Skullcandy isn’t a name that is top of mind when discussing the market’s best headphones. That’s because it has never put out a top-tier model.
I’ve tested over 500 headphones during my 10-year run as a tech writer and have yet to stumble upon anything with a skull logo that can compete with category heavyweights like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Sony WH-1000xM6. In fact, I would place multiple bargain headphones (e.g., 1More Sonoflow Pro, Anker Soundcore Space One) ahead of the company’s popular offerings.
It isn’t for Skullcandy’s lack of effort. Every set of flagship headphones launched in the past four years has earned favorable reviews. Unfortunately, none of them have moved the needle for Skullcandy…until now.
Meet the Aviator 900 ANC. These ultra-modern cans package elite specs into a trendy, old-school design. Most importantly, they sound fantastic, which speaks loudly for Skullcandy headphones.
My test run with these headphones has been amazing thus far. Whether or not my feedback is enough to convince you to buy a pair, you’ll at least be intrigued by what the Aviator 900 ANC offer.
Here is my in-depth analysis on Skullcandy’s best headphones to date.
Resonant sound powered by advanced features
If there was ever a pair of headphones that showcased Skullcandy’s wireless audio capabilities, it is the Aviator 900 ANC. Their 40mm drivers dish out punchy lows, transparent mids, and moderately clear highs. That’s outstanding for Skullcandy headphones; the company has been widely criticized for its extreme bass delivery.
There isn’t much difference in quality when swapping between the Movie, Music, and Podcast presets. Bass Boost is overly aggressive on the low end, so it’s best to leave it disabled. The Personal Sound feature is the way to go. It creates a fine-tuned profile tailored to your hearing.
What’s fascinating about it is that there are extra options available to personalize the profile once it’s made. You can make it sound softer or richer. The latter is overly bright and doesn’t work well with contemporary tracks. On the flip side, the softer setting balances frequency range for a more pleasant mix. Keeping the profile at its default setting provides the best of both worlds, which is what I recommend most.
Skullcandy’s spatial audio mode is nothing to brag about, but it has a few commendable traits. Voices are enunciated during live performances and special effects sound clearer in action films.
It isn’t Apple’s Personalized Spatial Audio format, and it doesn’t need to be. What you get is serviceable, and for Skullcandy headphones, that is a passing grade.
Strong ANC and even stronger playtimes
I never expected much noise neutralization or playtime from these headphones, but I must tip my hat to Skullcandy for overperforming in both areas.
Its noise-canceling technology is great at minimizing background interference in real time. The feature adapts quickly to surroundings. Initially, I could hear multiple noises when walking outside. It took about 3 minutes for ANC to auto-adjust and effectively reduce external fracas.
The headphones served best when working from home. Kitchen appliances, loud TVs, and my rowdy 4-year-old toddler often grab my attention. However, the Aviator 900 ANC put a kibosh on these distractions.
There was no avoiding high-pitched noises or the fire alarm that accidentally went off in my building. Nonetheless, Skullcandy’s ANC mostly lived up to its billing. The adjustable Ambient Aware mode was beneficial for increasing situational awareness. Not to mention it allowed me to communicate clearly with people without needing to pause playback or take off the headphones.
The biggest sell might be battery life. A full charge generates up to 60 hours. Two weeks of moderate use (3 hours daily) and I had about 20 percent left to spare. A 10-minute quick charge nets you 4 hours of listening time, which crushes luxury favorites, such as the AirPods Max (5 mins = 1.5 hours) and Bose QC Ultra (15 mins = 2.5 hours).
Skullcandy executes the retro-transparent look better than Nothing
The Nothing Headphone (1) garnered considerable hype over their nostalgic, see-through design. Distinctive details like the oval cassette tape housings and rectangular earcups stir up memories of the Sony Walkman.
Nothing also demonstrated some ingenuity with its control scheme, employing paddle and roller buttons to enable playback and volume, respectively. If only the headphones weren’t clunky and heavy (11.6 ounces). Well, that and the design doesn’t look as cool IRL as it does in ads and press materials.
Skullcandy does a more convincing job of establishing the transparent aesthetic that Nothing is most known for. The clear earcups offer a better look inside the headphones.
Small touches like the embossed insignia and laser-etched text featuring name, driver size, and city of development are nice callbacks to the brand’s introductory days. The spring cables on the headband also remind me of Bose’s Aviation headsets from the late 1990s/early 2000s.
The Aviation 900 ANC look and feel more premium than the Headphone (1), plus they have their own set of singular controls. They come with a joystick to activate multiple functions (e.g., playback, digital assistance) and a thumbwheel to easily cycle through listening modes.
Simply put, the Aviator 900 ANC out-retro their rival.
Ready to upgrade?
As enamored as I am by the Aviator 900 ANC, I’m not trading in my Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones for them. Certain imperfections keep me from making that switch, specifically their finicky connectivity and overly sensitive wear detection. Noise cancellation doesn’t measure up to Bose or Sony standards either.
At the same time, I saw these flaws coming, having already experienced them on past Skullcandy releases. None are surprising. Therefore, I’m not holding them against the Aviator 900 ANC. Overall performance surpasses value, especially at the current sale price of $199.
Skullcandy fans have a special treat waiting for them if they decide to upgrade their current headphones. Those who are looking to purchase sub-$200 noise-cancelling headphones should seriously consider at the Aviator 900 ANC over most mid-range models and suitable adversaries like the Nothing Headphone (1).
The Aviator 900 ANC are proof that Skullcandy can make high-end headphones capable of competing with the best – words I thought would never be spoken.
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