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The Skullcandy Crusher Evo 2 could turn heads with these features
July 4, 2025
Befitting of its name, Skullcandy is infamous for manufacturing headphones with skull-rattling amounts of bass. Its Crusher-series cans are synonymous with this, with the semi-recent Crusher ANC 2 accentuating sub-bass frequencies by over 15dB. And yet, despite their moniker, the older Skullcandy Crusher Evo have a less bassy sound profile than their siblings. Born out of a desire for more affordable offerings, the headphones sacrifice desirable flagship features for a cheaper price tag. With middling functionality by today’s standards, the company must up its game with the Skullcandy Crusher Evo 2.
Given that the Crusher Evo are now discontinued, there’s no certainty that we will see a feature-rich upgrade in the future. Nevertheless, here is everything I want to see if and when the Skullycandy Crusher Evo 2 launch.
Active Noise Canceling
Nowadays, there’s no excuse for over-ear headphones not to feature active noise cancelation. While once the plaything of only the most premium cans, ANC has become ubiquitous in the consumer headphone arena. This protects your music mix from unwanted environmental noise, allowing for quieter playback volumes. The last is essential for protecting your hearing from noise-induced hearing loss.
The Skullcandy Crusher Evo likely axed its predecessor’s ANC feature to save money. However, modern headphones like the JLab JBuds Lux ANC have decent noise cancelation and cost even less than Skullcandy’s budget cans. Without ANC, the Crusher Evo are susceptible to ambient noises below 1.4kHz. That means rumbles from train engines, airplanes, and passing cars can easily permeate your favorite song. The Skullcandy Crusher Evo 2 must host active noise canceling to be worth considering in 2025.
Bluetooth 5.2, multipoint, and high-res codecs
With the rollout of Bluetooth 5.2, 2020 was a formative year for the Bluetooth SIG. This brought Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) and the LC3 codec to the fore, allowing faster, higher-quality, and more energy-efficient wireless audio transfers. It also opened the door to Auracast connectivity, which supports a theoretically unlimited number of wireless connections and allows listeners to tune in to public broadcasts.
Unfortunately, Skullcandy appeared not to get the memo. Despite launching in the fall of 2020, the headphones run Bluetooth 5.0. As such, the cans do not support many of the best wireless technologies. They also lack Bluetooth multipoint, which is annoying if you frequently switch between devices. Similarly, the lack of high-res Bluetooth codecs like aptX or LDAC leaves listeners wanting high-quality wireless audio in the lurch.
A lighter, more comfortable design
While the Skullcandy Crusher Evo may be good for bass heads, they are pretty bad for the comfort-conscious. For starters, they weigh 312g, which is heavier than many similarly priced rivals. The headband has a soft rubber material that is prone to pulling on hair, while the ear cups feature firm padding and small ear holes that can make it difficult for those with larger ears to achieve a comfortable fit without excess pressure.
At 201 x 187 x 90mm, the cans are a little on the large side. The overbearing size of the ear cups can make it feel as though you are wearing a helmet instead of headphones. The soft-touch plastic is susceptible to catching marks, though the included carry case helps mitigate this. Still, the Skullcandy Crusher Evo 2 should wear a smaller, more comfortable, and more robust form factor.
Touch controls
People have different preferences regarding headphone controls. Some prefer tactile buttons due to their deliberate execution, while others enjoy the seamless functionality of touch surfaces. While neither is necessarily superior, touch controls enjoy one major advantage.
If you’ve ever owned a pair of headphones with tactile controls, you’ve likely noticed the cans shift on your head when pressing the buttons. Aside from being a minor annoyance, it can often lead to an inferior seal around the ear. This affects sound quality, including diminishing the perceptual loudness of bass. Active noise cancelation also suffers, requiring a robust fit to work optimally. The Skullcandy Crusher Evo 2 should use touch controls.
USB-C audio
Much like Bluetooth technology, wired connectivity has evolved fast in recent years. This has been accelerated by smartphone manufacturers ditching the headphone jack en masse. Now, instead of Apple Lightning or TRS cables, USB-C is the de facto port for wired listening. This digital connection has the potential to reduce noise produced from long headphone cables and noisy processing hardware found inside phones.
The Skullcandy Crusher Evo supports wired listening with a standard 3.5mm audio cable. However, this port is already becoming less relevant. Unlike the rise of ANC, USB-C audio is being rolled out by many affordable headphone brands. The Crusher Evo 2 should follow suit.
What would you like to see Mill Road Capital bring to the Skullcandy Crusher Evo 2?
Will there be a Skullcandy Crusher Evo 2?
Given that the original Skullcandy Crusher Evo are now discontinued, it is uncertain whether we will see an upgrade. However, hopefuls will note that the company remains invested in its headphones category. For example, the Skullcandy Crusher 540 Active launched on May 22, 2025, with sweat and water-resistant nano-coating, breathable fabric earpads, and 40 hours of battery life.
Unfortunately, there has been no mention of the Skullcandy Crusher Evo 2 at the time of writing. Rumors are also absent, so we must wait for official confirmation from Mill Road Capital for concrete details.
We can surmise an approximate launch date based on the company’s previous release schedule:
- Skullcandy Crusher ANC — September 18, 2019
- Skullcandy Crusher Evo — September 3, 2020
- Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 — May 16, 2023
By that metric, we should have seen the Crusher Evo 2 launch already this year. While they may materialize in the fall, I wouldn’t hold your breath.
Should you wait for the Skullcandy Crusher Evo 2?
There are many compelling and up-to-date alternatives to the Skullcandy Crusher Evo. If you feel compelled to buy a pair, you can still find some available stock from the company’s website and major retailers, including Amazon and Best Buy.
The Skullcandy Crusher Evo ($150 at Amazon) have some pleasant characteristics. They feature a bass slider for better low-frequency control, foldable hinges for portability, and USB-C charging. The cans yielded 66 hours and 50 minutes of playback time in our testing, with four hours of charge from a 10-minute top-up. However, the lack of ANC is a huge oversight.
If you like everything the Crusher Evo have and want active noise cancelation, grab the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 ($229.99 at Manufacturer site). These headphones offer Bluetooth multipoint and ANC that helps attenuate low-frequency sounds below 800Hz by up to 15dB. They run Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC and AAC codecs, plus a 3.5mm jack. Battery life lasted 45 hours and 23 minutes during testing.
If you prioritize sound quality over noise cancelation, consider the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 ($198 at Amazon). These cans are more adept at listening to different music genres, support the high-res LDAC Bluetooth codec, and offer Bluetooth multipoint. They last 64 hours and 51 minutes on a single charge.
If you want USB-C audio on a budget, look no further than the JLab JBuds Lux ANC ($79.99 at Amazon). For significantly less than the competition, these cans run Bluetooth 5.3 and offer a comfortable fit with ear cups that accommodate real ear shapes. Battery life lasts 44 hours and 22 minutes with ANC enabled, and ANC is significantly better than with the Crusher ANC 2.
Skullcandy Crusher Evo 2 FAQs
Yes, although you can still find some limited stock from the company's website and major retailers, including Amazon and Best Buy.
The Skullcandy Crusher Wireless have some of the most prominent bass response out of all available Skullcandy headphones. However, each of the company's Crusher-series cans feature a bass slider for adding extra oomph to your music mix.
Not anymore. By today's standards, the headphones lack fundamental flagship features such as active noise cancellation, a comprehensive companion app, and Bluetooth 5.2. The lack of USB-C audio also makes them a less compelling choice for the future.
The Skullcandy Crusher Evo 2 have not been announced yet. Their predecessor, the Crusher Evo, do not have active noise cancellation baked in, either. However, it is likely that if their successor come to market, ANC will be controlled on the headphones and via the Skullcandy app.