Even at the discounted price close to $200, they’re still asking a lot for one-size-fits-all audio quality, and they’re behind on battery life. The Skullcandy Hesh ANC have a very excited, v-shaped sound profile. They deliver intense thump and rumble as well as bright and sparkling vocals and lead instruments. However, some users may find they sound harsh or piercing.
This only happened once — and so I don’t know if they picked up interference from something around me. How do they compare when listening to music, watching video, or just as noice cancelling headphones? One last hidden feature of the skullcandy hesh anc headphones is that it has the ability to be tracked by the Tile app.
However, they don’t isolate as much noise as similarly priced headphones like the Razer Opus Wireless or the AKG N60NC Wireless. The Skullcandy Hesh models have enough battery life to watch movies or to game all day. The Hesh ANC can last 22 hours with noise cancellation active, while the Evo can last up to 36 hours. For comparison, the Skullcandy Crusher lasts up to 24 hours (and the Sony WH-1000XM4 can run for 30 hours with noise canceling on). The Skullcandy Hesh headphones also offer rapid charging, which provides three hours of listening with just 10 minutes of USB-C plug-in time. The Hesh ANC headphones deliver decent noise cancellation for the price.
If you prefer a different sound, their companion app also has EQ presets to help tweak their sound. Their active noise cancelling feature significantly reduces ambient noise around you too and they have longer continuous battery life. The skullcandy wireless Wireless are an upgraded variant of the Skullcandy Hesh 3 Wireless.
Even though the change doesn’t sound bad, it’s another sign of inexpensive ANC circuitry. On the plus side, ambient mode is well-implemented, and you can easily hear your surroundings with a natural volume level without taking the headphones off. Skullcandy upgraded its Crusher series skullcandy hesh anc with the newest Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 ($229.99 at Manufacturer site). If bass is where you’re at, these deliver via a dial that directly controls the Crusher (low end volume) mode. Besides the hefty low end, the headphones feature noise canceling and a competent app too.
They’re also prone to slight inconsistencies in treble delivery. Overall, the Skullcandy Hesh headphones produce solid sound. The ANC does offer increased isolation and a more immersive experience than the Evo, but I couldn’t otherwise detect a huge sonic distinction, despite the slight difference in decibel output. The sound profile skewed toward a brighter treble than equivalent headsets I’ve tested. So while there was enjoyable bass, the sound was nicely balanced and detailed. For instance, the tambourine chimed crisply in the Counting Crows’ “Mr.
When it comes to audio, on tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the headphones deliver powerful low-frequency response, and at top volumes, avoid distorting. The bass depth still sounds strong at moderate listening levels. The controls along the right earcup’s side panel work well and are easy to feel, with a central playback button that doubles as the call management and power button. There’s a dedicated ANC on/off button, and pressing it twice puts the headphones in ambient mode.
There are a lot of decent ANC headsets out there, but this is worth considering if you don’t want to spend serious money. Last Nite by The Strokes has a pretty prominent bass line and loud kick drum, but there are no issues with bass frequencies masking mids or highs. The kick drum is enjoyably prominent, Julian Casablancas’ voice comes through among the bass line throughout, and the guitar part is still very audible.