Heavys H1H Review: Is the "Metal Headphone" Worth $299?

Quick Take

This Heavys H1H comes down to one question: do you want headphones that do one thing very loudly? The H1H is a wireless, noise-cancelling over-ear built specifically for heavy music, with four drivers per ear, a sub-bass shelf that makes riffs feel physical, and a 50-hour battery. But it's also on the bulkier side and softer in the midrange, so it's a pick for a specific type of listener.

• Most of what you play is metal, and you want the low end to hit hard
• You want long battery life and a wired fallback
• The band shells and metal-themed extras are part of the appeal

Skip it if…

• You want something lightweight to wear around your neck
• You don't listen to music with lots of bass or enjoy bass emphasis

The Brand: Who Are Heavys?

Heavys is a German headphone company with one clear pitch: audio gear designed from the ground up for heavy music. The company launched the idea through Kickstarter in early 2022, and its sound tuning credited to Axel Grell, the former Sennheiser engineer best known for the HD 800 and HD 600. Grell now runs his own brand, but his name gives Heavys far more audio credibility than a typical crowdfunded startup.

The H1H reached general retail in mid-2024, and in September 2025 Heavys added the H1E true wireless earbuds. The brand leans hard into metal: licensed shells from bands like Type O Negative, Cannibal Corpse, Emperor, Lacuna Coil, BABYMETAL, and many more, plus a noise-cancelling mode called "Hellblocker," and growled voice prompts.

What Is the Heavys H1H?

The H1H is a closed-back, wireless, active noise-cancelling over-ear headphone. Its list price is $299, and Heavys had it on sale for $269 in its own store when we checked on October 30, 2026.

What separates it from the Sony and Sennheiser crowd is the driver layout. Instead of one full-range driver per side, each earcup holds four drivers: two woofers and two front-mounted tweeters. The idea is that each driver covers its own frequency band, so the bass that powers a breakdown doesn't have to share a diaphragm with the cymbals sitting on top of it. The tweeters sit toward the front of the cup, angled at the ear the way a pair of speakers would be, which is said to create a more natural, out-of-head presentation.

Feature-wise, you get Bluetooth 5.1 with multipoint, SBC/AAC/aptX Adaptive, five microphones, USB-C wired digital audio, a 2.5 mm analog input, a physical ANC switch, and a ridged metal volume knob that also handles play/pause.

What's in the Box

• Heavys H1H headphones with Heavys Original shells
• USB-C cable (charging, listening, and firmware updates)
• 2.5 mm-to-3.5 mm aux cable, about 4.3 ft long
• Hard protective travel case

It's a solid bundle. The case is a proper hard shell, and it's good to see the analog cable included. You don't get an airplane adapter or a 1/4-inch adapter, so if you plan to plug into an amp or audio interface, plan on having one already.

Heavys was also kind enough to send us a swappable Scorpions faceplate for the H1H which gives another layer of customization.

Build Quality & Design

The H1H is built like stage gear. The earcups are thick matte plastic, the headband uses spring steel, and the pads and headband cushion are pleather. The volume knob is metal, with a ridged edge that's easy to find by feel. These feel quite well made.

At about 14.4–14.5 oz and roughly 8.5 × 3.5 × 8 inches, the H1H is one of the heftier wireless headphones that we've tried. It folds for travel, but the earcups don't swivel flat, so wearing it around your neck between listening sessions is awkward.

The faceplates clip off and swap out. If you scuff a shell, you replace a cheap part instead of the whole headphone, and band shells start at a low price on the Heavys store.

Sound Quality

Overall Sound

The Heavys H1H has a bass-forward, mildly V-shaped signature with a strong sub-bass shelf, mids that sit a step back, and treble that's relaxed at the very top but can bite in the lower treble. It isn't tuned to the Harman target (the research-based "neutral but pleasing" curve most headphones are measured against). It's tuned for the bottom octaves of a heavy mix and for listening at volume.

Bass

This is the reason to buy the H1H. The low end is deep and rumbling, with more emphasis on sub-bass than on mid-bass. Kick drums stay punchy, and drop-tuned guitars and bass guitar get real weight underneath them.

Mids

The midrange can sometimes feel thin, and can feel overshadowed by bass during some songs. In practice, the 500 Hz–2 kHz range, where rhythm guitar body and the core of a vocal live, sits behind the bass. Vocals stay intelligible, but a thrash rhythm section with a lot of midrange crunch won't sound as forward as it would on a flatter headphone. Fortunately the heavys app offers an easy solution with a built in EQ. I turned up the mids slightly and found lead guitar and vocals to feel a little more prominent.

Treble

Treble is generally laid-back at the very top, with some roll-off in the highest octave, so the H1H doesn't sound especially airy. The lower treble is a different story: it can turn hot as you turn up, which brings out detail in guitar pick attack and cymbal strikes but can tip into sharpness on bright masters.

Timbre, Soundstage & Imaging

Timbre is natural enough for distorted guitars and drums, though the mids can sometimes take some body off acoustic instruments and clean vocals. Soundstage feels about right and Id say is around average for a closed back in this price range. The front-mounted tweeters to contribute to a feeling of width that adds to the sounstage quality. Imaging, meaning how precisely you can place each instrument, is good. For music you can easily place all instruments but positional cues in games and films won't translate as cleanly as on dedicated gaming headsets.

How It Handles Metal

This is the H1H's home turf. The sub-bass shelf gives slow, detuned riffs a physical weight that lighter, flatter headphones miss. From down-tempo chugs to slamming breakdowns, there is a viscerality to the heaviness that the H1H handles excellently. Kick drums feel punchy and racing thrash beats are conveyed clearly.

Connectivity, Battery & Wired Modes

• Bluetooth: 5.1 with multipoint, so you can stay paired to a phone and laptop at once. During all listening, I had a stable connection with no dropouts. Codec support includes SBC, AAC, and aptX Adaptive. Android users with aptX Adaptive phones get the best wireless quality. iPhone users are capped at AAC.
• USB-C audio: The H1H works as a wired digital headphone over USB-C, with its own internal DAC doing the conversion. That's the best way to listen on a laptop and keeps the full tuning intact.
• Analog: The 2.5 mm input lets you keep listening when the battery dies. It uses an uncommon jack size, so keep the included cable with the headphones.
• Battery: Rated at 50 hours with ANC off and 40 hours with ANC on, which rI found to be accurate. A full charge takes about 5 hours, and you can listen while it charges.
• Microphones and calls: Five mics handle calls over Bluetooth. Call quality is fine in quiet rooms but muffled in noisy places. They aren't a podcast or streaming mic.
• App: The Heavys app now provides EQ and firmware updates.

Comfort, Fit & Isolation

The pads are plush, and the earcups are roomy enough for most ears to fit fully inside. I found the H1H comfortable although they are certainly on the heavier side of bluetooth headphones. The clamp is firm, and that's both good and bad: it keeps the weight stable and helps the seal, but could cause slight fatigure after a few hours. Neither of these is unusual for a heavy closed-back, but they're worth knowing about if are more sensitive.

Isolation is a strength. The thick cups and firm seal block a lot of noise passively before ANC does anything. Hellblocker ANC itself is moderate. I found it effective on busy roads and in everyday commuting, but it doesn't match Sony or Bose flagships on plane engine drone. Though, I think the ANC is a good amount for daily use, and sometimes the lighter touch can help since it avoids the "pressure" feeling strong ANC can cause. The physical ANC switch is easier than menu-diving. A transparency mode is also available.

Comparisons

Heavys H1H vs. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

The Momentum 4 has a $349.95 list price but is frequently discounted to the low $200s, often putting it below the H1H's street price. It has stronger ANC, a far better app with a detailed EQ, a rated 60-hour battery, and is much lighter. Its sound is warm and bass-rich but more balanced through the mids, so vocals and guitar midrange come through more clearly. The H1H hits harder below 60 Hz, has a sturdier, more rugged feel, a wired USB-C mode, and swappable shells. Pick the Momentum 4 if you want one headphone for every genre and commute. Pick the H1H if heavy music is 80% of your listening and you want the low end to dominate.

Heavys H1H vs. Sony ULT Wear (WH-ULT900N)

Sony's ULT Wear has a $199 list price and is the other mainstream "big bass" ANC headphone. It has a dedicated bass-boost button, LDAC support, stronger ANC, and a lighter build, but its bass leans more toward mid-bass thump than the H1H's deep sub-bass, and its 30-hour battery is well short of 50 hours. The H1H has the more refined low end for metal and better separation in dense mixes. Pick the ULT Wear if you want bass on a budget and lighter weight. Pick the H1H if you want the bass to stay clean under blast beats.

FAQ

Is the Heavys H1H worth it?

For metal fans, yes, especially on sale. Its deep sub-bass, 50-hour battery, and wired USB-C mode are strong for the price. If you listen to a wide mix of genres or want class-leading ANC, a Sennheiser or Sony might be a better choice for you.

Who designed the Heavys headphones?

Heavys is based in Germany, and the H1H's sound tuning is credited to Axel Grell, the former Sennheiser engineer best known for the HD 800. He's an advisor/engineer for Heavys.

Do Heavys H1H headphones have an app?

Yes. The Heavys app is now available on iOS and Android and offers EQ and firmware updates. It wasn't available when the H1H first shipped.

Can you use the Heavys H1H wired?

Yes, two ways. USB-C works as a digital audio connection to phones and computers, and the included 2.5 mm-to-3.5 mm cable lets you listen even when the battery is dead.

Are Heavys headphones good for anything besides metal?

They're good for rock, hip-hop, and electronic music, which all benefit from the bass emphasis. Vocal-led, acoustic, and classical recordings aren't its strongpoint due to laid back mids.

Final Verdict

The Heavys H1H is a specialist and doesn't pretend otherwise. If you love bass-heavy music and metal, the four-driver design delivers a deep, physical low end that keeps busy mixes separated, and the 50-hour battery, USB-C audio, and analog fallback make it practical to live with. The main drawback is that it is a heavier headphone and has a soft midrange. Fortunately one of those can be solved with the built in EQ in the Heavys app. At $299, it's a good buy for metal listeners. At the $269 sale price, it's an easy choice.

Technical Specifications

• Type: Closed-back, over-ear, wireless with active noise cancellation
• Drivers: 8 total (4 per ear: 2 woofers + 2 front-facing tweeters); 38 mm woofer size reported by Headphonesty, not listed by Heavys
• Frequency response: 5 Hz–46 kHz wired / 5 Hz–24 kHz Bluetooth (reported; not on Heavys' product page)
• Impedance / Sensitivity: Not published
• Bluetooth: 5.1, multipoint
• Codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive (LHDC reported by one source, unconfirmed)
• Wired: USB-C digital audio; 2.5 mm analog input (2.5 mm-to-3.5 mm cable included)
• Battery: Up to 50 hours (ANC off) / 40 hours (ANC on); about 5-hour charge time
• Microphones: 5 (calls over Bluetooth)
• ANC: Hellblocker active noise cancellation with physical switch; transparency mode
• Weight: About 14.4–14.5 oz (407–410 g)
• Dimensions: About 8.5 × 3.5 × 8 in
• Water resistance: No IP rating
• Price: $299 MSRP ($269 sale on heavys.com as of October 30, 2026)
• Warranty: 1 year

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