Hifi Messe. In its trade fair report, Kuulokenurkka noted that the Wave looks sleeker than the previous Tone model and brings noise cancellation to the Kaiku range. At the time of writing, no actual independent extensive tests of the WAVE model were found, so practical listening and measurement observations are still needed on the sound quality and actual noise cancellation performance.

The price of KAIKU WAVE in the manufacturer's online store is 449 euros. This places the headset in the same price range as well-known international premium noise-cancelling headphones, but Kaiku's perspective is different: the product is centered around Finnish design, handcrafted wooden construction, and the small manufacturer's own acoustic tuning.

Technical specifications according to the manufacturer: 40 mm drivers, 32 ohm impedance, 110 dB SPL/mW sensitivity, 20–20,000 Hz frequency response, 1000 mAh battery, up to 100 hours of battery life, approximately 12 meters Bluetooth range, and SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive codecs. Bluetooth version is 5.3

Price: 449 euros
More information: Kaiku Acoustics