Immersive Audio Experience: Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 Review
The Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 is the latest headphone from the American brand. It promises great bass, and now, it also has active noise cancellation. Skullcandy, known for its fun designs, competes with big brands like Sony and Bose.
The headphones look good, with physical buttons for controls, unlike touch controls on other premium models. The battery life is claimed to be impressive, with 50 hours of ANC, only rivaled by Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless.
The Crusher ANC 2's features and performance justify the price. In the UAE, Crusher ANC 2 is selling within price range of AED 767:00 to AED 899:00.
However, they point out that for a similar price, you can get the Sony WH-1000XM4, which is considered better in noise cancellation. But if you want a fun, unique experience, we recommend giving the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 a try.
Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2: Features
In the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2, there's a cool bass feature that lets users choose from 10 bass levels. As you increase it, you can actually feel the earcups vibrating against your head. If you don't like it, you can turn it off.
Another big thing is the ANC (Active Noise Cancellation), but it's not the best compared to other headphones. It blocks out external sounds, but not as well. Turning up the volume helps, but it would've been better if the ANC worked well on its own.
You can personalize the sound profile with a hearing test in the Skull-iQ app, thanks to a partnership with Mimi Hearing Technologies. The difference in sound was noticeable for us, with the personalized profile sounding better.
These headphones also connect to two devices using Bluetooth 5.2, and they have Tile technology in case you misplace them. The Skull-iQ app lets you customize button functions and even control Spotify with a button press or your voice.
The only thing we missed was wear detection, but since you can pause playback with a button, it's not a big issue.
Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2: Design
In the world of over-ear headphones, most go for a safe and classy look, adding a bit of style with small details. For instance, Sony uses touches of rose gold, and Bose has earcups that move up and down on a single headband. People generally think the Sennheiser Momentum 4 looks a bit plain.
But Skullcandy took a different route with the Crusher ANC 2. At first, they might seem like just another pair of black headphones, but the orange power button and textured part in the middle of the headband make them stand out. The headphones feel smooth on the earcups and a bit rough on that middle headband part. These small details make them unique, showing that the designers thought about the final product instead of following the crowd.
Although the Crusher ANC 2 weighs 332g, making it one of the heavier premium headphones, Skullcandy did a great job distributing the weight. The extra weight is there, but it doesn't feel like it's pushing your head down. The headband's center padding is plush and absorbs the weight well. The earcup cushioning also makes them feel snug without crushing your ears.
Unlike other over-ear headphones that caused discomfort in the past, the Crusher ANC 2 seems comfortable for longer listening sessions. They are travel-friendly, too, as they can be folded neatly for storage in the provided case or a smaller space.
Physical buttons on the right earcup control volume, play/pause, and calls. They are easy to identify by touch. There's a toggle switch to turn ANC on/off and, on the left earcup, an orange power button and a bass control wheel. The wheel can be pressed for various commands in the app.
For wired listening, a 3.5mm cable is included, along with an aux-in and a USB-C charging port on the left earcup.
Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2: Sound Quality
When it comes to headphones, looks and features matter, but if they don't sound good, they're not useful. Luckily, the Crusher ANC 2 doesn't disappoint in that department.
For the best enjoyment, we found that setting the bass between levels two to five was enough. The music gained extra energy and rhythm, making us dance around. Even if you listen to different music genres, the Crusher ANC 2 handles them well.
With the Crusher set to zero, Billie's voice is still clear, but it doesn't stand out as much as on the Sony pair. The Sony headphones offer more dimension and layering to the soundstage, proving to be more dynamically adept as the song progresses. While the Crusher ANC 2 provides an entertaining experience with impressive bass at its price, it falls short in detail and dynamic expression compared to top-tier competitors.