Many in style genres of music right this moment are all in regards to the bass, and listeners have come to count on the identical from their headphones and audio system. While quite a lot of in style manufacturers supply bass-boosted choices within the inexpensive and mid-range headphone area, none have gone fairly so far as Skullcandy. The Crusher sequence of headphones has been distinctive for one huge cause – the addition of ‘sensory’ bass, managed via a slider that lets the headphones present as a lot low-end thump and aggression as you need.
I had reviewed the Skullcandy Crusher ANC again in 2019, and was impressed by this moderately attention-grabbing manner of controlling the bass. However, it was priced at Rs. 27,999 at launch, and ANC efficiency was fairly underwhelming. Skullcandy’s new product, the Crusher Evo, guarantees the identical adjustable ‘sensory’ bass, however with a brand new design and at a extra inexpensive worth of Rs. 13,999. Is this one of the best pair of mid-range wi-fi headphones for bass lovers? Find out in our evaluate.
The Skullcandy Crusher Evo helps the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs
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Slide up and all the way down to set the bass on the Skullcandy Crusher Evo
Skullcandy has, through the years, stayed true to its design model, and the Crusher Evo follows the identical language. Although virtually utterly plastic, the headphones look good and have some attention-grabbing components and supplies in use, together with the velvet-like fabric on the high of the scarf, the spongy padding underneath that, and the massive spherical buttons. It would not have the common attraction of one thing just like the Sony WH-XB900N which retails at across the identical worth, however the Skullcandy Crusher Evo does have a youthful and adventurous look.
Although a bit smaller than older Crusher fashions, the Crusher Evo continues to be an over-ear headset. That mentioned, the match is not as snug as that of the Crusher ANC; the Evo feels a bit too comfortable and heavy at 312g, and did not appear to take a seat correctly round my ears after I had glasses on, affecting the noise isolating seal a good bit. However, the padding is comfortable, and the match wasn’t too dangerous for listening classes of as much as an hour or so. The headphones can be folded for simple storage.
On the correct facet of the Skullcandy Crusher Evo are huge bodily buttons to manage playback and quantity, whereas the left facet has the facility button, USB Type-C port for charging, 3.5mm socket for wired connectivity, and what makes this pair of headphones distinctive: the bass slider. This is a freely sliding vertical management that units the depth of the ‘sensory’ bass, letting you regulate how aggressive and punchy you need the lows with out having to undergo equaliser settings or software-based controls. How this impacts the sound is one thing I’ll discover later within the evaluate.
Even at across the 20 p.c degree on the bass slider, there’s sufficient bass to make the Skullcandy Crusher Evo shake in your head
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The headphones are powered by 40mm dynamic drivers, and have a frequency response vary of 20-20,000Hz. For connectivity, the Skullcandy Crusher Evo makes use of Bluetooth 5, with assist for the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs. The lack of assist for Qualcomm aptX is a bit disappointing on condition that it’s current on the Crusher ANC, and would have been a helpful addition. Included within the gross sales bundle of the Skullcandy Crusher Evo is a nylon carry case, a USB charging cable, and a stereo cable for wired connectivity.
As is the case with most Skullcandy headphones and earphones, the Crusher Evo is appropriate with the Skullcandy app, obtainable for Android and iOS. Customisation choices for the Crusher Evo are restricted; you may arrange a private sound profile utilizing Audiodo, and select between Music, Podcast, and Movie modes for primary audio equaliser tweaking.
It’s additionally attainable to hyperlink the headphones with Tile for simple monitoring and site, however this wants the separate Tile app, as with the Skullcandy Crusher ANC. Neither of those apps will have to be used usually, because the controls will not be customisable and the important thing characteristic of adjustable bass is managed via a bodily slider.
Despite the all-plastic construct, the Skullcandy Crusher Evo seems to be fairly good
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Battery life on the Skullcandy Crusher Evo is claimed to be 40 hours, and the headphones got here near that determine in my testing, with various quantity ranges and the bass slider set at totally different factors all through the evaluate interval. This is a powerful determine for wi-fi headphones, going far past what most headsets with the same characteristic set and type issue on this worth section supply.
Enough bass to make the Skullcandy Crusher Evo shake
The Skullcandy Crusher Evo makes no audiophile guarantees, and would not declare to be optimised for high-resolution music. Instead, it is a mid-range wi-fi headset that focuses on one main facet, the bass. Using the slider, you may set the bass to be both mellow and fully in step with the headphones’ core tuning, or flip it up to some extent the place the complete headset shakes in your head.
I’ll be fast to state that the best degree is extreme by any measure; even essentially the most passionate bass lovers will discover it needlessly aggressive, and it’ll overpower the remainder of the frequency vary. Even setting the bass slider to across the 20 p.c mark gives for punch and assault that’s excess of you’d get from most competing headphones. At this degree, the bass would not fairly really feel prefer it’s consuming into the mids and highs, however moderately as if it is coming from a separate driver altogether.
Like on the costlier Crusher ANC, the Skullcandy Crusher Evo fairly actually shakes in your head when the bass is turned up. At average ranges, regardless of the plain depth and rumble, the bass by no means felt muddy or imprecise, and held tight for essentially the most half. Furthermore, the rumble did not spill over past the sub-bass vary, with the mids and highs utterly freed from any encroachment.
Listening to Arambol by Astropilot on an iPhone 12 mini (Review), the sound began off as I’d have anticipated from any moderately good pair of wi-fi headphones, however the thump and rumble within the deep beats made for a novel listening expertise that not too many competing choices can supply.
The tight, aggressive bass was satisfying all through, giving this digital observe a ‘live performance’ really feel to a big extent; it pleasantly jogged my memory of the times after I could be standing subsequent to a big speaker at a dwell occasion, taking in all that bass. That mentioned, this bass is focused straight at your ears, so you do not wish to set it too excessive for lengthy, for the nice of your personal listening to.
You get a helpful carry pouch with the Skullcandy Crusher Evo
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Perhaps one of the best check observe for bass response at totally different ranges is Du Hast by Rammstein. With the ‘sensory bass’ at zero p.c, one thing naturally felt lacking on this observe, however this did show that the drivers are nicely tuned and provides the complete frequency vary sufficient area to shine.
A slight improve within the bass degree introduced sufficient ‘really feel’ to this traditional observe, and setting it to the 30 p.c mark made for a uniquely partaking hear, bringing to the fore the very aggression that defines it. What was most spectacular in regards to the Skullcandy Crusher Evo is that it did all of this with out negatively impacting the vocals or devices.
Looking previous the bass, the Skullcandy Crusher Evo provides a sound that is not fairly as detailed and refined as that of the marginally extra inexpensive Sony WH-CH710N. With Bambro Koyo Ganda by Bonobo, the mid vary tended to sound a bit piercing at occasions, whereas the highs had been nowhere close to as nicely tuned because the lows. This observe really sounded greatest with the sensory bass turned all the best way down.
The soundstage solely appeared spacious on the bass finish when it comes to bass separation, however did not really feel as broad and opulent total as I had hoped for. This is a good pair of headphones for bass lovers, supplied your music tastes are appropriately bass-focused. If you are searching for a extra well-rounded and detailed pair of headphones, the WH-CH710N could be a greater guess at a cheaper price.
The Skullcandy Crusher Evo is supposed for music, however you may after all use it as a hands-free headset for voice calls if wanted. Sound high quality on calls was respectable sufficient, with clear voices and fairly good microphone efficiency. Bluetooth connectivity was steady sufficient at distances of as much as ten toes from the paired telephone.
Verdict
The Skullcandy Crusher Evo is as removed from audiophile-grade wi-fi listening as you may presumably get, however that is not a foul factor in any respect. These headphones are nicely and really all in regards to the lows, and bass lovers will benefit from the skill to tweak the bass to their liking on the fly. At cheap ranges, there’s loads of aggression and drive within the sound with out the bass getting muddy or overpowering, and in contrast to the costly Skullcandy Crusher ANC, the Evo in all fairness priced.
Apart from the above-average bass assault, beauty and wonderful battery life additionally work in favour of the Skullcandy Crusher Evo. This is an efficient pair of headphones for the worth, however in case you’re searching for one thing extra balanced or detailed, choices from Sony such because the WH-CH710N or WH-XB900N may be value contemplating, significantly on condition that each of those supply energetic noise cancellation which is not current on the Skullcandy Crusher Evo.
