TLDR Review: Skullcandy Hesh 540 ANC Headphones
Verdict
The Skullcandy Hesh 540 ANC offers a solid mix of comfort, strong battery life, and customizable, punchy sound with active noise cancelling that works well in many common noisy environments like offices and planes. However, potential buyers should be aware that ANC effectiveness and durability seem to be hit-or-miss, and Bluetooth connectivity issues may occur. If you want a reliable all-rounder with a long-lasting charge and personalized sound but can accept some trade-offs in build quality and advanced ANC features, these headphones are a worthy pick. However, if ANC performance and durability are critical, considering alternatives from brands specializing in premium noise cancellation might be a better move.
- Top pro:
- Excellent sound quality with clear, immersive audio and a warm sound signature featuring punchy bass without muddy mid-range frequencies.
- Top con:
- ANC performance is reported inconsistently; while many praise its effectiveness, a notable portion of users say it’s poor or no better than when turned off.
Pros
- •Excellent sound quality with clear, immersive audio and a warm sound signature featuring punchy bass without muddy mid-range frequencies.
- •Comfortable fit with soft memory foam ear cushions and headband, suitable for extended wear including larger heads.
- •Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) effectively blocks ambient office, traffic, and airplane noise, creating a quiet listening environment.
- •Very long battery life, lasting up to 65 hours or about a full work week on a single charge, with handy Rapid Charge for quick top-ups.
- •Customizable sound profile through a companion app lets users tailor the audio experience to their preferences.
- •Durable build with reinforced hinges that fold easily without creaking (though some note durability issues, see Cons).
- •Features like motion sensors that auto-pause and resume music when headphones are removed or worn again add convenience.
- •Sleek design in a stylish True Black color that looks attractive.
- •Intuitive controls using a unique joystick, which takes some getting used to but becomes natural.
- •Great value for the price given the features and battery performance.
Cons
- •ANC performance is reported inconsistently; while many praise its effectiveness, a notable portion of users say it’s poor or no better than when turned off.
- •Durability concerns exist, with some users experiencing cracks and reduced build quality compared to older Skullcandy models after a month of use.
- •Bluetooth connection can be weak or prone to interference, causing occasional sound cutouts with movement or short distances.
- •"Aware mode" (ambient sound pass-through) is weak and less functional than that of some competitors.
- •Fit is not ideal for sleeping or lying down as headphones tend to fall off easily in these situations.
- •THX Spatial Audio feature may degrade sound quality for some users, making it less desirable.
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How we researched this
About this review: it summarizes the professional reviews and customer ratings ShopSavvy collected for this product, alongside prices from ShopSavvy's price data.
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