Skullcandy Crusher Wireless Review | 93 Data compared

The SoundGuys review identifies the Skullcandy Crusher Wireless as a niche product for "bassheads," featuring an adjustable haptic bass slider, exceptional 40-hour battery life, and clear treble despite its focus on extreme, vibrating bass. While the build is durable and includes a 3.5mm jack for wired use, the design features a strong clamping force, uses cheaper plastics, and has a rubberized headband that can catch hair. The headset is marred by a "boxy" and muted midrange, along with excessive, distorting vibrations from the haptic drivers when pushed to high levels. Furthermore, the intense clamping force can cause fatigue during long listening sessions.

The Skullcandy Crusher Wireless 2016 are average, mixed-usage over-ear headphones, highlighted by an adjustable haptic bass slider for intense low-end, an outstanding 36-hour battery life, and a sturdier build. However, the, overall sound profile is excessively bass-heavy, with poor noise isolation and high Bluetooth latency affecting performance. Additionally, the headset is characterized by a tight, potentially uncomfortable clamping force on larger heads.

The Skullcandy Crusher Wireless over-ear headphones deliver an incredibly powerful, customizable bass experience that can physically vibrate on your head via a dedicated bass boost slider. Designed with a sleek matte black or gray/tan finish, the headphones feature high-quality plastic and metal construction, easy-to-use physical buttons on the earcups, and an impressive, class-leading battery life of up to 40 hours. They connect reliably via Bluetooth within a standard 33-foot range and come packed with a soft carry bag, a microUSB charging cable, and a 3.5mm auxiliary cable for optional wired listening. However, the headphones come with notable trade-offs, particularly for listeners seeking accurate sound reproduction, as the heavily dipped high-end and high-mids frequencies are deliberately scooped to favor the low-end frequencies. While the plush foam padding on the headband and earcups offers standard comfort, the headphones exert a remarkably tight, intense clamping force that can cause ear fatigue during long listening sessions. Additionally, the bass slider lacks subtle nuance, pushing the low-end from a well-tuned rumble to an overwhelming, brain-shaking vibration very quickly.

The PCMag UK 2016 review awards the Skullcandy Crusher Wireless headphones an Average 3.0 rating, highlighting them as an exceptionally powerful option built strictly for heavy bass enthusiasts. Priced at $199, these circumaural (over-ear) headphones upgrade their wired predecessor by ditching AA batteries for a rechargeable design and introducing Bluetooth connectivity. A standout feature is the unique "dual-channel haptic bass" system, which physically vibrates the earcups to match low frequencies. Pros highlighted in the review include a remarkably comfortable fit due to memory foam earpads and a well-cushioned headband, a dedicated physical slider for seamless bass adjustments, an impressive estimated battery life of up to 40 hours, and a bundled audio cable that enables passive listening even when the headphones are powered down.

The Skullcandy Crusher Wireless headphones ($199) are built specifically for bass enthusiasts, swapping the AA batteries of their wired predecessor for a rechargeable design and Bluetooth connectivity. They feature "dual-channel haptic bass" that physically vibrates the circumaural, memory foam earcups to match deep low-end frequencies. While the headphones are highly comfortable and offer exceptional battery life estimated at up to 40 hours, the haptic bass slider on the left earcup can easily become overwhelming. At maximum settings on sub-bass heavy tracks, the vibrations cause intense cup throbbing that entirely drowns out the rest of the audio mix, making genres like classical music or complex rap loops sound like a chaotic, unlistenable mess. The primary pros of the Crusher Wireless include its powerful bass presence at lower slider levels (around one to three), an incredibly comfortable over-ear fit, a long-lasting battery, and included accessories like a passive 3.5mm audio cable and a faux-fur lined travel tote. It also delivers audio completely free of distortion, even at maximum volume levels. Conversely, the cons center on the extreme, "zealous" bass overkill at higher...

The Skullcandy Crusher Wireless headphones are lauded in this Medium review as a high-value, portable option offering a balanced sound signature with an open soundstage. Key features include a 40-hour battery life and an adjustable haptic bass slider capable of producing intense, head-shaking vibrations. Conversely, the review notes a tight clamping force that may cause discomfort over extended periods, alongside a plastic-heavy build. Additionally, turning the haptic slider to maximum results in significant audio distortion and muddied midrange, turning the feature into an overwhelming gimmick.

The TechGearLab review gives the Skullcandy Crusher wireless headphones a low-tier overall score of 53 out of 100, concluding that they are a poor value at their $160 list price unless you prioritize overpowering bass above all else. The primary pro of these headphones is their exceptionally powerful, over-the-top bass response which uses a dedicated driver that literally shakes on your head when turned all the way up. However, this extreme emphasis results in significant cons, including average, muddled sound clarity on complicated melodies or extreme notes, and mediocre noise isolation due to the complete lack of active noise cancellation. Additionally, the review highlights notable physical and usability drawbacks that limit the headphones' appeal. A major con is comfort; while they are quite comfy for medium or small heads, they tightly squeeze larger heads, prompting testers to nickname them literal "skull crushers". The user controls are also somewhat cumbersome, requiring the user to hold down the volume buttons for three full seconds just to skip tracks. Finally, while the 10.1-ounce headphones fold down relatively small, their portability is hindered by...