Tech Up! Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 Headphones

Let's start with the look of this headset. The Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 Headphones come in a sleek black box with green highlights. The box design is very attractive, especially the writing on the sides and colour scheme both make for a very neat experience.

Opening the box reveals a black hard case. This is especially exciting as it means that the set will be able to be safely transported anywhere! The case has a small Skullcandy logo on it and feels overall of very high quality. Opening the zipper, which also feels of high quality, the headphones are finally revealed. Matte, soft touch, black plastic is complemented by fancy fake-leather earpieces. A variety of buttons and a wheel on the side hint at the variety of controls available. In a second compartment of the case are two cables held together by a tie that uses the magic of Velcro to stay in place. One of these is the USB-C charging cable with a USB end, the other is an always welcome back-up AUX connection, should the battery run out while out and about.

The headphones can be adjusted in a few ways to create ideal comfort. Both sides can be extended, and earpieces can be moved in several directions and the top bit on the head is covered in a soft cushion to guarantee comfort even when wearing them for a long period of time. They sit comfortably on the ears, and even wearing glasses does not pose a problem.

Pairing them with a phone via Bluetooth is quick and easy, as expected. First impressions show a genuinely clear sound and very impressive noise cancelling. The buttons on the headphones can be utilised for a variety of actions, such as turning the set on/off, pausing music, answering calls, and increasing or decreasing volume. Additionally, a switch on the headphones allows to enter different modes that are particularly interesting. There is the Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) mode, which utilises the four(!) microphones to actively filter out external noise, as well as the Stay Aware mode, which allows external sound to filter through, helping to not miss out on anything happening in your surroundings. These features are especially cool and uncommon. For bass lovers, the set comes with a wheel that allows adjusting the bass, and this set can indeed play some bass!

Skullcandy additionally offers a free app, Skull-iQ, for more functionality on iOS and Android. This app offers a variety of gadgets to make the listening experience truly incredible. Firstly, it allows for voice control, by simply saying "Hey Skullcandy". Music can be paused or skipped, calls can be made or answered, volume increased or decreased and much, much more! This is surprisingly handy for a set of headphones and works well. The voice control is also available in different languages, which is highly appreciated. The app also offers personal sound, in which a short listening test determines the unique hearing abilities of listeners and adjusts music according to it. The difference this makes is incredible, and music sounds like nothing heard before! In addition to this feature, it is also possible to choose from EQ presets, such as Music, Podcast or Film mode, or design an own custom EQ.

Another feature of the app is that it allows to customise button functions, which can be incredibly helpful, and the settings stay saved on the headphones to use when connecting with other devices, as well.

The battery life of the headphones varies depending on whether ANC is activated - without, the headphones can last a whopping 60 hours, whereas with it activated they last around 50 hours, which is incredibly impressive. For anyone that forgets charging every now and again, the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 Headphones feature a rapid charge technology, where a 10-minute charge allows for four hours of playtime.

When it comes to the microphones, voice comes through surprisingly clear. There is a light muffle, which is due to the Bluetooth connection, but it's still pretty impressive. In other words, these headphones work absolutely fine for phone or video calls.

Especially interesting for gamers is that the headphones work with Nintendo Switch, which is great when playing on the go. Naturally, they can also be connected with other devices that allow Bluetooth, such as laptops or computers. Sound is, generally, amazing on any device, even if the personalised sound is only possible on phones when utilising the app.

10/10

Masterpiece - Platinum Award

Skullcandy has created a set of headphones that comes highly recommended. The Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 Headphones are comfortable, fashionable, and the sound quality is out of this world. Adding in the customisation features through the app, these headphones are the epitome of quality for a good price.