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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-28 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Skullcandy Hesh ANC — biggest strength: A flat-folding, collapsible body at just 228 g, plus a 3.5 mm jack so you're never fully dependent on a charge.
• Skullcandy Hesh ANC — biggest trade-off: 22 hours of battery is modest next to the JBL, and the button controls plus 10 m Bluetooth range feel dated.
• JBL Live 770NC — biggest strength: Up to 65 hours of listening and a fabric-wrapped comfort headband that spreads weight instead of clamping it.
• JBL Live 770NC — biggest trade-off: No headphone jack at all, and it's a voice-control-first design, so if you like tactile buttons this isn't it.
• Pick Skullcandy Hesh ANC if you want a cheap, packable, lightweight beater pair you can also plug in.
• Pick JBL Live 770NC if you wear headphones all day and want the longest runtime and the most forgiving fit.
The Hesh ANC is the "throw it in a bag" headphone. The oval earcups sit over the ear in a faux-leather and plastic shell that weighs 228 g, and the whole thing flat-folds and collapses. For someone with a larger head who's tired of bulky cans, that light weight matters — less mass sitting on top of your skull means less of that hotspot feeling after an hour. The 40 mm dynamic drivers, 32 ohm impedance and 99.63 dB sensitivity mean it's easy to drive, so it will get loud enough from a phone without any help.
What it does best is flexibility. You get 4-mic active noise cancelling for blocking out a bus or an open office, 22 hours of battery, and Rapid Charge that turns a 10-minute top-up into 3 hours of playback. The controls are physical buttons for volume, track skip and call answer/reject, which a lot of people prefer over tapping a touch panel and guessing. There's also Tile finding built in once you register it, plus an extra 1.6 ft USB-C cable in the box, and a 1-year limited warranty.
Who should skip it? If you fly long-haul or work 10-hour days, 22 hours will have you charging more often than you'd like — and the 22-hour charge time figure is a real limitation. The Bluetooth 5 spec and 10 m range are also behind the curve. It's a value-minded, portable pick, not a flagship.
The Live 770NC is built for people who basically live in their headphones. The headline is the battery: up to 65 hours, with a 2-hour full recharge and a 5-minute speed charge that gives you 4 hours of music. Even with noise cancelling running you're still looking at a very long stretch between charges. Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio support and separate Audio and Video modes (one for sound quality, one to keep audio in sync with video) make it feel noticeably more current than the Skullcandy.
The fit story is the other big selling point. It uses a comfort-fit fabric headband — fabric rather than a plastic band — with rounded over-ear cups, and the whole package includes a cloth carrying pouch and a detachable audio cable. For bigger heads, a fabric band that distributes pressure is usually the difference between "fine for an hour" and "fine all afternoon." True Adaptive Noise Cancelling with Smart Ambient uses four noise-sensing mics, and you can let surroundings in without taking the headphones off. Auto play/pause stops the music when you lift them off your head. Controls are voice-based rather than buttons, which is genuinely convenient — until you're somewhere you don't want to talk to your headphones.
The trade-offs are real: no 3.5 mm jack, so it's wireless-only; no folding spec; and the voice-control-first approach won't suit everyone. It's also a step up in ambition compared with the Skullcandy, so expect it to be the pricier of the two — check the current price on Amazon.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for battery life → JBL Live 770NC. Up to 65 hours versus 22 hours on the Skullcandy.
• Best for travel and packing → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. It flat-folds and collapses; the JBL ships with a pouch but has no folding spec.
• Best for lightweight wear → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. 228 g is on the light side for an ANC over-ear.
• Best for fit on a big head → JBL Live 770NC. Fabric comfort headband, rounded cups, softer pressure distribution.
• Best for wired listening → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. It has a 3.5 mm jack; the JBL has none.
• Best for modern connectivity → JBL Live 770NC. Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio and Audio/Video modes versus Bluetooth 5.
• Best for hands-free control → JBL Live 770NC. Voice control and auto play/pause instead of hunting for buttons.
• Best for a simple, low-risk setup → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. Button controls, Tile finding, an extra cable and a 1-year warranty.
In my opinion, the JBL Live 770NC is the better buy for most people shopping specifically for a big head. The fabric comfort headband and rounded cups are the closest thing here to a fit that stays comfortable for hours, and up to 65 hours of battery means you stop thinking about charging entirely. The Skullcandy Hesh ANC is the smarter pick if you want something light, foldable and wired-capable for the least outlay — but its 22-hour runtime and older Bluetooth hold it back as a daily driver. If fit and stamina are your two priorities, I'd go JBL.
what are good headphones for big heads
Look for a wide, pressure-distributing headband and light overall weight. The JBL Live 770NC's comfort-fit fabric headband and rounded cups suit larger heads better, while the Skullcandy Hesh ANC's 228 g body keeps the load light if you prefer something featherweight.
what are the best headphones for big heads
It depends on what you value. For all-day comfort and long battery, the JBL Live 770NC's fabric headband and up to 65 hours make it the stronger daily pair; for a light, foldable, wired-capable option, the Skullcandy Hesh ANC is the practical choice.
what headphones are good for people with big heads
Over-ear models with a flexible band and low weight work best. Both of these are over-ear designs with 40 mm drivers, but the JBL's fabric headband and rounded earpieces are more forgiving, while the Skullcandy's flat-folding build is easier to carry.
which headphones are best for big heads
In my opinion, the JBL Live 770NC wins on fit and endurance thanks to its comfort-fit fabric headband, adaptive noise cancelling and up to 65 hours of battery. The Skullcandy Hesh ANC is the better value if you want lighter weight and a 3.5 mm jack.
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