You have most likely seen an advert for the rock-tuned Heavys H1H on the web, and true to their phrase, they’re in actual fact tuned for guitar-heavy rock. This is how they examine to Apple’s AirPods Max.
As a serious mainstream tech firm, Apple has an incentive to design to accommodate as many individuals as potential.
Its merchandise might not essentially have every thing a selected individual needs in an merchandise. Besides, it’s going to nonetheless be shut sufficient to be acceptable for almost all of consumers.
In fact, for product classes with an enormous potential market, corresponding to private audio, there’s all the time a possibility to area of interest down.
Corporations that may’t essentially compete for the complete market can as an alternative cater to a subset and dominate that group.
That is the case with the Heavys H1H. Because the title strongly hints, it is headphones made to hearken to heavy steel, rock, and related genres.
Much less Taylor Swift and the “Ok-pop Demon Hunters” soundtrack. Assume Iron Maiden, Metallica, Sabaton, and nearly any ’80s hair rock band.
As a substitute of being headphones for on a regular basis listening, Heavys made its headphones particularly for steel followers. You might use them to hearken to podcasts, however they’re actually supposed to recreate a dwell live performance.
It is a distinction in philosophy, however in a well-known type of over-ear headphones with ANC.
This is how the Heavys H1H examine towards the AirPods Max 2.
AirPods Max 2 vs Heavys H1H: Specs
| Specs | AirPods Max 2 (2026) | Heavys H1H |
|---|---|---|
| Value | $549 On sale at Amazon |
$299 On sale at Heavys |
| Dimension (inches) | 7.37 x 6.64 x 3.28 | 8.50 x 7.99 x 3.50 |
| Weight (ounces) | 13.6 | 14.5 |
| Foldable | No | Sure |
| Main Supplies | Aluminum | Plastic |
| Noise Cancellation | Sure | Sure |
| Transparency Mode | Sure | Sure |
| Adaptive Audio | Sure | No |
| Dialog Consciousness | Sure | No |
| Personalised Spatial Audio | Sure | No |
| Charging port | USB-C | USB-C |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Microphones | 9 Whole | 5 Whole |
| Battery Life | 20 hours with ANC | 50 hours most |
| Controls | Digital Crown, Button | Buttons, Switches |
| Colours | Midnight Blue Orange Purple Starlight |
Black Interchangeable Shells |
AirPods Max 2 vs Heavys H1H: Design
It is protected to say that the fundamental design of the 2 headphones is distinctly completely different. Whereas Apple needs to make every thing completely match its supposed aesthetic, the Heavys are extra concerning the audio efficiency.
Made with aluminum earcups and a metal body, the AirPods Max 2 scream luxurious. The enormous earcups have equally large and comfortable padded cushions, color-matching the steel.
AirPods Max 2 vs Heavys H1H: Heavys [left] have a lot greater earcups and a plastic development.
On high, the body splits into two and is roofed with a stretchy mesh. It is an clever design, because it acts like a springy cushion with out including a lot weight.
Against this, the Heavys are rather more standard. Made with black plastic with metal supporting the scarf, they really feel much less premium.
However do not let the floor really feel distract you from what are wonderful headphones.
That mentioned, there’s extra customization obtainable with the Heavys. Positive, you possibly can’t get away from the black plastic look, however you should purchase alternative shells for the earcups.
By way of dimension, the Heavys are bodily bigger at 8.5 inches by 7.99 inches and three.5 inches thick. The AirPods Max 2 are sizable however smaller at 7.37 inches by 6.64 inches, and three.28 inches thick.
Whereas bulkier, the Heavys do fold the earcups inward for storage. Apple, in the meantime, nonetheless makes use of the controversial bra to close down and defend the AirPods Max.
The Heavys are heavier in addition to greater, however solely by a small quantity. At 14.5 ounces, it is barely an oz heavier than the 13.6-ounce AirPods Max.
AirPods Max 2 vs Heavys H1H: Management
On the subject of controls, Apple has refined its AirPods Max to a naked minimal. There’s the Digital Crown for dealing with media playback and quantity, in addition to a Listening Mode button.
If there’s anything to manage, you achieve this with Siri or through the use of the built-in controls in your iPhone.
By comparability, the Heavys H1H rely extra on bodily controls.
AirPods Max 2 vs Heavys H1H: You get extra guide controls on the Heavys
There are switches for dealing with Bluetooth connectivity, to show the headphones on with or with out ANC (Energetic Noise Cancellation), and a quantity management. There is a separate button dealing with subsequent and former songs and transparency.
Having numerous controls is not essentially a nasty factor. Typically, having extra bodily controls on a tool is what a consumer needs.
Particularly in the event that they wish to rigorously handle their listening expertise.
The Beats Powerbeats Professional 2 have bodily quantity controls on every earbud, and that actually did not smash the design.
AirPods Max 2 vs Heavys H1H: Audio system
The principle draw of the Heavys H1H is the way it presents audio to the consumer. Right here, it is a appreciable departure from what Apple offers.
Apple makes use of its own-designed dynamic driver with a customized excessive dynamic vary amplifier. Nonetheless, this nonetheless comes out to the consumer by way of a single speaker that handles the complete sound stage.
Audio processing does plenty of the work for the AirPods Max 2, because of its use of the H2 chip and an adaptive EQ system.
To make its audio spectacular, the Heavys H1H keep away from processing trickery and go for a a lot easier method. It makes use of a number of audio system.
AirPods Max 2 vs Heavys H1H: The Heavys speaker association is sort of fascinating.
Every earcup has 4 audio system, consisting of two low and mid-range audio system and two high-frequency front-facing tweeters. That is a complete of eight audio system blasting your ears.
This feels like overkill, but it surely is sensible. Reasonably than convincing one speaker to do all of it, the Heavys as an alternative tweaks its audio system to deal with particular frequency ranges.
A byproduct is that, since every speaker is tuned to ranges, there’s minimal overlap and diminished distortion. At the least, not the purposefully-made distortion from the audio observe.
There’s additionally the purpose that these are tuned particularly for steel, and so will probably be wonderful for related kinds of music. You are not going to get an as-optimal expertise when you’re listening to, say, nation music or orchestral soundtracks.
AirPods Max 2 vs Heavys H1H: Options
On the standard of life aspect of issues, it is protected to say that the AirPods Max 2 shall be extra interesting to Apple customers.
Utilizing the H2 chip in every earcup, the AirPods Max 2 have ANC and Transparency that may be tweaked to the consumer’s setting. You additionally get Personalised Quantity that adjusts the audio relying on the consumer’s habits.
Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head monitoring can be obtainable if you wish to hearken to Dolby Atmos recordings.
AirPods Max 2 vs Heavys H1H: Inside their circumstances
A whole lot of this audio processing depends on using 9 microphones. Eight of them are used to deal with ANC, and three additionally function voice-pickup microphones.
The Heavys, in the meantime, does have some onboard processing, however to not the identical diploma of options as Apple.
There’s what it describes as a “Excessive Effectivity PNC” (Passive Noise Cancellation) and a “Gentle ANC” to cut back the quantity of perceived disturbance. In brief, the PNC refers back to the headphones blocking out noise by way of its supplies use, whereas utilizing a small quantity of ANC processing.
The last word supposed consequence is similar, however with extra reliance on preserving noise out as an alternative of electronically preventing it.
The corporate calls it “Hell Blocker” ANC with a transparency mode. Thematic.
To assist the ANC work, there is a assortment of 5 microphones, with two end-fire array microphones for voice pickup.
Whereas the Heavys H1H haven’t got the mixing benefit the AirPods Max 2 have with Apple’s working system ecosystem, there’s some software program help. A cell app is obtainable with an adjustable EQ curve, ANC management, and personalised voice prompts, amongst different parts.
AirPods Max 2 vs Heavys H1H: Connectivity and Battery
Connecting the AirPods Max to your {hardware} might be dealt with utilizing both Bluetooth 5.3 or USB-C. The Heavys consists of USB-C in addition to a 2.5mm jack with accompanying 2.5mm-to-3.5mm cable as an auxiliary connection, together with Bluetooth 5.1 help.
For the battery, each recharge utilizing USB-C. The battery lifetime of the AirPods Max 2, in response to Apple, is 20 hours with ANC enabled.
AirPods Max 2 vs Heavys H1H: Stacked headphones
Nonetheless, for the Heavys H1H, it is not so clear-cut. The corporate boasts of a battery lifetime of as much as 50 hours, however not how it’s getting used throughout that point.
It may nicely be utilizing its ANC system for this claimed battery life, however extra possible, it is by way of easy utilization with none ANC or transparency in motion.
AirPods Max 2 vs Heavys H1H: Which to purchase
If we’re to straight examine the 2 for the on a regular basis consumer, deciding between the 2 will not be a clear-cut factor.
We now have the construct high quality, the software program integration, and the all-around audio efficiency to have a look at for the AirPods Max 2. By way of user-friendly options, it is one thing that can attraction to lots of people.
What would additionally attraction for the Heavys H1H is the value. At $299, it is virtually half the value of the $549 AirPods Max 2.
Should you’re searching for premium headphones and can be trying to spend over $500, the AirPods can be most individuals’s selection.
Nonetheless, that’s issues from a mass-market viewpoint.
AirPods Max 2 vs Heavys H1H: HomePod Mini for scale.
The Heavys H1H actually is not going after everybody like Apple does. It is focusing on rock followers, and its development and performance lean in that route.
For anybody who’s into steel above all different sorts of music, the Heavys H1H are an excellent choice. Not simply on being nice for his or her chosen musical style, but in addition on worth.
We’re within the means of doing a full evaluate, and we’re happy with what we have heard thus far.
The place to purchase the AirPods Max 2 vs Heavys H1H
The Heavys H1H can be found from Heavys straight, with a 13% low cost at press time bringing the value all the way down to $259.
The AirPods Max 2 can be found from Amazon, with choose colours discounted to $529.99 at press time. Additionally, try our AirPods Max Value Information to search out reductions and offers throughout Apple’s over-ear headphones line.

