Design & Construction

The Skullcandy Crusher Wireless is Skullcandy's first attempt at reinventing itself into a more discreet brand which used to boast loud headphone designs and colours. The left earcup has the (From Back-Front): Bass Slider, Micro-USB port and 3.5mm Aux Port and the Mic, while at the back of the right earcup, we have the  Vol- & Vol+ buttons which allow to seek backward/forward by holding down for 3 seconds each. There is also a multi-function button to allow for play/pause and picking up/ending calls. A red LED will light up when it is left to charge. Pairing via Bluetooth is simple and quick. A Blue LED light up once in 3 seconds during wireless usage. The bass slider can be used to toggle the Bass boost level when necessary. Both earcups bear the SkullCandy logo. The headphones have very thick cushions which is meant for providing a bassier experience. The headband is very tight and will certainly cause discomfort to the crown of the head and around the ears due to its tight and inflexible metal headband. The discomfort is usually felt after an hour. On the headband, there is also silicone headrest which provides very little comfort. The soft memory-form ear cushions are quite comfortable though. The exterior of the earcups has a matte-like finish. On the top, the headband holding the structure is made out of stainless metal. The earcups do not pivot at all. This is certainly uncommon as the mass population has different head shapes. SkullCandy definitely failed to carefully study the ergonomics of the mass population for this product. On the plus side, SkullCandy does provide accurate and adjustable sliders to conform to various head sizes. Potential buyers should also note that there are wires sticking from the sides of the headphones.  

​

Sound Quality

The 40mm headphone drivers are super bass-boosted; expect an equivalent of a subwoofer blasting bass right in your ears. The headphone drivers do provide a very immersive experience. Based on my experience, the noise isolation is very well-done, I could not hear much of my surroundings when there was no music on. Using the bass slider to toggle my bass levels; when I disable it totally, it was flat in the bass department. Pushing it up slowly and testing with my most bass-heavy EDM tracks, the bass gradually becomes stronger. When I set the bass slider to the max, the headphone was vibrating madly on my head. It was like sitting in a car with 2 massive 600W subwoofers in the trunk. The highs and mids were practically non-existent. As a bass lover, I like to use it at the half-way mark to strike a good balance of clear mids, highs and bass boost. Call quality was fantastic as the caller could hear me clearly on the other end and didn't know I was using the headphone mic to communicate. Bass lovers are recommended to get one for short daily commutes.

​

Connectivity & Portability

The headphone operates both passively and wirelessly. The volume of the headphones is similar when using in either wired or wireless mode. The mic and playback controls still works in wired mode as there is a mic on the cable itself. Users should also note that the headphone cannot be charged and used at the same time. Listening via the Micro-USB cable is also not possible. The battery life peaks at an impressive 40 hours in Bluetooth mode. Allowing me to get through 2 weeks of continuous usage with no problems. Tuning of the bass via the slider works in both wired and wireless modes. It is definitely a relief to know as bass lovers can still toggle the bass levels even when they decide to go wired. The headphones folds up to fit in the included carry bag.

​

PROS

• Durable Construction

• Strong Bass Boost

• Long Battery Life

• Controls For Music Play & Calls

• Good Call Quality

• Easy Control of Amount of Bass Boost

​

CONS

• Tight Clamping Force

• Bass May Upset Whole Frequency Response

• Severe Wearing Fatigue

​

The Bottom Line

The SkullCandy Crusher Wireless is a decent headphone housing very capable 40mm bass-focused drivers and super long 40-hour battery life. However, the headphone's clamping force is very tight and will cause serious wearing fatigue after short periods of time. It is suitable only for bass lovers as a daily driver.