Skullcandy Crusher 1080 review: Haptic bass meets whisper-quiet ANC

James Trew for Engadget

RATING : 7.8 / 10

Skullcandy has spent years carving retired its ain niche successful nan headphone market. While brands for illustration Sony, Bose and Sennheiser were fighting complete which had nan champion sound value and sound cancellation, Skullcandy leaned into its estimation connected 1 point supra each else: bass. The Crusher line, pinch its signature haptic bass system, has ever been unapologetically complete nan apical and beforehand and halfway for nan brand.

But times change, and location are hints that nan institution wants to turn retired of that niche. The caller flagship Crusher 1080 headphones travel pinch audio credentials borrowed from Bose. Specifically, they transportation Bose's QuietControl progressive sound cancellation (ANC), TrueSpatial directional audio and WaveForm tuning. This isn't nan first Skullcandy headphone to beryllium part of nan Bose Sound program, but it's nan first pinch specified heavy integration.

At astir $270, though, Skullcandy is entering a fiercely competitory conception wherever Sony, Bose and Sennheiser already person pricier, well-established favorites. That intends nan Crusher 1080 has to beryllium much than conscionable nosy — it has to beryllium genuinely good. Thankfully, for nan astir part, it is.

On paper, nan Crusher 1080 checks conscionable astir each flagship box. There's nan aforementioned ANC on pinch deterioration detection, a claimed 60 hours of artillery life, accelerated charging, multipoint Bluetooth, Auracast and an EQ pinch customizable controls via an app. The over-ear creation is reminiscent of older Crusher models, pinch a reassuring, but hefty build and an understated artistic that feels a spot 2010's successful a non-intentional way. There are immoderate bully metallic accents successful nan headband which make it consciousness premium, but wide it's a larger, much robust headset compared to nan sculpted lines of existent Sony aliases Bose models.

James Trew for Engadget

Skullcandy hasn't really ventured into nan realm of motion and touch controls, and they stay absent here. The beingness buttons are each rather ample which mostly makes them easy to locate. The biggest is nan dedicated haptic bass dial, which is truthful ample it's portion of nan aesthetic. Nestled beside that is simply a move for toggling betwixt ANC and transparency mode. This pressable move besides cycles done listening presets (Music, Podcast, Movie and Custom). These 2 controls are adjacent capable to each different that I often accidentally deactivate ANC erstwhile I want to set nan haptic bass. The right-hand broadside has a mini joystick style power for measurement and media, positive a fastener for power/pairing. The Crusher 1080 besides supports regular 3.5mm and USB-C wired connections.

With 50 hours of artillery pinch ANC progressive aliases 60 without, nan Crusher 1080 is already beautiful longevous. I still admit nan fast-charging characteristic arsenic speedy top-ups tin supply capable juice for a agelong commute aliases cafe activity convention connected nan occasions you forgot to plug them in.

The standout characteristic connected nan Crusher 1080 is nary longer nan haptic bass, though that, too, has been fixed a makeover. This attraction present is connected nan Bose-powered audio. Skullcandy already dabbled pinch Bose Sound connected the Method wireless buds, but that was much of a wide tuning. With nan Crusher 1080, Bose's fingerprints are each complete nan audio, from nan main WaveForm audio motor to nan TrueSpatial dimensional characteristic and, of course, nan Bose-powered ANC.

The consequence is simply a clear sonic upgrade. I usage a brace of Crusher 540's arsenic my gym headphones, truthful I'm acquainted pinch nan Skullcandy sound. The Crusher 1080's are rather a departure, pinch a overmuch much well-rounded, open/balanced sound stage. The 540's consciousness dense and level by comparison, moreover pinch nan beefy bass.

I spent an unreasonable magnitude of clip swapping betwixt nan Crusher 1080's and nan Sennheiser HDB 630's, listening to The Streets' Original Pirate Material hoping that nan combinations of crisp snares and gritty basslines would expose nan differences betwixt nan 2 headphones. And differences location are, but not astir arsenic overmuch arsenic I was expecting. In general, nan HDB 630 remains much freely and neutral. The Crusher's sound feels elevated successful nan precocious mid-ranges.

Without nan haptic characteristic enabled, nan low-end connected nan 1080 almost feels humble — coming but controlled. The wide sound is still higher power than nan pricier Sennheiser HDB 630, but it feels overmuch person to what you'd expect from a premium brace of wireless headphones.

While I would opportunity nan Sennheiser still has nan superior sound complete all, nan Bose-tuned Skullcandy 2 characteristics I prefer. One is nan beingness of those precocious mids: Percussion, hi-hats and different sounds successful this scope are much guardant connected nan Crusher's tuning. The different advantage is conscionable that nan Skullcandy headphones connection much volume, making them amended suited for older euphony that isn't mastered truthful loud.

James Trew for Engadget

Perhaps nan biggest betterment complete erstwhile Skullcandy headphones is nan Active Noise Cancellation. This is leagues up of earlier Skullcandy efforts and, successful my ain testing, moreover outperformed nan Sennheiser HDB 630 and Soundcore Space One Pro — 2 headphones that beryllium either broadside of nan Crusher successful price. Constant inheritance sound is handled impressively well, making commuting aliases moving successful engaged environments overmuch much pleasant.

It's still not rather astatine nan level of Bose's class-leading ANC connected its ain headphones, and Sony remains 1 of nan benchmarks successful nan category, but nan spread is now overmuch smaller than I expected. For nan first time, Skullcandy deserves to beryllium taken earnestly successful this area. Transparency mode is likewise solid, sounding earthy capable for speedy conversations without needing to region nan headphones.

What would a brace of Skullcandy headphones be, though, without Crusher Bass? This characteristic is arsenic iconic arsenic it is divisive. Personally, I bask it astatine nan correct moments. There's a logic why I deterioration Crushers successful nan gym, and sometimes bangers conscionable slap a small spot much erstwhile you tin consciousness them. But older Crusher models sewage comically complete nan apical erstwhile nan haptic effect was dialed up excessively much.

On nan 1080, nan effect has been rebooted, and it's for nan better. It's still nan aforesaid haptic bass, but erstwhile utilized successful moderation it genuinely feels for illustration nan activity is portion of nan bass, alternatively than a mechanical trick. Sure, if you thrust it each nan measurement up, things will get rumbly, but it's still a batch of fun, and you don't ever person to usage it if you don't want to.

This is wherever things go much complicated. At $270, nan Crusher 1080 is successful an awkward spot. Skullcandy has priced them astir $100 cheaper than nan likes of Sony's WH-1000XM6, Bose's ain QuietComfort lineup and nan Sennheiser Momentum 5. But if you are okay pinch a Momentum 4, aliases an XM5, abruptly nan Crushers look much expensive. Even Anker's Soundcore Space One Pro — a similarly-specc'd mid-range favourite — are coppable for $100 little than nan Crusher's asking value if you don't want nan bass characteristic and ANC is little important.

The mobility mightiness really be, are these a much affordable introduction constituent to Bose-level audio? Bose still has nan separator successful ANC and a stronger all-round audio acquisition successful a much premium package. But nan Crusher 1080 occupies a class almost wholly by itself: a tin sound, beardown ANC and, of course, that unsocial attack to bass. This makes it acold easier to urge than erstwhile generations.

James Trew

The Crusher 1080 is nan astir complete and mature brace of Skullcandy headphones I've used. Rather than relying solely connected its bass credentials, it yet delivers nan fundamentals expected from a premium wireless headphone: enjoyable sound, tin ANC, bully artillery life and a characteristic group that feels applicable successful 2026.

It's not perfect. The creation still lacks immoderate of nan polish of its biggest rivals, nan controls could beryllium amended laid retired and nan weight becomes noticeable during longer listening sessions. But if you've ever been funny astir nan Crusher conception and dismissed erstwhile models arsenic novelty headphones, this is nan 1 that changes each of that.