Skullcandy has unveiled a new generation of its Crusher wireless headphones, and this time the brand is leaning on Bose for some of the biggest upgrades. The new Crusher 1080 ANC headphones bring in several Bose audio technologies, including QuietControl active noise cancellation and head-tracking spatial audio. Skullcandy’s Crusher lineup has long stood apart by pairing full-range drivers with dedicated bass drivers in each ear cup, giving listeners a more forceful low-end response. The tradeoff, as Skullcandy acknowledges, is that pushing the bass too hard can hurt overall sound quality. With the Crusher 1080 ANC, the company says it is working to clean that up with help from Bose.
The Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC are available starting today for $279.99, with color choices that include black, candy, primer, and cement. Inside, the headphones use redesigned drivers built with a stiffer diaphragm material, a change intended to deliver sharper detail, better clarity, and reduced distortion when the volume is turned up. As on earlier Crusher headphones, the bass boost remains fully adjustable through Skullcandy’s mobile app or directly on the headphones, which now feature a more noticeable control dial on the outside.
The Crusher 1080 ANC also mark the first time Bose’s TrueSpatial audio technology with head tracking has appeared on non-Bose headphones. The feature is designed to work whether you are sitting still or moving, including while out on a run. Skullcandy’s new headphones also use Bose’s WaveForm audio engine, which the company says helps keep playback “full, balanced, and smooth.” For noise reduction, the model adds Bose’s six-microphone QuietControl ANC system, which adapts as surrounding noise grows louder or quieter. The Crusher 1080 ANC include Bose SpeechClarity as well, a call-focused feature that cuts down background noise so your voice sounds clearer, though this is not the first third-party headset to offer it.
Battery life is rated at up to 60 hours with ANC switched off, or up to 50 hours with active noise cancellation enabled. If the headphones run out of power, a 10-minute rapid charge can provide as much as four hours of listening time. Other features include multipoint pairing for connecting to and switching between multiple devices, automatic reconnect, wear detection that pauses audio when the headphones are removed, and a fold-flat design for easier storage. The Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC support Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio, low-latency audio, and Auracast.
