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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a wired, studio-grade in-ear monitor tuned for accuracy and detail, choose Linsoul 7Hz; if you need wireless over-ear headphones with active noise cancelling and bass you can physically feel, choose Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. These two products barely compete for the same buyer — one is an audiophile tool, the other is a lifestyle companion — so the right answer comes down to how you actually listen.
• Linsoul 7Hz (Salnotes Dioko) — biggest strength: a 14.6mm planar magnetic driver with Crinacle-influenced tuning, delivering clarity and detail that dynamic drivers at this level rarely match. Biggest trade-off: it's wired only, with passive noise cancellation and no app, no ANC and no battery.
• Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 — biggest strength: patented Crusher sensory bass plus adjustable 4-mic active noise cancelling and up to 60 hours of battery with ANC off. Biggest trade-off: it's a bass-forward, app-dependent wireless headphone, not a neutral reference monitor.
• Choose Linsoul 7Hz if you want a wired IEM for critical listening, studio work or a phone/laptop with a good DAC.
• Choose Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 if you want wireless freedom, noise cancelling on a commute or flight, and a sound you can feel.
The Salnotes Dioko is built around a 14.6mm dual-cavity planar diaphragm driver — a design chosen, per the spec sheet, after modeling and simulation to nail the magnetic circuit and wire distribution. Around that driver sit N55 magnets in a double-sided array, which is what gives planar drivers their characteristic speed and low distortion. The result, as described, is a "loose, natural and transparent" character with high sensitivity. If you've only heard budget dynamic IEMs, the jump in separation between instruments is the thing that stands out first.
The tuning is the other half of the story. 7Hz partnered with Crinacle, and the Dioko's target is a natural, balanced response — the frequency range runs from 5 Hz all the way to 40 kHz, and impedance sits at 16 ohm, which means it's easy to drive from a phone dongle or a laptop jack. The shell is CNC-machined aviation-grade aluminum with hard oxidation treatment, and the faceplate uses tempered glass with a sapphire coating and an anti-fingerprint finish. The solid metal body also gives you passive noise isolation, so it blocks some ambient sound simply by sealing your ear canal. The cable is a detachable 4-core Litz design mixing copper and silver-plated copper, with 216 individually coated strands, terminating in a 0.78mm 2-pin connector — replaceable if it ever fails, and swappable if you want to experiment.
Who should buy it: musicians, studio users, and anyone who wants an accurate, wired in-ear for focused listening at a desk or on a commute with a decent source. Who should skip it: anyone who wants wireless convenience, active noise cancelling for a loud train or plane, or thumping, physical bass. There's no battery here, no app, no Bluetooth — it's a wired tool, and it expects you to treat it like one. It ships with a large-capacity storage case and a one-year warranty.
The Crusher ANC 2 is a completely different animal. It's an over-ear wireless headphone with Bluetooth 5.2 and multipoint pairing, so you can be connected to a laptop and a phone at the same time and switch between them without re-pairing. The headline feature is the patented multi-sensory Crusher bass technology: two full-range 40mm drivers plus additional dual bass drivers, with sensory feedback that turns low frequencies into something you feel against your head, not just hear. If you've used Crusher headphones before, you know the sensation; if you haven't, the honest description is that it's a physical effect layered on top of the audio, and it's adjustable.
Noise cancelling is handled by an adjustable 4-mic active system. Four dedicated external microphones pick up ambient noise and emit cancelling signals, and you can dial the strength up or down rather than being stuck with one setting. There's also a Stay-Aware mode for when you need to hear traffic or a gate announcement without taking the headphones off. Battery life is rated up to 60 hours with ANC off, and Rapid Charge gives you about 4 hours of playback from a 10-minute top-up; a full charge takes roughly 2.5 hours via USB-C. The app adds Personal Sound by Mimi and a custom 5-band EQ, plus preset modes for music, movie and podcast that you can also cycle through on the headphones themselves.
Build-wise, it's an over-ear design in faux leather, plastic and silicone, weighing 332 g, with button controls rather than touch. There's a 3.5mm jack for wired listening when the battery is flat. Who should buy it: commuters, travelers, movie watchers and anyone who wants big, tactile bass with the convenience of wireless and real ANC. Who should skip it: listeners chasing a neutral, reference-style sound, and anyone who prefers a wired, low-latency connection for critical monitoring. It carries a one-year manufacturer warranty.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for critical listening and detail → Linsoul 7Hz. A planar driver with balanced, Crinacle-influenced tuning is the more revealing listen.
• Best for battery life and wireless freedom → Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. Up to 60 hours with ANC off, plus Rapid Charge.
• Best for bass you can feel → Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. The dual bass drivers and sensory feedback are the whole point.
• Best for studio and musician use → Linsoul 7Hz. Wired, detachable 2-pin cable, low 16 ohm impedance, no latency or codec concerns.
• Best for commuting without charging → Linsoul 7Hz. No battery to manage, though you'll hear more of the outside world.
• Best for switching between phone and laptop → Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. Multipoint pairing handles two devices at once.
• Best for long-term durability of the shell → Linsoul 7Hz. CNC aviation-grade aluminum with hard oxidation and a sapphire-coated glass face.
In my opinion, most people asking this question should buy the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. It does more things for more situations — wireless, ANC, multipoint, 60 hours, app EQ — and the Crusher bass is genuinely unlike anything a neutral IEM offers. But I'd recommend the Linsoul 7Hz without hesitation to anyone who listens critically, works in audio, or wants the cleanest, most detailed sound for the money. If your listening happens on a couch, a plane or a noisy office, go Skullcandy. If it happens at a desk with your attention on the music, go Linsoul. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since both sit in very different budget brackets.
No. The Salnotes Dioko is a wired in-ear monitor with a 0.78mm 2-pin detachable cable. There's no Bluetooth and no battery — it needs a source with a headphone output or dongle.
Yes. You can switch between the preset EQ modes directly on the headphones using the button controls. The app adds Personal Sound by Mimi and a custom 5-band EQ if you want finer control.
Which has better noise isolation?
Yes, it has a 3.5mm jack, so you can listen wired — useful when the battery is drained after a long trip. The Linsoul 7Hz is wired by design and always ready to play.
The Linsoul 7Hz. Its planar driver, balanced tuning and 16 ohm impedance suit critical monitoring, while the Crusher ANC 2 is tuned around a bass-forward, customizable consumer sound.
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See also: XIAOMI Redmi Buds 8 vs SoundPEATS Air6: Hybrid ANC Earbuds, Konohan 240 vs Niderson Mini ANC Sleep: Wired in Ear Earbuds, Xmenha Smallest Invisible Earbuds vs CNBRO ANC Noise Cancelling