I used to be skeptical when Heavys headphones (not a typo, there’s an ‘s’ on there) began making the rounds on social media. As a lifelong metallic fan, there’s nothing on this world I get pleasure from greater than guttural vocals, down tuned guitars, bone-crushing bass and precision percussion carried out at 300 BPM. Could an audio firm have the key sauce to precisely translate the reside expertise of maximum metallic exhibits to headphones?
Enter the Heavys H1H headphones, which have been accessible for round three years now however stay largely unrivalled on this explicit area. You’ll probably know the title when you’ve spent any period of time scrolling by way of social media whereas blasting all method of maximum and loud music out of your smartphone.
The firm has had intelligent collaborations (by way of changeable ear cup plates, known as Shells) with all-star bands resembling Cannibal Corpse, Opeth, Carnifex, Paradise Lost, Blood Incantation, Lamb of God, Trivium, Dark Funeral, Katatonia, and Morbid Angel, however do the cans do the bands justice? That’s what I’ve spent the previous couple of months (and a whole lot of listening hours) making an attempt to determine.
Dialling as much as 11
Before I focus on the audio efficiency of the Heavys H1H, it is important to look at the technical specs of those headphones and the way they examine to among the best headphones in the marketplace. It begins with the imaginative and prescient of 1 man, Axel Grell (Heavy’s co-founder and CTO), who was beforehand Sennheiser’s Chief Headphone Engineer for almost 30 years – and after that, tuned the excellent (if way more demure) Montblanc MTB 03 earbuds and the wonderful Grell Audio TWS/1.
So, the person is aware of a factor or two about growing headphones. And that is mirrored within the construct high quality of the Heavys H1H, in addition to of their technical make-up. There are a complete of eight audio drivers (4 on either side), with every earpiece that includes two low- to midrange 38mm audio system and two high-frequency tweeters. The frequency vary is comparatively broad, going from 5 Hz to 46 okayHz, for a Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) degree of 100 dB. Compare this to the Sony WH-1000XM6, a number one mannequin with a frequency vary of 20Hz to 20okayHz, and although human ears can solely hear frequencies of 20Hz to 20okayHz, there’s a notable disparity in audio high quality that may be precisely reproduced between the 2.
A wider frequency response from audio drivers (usually) ensures larger crispness and readability by way of the main edges of notes, lowered distortion, and higher general sound high quality, all of which is especially essential for excessive sub-genres of metallic music. With correct audio mixing, you’ll (theoretically) have the ability to hear the assault of the symbols and double-kicks breaking by way of the combo in opposition to the bass licks within the low-end and to listen to them precisely layered beneath the contrasting larger frequency instrumentation (resembling lead and rhythm guitars) with out something being misplaced or coming throughout muddy.
It’s not particularly frequent for headphones (moderately than IEMs) to have separate tweeters alongside conventional audio drivers constructed onto every ear cup, and that is the place the Heavys H1H stand out. It’s exceptional from a design perspective, because the tweeters themselves are positioned on the perimeters of the cups (as an alternative of being concentrically applied with the 38mm drivers), which (ought to) assist to raise the upper sounds within the combine. In essence, the {hardware}’s all right here for trebles, mids, and bass to combine delicately – if properly built-in.
I demand you within the title of the horns
I did not want a lot of an excuse to throw a spread of various excessive metallic tracks on the Heavys H1H for a primary impression, so I began off with some Swedish loss of life metallic to see what they may do. Playing Bloodbath’s So You Die and Eaten demonstrated what’s so good about having each tweeters and compression drivers for every ear, because the guitar work and bass enjoying of Anders Nyström and Jonas Renkse got here by way of splendidly within the low finish and midrange respectively. As for the vocal performances, each Mikael Åkerfeldt’s and Peter Tägtgren’s growls had been delivered with brutal constancy, by no means coming by way of washed out within the background.
Not too shocking given the upper manufacturing values of Swedish loss of life metallic of that period, however what about music that is produced extra… liberally? That’s the place we get into the icy realms of black metallic, which is (normally) made to be as abrasive and “raw” as attainable. With that stated, spinning the likes of On Horns Impaled by Watain, Leviathan’s Liar of Nazareth, and Darkthrone’s Quintessence was illuminating. Chiefly for the truth that the Heavys H1H’s EQ wasn’t compacting the “wall of sound” out fully by default, because the reverb-soaked drums, larger vocals, and razor-thin guitars had been extremely sharp.
You can hearken to most metallic music simply superb out of your on a regular basis pair of Apple AirPods or one thing extra wallet-friendly, just like the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 headphones, nevertheless it takes a particular pair of cans to have the ability to elevate metallic’s fringe sounds so properly. Fundamentally, it’s going to rely on the sorts of metallic that you just get pleasure from listening to; that’ll dictate whether or not you even want a pair of headphones with this degree of tech concerned, that may get as loud as this with out dropping readability. Your on a regular basis squeaky clear radio rock or ultra-polished heavy metallic album will not profit as a lot, however that is additionally not whom the corporate is essentially concentrating on both.
The weight of the world on you
If there’s one factor that is true of the Heavys H1H, it’s that they are named aptly. At a weighty 410g, these are simply the heaviest headphones I’ve ever worn, however they’re remarkably snug, keep in place properly when head-banging alongside (sure, I examined it), and are extremely well-made. For $270 / £245, they do punch above their weight by way of construct and audio high quality, even in comparison with among the flagship headphones and headsets I’ve used previously, which was an actual shock.
As somebody who works out and walks typically, I’ve discovered that the Heavys H1H headphones genuinely really feel as if they disappear over time. Whether I’m trekking round rural Ireland on foot or exercising, they stayed in place on my head with out pinching my ears, hurting my neck, or letting their presence be recognized, and that is preferrred if you hearken to as a lot heavy metallic music as I do in a single day. It’s one thing to get used to, nevertheless it made a sizeable distinction after I returned to my earlier each day driver headphones, the Sony WH-CH720N, for comparability’s sake.
Despite the branding and the gruff metallic vocalist screaming in your ear if you do something, resembling join through Bluetooth or obtain the utmost quantity, there is a degree of subtlety and classiness to the H1H headphones. Decked out in black-on-black, with intuitive controls on the rear of the 2 cups, these are cans that you might put on wherever with out attracting undue consideration, as when you had been out for a stroll in one of many best wireless headphones. Understated is at all times higher in circumstances like this, however you possibly can add a contact of aptitude through the Shells to higher characterize your favourite band when you select; I’m hoping they will collaborate with Imperial Triumphant, Insomnium, In Flames, Scar Symmetry, and Behemoth within the close to future, personally.
Punish My Heaven
I’ve been listening to excessive metallic for over 15 years and have seen many a whole lot (probably hundreds) of bands reside in that interval at gigs and festivals… with out ear safety. Yes, I used to be younger and naive sufficient to suppose that if I acquired within the mosh pits near the entrance of the levels at Bloodstock, Incineration, and Damnation Festival, my listening to would by no means endure. But that hasn’t been the case. I’ve had extra ear canal cleanings than I care to recollect, and I’ve turn into expert at watching folks’s mouths once they converse to me; in any other case, navigating some conditions could be difficult.
Entirely self-inflicted, certain, however nonetheless an ongoing downside in my life. Usually, I’ve to have headphones at most quantity simply to make the whole lot out; nonetheless, due to the readability of the eight complete drivers and the high-frequency vary of the Heavys H1H, that is not the case. I can hear at a secure quantity for prolonged intervals with out worrying that I’m additional damaging my already compromised listening to, which is one thing I significantly respect.
The firm claims that the Heavys H1H are the “world’s first headphones to mimic live sound environments”, and I imagine it. The vibrancy and heat afforded by the drivers and tweeters do a wonderful job of constructing me really feel like I’m within the crowd. Just do not be like me: put on ample ear safety when you play metallic music or go to exhibits, as a result of it could possibly (and can) occur to you, too.
All stated and accomplished, the Heavys H1H have genuinely improved how I hearken to the music that will get me by way of my day-to-day life; they sound balanced whereas appropriately balancing the low finish with out muddiness or distortion and letting the upper ranges precisely sing in a approach that I’ve not gotten from another headphones previously. Similarly, I need not crank them to the utmost to do myself additional hurt to get pleasure from them, and so they’re well-built sufficient to (hopefully) final a very long time. They will not be for everybody, however then they’re additionally not making an attempt to be.
Whether you wish to throw on some Slayer, sit back with a little bit of Mgła, or go all-out with some Devourment, Vomitory, or Suffocation, the Heavys H1H are greater than as much as the duty to go loud. For everybody else, they might be a little bit overkill.