Skullcandy Crusher Evo vs Sony ULT Wear
Quick take: The Skullcandy Crusher Evo costs $10 less; the Sony ULT Wear has active noise cancelling while the Skullcandy Crusher Evo doesn't; the Skullcandy Crusher Evo lasts longer per charge (40 hrs); only the Sony ULT Wear supports multipoint (two devices at once).
| Spec | Skullcandy Crusher Evo | Sony ULT Wear |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$140 | ~$150 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Over-Ear Headphones | Over-Ear Headphones |
| Noise Cancelling | None | ANC |
| Battery (single charge) | 40 hrs | 30 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | — | — |
| Quick Charge | 10 min = 4 hr | 3 min = 90 min |
| Codecs | — | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 |
| Multipoint | No | Yes |
| Driver Size | 40 mm | 40 mm |
| Weight | — | 255 g |
| Water Resistance | — | — |
| Wireless Charging | No | No |
| Transparency Mode | No | Yes |
| Spatial Audio | No | Yes |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
Pros & cons
Skullcandy Crusher Evo
- ✓Haptic Crusher bass slider delivers physical, subwoofer-like rumble no rival matches
- ✓40-hour battery with 10-minute quick charge for 4 extra hours
- ✓Bass slider at zero yields a respectable, near-neutral everyday sound
- ✓Personal Sound (Mimi) hearing test in the Skullcandy app customizes the tuning
- ✓Plush memory-foam earcups owners find comfortable for long sessions
- ✓Folds flat and comes with a travel pouch
- ✓Built-in Tile tracking to locate lost headphones
- ✗No active noise cancellation at a price where ANC is now standard
- ✗No multipoint — reconnecting between laptop and phone is manual
- ✗Folding hinges are the build's weak point in long-term reports
- ✗Max haptic bass muddies mids and is fatiguing for some owners
- ✗No aptX or LDAC support published
- ✗$200 list price is poor value — only buy at its frequent $110-145 street price
Sony ULT Wear
- ✓ANC inherited from the 1000X line — best-in-class under $200
- ✓ULT button gives instant bass boost without touching the app
- ✓LDAC hi-res codec support, rare at this price
- ✓Multipoint pairs two devices with reliable switching
- ✓Light 255g build with low clamp force — owners wear them all day
- ✓3-minute quick charge yields 90 minutes; 30 hr with ANC on, 50 off
- ✓Sony Sound Connect app has a full custom EQ and 360 Reality Audio support
- ✓Wear detection auto-pauses when you take them off
- ✗ULT2 bass mode is comically overblown and swamps mids and vocals
- ✗Sound lacks the refinement of similarly priced Sennheiser and Bose rivals
- ✗Call/mic quality is inconsistent outdoors
- ✗Some long-term owners report earcup-joint plastic cracking after a year or more
- ✗No IP rating or wireless charging
- ✗ANC, while strong for the class, still trails the XM5/XM6 noticeably