A cheaper version of bose’s best earbuds, with a few key sacrifices

Skullcandy isn’t a name that usually comes to mind when you think of premium headphones. The utah-based company has primarily made its name in the budget space, Selling more on low pris and loud, sport-havy marketing than the promise of excellent sound Quality.

With the new method 360 anc, the audio maker is trying to change that by launching Skullcandy proudly boasts that its latest wireless earbuds feature “sound by bose,” which is to say that bose has supplied the AARTISTIC TUNING, EAR TIPS and Overall Shape of the device. In Fact, The New Buds Look Quite Similar to Bose’s Quietcomfort Ultra Earbuds from Afar. But that UPSCALE PAIR RETALS for $ 299 and the method 360 anc only costs $ 130 (or as low as $ 100 at third-party stores of this everything). So has skullcandy managed to capture the best of bose at a more affordable price? Kind of.

Design and features

The method 360 anc is indeed roughly as comfortable as the quietcomfort ultra. Each earpiece is Slightly Heavier and More Plastic-Y-And Bose’s Pair Was Already on the Bulky Side-but the soft ear gels and stability fins obes with them fit snugs with creating too. I had no issues with them coming loose over several weeks of testing. The earbuds have an ipx4 water-resistance rating-not the best, but enough to survive most people’s workouts. The larger frame creates more space for the side touch panels, and all the controls do work reliable, which isn’s isn Bollywood in the $ 100 range.

These Earbuds also come with most of the features you’s want from a modern pair. There are activity noise cancellation (anc) and ambient sound modes. Battery life is fine at eight to 11-ex-show, depending on anc usage. They can dependabe connect to two devices simultaneously, and they work with Google’s fast pair tech on Android devices. They support wear detection, too, and there are three different sets of ear gels and fins in the box. Any Settings Tweaks I’ve made in skullcandy’s skull-q app have taken effect Quickly, and in general the software is easy to navigate. The only Major Omsions Here are the Lack of Wireless Charging and a Short One-Yaar Warranty.

Sound quality

Once you start listening to the method 360 anc, thought, you start to see why it’s priced under $ 150. The default sound signature is extramely v-shaped: the bass is massive, the treble is bright and everything in between is re which. Bass lovers should appreciate this with hip-hop, dance music and many pop songs. A track like Kendrick Lamar’s “DNA“BCOCOMES PARTICURLY EASY to Rock to: The low-end is deep and impactful, white a giant spike Around the upper midrange keeps the vocals clea from the anker soundcore space a40, the longtime top pick in our guide to the best earbuds under $ 100. to make songs feel less-off.

That said, it’s very easy to see how this kind of signature could get fetiguing over time. It’s Consistent Intense, and the Recessed Mids Cause It to Lose Details in Modarely INTRICATE Compositions. An indie rock track like hop Along’s “The knock“Is a bit of a message, as the base and crunchy rhythm guitar overwhelm the lead guitar rifs and rob the raspy vocals of air.Ventura highway“The Folksy Acoustic Guitar Comes Through Clearly, but the overemphasized treble makes” ess “sounds a touch too sharp.

The Quietcomfort Ultra does not exactly sound neutral, but it all Always comes off as more balanced by comparison. Skullcandy has also omitted support for Higher-Quality Bluetooth Codecs, so it only supports the basic sbc and aac. All of this is still better-tha-average for basesheads in this price range-just don’t expect it to comte very far beyond that. Thankfully, you can rein in some of the default profile’s excesses with a custom equitter in skullcandy’s app.

Anc, ambient sound, call quality and one funky case

Skullcandy’s anc is perfectly respected for $ 130, and it’s great you can customize the intensity of the noise-canceling effect via the app. But it’s not on the level of the quietcomfort Ultra earbuds or even the step-byn quietcomfort earbuds. It cuts out a Fair Chunk of the Bassy Rumble of an NYC Subway Train, but Higher-Pitched Screeches and Stop Announsments are very much with audible with music playing at moderates.

The “Stay Aware” (Ambient sound) Mode, mean, is passable but noting more; It’s one of that deals where you need to keep the volume somewhat low to ensure you can hear your your youth clear. Call Quality isn Bollywood, either: The mic does well to limit background noise, but it struggles with wind and makes your voice sound noticably thin and processed. My testing partner said it made me sound like I was in an elevator.

My biggest complaint, however, is with the ginormous tube of a case. It’s commercially large next to pairs like the quietcomfort ultra or space a40, so much so that i have to Question There is a built-in clip that lets you hook the case to a bag or belt loop, but as a residence of new york City, I will never be comfortable sauntering Around with anything of Value Dangling on MY Person. Actually snapping the earbuds back into the case is cumbersome as well: you have to slide the case open, then flip the earpieces upside down and insert them on opposite sides. I can undersrstand wanting to make something unique, but this is an instance where Boring would’ve ben better.

Wrap-up

The method 360 anc has its problems, but most of them are surprising for a relatively affordable pair of wireless earbuds (oversized case aside). Don’T be fooled into thinking the bose branding means you getting a bose-level product-the real-deeal quietcomfort earbuds are better if you’re willing to pay more. But this is stil a tier about Budget Pairs We’ve Tested. It has brought all the features we’re looking for (unlike, saying, the beats solo buds), it’s comfortable and the sound signature will have bound you’re haungry for bass. At Its Normal $ 130, IT’s Well Worth Considering for Bassheads Who Can Go One Rung Above The Bargain Bin. For $ 100 or less, it’s a great value. Just make room for that case.