I wish to suppose I am proof against focused promoting, or on the very least resistant. However sooner or later all of us fall sufferer to the algorithm, and so the whirring cogs behind my Google Uncover feed accurately recognized that not solely am I obsessive about audio, but additionally a long-haired human being with a style for heavy steel music (amongst many different genres, in fact).
And thus, I used to be proven an advert for the Heavy H1H wi-fi headphones, considerably aggressively marketed because the “world’s first headphones constructed for steel followers mimicking the dwell music expertise.” Initially I scoffed on the idea, however on nearer inspection I’ve come to understand there’s truly some actually fascinating headphone design happening right here.
For a begin, they have been designed by Axel Grell, chief engineer at Sennheiser. That is a person who has discovered a factor or two about audio in his 30 years within the trade. Greater than that although, these headphones make use of eight particular person drivers, function “Hell Blocker” energetic noise cancellation (you might begin rolling your eyes right here), Bluetooth 5.1, 5 beamforming microphones, and a 50 hour battery life—all for $269/£245. Dear then, however not too dangerous for audiophile-specced premium noise cancellers.
Ah, go on then. I needed to fulfill my curiosity, on the very least. My evaluation models got here in an all-black field that appears extra suited to high-end aftershave than a set of cans, with h-e-a-v-y-s printed in a stark white font. All the pieces apart from the brand is black, black as my coronary heart, and that features the headphones themselves. These are substantial models, though they’re able to folding up right into a extra compact measurement to squeeze themselves into an included hard-shell carry case.
Heavys H1H specs
Type: Over-ear, closed-back
Drivers: Eight whole, 4x 38 mm dynamic drivers, 4x high-frequency tweeters
Frequency response: 5 Hz to 46,000 Hz (wired), 5 Hz to 24,000 Hz (Bluetooth)
Microphone: 5 mic array
Battery life: As much as 50 hours
Connection: Bluetooth 5.1, 2.5 mm to three.5 mm wired connection (with included cable)
Weight: 410 g
Worth: $269/£245
They’re additionally fairly weighty, though 80 g lighter than our favorite audiophile wi-fi headset, the Audeze Maxwell. I am not averse to a chonky set of telephones, nevertheless, and these are super-comfy, at the very least. That is because of some plush leatherette cushions and a squidgey-soft inner headband lining.
The remainder of the construct is a mixture of robust ABS plastics with a premium-feeling satin end. They actually do appear and feel just like the cat’s pyjamas, though that satin coating is a little bit of a fingerprint magnet—which spoils the look considerably as you pose about together with your new cans.
Talking of posing (and regardless of the stealth black aesthetic), these headphones actually will make you stand out. That clamshell folding mechanism could be very handy for shrinking them down for journey, but it surely signifies that once they’re unfolded and atop your head, the Heavys look huge with a capital “woah”.
You’ll be able to nearly match them inside a raised hoodie when it is raining, however be ready for everybody to note you are carrying some serious-sized earwear.
Management-wise, you have bought a swap for Bluetooth mode and pairing on the left earcup, and a correct miniature quantity dial on the proper, with push-to-click muting and weeny little skip buttons sitting on both aspect. Subsequent to that may be a three-way swap for energy on, off, and noise cancelling.
Sorry, that ought to be on, off, and 🤘Hell Blocker🤘. I forgot the place I used to be for a second.
The excellent news is, this switchgear all feels nice, with correctly chunky actions. The dangerous information is, you’d higher get used to utilizing that energy swap, as there isn’t any auto shut-off right here. Until my evaluation models are damaged in fact, but it surely’s led to quite a lot of cases the place I’ve come residence from work, sat the Heavys down on my desk, and located them nonetheless blinking away the subsequent morning.
I might additionally do with out the over-the-top voice clips accompanying actions like reaching most quantity or activating noise cancellation. It seems like somebody impersonating Devil on his day without work—presumably to match the heavy steel theme—but it surely’s greater than slightly cringe-inducing.
“MAXIMUM VOLUME,” growls the voice artist in his finest Duke Nukem. “Please cease embarrassing me on the prepare,” I hiss in response.
Anyway, let’s speak about that bizarre driver setup. First clues listed here are discovered contained in the earcups—the tweeter models are positioned individually, within the entrance half of the cup, standing proud from the internal cushioning and pointing throughout your ears, in a roundabout way at them. As for the common drivers? Relatively than one fundamental unit per earcup, right here you get two 38 mm models stacked on prime of each other all sides.
This creates a exceptional quantity of definition within the sound. With the tweeters sitting a noticeable distance away from the primary drivers and pointing throughout your ear holes, you get shiny, silky treble and thundering bass on the identical time with little crossover, permitting each to exist prominently within the combine with out descending into mush.
I do know, all very flowery language that, is not it? However as somebody who has used extra high-end headphones than you’ll be able to depend, I used to be very impressed on my preliminary check hear—wherein I went by way of my check playlist of well-mixed, genre-ranging tunes, conserving an ear out for flaws. Normal headphone testing actually, however these glorious drivers carry out with aplomb.
Nevertheless, that is not the first function of those beasts. These are headphones constructed for heavy music, and so it is time to get away the good things. Problem accepted.
Kicking issues off with Mork’s black steel stunner, “På Tvers Av Tidene”, it is easy to listen to that ice-pick definition in motion. What’s actually spectacular is the extent of kick these headphones are able to creating with out lacking out on the small print, so weighty toms are allowed to thump independently from the bassline, whereas chopping guitars grind by way of the sonic soup appropriately.
Turning issues old skool for a second, Metallica’s “Unhappy However True” has all the suitable weight you’d count on from these multi-layered guitars, with Lars’ snare drum snapping distinctly down the center of the combination. Deep Purple’s dwell recording of “Black Night time” from the seminal “Made in Japan” (sure I grew up on my Dad’s file assortment, what of it?) reveals off a formidable quantity of house within the staging and might be the most effective I’ve heard it on any set of telephones beneath $300.
It isn’t simply steel that advantages from this multi-driver setup, both. Hip hop? These fundamental drivers love a kick drum, with some significant sub-bass skull-rattling besides. Bluegrass-influenced folks? There’s delicacy in these tweeters, and that lets banjos and fiddle components shine.
So, musically, these are fairly improbable for a wi-fi set of cans, and have rapidly change into my go-to for high-quality audio on the transfer. However what about gaming?
Effectively, as you might have seen from the spec sheet, these are Bluetooth just for wi-fi. No common RF connection right here, nor a latency-free 2.4 GHz dongle. And whereas it is a comparatively fashionable model of the Bluetooth wi-fi protocol (5.1, which I examined with my very own Bluetooth 5.3 adapter on PC), that also means audio delay.
How a lot this issues to you’ll rely in your tolerance for less-than-perfect latency, and the kind of gaming you take pleasure in. For technique, RPGs, and something extra slower-paced than the imply, I would say it is truly pretty usable by Bluetooth requirements—though the delay is unquestionably there.
Actually although, it is best to deal with these headphones as wi-fi for journey, and wired models for sitting at your desk.
A 2.5 mm to three.5 mm jack cable is included, however at 1.3 metres it is barely too quick. My setup is positioned proper subsequent to me on my desk, so it is nearly appropriate, however an extended cable can be a lot appreciated. The two.5 mm port lives deep inside a recess on the proper earcup, which means that for those who do purchase an extended model, it will have to have a really skinny connector measurement to suit. A regular 3.5 mm jack on the surface can be a a lot better design selection.
A number of beamforming mics are constructed into the unit for Bluetooth, however for a wired connection, you may want the marginally dearer gaming bundle with an included in-line growth mic to make your self heard.
That exact cable did not make it to me in time for evaluation, but it surely’s the place I would be aiming to show the Heavys right into a gaming headset extraordinaire. It is a disgrace it isn’t included on this package deal, however there you go.
What I can say is that, wired, the Heavys do exactly pretty much as good a job at delivering gaming audio as they do music. Explosions have real punch, soundtracks soar, and that multi-driver design reveals its usefulness as soon as once more when turned in direction of the atmospheric.
Ghost Recon Breakpoint has glorious audio design, with chirping wildlife, crunchy snow and claustrophobic forests, and the huge and distinctly spacious soundstage of the Heavys permits all of it to breathe with the proper sense of scope and house.
These cans are proof that, in reality, a very good set of drivers is an important factor for gaming audio, and a fantastic set of headphones will completely ship high quality sound for gaming in the identical method they do music. It is the sound staging that basically issues in gaming headset, and these cans carry out admirably.
Purchase if…
✅ You need correctly punchy, detailed audio: The Heavys H1H headphones are constructed to entertain, and the sound they ship is each enjoyable and fantastically detailed on the identical time.
✅ You do not thoughts plugging in for gaming: Whereas the Bluetooth connection right here is usable, you may actually wish to plug these in to remove any lag.
Do not buy if…
❌ You desire a growth mic as normal: It is obtainable individually (or as a part of a distinct bundle), however the built-in mics will solely work through the Bluetooth connection, and that is the place the latency lies.
❌ You are ready to pay for the Audeze Maxwell: Pretty much as good because the Heavys are, the Maxwell provides you a correct mic and a lag-free wi-fi connection as normal.
All this makes the Heavys one thing of a tough product to weigh up. On the one hand, they’re beautifully well-made, correctly punchy, properly detailed, and a pleasure for wi-fi day-to-day enjoyable. On the opposite, for gaming, you really want to plug them in. And an additional cable on prime of the value for a wired growth mic? A particular misstep.
However fact be advised, I am very fussy about sound, and I have been utilizing them continuous as music machines over the previous few months—with some plugged-in gaming hijinks on the weekend.
They are surely excellent at what they do, and generally you want a bit of package a lot, you may forgive its flaws—just because, for those who’d paid your personal cash, you would be genuinely happy with it.
And that is the case right here. The Heavys H1H headphones do not make for an ideal gaming headset expertise, however they’re very good, multi-talented, and quite beautiful headphones. They have been making me bang my head with approval since I pulled them from the field, and that is value rather a lot for those who ask me.
I would nonetheless pay the additional for the planar magnetic Audeze Maxwell over the Heavys if pushed, primarily for the correct wi-fi connection and included mic. Plus, planar magnetics are all the time going to beat out conventional drivers when carried out correctly, even fantastic-yet-oddball ones like these. However all that being mentioned? The Heavys H1H headphones are nonetheless my form of jam, man.