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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
• EPOS Impact 1061 — biggest strength: a boom mic with EPOS AI noise reduction plus hybrid/adaptive ANC, so your voice stays clear even in loud open offices.
• EPOS Impact 1061 — biggest trade-off: it's a work-first headset with an on-ear/over-ear business design, not a bass-heavy music headphone.
• Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 — biggest strength: patented multi-sensory Crusher bass from dual bass drivers plus up to 60 hours of battery with ANC off.
• Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 — biggest trade-off: it's a 332 g over-ear music headphone with voice control, not a dedicated office headset with a boom mic.
• Buy the EPOS Impact 1061 if your day is meetings, calls and hybrid work on PC, Mac or mobile.
• Buy the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 if you want immersive, customizable sound for music, movies and travel.
The Impact 1061 is a Bluetooth headset first and a pair of headphones second, and everything about it points that way. The headline feature is the microphone system: EPOS AI mics that actively reduce background noise so you sound professional on Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype and general business calls. Pair that with hybrid adaptive ANC on the listening side, and you get a tool for blocking out a noisy room in both directions — what you hear and what the person on the other end hears.
Comfort and workflow are clearly the design priorities. At 180 g it's a lightweight headset with soft breathable ear cushions and a padded headband, which matters when you're wearing it through back-to-back meetings. It connects to three devices at once over Bluetooth and switches between them, so you can jump from a laptop to a phone without re-pairing. The controls are built for call habits rather than music habits: mute by moving the boom arm, auto-end calls when you take the headset off, and drop it on the contactless wireless charging stand when you're done. In my opinion, those small touches are exactly what separates a work headset from a repurposed music headphone.
Who should buy it: professionals in loud or open-plan workspaces, remote and hybrid workers, and anyone in a call center or client-facing role where voice clarity is the whole point. Who should skip it: if your main goal is thumping bass for music and movies, or you want a headphone you can plug in with a 3.5 mm cable, this isn't the pick — the Impact 1061 is wireless-only with no headphone jack.
The Crusher ANC 2 is unapologetically an entertainment headphone. Its signature is the patented Crusher bass system: two full-range 40 mm drivers plus additional dual bass drivers, which Skullcandy describes as sound you can actually feel. That's the entire personality of this product — a tactile, physical low end you won't get from a business headset. On top of that it offers adjustable 4-mic active noise canceling, so you can dial in how much of the outside world you let in, along with a Stay-Aware mode when you need to hear your surroundings.
Battery is the other big story. Skullcandy rates it at up to 60 hours with ANC off, and Rapid Charge gives you about 4 hours of listening from a 10-minute charge. It also supports multipoint pairing for two devices at once, and the Skull-iQ app lets you personalize sound with Personal Sound by Mimi, adjust the EQ and even assign custom button functions. Around the house or on a flight, that combination is genuinely flexible.
The trade-offs are worth naming. It weighs 332 g, which is noticeably heavier than a purpose-built work headset, and its connectivity is voice-control driven rather than a dedicated boom mic setup. It does have a 3.5 mm jack, so wired listening is an option. Who should buy it: music lovers, movie watchers, gamers and travelers who want bass-forward, customizable sound with long battery life. Who should skip it: anyone whose priority is being clearly understood on calls all day.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for voice clarity on calls → EPOS Impact 1061. EPOS AI microphones plus a boom arm you mute by moving it.
• Best for bass and immersive music → Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. Dual bass drivers and adjustable sensory bass.
• Best for multi-device work switching → EPOS Impact 1061. Connects to three devices at once over Bluetooth.
• Best for lighter all-day wear → EPOS Impact 1061. 180 g versus 332 g, with breathable cushions and a padded headband.
• Best for app-based sound customization → Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. Skull-iQ app with EQ, hearing modes and custom button mapping.
• Best for wired listening → Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. It has a 3.5 mm jack; the EPOS Impact 1061 has no headphone jack.
• Best for a tidy desk setup → EPOS Impact 1061. Contactless wireless charging stand and auto-end calls when removed.
For me, this comes down to what you actually do all day. If your calendar is full of meetings and your workspace is loud, I'd buy the EPOS Impact 1061 — the mic system, triple-device Bluetooth and 180 g build are aimed squarely at that job. If you want headphones for music, movies and travel, I'd buy the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 — the sensory bass and long battery are the reasons to pick it, and the 3.5 mm jack adds flexibility. Neither is a compromise; they're just built for different people. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
what is anc wireless headphones
ANC stands for active noise canceling — a wireless headphone uses built-in microphones and electronics to reduce incoming background noise. Both the EPOS Impact 1061 (hybrid adaptive ANC) and the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 (adjustable 4-mic ANC) include it. The EPOS version is tuned for focus in loud workspaces; the Skullcandy version is more about blocking distractions while you listen.
what does anc mean on bluetooth headphones
On Bluetooth headphones, ANC means the headset actively cancels ambient sound rather than just sealing it out with padding. It's separate from the Bluetooth connection itself — the Bluetooth link carries the audio, while the ANC circuit handles the noise. The Crusher ANC 2 also adds a Stay-Aware mode so you can let sound back in when you need it.
what is anc on bluetooth headphones
It's the same active noise canceling feature described above: microphones sample the noise around you and the headphone generates a signal to reduce it. Practical difference here is tuning — the EPOS Impact 1061 pairs hybrid ANC with EPOS AI noise reduction on the mic side for calls, while the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 lets you adjust the ANC level and switch to Stay-Aware.
what is the best anc headphones
There's no single best one — it depends on your use case. In my opinion, the EPOS Impact 1061 is the better ANC pick for calls and office work, thanks to its mic clarity and triple-device Bluetooth. The Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 is the better ANC pick for music and movies, thanks to its bass drivers, app EQ and up to 60 hours of battery. Match the ANC design to how you'll actually use it.
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