Valued at $159.95AUD (August 2013) and available in three colours (Black, Red & White), the Skullcandy Crusher is the latest portable headphone to hit the market that target a number of key elements for the end-user. The result is an impressive headphone that not only sounds good but offers a few clever tricks up its sleeve.

From amazing audio quality thanks to their patented bass and sound drivers plus a built-in amplifier and acoustical porting, music, movies and video games never sounded better. There's even an element of noise cancellation involved!

Although the headphones are powered by an AA battery (included), the Crusher has the ability to automatically turn off when it detects no audio and then power-up again when audio is detected. Very cool!

Add in a detachable cable, the ability to fold the Crusher to 40% of its size plus a carry bag and the Skullcandy Crusher is the perfect accessory for not only people on the move but true lovers of music.

Features

• Sensation55™ Driver

• REX40™ Driver

• Acoustical Porting

• Built-in Amplifier

• Adjustable Bass Control

• Auto-On/Off Smart Circuit

• Ergonomic Design

• Durability

• Soft Touch Leather Ear Pillows

• Stashable   

• Detachable Cable

• In-line Mic1 Remote

Once out of the box, the first thing that you need to do is insert the battery into the right earcup. This is done by a little switch that allows the earcup to fall out. When the battery is placed inside, you simply just click the earcup back in place and your audio experience is about to begin. Lastly, you simply plug it into your audio device with a 3.5mm jack and presto!

Box Contents

• Manual

• Cable

• Crusher Headset

• Travel Bag

Another cool element of the Crusher is that if you have a Smart Phone, the Mic1 Cable allows you to take calls by simply pressing the Skull on the cable. This feature also allows you to pause and play your music.

In terms of the design, the Crusher is almost the perfect size and is quite streamlined. I've been testing these headphones almost continuously now and besides the sound quality which I'll address a little later, the first thing I would like to say about the Crusher is how comfortable they really are.

Testing

After a 5 hour gaming session with Battlefield 3, my ears were not sore at all and the headset felt perfect on my head. I even lounged on the couch listening to The First Confessor The Legend of Magda Searus audio book for several hours and even fell asleep with them on my head. Then add some Veruca Salt and Pink and I was bopping to the beat in pure comfort.

Yes, the Crusher is that comfortable. Thanks is thanks to the ergonomic design of the Crusher plus the soft touch leather ear pillows which not only fit perfectly on your ears but assist with acoustical porting, it increases the bass and reduces distortion, creating this almost flawless audio experience.

Sound Quality... wow... I'm amazed at the sound quality that Skullcandy have managed to cram into these headphones. Unlike some of its competitors, the Crusher delivers some exceptional bass thanks to the Sensation55™ Driver. As a result, whether you're playing a game such as Battlefield 3 or listening to heavy metal, when you hear the bass, it almost roars through the earcups and doesn't distort the sound or the music at all when the bass is used.

The bass can also be controlled via the bass sensation slider on the left ear cup which allows you to tweak the bass whether listening to music, playing games or watching movies. Another feature is the REX40™ driver which produces clear crisp audio with some great levels of audio.

As mentioned, the Crusher is powered by a AA battery which is included in the purchase and this powers the built-in amplifier. What I loved about the Crusher is that apart from a very impressive battery life, it automatically turns itself off when no audio is detected.

Likewise, it powers up again when audio is detected. Not only does this increase the battery life of the product but allows users of the Crusher to not have to worry about turning the device on and off which in our books is a brilliant idea.

Headphone specifications

• Speaker Diameter
  40mm

• Amplifier Type
  Class D

• Battery Life
  40 hrs

• Battery Type
  AA

• Frequency Response
  20-20 kHz

• Impedance
  32 ohms

• Driver Type
  Mylar

Final Thoughts?

I really enjoyed using the Skullcandy Crusher that definitely enhanced my audio experience from games, music, movies and even audio books. Best of all, it comes with a wealth of features and is extremely comfortable to wear. If you're after a great portable headphone set, than look no further as the Crusher may be the answer for you.

Recommended!

For more information, check out http://au.skullcandy.com/crusher or to buy, go to  http://au.skullcandy.com/shop/