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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-29 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want the most trusted name in noise cancelling with a lightweight, travel-ready fit, choose Bose QuietComfort 35; if you need skull-rattling bass, marathon battery life, and modern Bluetooth, choose Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2.
• Bose QuietComfort 35 — biggest trade-off: Older Bluetooth 4.1 and a 20-hour battery that trails the Crusher badly; the 20 Hz–20,000 Hz driver is tuned for balance, not thump.
• Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 — biggest strength: Patented multi-sensory Crusher Bass with dual bass drivers you can physically feel, up to 60 hours of battery, and modern Bluetooth 5.2.
• Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 — biggest trade-off: It weighs 580 g — roughly double the Bose — and its whole identity is bass-first, which won't suit listeners who want neutral sound.
• Pick Bose QuietComfort 35 if you fly often, want proven noise cancelling, and value a light, comfortable over-ear you can wear for hours.
• Pick Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 if you live for bass-heavy music, gaming, or the gym and want the longest battery between charges.
The QuietComfort 35 II is the headphone that made "noise cancelling" a household phrase, and the spec sheet shows why it earned that reputation. You get three levels of noise cancellation you can dial through the Bose Connect app, so you can go full silence on a plane or drop to a lighter setting when you still want to hear a boarding announcement. A noise-rejecting dual-microphone system handles calls, and the audio is described as balanced at any volume — the kind of tuning that flatters podcasts, acoustic tracks, and long work sessions rather than pounding your skull.
Physically, it's built to disappear on your head. At 8.32 ounces with faux leather, glass-filled nylon, and stainless steel in the frame, it's a genuinely light over-ear with a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Amazon Alexa is baked in via an Action button, so you can ask for music, weather, or a shopping list without touching your phone. The Bose Connect app handles pairing, noise-cancellation levels, music sharing, and firmware updates, and there's a 3.5 mm backup audio cable in the box for wired listening when you want it.
Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2: Who It's For
The Crusher ANC 2 is a completely different animal, and the name tells you everything. Its headline trick is patented multi-sensory Crusher Bass: two full-range 40 mm drivers plus additional dual bass drivers create a low-end you can actually feel, not just hear. If you've ever wanted your headphones to hit like a subwoofer in a car, this is the design intent. Adjustable 4-mic active noise cancelling hushes the chaos around you, and you can toggle between ANC, Stay-Aware, and custom EQ modes either in the Skullcandy App or directly on the headphones.
Battery is where it runs away from the Bose. Skullcandy rates it at up to 60 hours with ANC off, and Rapid Charge gives you roughly 4 hours of listening from a 10-minute top-up. You also get Bluetooth 5.2 with multipoint pairing, so it can hold two devices at once and hop between them — handy if you're switching from a laptop call to your phone. A 3.5 mm jack is included for wired use, along with a protective case, USB-C cable, and a 1-year manufacturer warranty. The 32-ohm impedance and 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range are standard, but the bass-driver stack is what sets it apart.
Who should buy it? Bass lovers, gamers, gym-goers, and travelers who hate charging — anyone who wants sound they can feel and a battery that lasts the better part of a week. Who should skip it? If you want neutral, reference-style tuning, or you're sensitive to weight, the 580 g body and bass-forward signature will wear on you. The controls are also a mix of button and touch, which some people love and others find fussy. In my opinion, the Crusher ANC 2 is the pick for anyone who treats listening as a physical experience.
• Best for noise cancelling control → Bose QuietComfort 35. Three adjustable levels via the Bose Connect app, versus the Crusher's adjustable 4-mic ANC.
• Best for bass and "feel it" sound → Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. Patented Crusher Bass with dedicated dual bass drivers is in a class of its own here.
• Best for battery life → Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. Up to 60 hours versus Bose's 20 hours, plus Rapid Charge for 4 hours from a 10-minute charge.
• Best for light, all-day comfort → Bose QuietComfort 35. At 8.32 ounces it's dramatically lighter than the 580 g Crusher.
• Best for modern connectivity → Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. Bluetooth 5.2 with multipoint pairing beats Bose's Bluetooth 4.1.
• Best for voice assistants on Bose → Bose QuietComfort 35. Alexa is built in with a dedicated Action button.
• Best for travel and flights → Bose QuietComfort 35. The lighter build and three-level ANC make it the more natural long-haul companion.
• Best for gaming, gym, and studying → Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. Its marketing explicitly targets those uses, and the 60-hour battery supports them.
If I'm spending my own money and I want one headphone to do everything well, I'd buy the Bose QuietComfort 35. In my opinion, its lighter 8.32 oz build, three-level noise cancellation, and balanced audio make it the smarter daily driver for travel, work, and calls — and the brand's reputation in ANC is well earned. But I'll be honest: if your priority is bass you can feel and a battery that lasts days, the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 is the more exciting product, and its Bluetooth 5.2 and 60-hour rating are genuinely better specs. Pick Bose for balance and comfort; pick Skullcandy for thump and endurance.
what are wireless noise cancelling headphones
They're over-ear or in-ear headphones that connect over Bluetooth and use microphones plus electronics to reduce surrounding noise. Both the Bose QuietComfort 35 and Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 fit this definition, with the Bose offering three adjustable cancellation levels and the Skullcandy using an adjustable 4-mic system.
how do wireless noise cancelling headphones work
what is the best wireless noise cancelling headphones
There's no single answer — it depends on what you value. In my opinion, the Bose QuietComfort 35 is the better all-rounder for travel and comfort thanks to its light 8.32 oz build and three cancellation levels, while the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 wins for bass-heavy listeners with its Crusher Bass drivers and up to 60-hour battery.
Is the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 worth it over the Bose QuietComfort 35?
It depends on your priorities. The Crusher ANC 2 gives you more battery (up to 60 hours vs 20), newer Bluetooth 5.2 with multipoint, and a bass experience Bose doesn't attempt. The Bose counters with a much lighter 8.32 oz frame, three-level ANC, and Alexa built in. Check the current price on Amazon for both before deciding.
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