Sennheiser Accent: Specs
Value: $229 / £199 / AU$449
Colours: Black
Battery life: 60 hrs (ANC off) / 50 hrs (ANC on)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 (codecs: SBC and AAC)
Water resistance: Not specified
Dimension: 10.43 x 8.5 x 2.72 inches / 26.5 x 21.6 x 6.9 cm
Weight: 7.8 ounces / 332 grams
If, like me, you miss the bass-heavy Beats By Dre headphones that had been all the trend earlier than Apple’s acquisition of the corporate, you might end up gravitating in the direction of a product like Skullcandy’s Crusher ANC 2 — noise canceling cans that promise an excessive sensory bass expertise.
And sure, they definitely do what it says on the field. These headphones will rattle your mind and vibrate your face, stopping simply shy of constructing your tooth wiggle. Sure, the 40mm drivers and extra haptics provided by the Crusher ANC 2 will present an unlimited quantity of bass, although it is perhaps an excessive amount of for even probably the most hardened membership rat.
Nonetheless, Skullcandy’s new cans carry an unlimited variety of options to the desk, beginning with the aforementioned bass response, and persevering with with unimaginable 60-hour battery life, built-in Tile monitoring, a set of EQ and sound personalization settings, voice controls and extra.
Admittedly, although ANC is correct there within the identify, the Crusher ANC 2’s noise-cancelation chops are simply okay, providing satisfactory blocking of lower-pitched noises and little else.
So whereas the Crusher ANC 2 in all probability will not land on our checklist of the most effective noise-canceling headphones, there’s positively an viewers on the market that may recognize the immense bass and loudness on provide.
Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 evaluation: Value and availability
Skullcandy’s Crusher ANC 2 headphones can be found to buy now priced at $229 / £199 / AU$449. Although definitely not low-cost, they’re extra reasonably priced than many different premium ANC headphones in the marketplace, undercutting the likes of Sony’s WH-1000XM5, which are sometimes discounted to round $300 / £300 / AU$500.
When it comes to a more in-depth comparability, the Crusher ANC 2 sits in the identical tough value vary as Sony’s previous-gen WH-1000XM4, which you’ll be able to at the moment decide up for round $244 / £235 / AU$439.
Globally, you should purchase the Crusher ANC 2 immediately from Skullcandy’s personal web site, in addition to from Amazon. Within the US, you can even purchase them from the likes of Walmart and Greatest Purchase, whereas within the UK, you may decide them up from main retailers like Curries and Argos. In Australia, Skullcandy’s Crusher ANC 2 are available for purchase from JB Hello-Fi and Bing Lee.
Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 evaluation: Design and options
With a reputation like Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2, you would be forgiven for assuming that these over-ear cans would sport a brash, in-your-face design, however the actuality is way extra delicate and, dare I say it, tasteful.
Whereas comprised principally of plastic, which has the capability to look low-cost, the Crusher ANC 2 feels extra premium within the hand because of its matte black end and silky clean contact. When it comes to accents, the headphones provide a barely totally different (however nonetheless very clean) texture on the center part of the headscarf, together with a small Skullcandy brand embossed in shiny plastic above each ear cups, and an orange energy button for a little bit of added zing.
The Crusher ANC 2’s headband additionally options slide-down arms, permitting for added size, together with rotating earcups that may lie completely flat, and hinges so you may simply fold them away for storage within the included (and moderately sturdy) carry case.
When it comes to stress, the Crusher ANC 2 is kind of snug, providing simply sufficient pressure to remain agency in your head with out feeling too tight. This makes them well-suited for lengthy listening classes, assuming their loopy bass response does not put on you out. Every earcup additionally options padded reminiscence foam adored in smooth fake leather-based for added consolation.
Whereas the Crusher ANC 2 provides no contact controls to talk of, there are a selection of bodily buttons and different parts to work together with. The aforementioned orange energy button is located behind the left earcup, with a wheel positioned proper beneath that permits you to scroll by way of totally different ranges of bass depth when the cans are in Crusher mode. The left earcup additionally holds a USB-C port for fast charging, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
In the meantime, over on the precise earcup, you will discover three assignable buttons and a sliding change, which can be too many for individuals who choose a extra minimal strategy.
By default, the highest button raises the amount, whereas the underside button lowers it. The center button provides a bit extra performance, permitting you to play and pause music, in addition to reply and finish calls. On prime of this, a three-second maintain will activate Spotify Faucet, primarily Spotify’s algorithm to play you a random tune primarily based in your listening habits. As for the sliding change, this allows you to flick between ANC On, ANC Off and a ‘Keep Conscious’ transparency mode.
Together with assist for voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, iHeart and TuneIn, the Crusher ANC 2 has its personal voice management instructions. These may be launched with the phrase “Hey Skullcandy”, which is one thing I would not be caught useless saying aloud on public transport.
Though the Crusher ANC 2’s feature-set is sizeable, there are a few areas which might’ve seen a bit extra consideration. For starters, these cans seemingly will not flip off on their very own — on multiple event, I’ve folded and saved the Crusher ANC 2 in its included carry case solely to seek out them nonetheless switched on and linked to my telephone over an hour later. On-ear detection would’ve additionally been appreciated, as music will simply preserve enjoying in the event you take these cans off your head.
Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 evaluation: Sound high quality
There is not any denying the Crusher ANC 2 delivers powerfully within the low-end, boasting 40mm drivers which can be working within the frequency vary of 20Hz to 20kHz, and a set of further haptic drivers, although it is probably not the form of bass you are essentially after.
Whereas there’s deep, clear, punchy bass to be heard from the Crusher ANC 2, it typically magnifies low-frequency results (LFE) that had been by no means meant to be so overpowering, leading to intense, extended vibration that may be a bit of exhausting, even in brief listening classes.
After all, to get the complete impact of all that bass, you will need to allow Crusher mode throughout the Cranium-IQ app. As soon as enabled, you may cycle by way of ten ranges of Crusher depth, both by way of the app, voice command, or from the helpful scroll wheel located on the backside of the left ear cup.
Even with the depth slider at naked minimal (that means 5%), Crusher mode delivers a big quantity of sub-bass, and can seemingly be greater than sufficient for many bass-heads. That mentioned, the standard of the Crusher ANC 2’s bass response is finally decided on a track-by-track foundation.
The tune Cash Timber by Kendrick Lamar proved an ideal showcase for the Crusher ANC 2, with the tune’s laidback beat enhanced by a deeper sense of bass and a delightful rumble, providing you with the sensation of cruising in a lowrider with a pounding subwoofer. The one factor lacking from the equation is the bounce of hydraulics.
Whereas listening to the tune Ghost Journey by Crosses, a wall of low-end sound kicks off across the 1:08 mark, sending the Crusher ANC 2 cans into full vibration mode till the walloping bassline returns at 1:29. From right here, the introduction of gentle distortion to the beat finally ends up overwhelming the observe and sending the headphones into head-massager territory.
For quick, bass-heavy dance music, the rumble impact can go a bit of haywire, as was the case throughout Dizzee Rascal and Calvin Harris’ social gathering anthem, Vacation — right here, the cans struggled to maintain up with the beat, resulting in inconsistent vibrations that had been finally distracting.
Fortunately, the Crusher ANC 2 cans nonetheless provide a good quantity of unpolluted bass with Crusher mode disabled, offering a balanced sense of oomph that is similar to the likes of Sony’s WH-1000XM5 — it will not blow your hair again just like the Beats of previous, however it should ship you into an involuntary head-nod.
Funnily sufficient, the place Crusher mode is perhaps simplest is with older, quieter recordings that immediately profit from the extra resonance, making them sound extra trendy within the course of. Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is the very definition of a traditional hip-hop album, albeit a bit of quiet by trendy requirements attributable to its lo-fi, DIY origins, nonetheless, the Crusher ANC 2 beefs it up considerably.
Crusher ANC 2 additionally performs effectively with warmer-sounding songs, giving an exquisite sense of added depth to the guitars and drums on Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Have You Ever Seen The Rain, and Fleetwood Mac’s Go Your Personal Manner.
That mentioned, the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2’s emphasis on the low finish comes on the expense of dynamics, with bass typically pushing higher-end frequencies into the background, making them harder to make out.
The general EQ may be adjusted considerably within the Cranium-IQ app, though not extensively. To get the most effective outcome, making a Mimi Sound Personalization profile within the Cranium-IQ is really helpful, because it’ll tremendous tune your headphones to higher swimsuit what you may really hear.
Nonetheless, their lack of assist for top bitrate codecs, reminiscent of LDAC and AptX, imply the Crusher ANC 2 headphones aren’t notably effectively suited to the wants of audiophiles. Then once more, we’re pretty sure Skullcandy is not aiming these cans at that crowd, anyway.
Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 evaluation: Energetic noise canceling
As with most over-ear headphones with cushioned earpads, a great deal of exterior ambient noise is muffled on the outset. After all, that will not be sufficient to dam extra persistent noises, which is the place the ‘ANC’ a part of the Crusher ANC 2’s identify steps in to assist.
Regardless of boasting a four-mic energetic noise-canceling system, Skullcandy’s Crusher ANC 2 will not block out wherever close to as a lot exterior sound as you may anticipate at this value vary.
Whereas it does job of dampening lower-end frequencies, higher-pitched noises are barely blocked in any respect. As an illustration, typing on a keyboard with ANC On will noticeably scale back thump sounds, however will depart in all of the clacking noises.
We additionally did not discover a lot distinction between the Crusher ANC 2’s ‘Keep Conscious’ transparency mode and having ANC switched off fully. There may be, in fact, one exception to this: telephone calls. Keep Conscious mode does allow you to hear your self extra clearly throughout calls. No matter which mode you are set to, calls on the opposite finish of the road sound simply tremendous.
Nonetheless, if all you need is a pair of headphones that may block out the buzzing noise on planes, trains and vehicles, the Crusher ANC 2 can do this at an inexpensive stage.
It is also price noting that the Crusher ANC 2 is susceptible to a big quantity of sound leakage at excessive volumes — one thing to contemplate if you do not need everybody on the bus discovering out about your Whitney Houston obsession.
Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 evaluation: Verdict
Skullcandy’s Crusher ANC 2 guarantees excessive bass and it definitely lives as much as that promise. When you’re sick of wimpy headphones that endure from an absence of oomph, the Crusher ANC 2 may be the reply to your prayers. These cans are completely able to clear, thumping bass, however not throughout the board. Extreme vibration and occasional distortion can result in a not quite perfect listening expertise, relying in your EQ settings and tune decisions. Battery life on the Crusher ANC 2 is among the many finest we have seen on a pair of wi-fi headphones, and their intensive characteristic set is great, although their noise-cancelation leaves so much to be desired.
