Latest news with #Skullcandy
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Skullcandy just launched its most advanced headphones to date
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Skullcandy has relaunched its Aviator headphone series after a 15-year hiatus The new Aviator 900 ANC is its new flagship offering at $300 / £250. While not quite the brand's priciest headphones to date, they're being touted as the most premium and advanced, and are priciest in the current line-up. While the original Aviator line made its debut in 2010, this revival attempts to blend the series' distinctive retro aesthetic with updated audio tech. This includes THX Spatial Audio with head tracking – a Skullcandy first – which promises a more immersive listening experience. Users will also be able to create a customised sound profile powered by Mimi – the same tech found in products from other brands, including Focal, Philips, and Nothing. Beyond tailoring the sound, it will also reportedly restore detail, while letting you enjoy music at lower volumes. As for noise cancellation, the Aviator 900 feature six microphones to help block out the outside world, while battery life can reach up to 60 hours with ANC turned off. This drops to around 50 hours with it turned on, while a 10-minute quick charge provides four hours' worth of juice. For context, this is pretty respectable, though it doesn't quite match the likes of the never-ending Cambridge Audio Melomania P100, which lasts up to 100 hours without ANC, and 50 hours with it turned on. Still, Skullcandy's latest cans trounce more expensive handsets like the £400 five-star Sony WH-1000XM6 in terms of battery life, with Sony's offering only managing 30 hours with ANC on. The audio and ANC performance though, is likely a different story. This is all, of course, without mentioning the design. It won't be to everyone's tastes, but we rather like the organic curves, coiled wires, and suede materials. Physical controls like a knurled thumbwheel are a bonus too, and there's even a tiny multi-function LCD display with suitable retro orange digits for (presumably) displaying information like the current volume level. They fold flat as well, which is a bonus for compact travellers. Connectivity includes Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio support, multipoint pairing for simultaneous device connections, and Google Fast Pair integration. The accompanying Skullcandy app also provides customisation options, including five-band EQ adjustment, button remapping, and adjustable transparency modes. You'll notice we haven't mentioned anything about the audio hardware – the press release is notably devoid of any actual physical specs like driver type, size, frequency response and the like, so we'll naturally have to reserve all judgement until we get to take them for a spin. The Aviator 900 ANC are available now via Skullcandy's website and selected retailers globally for $300 / £250 (Australian pricing and availability have yet to be confirmed). Whether or not it's worth forking out that much when excellent alternatives like the far cheaper Sony WH-CH720N exist, remains to be seen. The fact that you can also get the proven Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless for £199 in the UK at the time of writing is also tempting. Still, we're looking forward to seeing how Skullcandy shapes up against the competition. Watch this space. MORE: Best over-ear headphones 2025: wired and wireless pairs tested by our in-house experts Bag the five-star Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones for only £199 Best headphones 2025: tested by our experts
Man of Many
31-05-2025
- Man of Many
Man of Many's Staff Favourites—31 May 2025
By Dean Blake - News Published: 31 May 2025 |Last Updated: 30 May 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 5 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Here at Man of Many, we're often given the opportunity to try out products ahead of time for review, but sometimes our favourite things are just the things we already own, or have purchased ourselves. So, each week, we strive to show off a few of our own, personal favourite products or experiences in the hopes that we can help people make better buying decisions. Also, sometimes it's just fun to write about things you like. Here's our Staff Favourites for this week – enjoy! Skullcandy's Method 360 ANC | Image: Skullcandy Skullcandy's Method 360 ANC Dean Blake – Entertainment and Technology Journalist I've been testing a few earphones recently, and I've got something cool to share. Audio brand Skullcandy have delivered a really, really good pair of earphones—the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC—which have some of the best audio quality in an in-ear format I've yet used. That partially comes from the fact these earphones are made in collaboration with Bose, one of the best audio makers in the biz. Now, the Method 360 ANC look very (and sound) similar to Bose' Quiet Comfort earbuds, but they're about $100 cheaper, which is always a nice thing, and they have some fantastic active noise cancelling for when you're moving about the noisy city. Plus, when you sync them up with the Skull-iQ app on your phone you can customise how the earbuds act when you tap them, play with the ANC, and set more specific EQ levels if you're after a particular sound. That's all great, but they also come in a frankly massive charging case that delivers an additional 20+ hours of battery life, charges with USB-C, and can be clipped onto your bag or something if you want to be able to access them at a moments notice. They're great, and if you're in the market for some new earbuds, these ones are only AUD$189.99. Favourite Article of the Week: Best Glamping Spots Near Melbourne for a Relaxing Weekend Getaway Forget Calendly – Enter Google Calendar Appointments Scott Purcell – Co-founder You know that graveyard of unused productivity apps sitting on your phone or in the bookmarks toolbar of your browser? The ones that guzzle up subscription fees before you're none the wiser? Well, one of those for me was the 'Calendly' app. Brilliant product, absolutely, but it probably gathered more dust than bookings on my calendar. It just wasn't something I really used, yet it was costing me lots of money. Enter the Google Calendar Appointment Schedule, which essentially achieves the exact same thing at the amazing price of $0. I love that you can carve out time for the gym each day or mark an entire Friday as 'Do Not Disturb'. Your colleagues or clients only see the slots you want them to book, and the meeting is locked in with no extra email back and forth or a request to send you a calendar invite. To get it set up, go to Google Calendar > hit Create > then Appointment Schedule > add any details you need and voila, your booking calendar is now complete. The link provides live updates and automatically hides times that clash with your other events. You can also add in a handy buffer between meetings if you need and don't wish for back-to-backs. The paid Google Workspace plans come with some added benefits, like being able to charge for your time. Give it a go and let me know what you think! Favourite Article of the Week: Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge Smartphone Defines Innovation for Innovation's Sake Omakase John Guanzon – Head of Creative & Production I'm the kind of guy who'll study dining menus like an HSC Advanced English text before booking a place to eat, but sitting down for an Omakase where you surrender all control and expectations to the chef and the restaurant team was such a surprising breath of fresh air. The 18-seat kappo-style restaurant is the brain-child of Darren Templeman (formerly Restaurant Atelier), but he runs it with head chef Bonnie Yu and sommelier Aurelien Jeffredo. There's no printed menu, only a 10-course omakase shaped by the day's produce and the team's instincts. Just vibes, really. Inside, it's just one long, narrow counter with 18 seats lined up with a full view of the kitchen. While it always feels busy, there's this weird sense of calm. The three-person team moves like they've done this a hundred times. Smooth, in sync, no fuss. The highlight, though, is the food. I couldn't tell you exactly what we ate (there was no menu to snap a photo of), but I remember the flavour sensations having a party in my mouth. A few dishes are still burned into memory, though: the warm hen's egg filled with onion purée and topped with trout roe, and a buttery lobster tail grilled over charcoal. Yum! Favourite Article of the Week: Razer's Vertical Gaming Mouse Feels Like It Was Made Specifically for Me
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Skullcandy Push ANC and Dime EVO true wireless earbuds debut in India
Skullcandy has launched two new true wireless earbuds in India—Push ANC Active and Dime Evo—catering to tech-savvy GenNext users and adventure enthusiasts. Skullcandy Push ANC comes with a battery life of up to 58 hours (ANC Off), while the Dime Evo is claimed to last up to 37 hours (without ANC). 'Push ANC Active is crafted for those seeking performance without compromise—from fitness fanatics to casual outdoor adventurers,' said Amlan Bhattacharjya, Founder & CEO of Brandeyes Distributors Pvt Ltd, the sole India partner for Skullcandy. 'Dime Evo is the everyday audio companion you won't want to leave home without. Just 'Clip it and Rip it,'' Bhattacharjya added. Skullcandy Push ANC and Dime EVO price Skullcandy Push ANC carries a price tag of Rs 9,999, while the Dime Evo carries a price tag of Rs 4,999. The devices are available on and Skullcandy India website. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tips for the Purchasing of Used Vehicles: latest competitive rates answerpedia Learn More Undo Skullcandy Push ANC and Dime EVO features The Push ANC Active earbuds boast high-end features including Adjustable 4-Mic Active Noise Canceling, IP67-rated waterproofing, 37-hour battery life with ANC on, and personal sound tuning via the Skullcandy app. Designed for extreme durability and active lifestyles, the earbuds come with ultra-secure ear hangers, wireless charging, and Multipoint Pairing for seamless device switching. In contrast, the Dime Evo earbuds focus on portability and everyday use. Featuring a unique slide-out case with a built-in clip, 36-hour battery life, and Google Fast Pair, Dime Evo combines practicality with performance. Additional highlights include IPX4 water resistance, Clear Voice Smart Mic, and Stay-Aware Mode, allowing users to stay connected to their surroundings. Both products are compatible with the Skullcandy app, enabling users to customize controls, EQ settings, and create personal sound profiles. The launch marks Skullcandy's strategic push into India's premium audio market, blending performance with lifestyle appeal for a new generation of users. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Engadget
26-05-2025
- Business
- Engadget
Skullcandy Method 360 ANC review: 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 prices and loud, sports-heavy marketing than the promise of excellent sound quality. With the new Method 360 ANC, the audio maker is trying to change that by latching onto another brand entirely. Skullcandy proudly boasts that its latest wireless earbuds feature 'sound by Bose,' which is to say that Bose has supplied the acoustic 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 retails for $299 and the Method 360 ANC only costs $130 (or as low as $100 at third-party stores of this writing). So has Skullcandy managed to capture the best of Bose at a more affordable price? Kind of. With its Bose-inspired design and rich feature set, the $130 Method 360 ANC is a fine value, though it's still a level below actual QuietComfort earbuds. $100 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $100 at Best Buy 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 help them fit snug without creating too much pressure. 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 reliably, which isn't a given in the $100 range. These earbuds also come with most of the features you'd want from a modern pair. There are active noise cancellation (ANC) and ambient sound modes. Battery life is fine at eight to 11-ish hours, depending on ANC usage. They can dependably 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-iQ app have taken effect quickly, and in general the software is easy to navigate. The only major omissions here are the lack of wireless charging and a short one-year warranty. The Method 360 ANC is almost identical to Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds in terms of design. For this review, we mainly compared the new Skullcandy buds against the QC Ultras and Anker's Soundcore Space A40, the top pick in our budget earbuds buying guide. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget) Once you start listening to the Method 360 ANC, though, you start to see why it's priced under $150. The default sound signature is extremely V-shaped: The bass is massive, the treble is bright and everything in between is recessed. Bass lovers should appreciate this with hip-hop, dance music and many pop songs. A track like Kendrick Lamar's 'DNA' becomes particularly easy to rock to: The low-end is deep and impactful, while a giant spike around the upper midrange keeps the vocals clear throughout. In general, the Method 360 ANC is a step up from the Anker Soundcore Space A40, the longtime top pick in our guide to the best earbuds under $100. That pair is far more muffled in the treble, whereas the Skullcandy pair's crisper, more extended highs tend to make songs feel less closed-off. That said, it's very easy to see how this kind of signature could get fatiguing over time. It's consistently intense, and the recessed mids cause it to lose details in moderately intricate compositions. An indie rock track like Hop Along's 'The Knock' is a bit of a mess, as the bassline and crunchy rhythm guitar overwhelm the lead guitar riffs and rob the raspy vocals of air. With America's 'Ventura Highway,' the folksy acoustic guitar comes through clearly, but the overemphasized treble makes 'ess' sounds a touch too sharp. The QuietComfort Ultra doesn't exactly sound neutral, but it 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-than-average for bassheads shopping in this price range — just don't expect it to compete very far beyond that. Thankfully, you can rein in some of the default profile's excesses with a custom EQ in Skullcandy's app. The charging case is on the larger side, to put it mildly, and uses a sliding mechanism to open and close. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget) Skullcandy's ANC is perfectly respectable 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-down QuietComfort Earbuds. It cuts out a fair chunk of the bassy rumble of an NYC subway train, but higher-pitched screeches and stop announcements are very much audible with music playing at moderate volumes. The 'Stay Aware' (ambient sound) mode, meanwhile, is passable but nothing more; it's one of those deals where you need to keep the volume somewhat low to ensure you can hear yourself clearly. Call quality isn't great, either: The mic does well to limit background noise, but it struggles with wind and makes your voice sound noticeably 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 comically large next to pairs like the QuietComfort Ultra or Space A40, so much so that I have to question just how spacious Skullcandy thinks most people's pockets are. There is a built-in clip that lets you hook the case to a bag or belt loop, but as a resident 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 understand wanting to make something unique, but this is an instance where boring would've been better. The Method 360 ANC's case has a built-in clip for attaching to bags or belt loops. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget) The Method 360 ANC has its problems, but most of them aren't too surprising for a relatively affordable pair of wireless earbuds (oversized case aside). Don't be fooled into thinking the Bose branding means you're getting a Bose-level product — the real-deal QuietComfort Earbuds are better if you're willing to pay more. But this is still a tier above most budget pairs we've tested. It has nearly all the features we're looking for (unlike, say, the Beats Solo Buds), it's comfortable and the sound signature will hit right if you're hungry 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.
WIRED
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- WIRED
Skullcandy's Method 360 ANC Earbuds Are the Best Cheap Noise-Canceling Buds
The buds themselves, also on the larger side, store in the top of the slide-down case via magnets. You get two black, Bose-like earbuds with aesthetic elephant trunks and the typical Skullcandy skull on the tip. Silicone ear fins and a red-accented ear tip round out the look, which makes the buds look like a miniature punk rock version of the Bluetooth earbuds that we all wore 20 years ago. Aesthetically, they get a C: These aren't the prettiest you'll ever wear, but they're far from the ugliest. Pop them in your ears and you'll find a surprisingly comfortable fit with a great seal that really keeps the outside world at bay. Even the passive noise isolation is on par with the best from Sony and Bose, which is impressive for a pair that costs roughly a third as much. Going Silent Photograph: Parker Hall Turning on the active noise canceling, I was wowed by just how much of the outside world these in-ears could remove, regardless of their affordable price. HVAC, lawn mowers, and even my 1-year-old's occasional joyous proclamations were no match for the excellent processing on board these buds. They don't quite reach the staggering levels of cancellation, at least to my ears, offered by the full-blown Bose models they're clearly copping their style and sound from, but they're truly not far off. Similarly priced favorites from Nothing, Google, Samsung, and others have what I'd call mediocre sound reduction by comparison. Sound quality is also excellent, with a surprising amount of sub-bass content (hard to do on earbuds with noise canceling) and a very wide stereo image. I was really noticing some of the panning choices on recordings like Sam Evian's 'Rollin' In.' The kick drum and bass really soaks through the bottom of the headphones without taking over the mid and high range, which can sometimes happen on cheaper earbuds. There is a real life to this listening experience in the midrange, with vocals, pianos, guitars, and other center-heavy instruments each occupying their own musical space. Even jazz sounds good on these, which I didn't expect. The brushes on cymbals in Ahmad Jamal's 'Live at the Pershing' recordings sound smooth and clean, with the mumbles of the live audience and the clinking of glasses peeking through in the background just so. Customizable Qualities Photograph: Parker Hall Like most buds these days, the Method 360 ANC come with an excellent app that allows you to change things like what the touch controls on the outside of each earbud do, the equalization settings, and to adjust noise canceling and transparency modes. I liked that I could easily swap the default long press (which is set to open Spotify) to make it adjust the noise-canceling settings. I also like that you can change what both the left and right earbuds' buttons do to respond to presses, allowing a lot of personalization.
