Skullcandy’s latest Crusher ANC 2 headphones are making waves in the audio world with their impressive blend of features. These over-ear headphones combine Skullcandy’s signature adjustable bass technology with enhanced active noise canceling capabilities, creating an immersive listening experience. The Crusher ANC 2 takes bass performance to new levels with its patented combination of 4-mic digital active noise canceling and the famous Crusher Bass technology, delivering powerful low-end frequencies that users can feel, not just hear.
The new model represents a refined evolution from previous Crusher versions, offering improvements in sound quality, comfort, battery life, and connectivity. With the addition of Personal Sound customization and hands-free voice control through Skull-IQ, these headphones provide a versatile audio experience tailored to individual preferences. Users particularly appreciate the customizable bass slider that allows them to adjust the intensity of those room-shaking low frequencies.
Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 Review
Bone‑Rattling Bass Meets Smart Noise Cancelation
The Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 headphones are built for listeners who want maximum bass, modern features, and all‑day comfort—without paying premium flagship prices. With adjustable sensory bass, improved active noise cancelation (ANC), and smart controls, the Crusher ANC 2 stands out in a crowded wireless headphone market.
In this review, we break down design, sound quality, ANC performance, battery life, and whether the Crusher ANC 2 is worth buying.
Quick Specs
- Type: Over‑ear wireless headphones
- Noise Cancelation: Adaptive ANC + Transparency Mode
- Battery Life: Up to 50 hours (ANC off) / ~40 hours (ANC on)
- Charging: USB‑C + fast charge
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2, multipoint
- Bass Feature: Adjustable Crusher Sensory Bass
- App Support: Skullcandy App (iOS & Android)
Design & Comfort
The Crusher ANC 2 keeps Skullcandy’s bold, rugged design while improving comfort for longer listening sessions.
What’s Good
- Plush ear cushions with good clamping force
- Foldable design with durable hinges
- Physical buttons (more reliable than touch controls)
- Premium‑looking matte finish
Downsides
- Bulkier than some competitors
- Can feel heavy during very long sessions
Overall, they’re comfortable enough for daily use, travel, and gym sessions, especially if you enjoy over‑ear headphones with a secure fit.
Sound Quality
Crusher Sensory Bass
The defining feature is Skullcandy’s Crusher bass slider, which lets you control how intense the bass feels—from subtle thump to skull‑shaking rumble.
- Bass lovers will love it
- EDM, hip‑hop, and action movies sound massive
- Bass can overpower mids if pushed too far
Mids & Highs
- Vocals are clear at moderate bass levels
- Highs are crisp but not overly detailed
- Soundstage is wide and immersive
These headphones are tuned for fun rather than studio‑grade accuracy.
Active Noise Cancelation (ANC)
The Crusher ANC 2 uses adaptive noise cancelation that adjusts based on your surroundings.
Performance
- Excellent at reducing low‑frequency noise (planes, buses, fans)
- Mid‑range noise reduction is decent
- Transparency Mode works well for conversations
While not quite on the level of Sony or Bose, ANC performance is strong for the price.
Smart Features & App
Skull‑IQ App Highlights
- Adjustable bass control
- Custom EQ presets
- Personal Sound tuning (hearing test‑based)
- Button customization
- Firmware updates
The app is simple, stable, and adds real value.
Battery Life
Battery performance is one of the Crusher ANC 2’s biggest strengths.
- Up to 50 hours with ANC off
- Around 40 hours with ANC on
- 10‑minute charge = ~4 hours playback
This easily beats many competitors in the same price range.
Connectivity & Controls
- Bluetooth multipoint for two devices
- Stable connection with minimal dropouts
- Physical buttons are easy to find and responsive
- Built‑in Tile tracking for locating lost headphones
No wired listening mode is included, which may matter to some users.
Call Quality
- Clear voice pickup in quiet environments
- Decent noise reduction during calls
- Not ideal for very noisy outdoor calls
Good enough for casual calls and meetings, but not a headset replacement.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Extremely powerful adjustable bass
- Long battery life
- Solid ANC performance
- Comfortable for long sessions
- No subscription required
- Competitive price
❌ Cons
- Bulky design
- Bass can overpower sound if maxed
- No wired audio option
- Not audiophile‑tuned
Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 vs Competitors
| Feature | Crusher ANC 2 | Sony WH‑1000XM5 | Bose QC Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bass Impact | ✅ Massive | ⚠️ Controlled | ⚠️ Moderate |
| ANC | ✅ Good | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Excellent |
| Battery Life | ✅ Best | ⚠️ Good | ⚠️ Good |
| Price | ✅ Lower | ❌ Higher | ❌ Higher |
Who Should Buy the Crusher ANC 2?
Buy these if you:
- Love deep, physical bass
- Want long battery life
- Prefer fun sound over flat accuracy
- Want ANC without premium pricing
Skip them if you:
- Want neutral, studio‑grade sound
- Prefer lightweight headphones
- Need wired audio support
Final Verdict
The Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 delivers exactly what it promises: huge bass, long battery life, and solid noise cancelation at a competitive price. While they won’t replace high‑end audiophile headphones, they’re one of the most fun and customizable wireless ANC headphones available.
⭐ Rating: 4.4 / 5
If you want headphones that feel the music as much as you hear it, the Crusher ANC 2 is an easy recommendation.
Key Takeaways
- The Crusher ANC 2 features patented technology that combines advanced noise canceling with customizable bass for an immersive audio experience.
- These headphones include Personal Sound customization and hands-free voice control through Skull-IQ for enhanced user convenience.
- Improvements in comfort, battery life, and connectivity make the Crusher ANC 2 a significant upgrade from previous Skullcandy models.
Technical Specifications and Features
The Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 headphones combine powerful bass capabilities with noise cancellation technology and extended battery life. These over-ear headphones offer a range of features designed for immersive listening experiences across different environments.
Active Noise Cancellation and Sound Quality
The Crusher ANC 2 features adjustable 4-Mic Active Noise Canceling technology to reduce ambient noise. Users can customize the level of noise cancellation based on their surroundings and preferences.
Sound quality is enhanced through 40mm drivers that deliver a frequency range of up to 20 kHz. The standout feature is the Crusher Adjustable Sensory Bass with 10 different intensity levels, allowing listeners to feel the bass physically.
Personal Sound by Mimi® technology tailors audio to individual hearing profiles. This customization enhances the listening experience by adjusting frequencies to match personal hearing capabilities.
The headphones include Custom EQ modes through the Skullcandy app, giving users the ability to fine-tune sound profiles beyond the bass settings.
Design and Connectivity
Battery life is impressive with up to 50 hours of playback time. The Rapid Charge feature provides more than 4 hours of listening from just a 10-minute charge, making these headphones practical for daily use.
Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity ensures stable wireless connections with compatible devices. Multipoint Pairing allows users to connect to multiple devices simultaneously, making it easy to switch between a phone and laptop.
The headphones include intuitive volume controls and are charged via USB-C. Their over-ear design provides comfort during extended listening sessions.
Voice command capabilities enable hands-free operation with access to voice assistants. These smart features enhance usability while on the go.
User Experience and Compatibility
The Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 headphones offer several features that enhance daily use and integrate with modern technology. Users benefit from exceptional battery performance and smart features that make these headphones versatile for different listening environments.
Battery Life and Charging
The Crusher ANC 2 provides an impressive 50-hour battery life with Active Noise Cancellation enabled on a single charge. This extended runtime makes the headphones ideal for long trips or multiple days of regular use without needing to recharge.
When power does run low, the Rapid Charge feature comes to the rescue. A quick 10-minute charge delivers several hours of listening time, perfect for users who are about to head out and notice their battery is depleted.
The headphones use a USB-A-to-USB-C charging cable, making them compatible with most modern charging setups. The charging port is easily accessible on the ear cup, with clear indicators to show charging status and battery levels.
Smart Integration and App Support
The Skull-IQ app serves as the control center for the Crusher ANC 2, available for both iOS and Android devices. Through the app, users can access Personal Sound, which creates a custom audio profile based on individual hearing capabilities.
Custom EQ settings allow listeners to fine-tune their audio experience beyond the built-in Crusher bass technology. The app also enables Stay-Aware Mode, which lets in ambient sound when needed for safety or conversations.
Voice control capabilities make hands-free operation simple, with commands for adjusting volume, skipping tracks, or answering calls. The Clear Voice Smart Mic technology ensures call quality remains high even in noisy environments.
Spotify Tap integration provides quick access to music with a simple button press. For the forgetful user, built-in Tile finding technology helps locate misplaced headphones through the Tile app.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 headphones offer several advanced features that users commonly ask about. These headphones blend powerful bass with active noise cancellation technology while introducing several improvements over previous models.
What improvements have been made in the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 over the previous edition?
The Crusher ANC 2 represents a refined version of its predecessor with significant upgrades. It features improved sound quality, enhanced comfort for extended wear, and better battery performance.
The headphones now include a 4-mic digital active noise canceling system, which provides more effective noise isolation than the previous model. The bass response, a hallmark of the Crusher line, has been further optimized with patented technology.
The Crusher ANC 2 also adds Skull-iQ App support, giving users more control over their listening experience. Voice control functionality has been implemented, allowing for hands-free operation.
What are the main differences between the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 and Crusher XT models?
The Crusher ANC 2 includes active noise cancellation technology, which is not present in the Crusher XT model. This feature uses microphones to detect and counteract external noise.
The ANC 2 offers Personal Sound customization through the Skull-iQ App, creating a tailored audio profile based on the user’s hearing. The bass experience in the ANC 2 has been specifically tuned to work in harmony with the noise cancellation technology.
Battery life and connectivity stability also differ between the models, with the ANC 2 generally offering more advanced wireless performance.
How does the battery life of the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 compare to other models in the same range?
The Crusher ANC 2 offers improved battery performance compared to its predecessor. Users can quickly check battery status by pressing the power button on the left earcup, with green LEDs indicating remaining charge.
When compared to other noise-canceling headphones in its price range, the Crusher ANC 2 provides competitive battery life. The exact duration varies depending on volume levels and whether noise cancellation is active.
The improved battery efficiency represents one of the refinements mentioned in user reviews, with the ANC 2 providing more listening time than the original Crusher ANC.
What has been the reception and review consensus for the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 since its release?
User reviews suggest the Crusher ANC 2 has been well-received as a refined upgrade. Some users describe it as “Crusher Evo 1.9,” noting improvements across sound quality, comfort, battery life, and connection stability.
The bass performance, a defining feature of the Crusher line, continues to impress users. However, some reviewers note that the previous Evo model might still offer more intense bass for those specifically seeking that feature.
The addition of Personal Sound technology and the improved noise cancellation have been highlighted as valuable enhancements that justify the upgrade for many users.
What features contribute to the noise-cancelling capabilities of the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2?
The Crusher ANC 2 employs a sophisticated 4-mic digital active noise canceling system. This array of microphones detects external sounds and generates opposite sound waves to cancel them out.
Skullcandy has patented their approach to blending noise cancellation with their signature Crusher bass technology. This integration ensures that bass performance remains powerful even when noise cancellation is active.
The noise cancellation can be adjusted through the Skull-iQ App, allowing users to customize the level of ambient sound blocking based on their environment.
How does sound leakage in the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 compare to other noise-cancelling headphones?
The Crusher ANC 2’s over-ear design provides good isolation, minimizing sound leakage to surrounding people. The padded ear cups create a seal around the ears that both blocks external noise and contains audio within the headphones.
At moderate volume levels, sound leakage is minimal compared to on-ear or open-back designs. This makes the Crusher ANC 2 suitable for office environments or public transportation.
Higher volume levels, especially with the bass slider turned up, may result in some sound being audible to people nearby, though this is common among most closed-back headphones when pushed to extreme volumes.
