Heavys H1H headphones review: Specs, features, price

The Heavys H1H is a $274 over-ear headphone built specifically for rock and metal listeners, with an eight-driver design intended to recreate the feel of a live show. It is an unusual product in a crowded market, and it makes its case on a very specific promise.

Most headphones are designed to be broadly neutral, or to flatter whatever genre the buyer happens to favor. The Heavys H1H takes a different approach entirely.

It is built around the idea that rock and metal have specific sonic characteristics that standard headphone tuning does not serve well. The multi-driver configuration is designed to address that directly, spreading frequency reproduction across eight drivers per side rather than relying on a single unit.

The headphones were engineered by Axel Grell, formerly of Sennheiser, where he led development of the HD 800 and HD 600 series. So, it’s got good bona fides.

I’ve replaced my AirPods Max with them for six weeks.

Heavys H1H review: Specifications

Heavys H1H review: Design and build

The H1H is a full-size over-ear headphone. At 14.5 oz, it is on the heavier side versus most headphones, but not the AirPods Max.

The headband and ear cups have a fairly conventional layout from the outside. The interchangeable outer shells are the most visually distinctive element, letting buyers swap in licensed artist designs from bands including Motorhead, Lamb of God, and Slayer, among others.

The ear cup shells are replaceable without tools and a wide range of official artist designs are available from Heavys separately. It is a smart system for a brand built around fan identity.

Heavys H1H review: Folded down

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The headphones fold for travel and come bundled with a protective hard case in this configuration. USB-C handles both charging and digital audio input, and a 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable is included for wired passive use.

The balance is good on the headset. They are heavier than most as I’ve already said, but not so much that it’s a problem. The headset exaands to fit most heads, and I am fully aware that I have a big dome, so that was nice.

Build quality is excellent. This is not a headset shipped by a brand with too many adjacent consonants next to their name.

Heavys H1H review: The eight-driver system

The core technical claim of the H1H is its eight-driver configuration. Each side contains four drivers: two handling low and mid frequencies, and two high-frequency tweeters.

Most consumer headphones use a single dynamic driver per side. The multi-driver approach is more common in in-ear monitors used by musicians on stage, where separating frequencies across dedicated drivers can improve clarity and reduce distortion at high volumes.

Heavys H1H review: Extra directional speakers in the earcup.

Heavys claims the placement of the drivers is patented and specifically optimized for the way rock and metal are mixed, with an emphasis on guitar presence, drum impact, and the wide dynamic range those genres use.

The frequency range extends from 5 Hz to 46 kHz in wired mode, which is wider than most headphones at either end. Bluetooth operation narrows the upper limit to 24 kHz, which is still beyond the range of human hearing.

Let’s be clear, here. I am in the middle of the target market. I grew up on a steady diet of what is now called yacht rock, spent some time DJing at a rock station before my Navy stint when hair metal was popular, and just continued to listen.

These are the anti-Beats. They know what market they want, and shoot right at it.

And that Heavys claim about guitar and drums? Absolutely true.

Heavys H1H review: Noise cancellation and modes

The H1H uses what Heavys calls HellBlocker ANC, which it describes as a combination of passive noise cancellation and a mild active noise cancellation layer.

Passive noise cancellation (PNC) refers to the physical blocking of sound by the ear cup seal, while active noise cancellation (ANC) uses microphones and processing to cancel out remaining ambient noise electronically.

Heavys H1H review: Multiple physical switches and dials are in play here.

The result is four operating modes: wired passive, Bluetooth passive, Bluetooth with ANC active, and Bluetooth with transparency mode on. Transparency mode uses the microphones to let outside sound in, which is useful for conversations or navigating in public.

The five-microphone setup handles calls via a two-mic end-fire array. End-fire configuration means the mics face outward in the direction of the mouth for better voice pickup and background noise rejection.

AirPods used to be better across the board at noise reduction. It’s not terrible, but it’s not as good as it was.

The Heavys H1H is just about as good as the AirPods Max is at sound reduction. I tested the feature in a moving car, in a noisy crowd before a concert, in a plane, and on a train.

The AirPods Max and Heavys H1H were about the same. The Heavys H1H seemed to be a bit better in the car, and the AirPods Max on the train and plane, but the differences are minute.

Heavys H1H review: Connectivity and app

Bluetooth 5.1 handles wireless connection, with support for SBC, AAC, and aptX Adaptive codecs. AAC is the relevant codec for iPhone users, as it is Apple’s preferred Bluetooth audio format and is used by AirPods and most Apple devices.

AptX Adaptive is a higher-quality codec for Android and compatible devices, offering lower latency and better dynamic bitrate management. iPhone users will be limited to AAC, which is still a good-quality option.

Heavys H1H review: The case for the headphones

The companion app provides EQ customization and firmware updates. EQ access is a meaningful addition here, since the multi-driver tuning may benefit from adjustment depending on personal preference or the genre being played.

Having a built-in EQ in an app is nice. It’s so nice, in fact, that Apple is getting to it in iOS 27.

This is an incredibly personal experience. The app works pretty well, and it’s obvious to tell that there’s tuning going on in real-time as you move the sliders.

Heavys H1H review: Battery

Heavys claims up to 50 hours of battery life. That is a strong figure, comfortably above the 30-hour range that most competitors in this price bracket offer.

In my experience, I saw between 41 and 52 hours of battery life. There does not appear to be any noticeable idle drain.

Heavys H1H review: HomePod mini for scale.

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This may be helped by an obvious on and off switch, that the AirPods Max do not have. You know when it’s off, and you have to guess with AirPods Max, for the most part.

I still don’t like that carrying case for the AirPods Max.

Heavys H1H review: A headphone with a very clear point of view

The H1H does not try to be for everyone. It is designed for a specific listener with a specific taste, and it is confident in that positioning.

The eight-driver system, Axel Grell’s involvement, and the genre-specific tuning are all genuine differentiators. There is no comparable product from the major headphone brands aimed this specifically at rock and metal fans.

Heavys H1H review: You can buy covers with your favorite band on them for the earcups.

At $274, it sits in a competitive price range. Sony’s WH-1000XM5 and Apple’s AirPods Max are both options a buyer in this bracket might also consider. Neither of those is tuned for this audience, and neither offers the customization ecosystem that the shell system provides.

For Apple users, the AAC codec support and USB-C connection mean it will work well with iPhone and Mac. It is not an Apple product, but it fits into the Apple ecosystem without friction.

The multi-driver system delivers on the company’s promises, and the ANC is strong enough to hold up against the competition at this price.

What’s not to like?

Heavys H1H Pros

• Eight-driver system designed for rock and metal
• 50-hour claimed battery life
• Interchangeable artist shells

Heavys H1H Cons

• Heavier than most wireless competitors
• iPhone users limited to AAC codec
• Genre focus may not suit all listeners, but that’s the case with Beats too

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Where to buy the Heavys H1H

The Heavys H1H are available from Heavys directly, with a 10% discount at press time bringing the price down to $269.