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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P — biggest strength: A four-point adjustable ComfortMAX system (height-adjusting, rotating earcups plus a stretchy suspension band) and a genuinely light 236 g build, which makes it the friendlier pick for larger heads.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P — biggest trade-off: It's a wired 3.5 mm headset, so you're tethered to a controller, PC or phone, and there's no battery to free you.
• Skullcandy Hesh ANC — biggest strength: Wireless Bluetooth with 4-mic active noise cancelling, up to 22 hours of playtime and Rapid Charge that gives you 3 hours from a 10-minute top-up.
• Skullcandy Hesh ANC — biggest trade-off: The fit is fixed — no height adjustment or suspension band — and the clamp comes down to the folding frame and faux-leather padding, which is less forgiving on very wide heads.
• Pick the Arctis Nova 1P if you game across PS5, PC, Xbox or Switch and want spatial audio and a retractable boom mic.
• Pick the Hesh ANC if you want one pair for commuting, phone calls and music, with noise cancelling and no cable.
The Arctis Nova 1P is built around adjustability. SteelSeries calls it the ComfortMAX System, and the details matter: the earcups slide up and down, they rotate, and a stretchy band sits across the top to spread weight. Add the AirWeave memory-foam cushions and a 236 g body, and you get a headset that a big head can actually tune to itself instead of just tolerating. That's the whole reason I'd put it first for this comparison.
The audio side is gaming-first. There are custom high-fidelity drivers, 360° spatial audio that's compatible with Tempest 3D on PS5 and Microsoft Spatial Sound, and a parametric EQ you can tune through SteelSeries' software. The ClearCast Gen 2 mic is bidirectional and rated to cut background noise by up to 25 dB, and it retracts fully into the earcup when you're not talking. On-board volume and mute controls sit on the headset itself.
Who should buy it: console and PC gamers who want one wired headset for PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC or Mac, and who value a fit they can dial in. Who should skip it: anyone who wants wireless freedom, noise cancelling for a noisy commute, or a headset for long phone calls away from a screen. This is a desk-and-couch gaming tool, not a travel companion.
The Hesh ANC plays a different game entirely. It's a wireless over-ear Bluetooth headphone with 4-mic active noise cancelling, so it's aimed at shutting out the world rather than tuning into it. Battery is the headline: up to 22 hours of playtime, plus Rapid Charge, where 10 minutes on the charger buys you 3 hours of listening. Skullcandy also bundles an extra 1.6 ft USB-C to USB-C cable, so you're not stuck if the original goes missing.
Convenience features are stacked. Button controls handle calls, volume and track skipping. There's built-in Tile finding technology, so if you register the product in the Tile app you can locate the headphones when they inevitably vanish into a backpack. The design folds flat and collapses for portability, and it comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
On fit, the Hesh ANC is honest about what it is. It's a lightweight 228 g over-ear with oval earcups and faux-leather padding, but there's no height adjustment or suspension band in the spec sheet — you get the headband as designed. On a big head, that means the fit depends entirely on how the band and padding sit on you, and there's no mechanism to loosen or extend it. Who should buy it: commuters, students and phone-first listeners who want wireless ANC and long battery. Who should skip it: big-headed gamers who need to stretch a headband to fit, and anyone who wants a boom mic for voice chat.
• Best for big heads → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. Four points of adjustment and a stretchy suspension band make it the safer fit for a wide or tall head.
• Best for wireless freedom → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. Bluetooth 5 with a 10 m range, no cable required.
• Best for battery life → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. Up to 22 hours, plus 3 hours from a 10-minute Rapid Charge.
• Best for gaming audio → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. Hi-fi drivers, 360° spatial audio and PS5 Tempest 3D / Microsoft Spatial Sound compatibility.
• Best for voice chat → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. A retractable bidirectional ClearCast Gen 2 mic rated to cut noise by up to 25 dB.
• Best for commuting and calls → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. 4-mic active noise cancelling and on-board call controls.
• Best for portability → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. Flat-folding, collapsible, and it ships with an extra charging cable.
• Best for multi-device gaming → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. The 3.5 mm jack covers PlayStation, PC, Mac, Xbox, Switch and mobile.
If a big head is the deciding factor, I'd buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. The height-adjusting, rotating earcups and stretchy suspension band are real, spec-listed adjustability, and that's what saves you from a headset that pinches after an hour. The Hesh ANC is the better headphone for commuting, calls and noise cancelling, and I'd recommend it without hesitation to anyone with an average fit who wants wireless. But for this specific question, the Arctis Nova 1P is the one I'd put on a large head first — and if price matters to you, check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
what are good headphones for big heads
Look for adjustable, rotating earcups, a suspension-style band and low weight. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P ticks all three: four points of adjustability, a stretchy band and a 236 g build, which is why I'd start there.
what are the best headphones for big heads
In my opinion, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P is the stronger pick of these two for a large head, because its ComfortMAX system lets you raise and rotate the earcups. The Skullcandy Hesh ANC is lighter at 228 g, but its fit isn't adjustable.
what headphones are good for people with big heads
Any over-ear with an extendable or suspension headband works. The Arctis Nova 1P qualifies; the Hesh ANC relies on a fixed folding frame, so it's more of a gamble on a wide head even though it's light and padded.
which headphones are best for big heads
For fit, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. For wireless noise cancelling and battery, the Skullcandy Hesh ANC is excellent — just be aware that its design leaves you no way to loosen the headband if it runs tight.
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