These wireless headphones deliver concert-level bass that you can actually feel

If being crushed by the level of bass in your music sounds tempting, then the new Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC wireless headphones are probably for you. The adjustable sensory bass experience, just like previous versions, can legitimately rattle you to your core.

Skullcandy’s latest Crusher headphones don’t just rely on intense booming bass. Thanks to the company’s partnership with Bose, these headphones also benefit from Bose technologies like TrueSpatial, SoundDesign tuning, and WaveForm Audio.

A first for third-party headphones, the Crusher 1080 ANC headphones include Bose’s QuietControl ANC technology for better noise cancellation performance. In my early use, the ANC works great. They block a ton of outside sounds and distractions. 

The Crusher 1080 ANC headphones have a lot going for them, but they excel in two specific ways: they’re extremely comfortable, and they make you feel the music you’re listening to.

Music that shakes you

Part of talking about Skullcandy’s Crusher 1080 ANC headphones is existential. They’re so different from other wireless headphones that it seems like I have to explore some of my feelings about bass and a song’s mix.

Do you buy concert tickets in the front standing room? Have you ever been pushed up against a speaker at a show and thought, This is a good time? These headphones can recreate that experience.

In fact, one time while listening to music on the Crusher 1080 ANC, I was a little overwhelmed by the bass, so I felt for the adjustable dial on the side, only to find that it was already on the lowest level.

Some people want to feel their music more than simply listen to it. These headphones are one of the few products that make that happen. On one hand, that’s fun. It’s certainly a wild experience

Beyond the bass of Skullcandy Crusher headphones

In my mind, the only reason to consider these Crusher headphones is for their bass. But if you’re down that boom, then there are some other things to know.

First, these are very comfortable. The ear cups feel big, like earmuffs. Partly this is to accommodate the hardware, but partly because the padding is thick and squishy. The headband matches and the total experience makes the headphones easy to wear.

Be aware, like earmuffs, these do get warm after extended use. It’s great during the winter and less than ideal in the summer.

The media control buttons on the headphones are great. The four-way rocker is fun to use. The power button is easy to press—not always the case. The ANC button is a switch that you flick up or down to turn it on or off. I like it.

The headphones have an advertised 50 hours of battery life with ANC on. I didn’t do precise tests, but in my mixed use in various modes, this number seems to ring true.

ANC performance is good, for a couple of reasons

I find Bose’s active noise cancellation on its high-end QuietComfort Ultra Headphones to be some of the best on the market. While the addition of Bose’s Quiet Control ANC tech makes the Crusher 1080 ANC good at blocking noise, but not as good as Bose’s top-end model.

I also think the thick ear cups help with some passive noise blocking. They should be good enough for a lot of people’s needs, but for commuting on a plane or train you might still want more ANC performance.

Should you buy the Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC?

On one hand, the Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC headphones are comfortable, sound good, and have good ANC performance. I like their media control buttons because they’re easy to use without looking.

But on the other hand, the bass is a lot. It can feel crushing. After a while, I found the bass to be fatiguing to use. So, these probably won’t be for everyone. Still, I think they’re worth experiencing if you can find a demo pair to try somewhere. They’re just unlike anything else out there.