Skullcandy products have long been a consistent staple, with previous reviews showcasing the quality the products offer. Being all about sound, Skullcandy offers a range of earbuds, headphones and speakers, for those who love sports or gaming (or both). Skullcandy kindly provided a set of Push ANC Active Wireless earbuds for review. Do they hold up in the gym? Continue reading to find out!
Starting with what’s in the box, the earbuds come in their case that doubles as a charging unit as well. Additionally, a very short charging cable, USB to USB-C, is provided, as well as 2 additional sizes of ear gels and, of course, instructions.
While the charging cable may seem a little short, its size is surprisingly practical in terms of less wasted space. It is also branded with the Skullcandy logo. The earbuds are charged in their case, and the case keeps an additional charge so the buds can recharge in it when out and about. These buds also feature the rapid charge function, where a 10 minute charge provides two hours of listening, which is definitely one of the best features of Skullcandy products.
The case feels sufficiently sturdy – definitely secure enough to survive the gym bag! Inside are the buds themselves. The colour combination of primarily black with small orange highlights gives them a sleek, unique look. They fit snugly into the case, with the built in magnets ensuring they snap into place and stay there until needed.
The ear hooks are made from soft rubber and provide the extra security needed during workout – these are not going anywhere! The buds also have a number of buttons that allow different functionalities. These buttons can be customised in the Skullcandy app, but the base settings allow for volume control, pausing and skipping. This is a really fantastic feature in the gym, where using the phone in the middle of an exercise is not always easy. The buttons are also very responsive, which means no fumbling around trying to adjust the volume. Since they are actually buttons rather than relying on touch, they can be felt, reducing the need for excessive tapping to adjust the volume or skip forward!
The earbuds are compatible with the Skullcandy app. This allows the user to set up a personal sound profile and change the button mapping if required. The personal sound is an especially good feature and provides a whole new listening experience. It can be turned down or off if required. In addition, the app also offers pre-set EQ modes, such as for watching movies or listening to podcasts, but a custom mode is also available which allows more customisation on top. These coupled with the personal sound options guarantee a sound that is out of this world.
These buds are definitely meant to be worn while exercising, and some gyms can be rather noisy. Luckily, this set comes equipped with Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), which actively reduces background noise and ensures the user hears only their own music or podcast. This works incredibly well and truly makes a difference. When tested in a gym that plays music, listening with ACN on was a real game-changer. Not only did it reduce the noise of the music played by the gym, but also the sounds of some of the noisier machines. This feature is fantastic for podcasts, which can sometimes shift from very quiet to loud unexpectedly. The feature can be turned off, and for anyone really needing to know what is going on around them, there is also Stay Aware mode. Swapping between ANC and Stay Aware mode is like night and day – one completely drowning out background noise, and the other allowing it to filter through. Additionally, it is also possible to use only one earbud at a time to have one ear free.
Generally, the buds feel very comfortable and secure when worn. In addition, their sweat- and waterproof design is ideal for workouts. The buds are currently available in only one colour, but hopefully other colours will become available eventually. Finally, and this is one for the gamers, the app also offers the option to turn low latency audio on or off to reduce lag when watching videos or, of course, gaming.
