Heavys H1H Headphones

I’ve been reviewing audio for a long time. I’ve done everything from headphones for gaming, general use, travel, up to soundbars and full surround systems. Everything I’ve reviewed always has some generic name, such as the Sony XM5 or the Bose QuietComfort QC35. However, I don’t know if there is a better named or more appropriately named product for a pair of headphones that deliver on bass than Heavys, specifically the H1H headphones. As a fan of heavy metal and wanting to feel music, I had to review these.

Bust out your best hair band and heavy metal songs for the H1Hs

The Heavys H1H headphones are designed to give you that feeling of being in front of your favorite musical performance without spending hundreds of dollars for tickets and possibly needing a bottle of aspirin the following day because you realize you’re too old for mosh pits. It’s a straightforward idea with a specific demographic in mind. We’ll get into this in a bit.

For now? You know what’s next: Specs.

Now that we’re spec’d out, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: These headphones live up to their name in many ways, including the weight. The H1Hs check in at a whopping 410 grams. Comparing this to my Sony XM5s, which check in at 250 grams, it’s a stark contrast. There is a reason for this, and while I don’t think the weight itself is a negative, it might turn some casual listeners off. Ultimately, the weight of the headphones is because of the closed-back design with a reinforced structure. The pads feel good, albeit a little tight if you don’t adjust them perfectly, and create a great seal to ensure you’re not being bothered when listening to your music or playing a game to shut out the rest of the world.

The last few years, I’ve found myself gravitating toward open-ear headphones when I’m gaming. My setup in my home utilizes an M-Audio AIR 192 mixer and Beyer Dynamic DT990 Pro headphones. I was able to use the H1Hs for my home setup thanks to Heavys sending me the AUX cable that you can pick up for an additional $49 on their site. That being said, it’s not required as the Bluetooth capability on it is excellent. I had no issue connecting to any of my devices to go through my testing.

That’s enough specs. How do they sound and feel?

In a word? Fantastic. 

I’m not sure I fully agree with the marketing pitch of these that it recreates a live-experience, but what it does do is give me music with the feeling that the sound is coming at me from every angle. This is nothing new with headphones nowadays, but where the H1Hs shine is the glorious bass. These headphones kick like a mule in the best way, which is perfect for my taste of music. These might be targeted toward metal fans, but I feel that bass with my hip hop choices as well.

I was honestly blown away early on in my usage with just how rich the sound was. When a new brand pops up, I go into my testing with a clear head but there’s always a grain of salt with marketing pitches. That being said, I implore you to find a good EQ to maximize the sound quality out of the H1H. I would also suggest heading over to Reddit and popping into the oratory1990 sub to get some advice on how to fine-tune not just the H1H, but any headphones.

It shouldn’t come as a shock when I say that plugged into my mixer, I got the maximum sound quality out of these. Anything hardwired is going to trump wireless connections, but when playing a game with a killer OST such as Final Fantasy 7 Remake, I will sing these headphones’ praises loud and clear. That first riff hits HARD, and the numerous bass kicks heightens the battle experience. Just remember that you’re using closed-back headphones so any yelling is gonna be drowned out and people in your home are going to wonder if you’re okay if you yell too loud.

Regarding comfort, I feel that the H1Hs are pretty good overall. Admittedly, they are not as comfortable as my DT 990s or my XM4s. I didn’t get a chance to do any long-distance traveling with them so I can’t tell you how well they did in an airplane, but with a Active Noise Canceling system that is appropriately called Hellblocker, I can’t imagine they suck at 36,000 feet. Honestly, I got plenty of use out of these both in home and my office and they block out all the sound I needed. I especially loved using them with my ASUS ROG Ally, which has speakers that are more or less useless if you’re anywhere other than a quiet room. God bless that bass kick when I’m playing my games with those OSTs I talked about before. These are a godsend to truly enjoy gaming because while I love my XM4s, I’m only getting crisp mids out of those and some okay highs. I’ll take the bass kick, thank you very much.

My only real concern is the headband. There’s a very noticeable hotspot on the crown of my head and after a couple of hours, I needed to remove them for a few minutes. There’s good padding up there, but I think it needs a little more or the arch needs just a slight tweak. It’s a minor gripe but definitely something to look at for future models by the upstart audio company.

Unlike competitors, Heavys wants you to show off your headphones

I’m not going to take the bait and call this a gimmick because I think it’s a great option that Heavys offers. The company has specialized designs for the ear cups of various bands. Going to their website (heavys.com) you’ll find designs from bands such as Type O Negative, Sepultura, Dropkick Murphys, and Shadow of Intent. The designs are slick and cost an extra $39 each, which isn’t that much to pay given how slick some of the designs are. Admittedly, I was hoping for some of my favorite bands to sign on here such as Linkin Park or Metallica, but I’m sure those licenses are a lot harder to come by. If the brand grows, who knows what new designs we’ll see in the future. Every company has to start somewhere, and I might just grab those Type O Negative plates on my own.

Is there truly anything negative? These sound pretty good.

I think if I have to give one thing that’s negative, it’s the controls on the headphones. In a world where touch controls are my everything (shoutout to my XM4s for still being great on the road), the H1Hs fall flat here, but there’s a reason for it.

Because of the custom plates that I talked about above, it doesn’t appear that there’s a good way to incorporate touch controls on those plates themselves. It makes sense and the company appears to be trading off the controls for the artwork and customization that’s offered. Unfortunately, that means some fairly clunky switches and an old school volume knob that has to be twisted. It’s annoying, and while I understand the reasoning, this is a red mark in the column for ease of control. If there’s a way to figure out how to still have those custom shells and do touch controls, future headphones may be up there with the largest brands. That’s for down the road though, and technology is always evolving.

Real talk: Are they worth the price tag?

The Heavys H1Hs currently retail for $299, though there’s a 12% off coupon that’s available on their site as of time of publishing. This is a very normal price point for upper-tier headphones. The answer to the question of are they worth the price tag depends on a couple of factors. If you’re wanting these for just travel and nothing else, they may not be right for you. If travel is just a part of your reason and you want these for everyday listening, gaming, etc? Yes, they’re worth that price tag, especially since it boasts 50 hours of battery life, which is a longer battery life than my XM4s have.

Let’s wrap it up, and we’ll talk about who will love these the most.

Look, there’s a lot to unpack here with these headphones. Mobile gaming continues to evolve, and with people wanting top-notch audio for their Steam Decks and Ally handhelds, these might cure what ails you in that department. It’s not just for mobile gaming though! These really performed well on bluetooth and direct connection to my PC with FLAC audio. If you can get past the clunky controls and the heavy feel of the headset, there’s so much to like here and at a price point that’s under $300. Overall, for their first product on the market? It’s a home run to me.

Editor's note: For a limited time, get $50 off Heavys with discount code NEXUS.