Skullcandy has a reputation for producing bass-forward, fashionable headphones that are all reasonably priced. We can therefore safely say that the Crush ANC, a $319.99 pair of noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones that are only marginally more affordable than the $399.95 industry-redefining Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, has our interest. Although the haptic vibrations and adjustable bass response of Skullcandy’s headphones are undeniably cool, the ANC falls short of other models in this price range. When it comes to style, headphones from companies like Beats Audio and Bang & Olufsen may be well-known today, but nothing quite grabs your attention like a set of Skullcandy headphones. Skullcandy is renowned for its unabashed love of loud bass in addition to their flashy colors and distinctive looks. Although not everyone prefers it, there are a sizable number of people who look for headphones with heavy bass. also you will learn our article on Skullcandy Crusher ANC review.
Design
The Skullcandy Crusher ANC headphones are stylish and unobtrusive, especially if you choose the black color scheme. Although the Deep Red hue of our testing unit attracted a little more attention due to its unusual color, the general design is understated. Even though the headphones are now primarily comprised of plastic, they feel well-built and don’t flex and moan like more inexpensive Skullcandy models do. The headbands are still made of metal, which gives them a refined feel and silky adjustability. The faux leather covering on the headphones is extremely pleasant, but it causes the earpads to slightly steam up with prolonged use. The Crusher ANC’s controls are easy to operate thanks to their large buttons and sliders. Setting the desired degree of bass intensity is quite simple thanks to the Sensory Bass slider, which occupies almost the whole length of the left earcup. The audio playback and volume controls, USB-C charging port, and 3.5mm jack are all located on the right earcup. If you wish to continue using the Crusher ANC after the battery runs out, Skullcandy supplies a great wired cord with a mic and remote. The integrated Tile tracker is one special design element that comes in handy if you frequently lose your headphones.
Skullcandy Crusher ANC review: Comfort
The Skullcandy Crusher ANC headphones are not the lightest noise-canceling headphones available; they weigh 10.8 ounces. However, they are not oppressively hefty at that weight. We discovered them to be reasonably comfortable with little ear sweat when on my head. However, since we tested these in the middle of autumn, your summertime experience in humidter climates may differ. Overall, they are only moderately uncomfortable and didn’t put any unusual strain on the body.
Software
Actually, the Skullcandy Crusher ANC works with two different apps. The first, Skullcandy, creates a customized Audiodo sound stage for you based on your distinct hearing. The Tile app, which allows you to find your headset, is the second option. The Skullcandy app for iOS and Android is really simple to use. If you haven’t previously connected the headset through Bluetooth, launch the app and pair your Crusher ANC with it. After that is finished, you can give your sound profile a name, and a selection of sounds will start to play. You tap the screen when you hear a sound. This test will be administered by the app to both your left and right ears. When finished, it will produce a sound profile that is unique to you. To hear the difference, play a song and toggle it on and off. In our case, we did hear a slight improvement in the sound quality with it turned on. Even better, since the profile is saved on the headset, switching to a different device won’t require you to change it. Depending on how good or bad your hearing is, your outcomes will change. As long as the headset has power, however, the Tile app will assist you in finding it. You can choose the headset by pressing a Find button after registering it with the Tile app. The headset will make a series of sounds when it is pressed, and the app will display a series of circles to show you how close you are to the device. Pressing “done” after you’ve located it will stop the sound it makes. you can check our article on Skullcandy Crusher ANC review.
Skullcandy Crusher ANC review: Connectivity
The Skullcandy Crusher has a frequency range of 2402 MHz to 2480 MHz and supports Bluetooth 5.0. This results in a distortion-free, crystal-clear sound transmission even at fairly great distances. These are some of the best Bluetooth headphones available because they are compatible with a wide range of mobile devices. To avoid any connectivity hiccups and to keep listening even after the battery runs out, the headphones can also be used as wired ones. Although only having one button, the wire has in-line controls, which do restrict its functionality. However, it effectively handles the essentials, including pausing and playing music, taking calls, and more.
Noise cancelling
The Crusher ANC has its main selling point in its name, but how good is its active noise cancellation capability? In short, it’s mediocre at best. The Crusher ANC doesn’t suppress ambient noise as well as the best (almost) equally expensive products from Sony (WH-1000XM3) or Bose (Headphones 700). The headphones filter low frequencies more effectively than high frequencies, but unfortunately, it’s not exactly state-of-the-art. On the subject of noise, the Crusher boasts a clear presence of background noise. Logically, this does not improve when the ANC system is activated. The Crusher’s ambient mode can be accessed by briefly touching the left earpiece. Because the earphones’ built-in microphones both amplify and dampen background noise, you can hear outside noises like train announcements without taking them out. Although it functions well, the competition is still one step ahead.
Audio performance
Don’t simply listen to your music, FEEL IT, says Skullcandy’s slogan for the Crusher ANC, and they’re not mistaken. In fact, wearing these headphones makes me think of driving while the music is turned up and the bass is turned up so loud the seats vibrate. Soon, we’ll say more about that. With the haptic Sensory Bass slider all the way down, there isn’t much, if any, bass in terms of overall sound quality. Although the bass is lacking, the highs and mids are excellent. We discovered that by adjusting the slider to about a third, there was enough “regular bass” to balance the sound for listeners who prefer more conventional music. To that end, if you fall into that category, a headset with haptic bass is probably not for you. When you first experience the haptic Sensory Bass, the vibrations on your head seem strange and perhaps a little unsettling. The Sensory Bass, however, really does help with the immersion and enjoyment factor after some practice and adjusting the intensity of it. We really enjoyed the haptic experience on our Pixel 4 XL while watching videos and playing games, especially through the Project xCloud preview, even though it does add to regular music listening. In Destiny 2, the stage is constantly filled with gunfire and explosions. Driving in Forza Horizon 4 and experiencing the rumble of the engines increased the immersion level of the game. Our only wish is that we could wirelessly pair these with our Xbox One X. Unfortunately, when the headset is connected to an Xbox One controller, the haptic bass does not appear to function.
Call performance
However, the call quality on these headphones is rather good. There were no indications of the typical distortion or muffling of sound that is frequently heard on wireless headphones and IEMs, and the receiver could hear everything being said in perfect clarity. Every word we said was captured accurately by the microphone when using a transcribing app.
Battery and charging
According to Skullcandy, a single charge can allow for up to 24 hours of playback. Usually, optimum conditions and lower playback volume levels are used to present such results. However, we discovered that the Crushers provided 22.25 hours of listening time at half volume on a single charge. We were astonished to discover that the battery life was nearly as long as the manufacturer had predicted. also you read our article on Skullcandy Crusher ANC review.
Price and availability
Retailing at $250, the Skullcandy Crusher ANC headphones are rather typical for a pair of high-end active noise-cancelling headphones like these. If you’re really looking for Skullcandy, the Venue has ANC technology and costs £150. Although they lack ANC, the Crusher Wireless Immersive Bass Headphones do include Adjustable Sensory Bass. They cost £140. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II and the Sony WH-1000XM3, two of the best wireless ANC headphones we’ve tested, are better options if you have this kind of money to spend. If you don’t mind on-ear headphones, the Beats Solo Pro offer an alternative at a slightly higher cost of £259.
Skullcandy Crusher ANC review: Conclusion
The Crusher ANC basically consists of vibrating subwoofers worn on the head. To bass-heads, the sensory rumble would seem euphonious. These headphones present a special opportunity if you enjoy the effect of added bass dimension while watching movies or playing video games. And if bass isn’t your thing, you can also think about a few other well-liked alternatives. Similar to that, the Crusher ANC’s Active Noise Cancellation is a great feature to have and performs admirably. When the sensory bass is turned off, the sound quality is evenly distributed, and we could adjust it to our tastes by turning it up to about 30% strength. Overall, Crusher ANC is undoubtedly a high-end headset in terms of acoustics and price, but you’ll buy it for the Sensory Bass.
