REVIEWED: Skullcandy Crusher ANC headphones
Breathtaking ‘sensory bass’ and built-in Tile tracker, but noise canceling is mediocre
With the white noise in aircraft regularly reaching 90 decibels – and with the din of modern life ever-increasing – it’s no wonder that noise-canceling headphones are catching on fast. No brand is without a pair of headphones that uses a microphone to monitor ambient sound, and then mathematically cancels it out by using reverse-shaped soundwaves. Something else in demand is booming bass, though rarely are successful noise-canceling headphones also adept with music. Can these Skullcandy headphones achieve the impossible?
Skullcandy Crusher ANC headphones: design
At 308g, these Bluetooth headphones are pretty lightweight. They’re comfortable to wear, even for long periods, thanks to some well-positioned cushioning on earcups, which isn’t too hot. However, they appear to be made entirely of plastic. Not a problem per se, but we’re not convinced they’re going to last as long as some heavier noise-canceling headphones we’ve tested. The 24 hours battery life is impressive, though a 1.2m cable is also supplied in the box for wired listening. Inside the headphones is a built-in Tile tracker – a fine idea – and no less than four bass drivers …
Skullcandy Crusher ANC headphones: performance
Unfortunately, the noise-canceling on offer here is merely mediocre. Sure, it dulls the surrounding noise, but there are much better options if you want quiet. It’s clear that Skullcandy has prioritized sound quality over noise-canceling, and while the ‘Sensory Bass’ levels (if adjusted to suit your audio taste) are really impressive – and we love the ‘personalised sound’ via the Skullcandy app – it’s just not of much interest for traveling. It leaves them looking overpriced.
Skullcandy Crusher ANC headphones: conclusion
No match for Bose, Bang & Olufsen, Sony or Sennheiser, these Skullcandy headphones are best admired for their ‘sensory bass’. Impressive, for sure, – and the built-in Tile tracker is a great idea –but not of much interest for those at 35,000 ft. after a quiet movie or 40 winks.
Price as reviewed: £250
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