As Christmas lights start appearing and gift planning begins, many shoppers turn their attention to practical tech. Skullcandy’s audio products have long been a staple in UK stores, and cover a wide range of products. Earbuds, headphones, even speakers – some specifically for gaming, others for working out; there is basically something available for everyone. This time, Cubed3 looks at Skullcandy’s Crusher 540 Active headphones – the Soft pink edition – intended particularly for working out. Are they a product made for sweat and tears?
Skullcandy’s sleek design is very much present in the Crusher 540 Active headphones, available in five different colours and with the Skullcandy logo on each side. The headphones come with a charger cable, AUX cable, and a soft bag for storing. Since they fold up easily they fit snuggly into the bag; however, this bag promises nothing more than potentially saving the headphones from scratches. A more sturdy case would go a long way.
They are marketed for exercising and working out, and when exercising is just about going for a jog or a walk, they will definitely suffice. They are incredibly comfortable, with fabric (rather than leather) ear cushioning, and cushioning for the head as well. They can be increased in size, the earcups can be moved to ensure ideal comfort, and there is no squeezing of the head at all. Perhaps that is where the issue comes in. While they are perfectly comfortable, their rather loose fit does not work well for the intended use as exercise headphones. Yes, the ear cushions are breathable and the set overall is sweat and water resistant, but that is of little consequence when the headphones slide off the head during workouts.
Assuming that users only use them for jogs or on the bus, however, the technology and sound simply cannot be faulted. As is common with Skullcandy products, the headphones charge quickly and retain their power for a long time. If caught short, though, they also feature Rapid Charge, which allows four hours of listening time after a mere ten minutes of charging, which is highly appreciated. If the battery runs out and charging is impossible, the AUX cable is the safety net. This is one of the features that is beneficial in a more and more wireless world; sometimes, a wired connection is, at the very least, a good backup.
The headphones are not particularly noise cancelling by themselves, but once music or podcasts are playing, they do become pretty noise-isolating. This means that when not actively in use, environmental sounds can still be heard, but when in use, it becomes a whole lot harder, if not impossible, to hear someone talking to you. They definitely do the trick.
Sound-wise, the Crusher 540 Active headphones are absolutely fantastic. Despite Bluetooth connections always losing some quality, sound comes through crisp and crystal clear. The bass intensity can be adjusted via the slider on the left, so both bass lovers and bass haters benefit here. On the right cup, three buttons allow for pausing, increasing or decreasing volume, and skipping forwards or backwards, as well as answering calls. Very minimalist, and very easy to use. Call quality, tested with online calling, is fantastic. Both sound output and mic work flawlessly.
When connecting to the Skullcandy app, users can also make use of Personal Sound. As experienced with other Skullcandy products, Personal Sound is the technology that analyses the way in which a user can hear audio, and then tailors it accordingly for a richer, more immersive experience. It really does make a difference to the audio, and on top of this, users can choose between Music, Podcast or Movie mode to tailor the experience even further. Overall, the sound quality does what is promised. For someone who has a family member that is hard of hearing but loves their music, this is an ideal Christmas gift.
