Skullcandy Crusher ANC Review

What are Skullcandy Crusher headphones? Are they worth buying? Are they high-end headphones? Are they the best audiophile headphones? Where do they rank among the best wireless headphones you can buy?

These and many other questions may be going around your head. But, not to worry, our in-depth Skullcandy Crusher ANC Review will help you answer these and many more questions to find out if these are the best headphones for you.

But first, let’s take a short trip back in history to find out more about Skullcandy.

Humble Beginnings…

One of the neatest things about Skullcandy is that Rick Alden founded it on a chairlift in Park City, Utah. He was listening to music when he received a phone call. The technology back then wasn’t as advanced as it is today, so he couldn’t just switch from the music player to his phone. The best headphones for calling didn’t exist yet.

Then and there, Rick decided that the world needed a better solution. And Skullcandy was founded. Now all he needed was to figure out how to pull everything together, and over time, he did.

Crusher ANC – Overview

The truth is that Skullcandy’s flagship headphones bring the bass but at the cost of battery life and high-end materials. However, the plastic build on the Crusher ANC may provide you with a more comfortable experience, especially over longer listening sessions.

But, in all honesty, it feels like a step backward from its predecessor that was made out of metal and provided a longer battery life. If design materials and battery life aren’t your biggest concerns, these bass-heavy headphones will rattle your skull, and the ANC will keep outside noise at bay.

Bass-heavy headphones…

Skullcandy’s has always prided themselves on the fantastic bass response. And that has never been more evident than with the Crusher ANC, which has replaced its predecessor, the Crusher 360. In fact, these are some of the best bass headphones you can buy.

The Crusher ANC still keeps the Sensory Bass Slider and large, easy-to-use buttons but adds active noise canceling to this over-ear headphone. It’s just a shame that they had to make compromises along the way. Compared to its predecessor, the addition of ANC has affected its battery life. You’ll get up to 24 hours with these, instead of the 30 hours provided by the Crusher 360.

The Design

The Skullcandy Crusher ANC are good-looking, understated headphones, especially if you go for the black version. The deep red headphones draw a bit more attention because of the unique color, but overall, the design is still relatively restrained.

Although the headphones are now made of plastic, they feel solid and well built. And don’t creek or groan when flexed like some of the more affordable Skullcandy headphones.

There is still some metal used in the construction of the headband, making them feel sturdy with a smooth adjustment. The Crusher ANC are clad with faux leather, which is comfortable, but the earpads tend to heat your ears a little during extended use.

Controls…

The controls are a pleasure to use, with big buttons and sliders. The Sensory Bass Slider takes up almost the entire length of the left earcup. This makes adjusting the slider to your preferred level of impact bass extremely easy.

The right earcup is home to the playback and volume controls, as well as the USB-C charger port and 3.5mm jack. Furthermore, these include a nice wired cable with a mic and remote, so you can still use the headphones when the battery runs out.

A unique feature of the Skullcandy Crusher is the Tile Tracker. It’s a Bluetooth-controlled tracker system, which can locate your headphones. This comes in very handy if you often misplace (lose!) your headphones.

The Performance

The Crusher ANC has a dual personality. When the Sensory Bass is turned down all the way, they act as a regular pair of headphones with a relatively balanced sound. But once you turn up the Bass slider, you will literally feel the bass.

Be aware…

With the bass turned to 100%, the listening experience is almost unbearable and headache-inducing. But at 25%, the Sensory Bass can be an excellent addition on a noisy subway. And it offers a unique bass slam that we haven’t heard on any other headphones. Likewise, if you’re a gamer, the Sensory Bass will make your day by enhancing your gaming experience.

Skullcandy also includes a companion app that provides a hearing test to build a unique equalizer curve. As a result, you can customize the sound to your ears. The test only takes a few minutes and really works to create a balanced, customized sound signature.

ANC and Battery Life

The active noise canceling for the Crusher ANC is mediocre at best. Much like the Skullcandy Venue headphones, the ANC has a slightly distracting hissing sound when no music is playing.

Furthermore, they struggle to block out external noise as effectively as class leaders like the Sony WH-1000XM3 and Bose NCH 700. Additionally, the Crusher ANC struggles when it’s windy, amplifying wind noises when you’re outside.

The battery could be better…

The battery life is rated up to 24 hours, but in reality, it’s closer to 20 hours, with the Sensory bass set to 25%. It’s not bad, but it’s only average among headphones in the same price class. For reference, the class-leading Sony WH-1000XM3 gives you 30 hours.

Connectivity and Extras

The Skullcandy Crusher includes Bluetooth 5.0 and has a frequency ranging from 2402 MHz to 2480MHz. This translates into a clear sound transmission without any distortion, even from a relatively far distance. Compatible with all kinds of mobile devices makes these some of the best Bluetooth headphones out there.

Built to last…

The Crusher ANC comes backed with a two-year warranty. In other words, Skullcandy is confident that the Crusher ANC will last, and it also protects your investment. The warranty is one reason why Skullcandy and the Crusher ANC have a high fan following around the globe.

Furthermore, there is an app you can download for free for both Android and iOS. If you connect the headphones to the app, it will display your battery level. You can create as many sound profiles as you like and can easily switch between them. Plus, you can turn on and off multiple other features through the app, saving yourself the hassle of double and triple taps.

Skullcandy Crusher ANC Review – Pros and Cons

Looking for Something Else?

No matter what your listening needs are, we have you covered. So, check out our in-depth reviews of the Best Lightweight Headphones, the Best Bluetooth Headphones Under $200, the Best Skullcandy Earbuds, the Best Headphones with Microphone, and the Most Comfortable Headphones you can buy in 2023.

You may also like our comprehensive ZOLO Liberty Bluetooth Earbuds Review, our Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Wireless Review, our Sennheiser HD660S Review, our Samson SR850 Review, and our JBL E55BT Review for more great options currently available.

Skullcandy Crusher ANC Review – Final Thoughts

The Skullcandy Crusher ANC isn’t very affordable, and it is hard to justify the amount of money you have to spend. Even though the Sensory Bass is unique, it’s hard to recommend them when flagship wireless headphones from Sony, Bose, and Bang & Olufsen cost around the same price.

Unless you’re really into bass and want to feel every drop or explosion while watching movies or playing games, you would be better off spending your money elsewhere.

However, remember that the reason Rick Alden founded Skullcandy in the first place was to combine music listening with making and receiving phone calls. Usually, making phone calls with headphones isn’t that nice an experience, but the Skullcandy Crusher ANC solves that. The voice on the other end is smooth, and the call works very smoothly, which is a big plus!

Therefore, for phone calls, excellent, for everything else, so-so. Don’t get us wrong, the Skullcandy ANC offers an enjoyable sound experience, but there are a lot of better options for the same price point.

Until next time, happy listening.