Heavys H1E evaluation: Born for One Thing

Technology news

Heavys H1E: Two-minute evaluation

Couple of audio brand names have actually made as much sound on social networks as Heavys. In the very best earphones arena, the business made heavy music (noise) waves with its Heavys H1H earphones, a number of years back, and now it has actually tried to equate that noise to the cordless earbuds format.And mostly, the H1E True Wireless Earbuds attain the low-end noise and punchy prominence required for a specialised listening experience within this music category, although unfortunately, it makes them a bad option for listening to any other sort of music.

Bring an MSRP of $209/ ₤ 185/ AU$ 321, the Heavys H1E True Wireless Earbuds are far from the most affordable set of in-ears around, although we have actually seen them marked down to $169 in the United States and down to ₤ 150 in the UK just recently. They’re priced to competing mid-range heavy-hitters such as the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 (and probably even the flagship, extremely popular Apple AirPods Pro 3) instead of the really elite end of the spectrum– believe Technics EAH-AZ100 or Bowers & & Wilkins Pi8.

Newest Videos FromTechRadar

Where those brand names intend to offer a wider, more basic listening experience, the H1Es are more professional; rather of a daily set, these earbuds are more situational. You’re investing around the$ 200/ ₤ 200/ AU$ 300 variety for something that’s purpose-built, for much better or even worse.

In the words of Gojira: Born for something. And listening to heavy metal music does sound strong through the Heavys H1E earbuds for the a lot of part, with the huge bulk of sub-genres within this spectrum properly represented. What’s especially visible is simply how excellent the vibrant motorists can be. The business assures a “concert-like experience,” and even with what are (most likely) 10-14mm chauffeurs (the size hasn’t been openly revealed), under the ideal conditions, this has actually been provided.

I can applaud the Heavy’s H1E earbuds’ construct quality too. A tactile case which can be tailored with shells is cool, however the genuine benefit here is the several silicon and memory foam ear pointers supplied, that make them truly comfy with time. There’s a wealth of sizes readily available, so you can discover the ideal fit.

This assists to raise the H1E’s otherwise extremely middling user experience though: a so-so 7 hours of playback (24 hours from the case), and a few of the most average active noise-cancelling I’ve seen from earbuds at this rate point.

A comparable disappointment can be imposed at the connection alternatives of the Heavys H1E earbuds. Low-latency Bluetooth 5.4 multi-connectivity is fantastic when it works, however it does not constantly work. Numerous times in my months with the earbuds, I was captured in a loop: the earbuds ‘forgot’ my phone, requiring me to re-pair and even to re-connect in between charges as they do not appear to be smart adequate to bear in mind my Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. That’s to state absolutely nothing of times when just one earbud would work, with the other declining to link, which suggested rebooting the entire procedure over once again. To be clear, this is something I’ve never ever experienced with any other earbuds or earphones.

The Heavys H1E True Wireless Earbuds are specific niche and not without problems, however the listening experience eventually assists them stick out from the crowd. If you’re somebody who solely listens to heavy metal music, then they might be of worth. As a metal artist myself, and somebody who has actually seen countless metal bands play live over the last 15 years, I discovered them to be rewarding, even if they will not equal what the very best cordless earbuds and finest earbuds in general can do beyond their specialism. Continue reading my complete Heavys H1E evaluation even more down the page to learn why.

Heavys H1E evaluation: Price & & release date

The Heavys can be found in a compact case. You can tailor the cover with numerous styles based on metal bands. (Image credit: Future)

After being exposed on social networks late in 2015, with pre-orders being satisfied throughout early 2026, you can now get your hands on the Heavys H1E True Wireless Earbuds for$ 209/ ₤ 185/ AU$ 321, depending upon your area. With that stated, it isn’t unusual for these cordless earbuds to be readily available at a decreased rate through the offers the business works on its shop page, knocking anywhere from 10-20% off, depending upon the season. Watch out for the green banner around a peak sales time, and you might conserve some money.

The cost positions the Heavys H1E earbuds versus the mid-range and higher-end competitors. Mainly, that implies more popular customer designs such as the previously mentioned Galaxy Buds4 and the Apple AirPods Pro lineup. It likewise implies an equivalent price to “enthusiast” class earbuds, as can be seen from the Technics AZ100, and the Noble Audio Osprey. Both of these earbuds (and a lot more) hover around the $200/ ₤ 200/ AU$ 300 mark, so it’s a relatively congested area. For the audio efficiency on screen, they’re priced a little high. More on that even more down the page.

Heavys H1E evaluation: Specs[ 19659043]Swipe to scroll horizontally

Heavys H1E evaluation: Design & functions

>

The various sizes of ear pointers are readily available in memory foam and silicon for a comfy suitable for long-lasting usage ( Image credit: Future )

The Heavys H1E True Wireless Earbuds stand out from a style viewpoint. They’re made of a matte formed plastic which feels both premium and extremely resilient; there’s IPX5 water and sweat resistance, suggesting they can manage a splash of liquid. What impresses me most are the multi-sized ear pointers that are delivered in package, as you get a range of sizes in various products: memory foam and silicon, for a comfy fit to fit most (if not all) ear sizes.

I’m somebody who deals with earbuds for long stretches of time, having formerly dropped the similarity the Razer Hammerheads due to the fact that they were too unpleasant for extended periods of usage. Having numerous ear suggestions in different sizes implied I might discover the fit that was best for me; whether I was out strolling my Belgian Malinois, on an airplane, travelling through train, or simply operating in your home. As soon as I discovered the best suitable for me, I was away. Hours would pass, and I ‘d forget I was even using them; that’s great ergonomic style right there.

A crucial style aspect present in the H1H earphones has actually been used to the H1E earbuds too. Rather of interchangeable ear cup shells, embellished to represent your preferred bands, the personalization choices use to the case. There’s a reasonable quantity of main styles offered, consisting of Currents, Testament, Carnifex, Dream Theater, Opeth, and Whitelabel. In addition, there are some initial styles, consisting of profanity-laden alternatives or purple smoke to include a splash of color and character. The case itself charges through USB-C and takes around 2 hours to energize to complete, offering you around 24 hours of overall usage, or around 3 complete recharges of the earbuds’ playback time. It’s okay instead of terrific, as those numbers go.

So-so in the world of cordless earbuds in 2026 is Heavys’ claim of up to 7 hours of playback from the H1E earbuds, although your mileage might differ depending on your dependence on that “Hellblocker” ANC, along with how you call your EQ settings.

I’ve utilized lots of cordless earbuds and earphones that include terrific ANC for many years, and Heavys’ Hellblocker option simply isn’t it. The function was likewise present on the H1H earphones with a devoted switch to allow it, and worked well adequate thanks (likely) to the far bigger chauffeurs and mic selection on the big ear cups. Provided the little size of the H1E earbuds, any genuine sound cancellation is quite bad.

I tend to head out and stroll my pet with the H1Es in, and even after hearing the gruff male on voice triggers reveal “Hellblocker activated”I was still hearing other pets barking, passing automobiles, wind sound, and all other background sound that must have been strained. All it actually did was make the audio quality a little bit more stifled.

A great buddy application can actually raise a set of cordless earphones, offering you clever and reactive EQ alternatives, assisting you get the very best listening experience possible. We’ve seen this before with Bowers & & Wilkins’ outstanding Music App, to support its lineup of earbuds.

The main Heavys app is no place near as great. Aside from upgrading the firmware, all it provides you is a fundamental EQ settings slider, and you’re much better off leaving it at the default, as it’s difficult to tailor it towards one category or another. My partner likewise experienced problems with having the H1Es link to her Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra by means of the app, as it wasn’t as user-intuitive as you would expect from earbuds launched in 2026.

Heavys H1E evaluation: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

The Heavys H1E True Wireless Earbuds benefit metal music the majority of the time. It’s situational and circumstantial. As discussed above, they can sound extraordinary for metal music, with the significant caution being the features of the category itself. Metal is the most varied category of music in the world, separated into lots of sub-genres with specific niches within them. If we look at black metal, you have your timeless very first and 2nd waves (Venom and Celtic Frost to Mayhem and Emperor) to the likes of climatic black, black/death, symphonic black, melodic black, black ‘n roll, blackgaze, and the list goes on.

There’s no real method to be tailored towards all metal music, simply as you can’t tweak an EQ in between bands within the very same sub-genre of a sub-genre. It can get as granular as various audio balancing for the similarity Archgoat, Belphegor, Behexen, and Behemoth, which’s simply scratching the surface area. In blanket terms, the Heavy H1E earbuds stand out with anything requiring the low-end, especially with sub-genres such as death metal, grindcore, deathcore, and anything that benefits most from a down-tuned guitar, five-string bass, and percussion cutting through the mix.

In my months with the Heavys H1Es, I’ve listened to numerous metal records, and the very best listening experiences I can remember most originated from streaming Vomitory, Batushka, Blood Red Throne, Korpse, Vulvodynia, Death, Conan, Kanonenfieber, Mgła, and Imperial Triumphant. The motorists are extremely punchy, distinguishing severe vocals versus bass and lower-tuned guitars, or guitars tuned to E requirement that are taken in distortion; there’s great difference, without any muddiness or fizziness that we see when much heavier music categories are played from more basic earbuds.

Other metal sub-genres do not actually benefit from the low-end tuning of the audio motorists. I’m almost 30, and nowadays simply as most likely to place on some Black Sabbath, Clutch, or Green Lung as anything taped from the frostbitten valleys of Scandinavia, and it’s when listening to clean-sung vocals, or any metal music with more standard production that the H1Es feel simply … alright. Solstafir, Zeal & & Ardor, Katatonia, Candlemass, Sleep, Metallica, Slayer, and Acid Bath sounded fine, however the listening experience had to do with on par with practically any (more affordable) cordless earbuds I’ve utilized over the last 10 years.

I truly would advise listening to music without the Hellblocker ANC active, as allowing it by means of touch controls can dramatically affect the general listening quality. Depending upon the mix, things can go from a little stifled to rather tinny. It’s not a distinct problem versus the H1E earbuds, as ANC can do that, however it’s especially frustrating when the passive sound seclusion does not filter the outdoors world out, and you wind up having worse-sounding music when attempting to repair it. It’s not advanced sufficient to do its task, and it truly simply frustrated me instead of being all too helpful.

Heavys H1E evaluation: Value

I’ve been crucial of the Heavys H1E True Wireless Earbuds in this evaluation. Thinking about the reality that I delight in utilizing the H1H over-ear earphones a lot, I was anticipating more of that sound quality and function set to be rollovered, however it hasn’t equated as efficiently as I anticipated.

For the asking cost of $209/ ₤ 185/ AU$ 321, there’s no navigating the reality that you can get a far remarkable listening experience from a rival. USP aside, unless you’re truly into death metal (or its spin-offs), the cons might surpass the pros here.

The Heavys H1Es are properly designed and comfy for prolonged time periods, and the case is reliable and holds a decent charge, enabling 24 hours of overall usage.

The ANC is bad, the Bluetooth connection can be spotty, the buddy app is average, and they’re priced a little too high for what is (basically) a marketing tactic. Under the right set of scenarios, these earbuds can be extraordinary, however with a greater mid-market asking cost and stiff competitors, they’re a difficult sell in 2026.

Should I purchase the Heavys H1E True Wireless Earbuds?

Purchase them if … You enjoy metal music above whatever else
With the ideal bands and albums on, the Heavy H1Es provide an extraordinary listening experience, especially if you’re into the appropriate heavy death metal sub-genres.

You desire comfy cordless earbuds

You often have a hard time to get buds to fit effectively
The various ear ideas consisted of(in various, exceptional products )with the Heavy H1Es offer you lots of option for the most comfy fit throughout long wear sessions. They likewise take place to be long lasting and light-weight in your ear.

You’re great with middling battery life from your buds
They’re not the longest-lasting earbuds on the market; does it trouble you? The Heavy H1Es can opt for as much as 7 hours on a single charge, and the case can juice them up 3 times in between charges. The case itself just requires 2 hours to be able to go once again. And offered the punchy audio, it’s not a bad claim.

Do not purchase them if …

You desire top-tier worth for cash
At$209/ ₤ 185/ AU$ 321, the Heavys H1E are far from the least expensive cordless earbuds readily available, similar to flagship choices from Google, Samsung and Apple however without truly using the adaptability of their rivals.

You do not listen to * heavy * music
The Heavys H1Es are best when listening to down-tuned guitars, guttural vocals and percussion that’s lifted in the mix, such as you’ll discover in death metal, deathcore, grindcore, and comparable sub-genres.

If you’re into the softer sub-genres, or rock-and-roll, these are not likely to do much for you.

Great ANC is a should[19659144]Hellblocker ANC technically works however it tinkers the audio balancing of specific tunes and does not do an excellent task of really shutting out the outdoors sound.