If you want wired, open-back headphones for relaxed indoor listening and calls, choose Philips Audio SHP9500; if you need wireless convenience, active noise cancelling, and adjustable bass for calls, choose Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. For a call-focused setup, the key difference is straightforward: Philips keeps things simple and wired, while Skullcandy adds Bluetooth, microphones for noise cancellation, and a built-in battery.
• Philips Audio SHP9500’s strength: Open-back design, 50 mm drivers, and a removable 1.5 m cable; its trade-off is that it is wired and has no noise control.
• Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2’s strength: Bluetooth, adjustable active noise cancelling, and up to 60 hours of battery life with ANC off; its trade-off is that wireless features depend on a charged battery.
• Philips suits listeners who mainly use headphones indoors and prefer a direct wired connection.
• Skullcandy suits people who want wireless listening, adjustable bass, and the option to reduce or hear surrounding sound.
• For calls, Philips is the simpler wired choice; Skullcandy offers a wireless setup and multipoint pairing, but neither product’s supplied details specify call-microphone performance.
The SHP9500 is an over-ear, wired headphone built around an open acoustic design and 50 mm neodymium drivers. That open construction is the defining choice here. It favors an unsealed, less isolating listening setup rather than trying to block the room out. If you listen at home, at a desk, or in another place where you do not need to shut out nearby sound, that may be a better fit than active noise cancelling.
Its 1.5 m removable cable makes it a practical pick for indoor listening near a computer or audio source. The 3.5 mm connection and included 6.3 mm adapter give it flexibility with compatible audio equipment. Its 32-ohm impedance and 101 dB sensitivity are listed specifications; they also mean the design is not restricted to use with a dedicated headphone amplifier. A double-layered headband cushion and breathable ear cushions are intended to support longer listening sessions. The angled drivers are designed to align with the ears.
For calls, the biggest advantage is uncomplicated wired connectivity: there is no Bluetooth pairing or headphone battery to manage. But the supplied details do not list a built-in call microphone, so I would not choose it on the assumption that it can handle calls by itself. It is also a poor match for commuting or noisy surroundings if you want active noise control. The open acoustic system does not offer that feature.
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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-22 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2: Who It's For
The Crusher ANC 2 is an over-ear Bluetooth headphone for someone who wants more control over how listening feels. It combines two full-range 40 mm drivers with additional bass drivers, and its Crusher bass level is adjustable. That gives bass-forward listeners a way to dial the effect up or down rather than being locked into one setting. The Skullcandy app adds Personal Sound customization and a five-band EQ, while music, movie, and podcast presets offer another route to changing the sound.
Its active noise cancelling uses four microphones, and the available modes include Active Noise Cancelling and Stay-Aware. The first is intended to reduce surrounding noise; Stay-Aware is useful when you want to remain more conscious of what is around you. For daily transitions between a quiet workspace, shared rooms, and travel, those options are more flexible than the SHP9500’s single open, wired setup. Multipoint pairing can connect the headphones to two devices at once, which may help if you alternate between a phone and a computer.
Battery life is listed as up to 60 hours with ANC off, and the product information also describes a 10-minute rapid charge as providing four hours of listening. That makes the Skullcandy the more self-contained choice for longer stretches away from a charging cable, although battery use is part of owning it. Bluetooth 5.2 and a stated 10-meter range support wireless listening within that range. A 3.5 mm jack is also listed, but the supplied details do not clarify every wired-use condition.
For calls, wireless use and multipoint pairing are convenient on paper, but the product details do not specify call-microphone quality or performance. Noise cancelling is a listening feature, not proof of clearer voice transmission. I would consider this one if wireless flexibility and adjustable sound matter, while checking that its call setup meets your needs.
• Best for a wired indoor setup → Philips Audio SHP9500. Its 1.5 m removable cable connects through a 3.5 mm jack, and an included adapter supports compatible 6.3 mm connections.
• Best for wireless listening → Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. Bluetooth 5.2 and a stated 10-meter range let you listen without being tethered to the source.
• Best for adjustable active noise control → Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. It offers four-microphone ANC and a Stay-Aware mode; Philips lists no noise-control feature.
• Best for open-back listening → Philips Audio SHP9500. Its open acoustic system is the clear fit if you specifically want that design rather than a noise-cancelling headphone.
• Best for adjustable, physical-feeling bass → Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. Its dedicated bass drivers and adjustable Crusher effect make bass customization a central feature.
• Best for long listening without tracking a battery → Philips Audio SHP9500. It is wired, so there is no headphone battery to recharge.
• Best for extended wireless use between charges → Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. Its stated maximum is up to 60 hours with ANC off, with a rapid-charge feature also listed.
• Best for switching between two paired devices → Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. Multipoint pairing is specified; no comparable wireless feature applies to the wired Philips.
For calls, first separate headphone connectivity from microphone capability. The Crusher ANC 2 is wireless and supports multipoint pairing, yet its listed ANC microphones are described for noise cancellation, not as a measure of how your voice sounds to someone else. If calls are your main reason for buying, verify the call-microphone requirements of your device and the headphone setup before deciding.
Think about your surroundings, too. Philips uses an open acoustic system and has no listed noise control. That makes it a less suitable choice when you want to reduce surrounding noise, and it may not suit someone searching for sleep headphones for calls: it is wired, open-back, and not described as a sleep-specific design. Skullcandy provides ANC and Stay-Aware, but its larger set of wireless features also means managing battery charge.
Sound preference may settle the choice. Philips specifies 50 mm drivers and an open design, while Skullcandy puts particular emphasis on adjustable bass, app-based EQ, and listening presets. Those are different priorities, not a simple measure of one headphone being universally better. If you’re searching for the best bluetooth headphones for calls, Skullcandy is the Bluetooth option here, but the available information does not establish call quality. And if you mean head phones for calls in the broadest sense, focus on the connection and microphone details you need rather than assuming noise cancelling guarantees better calls.
If you want to compare current purchasing details, check the current price on Amazon. I would make that a final consideration after deciding which design and features suit your actual use.
I would choose the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 for a call-focused routine that also involves wireless listening, ANC, and switching between devices. Its feature set is more adaptable across different environments, though the supplied details do not confirm call-microphone performance.
For calls, I would check that capability before buying.
If I wanted a straightforward indoor headphone with an open design and no battery to manage, I’d choose the Philips Audio SHP9500 instead.
The SHP9500 offers a wired connection, while the Crusher ANC 2 adds Bluetooth and multipoint pairing. The supplied details do not specify call-microphone performance for either, so they do not establish which will transmit your voice better.
Does the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 block noise?
It has adjustable active noise cancelling that uses four microphones, along with a Stay-Aware mode. The SHP9500 has an open acoustic system and no listed noise-control feature.
The Philips includes a double-layered headband cushion and breathable ear cushions, and it does not require battery charging. The Skullcandy offers up to 60 hours with ANC off and rapid charging, but its wireless listening depends on battery power.
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