How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a lightweight work headset with a wired USB-C safety net and physical buttons, choose PLT HP; if you need marathon battery life, app-tunable bass you can physically feel, and a more modern Bluetooth version, choose Skullcandy Crusher 1080.
• PLT HP biggest strength: A genuine dual-mode design — Bluetooth 5.1 wireless plus a wired USB-C connection, 19 hours of battery, and a charging stand included in the box.
• PLT HP biggest trade-off: 19 hours is modest next to the Crusher's 60, and the feature set is built for calls and focused listening rather than immersive, bass-heavy entertainment.
• Skullcandy Crusher 1080 biggest strength: Bose-licensed audio technologies (QuietControl ANC, TrueSpatial, Waveform engine) paired with Skullcandy's patented multi-sensory Crusher bass drivers, plus 60 hours of battery with ANC off.
• Skullcandy Crusher 1080 biggest trade-off: At 374.2 g it is more than twice the weight of the PLT HP, and it relies on Bluetooth only — there is a 3.5 mm AUX cable in the box, but no USB audio path.
• Who each pick is for: PLT HP for people who want one headset that handles calls and commuting with a wired fallback; Skullcandy Crusher 1080 for listeners who want long battery, deep bass, and app-driven control.
The PLT HP is, at heart, a practicality-first over-ear headset. Its headline feature list reads like a checklist for someone who moves between devices all day: Bluetooth 5.1 for wireless streaming to phones, tablets and computers, plus a USB Type-C jack that lets the same headset run wired when you want zero-latency audio or a connection that doesn't depend on a battery. That dual connectivity is the single most interesting thing about it, and it's rare in this class.
The spec sheet also points to a work-and-focus orientation. Active Noise Cancellation is on board, controls are physical buttons, and voice control is supported. There's a charging stand in the box, which tells you this is meant to live on a desk and get dropped back onto its base rather than shoved in a bag. The 175 g weight and 91 m Bluetooth range reinforce that: light enough to wear for a full work session, with enough range to walk away from your laptop without dropping the signal. Battery life is rated at 19 hours, and the driver is a dynamic type with a 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz frequency range — the standard full-range window, so nothing exotic, just competent coverage.
Who should buy it? In my opinion, the PLT HP suits the person who takes calls, joins meetings, and wants one headset that works wired or wireless without thinking about it. The included charging stand and USB-C/A adapter make it easy to keep topped up between sessions.
Skullcandy Crusher 1080: Who It's For
The Skullcandy Crusher 1080 is a different animal entirely. It's a feature-stacked listening headphone, and the spec sheet is unusually specific about what you're getting: Bose-licensed audio technologies, Skullcandy's patented multi-sensory Crusher bass with dedicated bass drivers, and a control scheme that includes app-based tuning. The bass slider idea is the hook — you can dial the low end up for maximum impact or down for a more refined listen, which means one headphone can serve both a basshead and someone who just wants clean, natural sound.
The Bose side of the equation is worth understanding. QuietControl ANC uses multiple microphones with adaptive processing to cut distractions. TrueSpatial Audio widens the soundstage and uses head tracking so audio stays anchored as you move. The Waveform Audio Engine is designed to keep sound full and balanced at any volume, keeping distortion out. These are the features that push this headphone toward travel, commuting, and movie-watching rather than conference calls.
Battery is the other headline. Skullcandy rates it at up to 60 hours with ANC off and 50 hours with ANC on, and Rapid Charge gives you 4 hours of playtime from a 10-minute charge. Charge time is about 1 hour. The Bluetooth version is 5.3, newer than the PLT HP's 5.1, and the enclosure is faux leather and plastic in a Primer color with oval over-ear cups. The 36 mm dynamic driver, 36 ohm impedance and 122 dB sensitivity suggest an efficient, easy-to-drive headphone. In the box you get the headphones, a 3.5 mm AUX cable, a USB-C to USB-C charging cable, a roll-top travel bag, and a user manual — plus a 1-year manufacturer warranty.
Who should buy it? Anyone who wants a travel-and-music headphone with serious battery, adjustable bass, and app support for firmware updates and new features. Who should skip it? If weight matters — it's 374.2 g, more than double the PLT HP — or if you specifically need a wired USB-C audio path, look elsewhere. It's Bluetooth-only for audio, with the 3.5 mm jack as the wired option.
• Best for battery life → Skullcandy Crusher 1080. Up to 60 hours with ANC off, 50 with ANC on, versus 19 hours on the PLT HP.
• Best for calls and desk work → PLT HP. Physical button controls, voice control, a charging stand, and a USB-C wired option make it the more office-friendly of the two.
• Best for bass and immersion → Skullcandy Crusher 1080. Patented multi-sensory Crusher bass with dedicated bass drivers is a feature the PLT HP simply doesn't attempt.
• Best for travel → Skullcandy Crusher 1080. The roll-top travel bag, 60-hour battery and Bose QuietControl ANC are built for long trips; the PLT HP's stand is less bag-friendly.
• Best for wired flexibility → PLT HP. USB-C audio plus Bluetooth 5.1 gives you two ways to connect; the Crusher 1080 offers Bluetooth and a 3.5 mm AUX cable.
• Best for lighter wear → PLT HP. At 175 g it's far lighter than the 374.2 g Crusher 1080, which matters over a long day.
• Best for app control and updates → Skullcandy Crusher 1080. The Skullcandy App delivers firmware updates and feature enhancements the PLT HP doesn't advertise.
• Best for newer wireless standard → Skullcandy Crusher 1080. Bluetooth 5.3 versus 5.1.
If I had to pick one for myself, I'd take the Skullcandy Crusher 1080. In my opinion, the combination of up to 60 hours of battery, Bose-licensed ANC and spatial audio, and adjustable Crusher bass covers more of what I actually want from a headphone — travel, music, and long listening sessions without a charger. The PLT HP is the smarter buy if your life revolves around calls and you value a wired USB-C fallback and a lighter frame. But for pure listening range and features, I'd go Skullcandy. Check the current price on Amazon before you decide, since that's the one thing that could tip a close call.
how does anc headphones work
Active Noise Cancellation uses microphones to pick up ambient sound and then generates processing that reduces those distractions before they reach your ears. On the Skullcandy Crusher 1080, Bose QuietControl ANC uses multiple microphones and adaptive processing; the PLT HP lists Active Noise Cancellation as its noise control method with voice control support.
how to active noise cancelling on headphones
You enable ANC through the headphone's own controls — typically a button or app setting. The Crusher 1080 supports app, push-button and voice control methods, so you can toggle it there. The PLT HP uses physical buttons and voice control, so ANC is switched on the headset itself.
how to bluetooth anc headphones
Put the headphones into pairing mode, then select them from your phone, tablet or computer's Bluetooth menu. The PLT HP uses Bluetooth 5.1 with a rated range of 91 meters; the Crusher 1080 uses Bluetooth 5.3. Both connect wirelessly, and both also offer a wired option — USB-C on the PLT HP, 3.5 mm AUX on the Crusher 1080.
how to headphones cancel noise
The cancellation happens electronically, not through physical blocking alone, though over-ear cups help. Both of these are over-ear designs with Active Noise Cancellation. The Crusher 1080 leans on Bose QuietControl ANC with adaptive processing, while the PLT HP lists ANC as its noise control method — either way, the effect is strongest on steady low-frequency sound like engine drone.
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See also: Skullcandy Crusher ANC Over-Ear vs PLT HP, AIAIAI TMA-2 vs Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2, Skullcandy Crusher Evo vs Tayogo Swimming Headphones T6