All products featured are independently chosen by us. However, SoundGuys may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links. See our ethics statement.
1 / 3@warm_meadow_81 · Owner-reported
Owned over 2 years · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
I love them, nice base sound, I use them a lot with the 3.5 jack on my pc. Sometimes with anc on, if you squeeze the headphones, they emit a high pitch noise. Nice gym headphones, good for rock music.
Own it? Your review joins these
Three answers, four quick reads, one sentence nobody tells you before buying · Sign-in needed to publish · Photo optional
Can the Hesh ANC stand up to pricier noise canceling picks?
At 6.7, its noise cancelling beats 6% of over-ear headphones we've measured.
Measured on 63 of the 242 we've cataloged.
Would buy it again and still uses it daily.
Owned over 2 years.
below average for over-ear headphones — based on 159 of 242 we've cataloged.
Usb-c is the most common — on 88% of the 139 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 242).
5.0 is the most common — on 26% of the 152 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 242).
Bluetooth is the most common — on 44% of the 250 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 242).
Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.
Measured frequency response (dB relative) against the SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve. When the measurement goes above the dashed line, that frequency is louder than our preference curve, and when it goes below: it's quieter. Use the curve for comparison purposes only, as your taste may vary.
| Frequency (Hz) | Response (dB) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 15.7 |
| 25 | 16.8 |
| 32 | 11.7 |
| 40 | 8.1 |
| 50 | 6.0 |
| 63 | 4.4 |
| 80 | 3.5 |
| 100 | 2.8 |
| 125 | 1.8 |
| 160 | 0.5 |
| 200 | -1.0 |
| 250 | -3.0 |
| 315 | -5.0 |
| 400 | -6.3 |
| 500 | -6.8 |
| 630 | -6.0 |
| 800 | -2.9 |
| 1000 | -0.2 |
| 1250 | -0.9 |
| 1600 | 0.6 |
| 2000 | 3.1 |
| 2500 | 4.7 |
| 3150 | 10.4 |
| 4000 | 12.1 |
| 5000 | 11.2 |
| 6300 | 12.0 |
| 8000 | 10.5 |
| 10000 | 7.2 |
| 12500 | -1.5 |
| 16000 | 3.3 |
| 20000 | -18.9 |
Passive isolation (dB) with ANC off — how much ambient noise the fit blocks on its own. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
| Frequency (Hz) | Attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | -5.0 |
| 26 | -0.6 |
| 33 | -1.1 |
| 41 | -0.9 |
| 52 | -0.5 |
| 65 | -0.5 |
| 82 | -0.9 |
| 103 | -0.5 |
| 130 | -1.1 |
| 163 | -1.3 |
| 205 | -1.6 |
| 259 | -1.4 |
| 325 | -1.0 |
| 410 | -0.1 |
| 516 | 0.5 |
| 613 | 1.2 |
| 772 | 3.8 |
| 972 | 9.0 |
| 1220 | 11.8 |
| 1540 | 15.2 |
| 1940 | 18.2 |
| 2440 | 25.7 |
| 3070 | 34.3 |
| 3870 | 24.3 |
| 4870 | 34.9 |
| 6130 | 29.0 |
| 7720 | 26.2 |
| 9720 | 18.4 |
| 12200 | 9.3 |
| 15400 | 25.7 |
| 19400 | 35.7 |
Total attenuation (dB) with ANC on — passive isolation plus active noise cancelling. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
| Frequency (Hz) | Total attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | -15.4 |
| 26 | -11.3 |
| 33 | -2.2 |
| 41 | 3.7 |
| 52 | 8.9 |
| 65 | 12.6 |
| 82 | 14.4 |
| 103 | 18.2 |
| 130 | 15.7 |
| 163 | 17.2 |
| 205 | 19.7 |
| 259 | 19.7 |
| 325 | 24.0 |
| 410 | 21.1 |
| 516 | 19.1 |
| 613 | 12.8 |
| 772 | 8.8 |
| 972 | 14.0 |
| 1220 | 12.4 |
| 1540 | 12.6 |
| 1940 | 11.6 |
| 2440 | 24.5 |
| 3070 | 34.6 |
| 3870 | 22.7 |
| 4870 | 30.4 |
| 6130 | 31.2 |
| 7720 | 29.7 |
| 9720 | 18.4 |
| 12200 | 9.4 |
| 15400 | 23.0 |
| 19400 | 30.5 |
The verdict
The Skullcandy Hesh ANC is a more affordable alternative for active noise canceling headphones (ANC). Its simple design is sure to have mass appeal and won't draw much attention. Battery life is above average, and you get efficient quick charging from the Hesh ANC. This pair of headphones hits the essentials while staying consistent with the brand's bass-heavy frequency response and cheaper materials.
✓Liked: Affordable, ANC performance for price, Battery life, USB-C fast charging
✕Could be better: Only SBC and AAC codecs, no aptX, Small ear pad openings, Mic could be better, Very bassy
What a reader who owns the Skullcandy Hesh ANC reports after living with it. Owner-reported, checked before publishing; ordered photo-verified first, then newest.
Owner reviews are not paid for, not solicited from specific owners, and not rewritten by us: at most we proofread typos, which is shown on the review’s own page and which the author can undo. The commission SoundGuys may earn on this page comes from retail links, never from owner reviews.
1 owner review
Every author writes under a generated pseudonym. A signed-in author’s email is never shown. Read more · The reader says they own it. We have not seen proof, and we say so — no label here is proof of a purchase. Read more · Owned over 2 years · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
Would buy againI love them, nice base sound, I use them a lot with the 3.5 jack on my pc. Sometimes with anc on, if you squeeze the headphones, they emit a high pitch noise. Nice gym headphones, good for rock music.
Sign-in needed to publish.
What readers ask about the Skullcandy Hesh ANC, answered by the people who own it.
Nobody has asked the owners yet.
Ask the first question →Commentary and deep dives from the SoundGuys editorial team.
Chase BernathBrand & Partnerships ManagerThe Skullcandy Crusher Evo 2 could turn heads with these featuresThere's no excuse for sloppy craftsmanship in 2025.
Tom TriggsContributorI've reviewed headphones for over a decade: Here are 5 things I wish they did differentlyHeadphone companies: help me help you
Christian ThomasEditor-at-large5 ways headphones are going to change in 2027Here's where things are headed.Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeWired vs wireless headphones: Which should you buy?Wired headphones do not automatically sound better.Tom TriggsContributor
1 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
Nothing surprising about comfort
2 of 3 would buy again
3 owners · owners report ~40 h per charge vs 40 h claimed
The battery beat their expectations
The noise cancelling beat their expectations
Expected more from comfort
0 of 1 would buy again
1 owner · 1 photo-verified
Expected more from comfort
0 of 2 would buy again
2 owners · 2 photo-verified
The noise cancelling beat their expectations
The battery beat their expectations
