Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 headphones review

What: Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 (40mm drivers, 60 hrs (ANC off) / 50 hrs (ANC on), Bluetooth 5.2, Custom EQ mode) Price: Rs 19,997

Premium looks and foldable design

Lately, I have been using over-ear headphones instead of true wireless earbuds for two reasons: a) comfort, b) my doctor has advised me to limit the use of TWS for medical reasons. Last year, my right ear was swollen, and as a result, my doctor recommended reducing my use of TWS.

The Crusher ANC’s audio profile veers toward a bass-heavy sound, which is common for Skullcandy’s headphones. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

Anyway, I never liked the fit of TWS across brands. I always struggled to fit them in securely. Even though I liked their noise cancellation, awareness features, and, of course, the sound quality, a proper fit is essential—and I can’t compromise on that front EVER.

That leaves me with the option to use headphones, and I prefer over-ear cans because they are well-suited for long listening sessions. Being a frequent traveller, I also naturally gravitate toward them over on-ear headphones.

Coming to the Crusher ANC 2, they have a simple design, they still draw attention. No, they don’t look outrageous, but the headphones have small design touches that add a bit of flair. For instance, the review unit comes in pure white, but the bass dial stands out in bright orange. Even the case has bright orange clips for a tight seal—and that’s a nice little touch.

The headphones fold neatly into the case, with the Skullcandy logo in silver on the earcups. They are made of plastic, but they don’t look cheap. Instead, they have a premium feel, thanks to the matte white finish that’s smooth to the touch. The design is familiar and very Skullcandy-like. The Crusher ANC 2 headphones are comfortable for long listening sessions, with each earcup featuring padded memory foam wrapped in soft faux leather for added comfort, along with a fabric-lined headband.

At first, the Crusher ANC 2 may seem heavy, but after using them for an hour straight, they don’t feel heavy at all. Whether I am wearing them at my desk or on a long walk, they feel great—almost effortless to wear.

Easy to use

These headphones do not have touch controls; instead, they are fully operated through physical buttons. I don’t like touch controls, as they make headphones more complicated to use, and I often end up accidentally triggering them when I don’t intend to.

These headphones are comfortable to wear for long listening sessions. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

The Crusher ANC 2 comes with multiple physical buttons for control, including a dedicated power button and a wheel placed right underneath that lets you scroll through different levels of bass intensity when the cans are in Crusher mode. The left earcup also features a USB-C port for rapid charging and a 3.5mm headphone jack (with the cable included in the box).

On the right earcup, there is a three-button array. The middle button handles playback, calls, and Spotify Tap integration, while the outer buttons control the volume. Additionally, there is a sliding switch that lets you toggle between ANC On, ANC Off, and a ‘Stay Aware’ transparency mode.
App

The Skull-iQ app (available for Android and iOS) offers the same set of features as other headphone apps, though the Skullcandy app might feel overwhelming at first. It is packed with features, but each one is clearly laid out in sections.

I am not going through every section, but the app includes controls for ANC and Voice Control, with support for voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, iHeart, and TuneIn. Skullcandy has also included its own voice control commands, which can be activated with the phrase “Hey Skullcandy.”

One feature I found interesting is the Crusher tile, which lets you adjust the intensity of the bass effect. I did this first thing upon listening to music. I also really liked the EQ screen, where you can choose between Music, Podcast, and Movie presets or create a custom sound signature with up to five bands.

Sound

The Crusher ANC 2 aren’t a huge departure from the brand’s previous-generation headphones and continue to focus on delivering thumping bass. As I said in the beginning, the Crusher ANC 2 makes certain music feel more powerful, particularly hip-hop, rock, and dance songs. I listened to a variety of tracks from these genres, including Addicted (feat. Ink) by Zerb and The Chainsmokers, Abracadabra by Lady Gaga, No Bad Vibes by Jazzy and Killimanjaro, FE!N (feat. Playboi Carti) by Travis Scott, and Radioactive by Imagine Dragons.

Skullcandy’s app can be overwhelming for some. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

The sound quality emphasises making the bass pop—literally, the bass explodes in your ears. There is an overwhelming sensation when listening to dance music on the Crusher ANC 2, and I do appreciate what these headphones aim to offer—there is a huge segment of listeners who would love this experience.

There is nothing neutral about them, but they do provide a slightly wider soundstage. However, I did notice that at full volume, especially when increasing the bass intensity to the highest level, they become nearly impossible to wear. You can always decrease the intensity of the bass through the settings in the app.

I am no audiophile, but I have been more than happy with the quality of the Crusher ANC 2. The sound quality is good across a wide range of music, though the AirPods Max and Sony WH-1000XM5 clearly have an edge. I was listening to Mera Bina (Unplugged) by KK and Pritam on Apple Music, and the headphones’ signature sound came through. Sometimes, you also need to separate a flagship feature from what the product actually offers.

I won’t say the Crusher ANC 2 are the best over-ear headphones on the market, but they do have a Midas touch if you’re into a certain type of music. Watching movies and listening to concerts on the big screen with the Crusher ANC 2 delivers a deep, immersive sound that makes you feel like you are at a live concert.

Middling noise cancellation

However, it’s a pity that Skullcandy hasn’t yet found a way to create a compelling noise-cancelling effect. The headphones do cancel some outside noise, but sounds are still fairly audible. The other day, while walking on the side of the road, I could still hear passing vehicles.

I liked the audio quality that the Crusher ANC 2 offers, but I would like to point out that at high volume levels, the sound leaks. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

But call quality appears to be very good. I don’t like taking calls on over-ear headphones, but during a long conversation with a friend on my evening walk, I could hear clearly, and my friend could hear me without any annoying echo or sound issues.

Battery life

The battery life was fantastic, though it highly depends on how long you use the Crusher ANC 2. Skullcandy estimates that the headphones can last roughly between 50 and 60 hours per charge, depending on ANC usage, though your typical volume level also affects that figure. The company claims that just 10 minutes of charging can provide up to four hours of listening time. I didn’t use them for an entire day but mostly during my morning and evening walks and intermittently for an hour or so at different intervals. My estimate is that they can easily last through flights to and from New York to Delhi.

Should you buy the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2?

The generously sized cups and pads should fit most ears out there. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

I found the Crusher ANC 2 a little different from other premium over-ear headphones. They are made for long listening sessions, gaming nights, or any time you want to experience content with immersive sound. The deep bass they offer—you won’t find on any other headphones, at least not at the same level. Sure, Beats and Sony also offer headphones for bass-heavy music, but nothing beats the Crusher ANC 2. That said, if you’re not into bass-heavy music, there are, of course, other options from the likes of Bose, Sony, Apple and even Sonos.