We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-17 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want bass you can physically feel and the longest battery life for the money, choose Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2; if you need serious all-day comfort, a rugged foldable build and a wider, more natural soundstage, choose Marshall Monitor III A.N.C.
• Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 — biggest strength: patented multi-sensory Crusher Bass with two extra dedicated bass drivers, plus up to 60 hours of battery with ANC off.
• Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 — biggest trade-off: heavier on the head at 332 g, and its whole identity is built around aggressive, adjustable bass — not neutrality.
• Marshall Monitor III A.N.C — biggest strength: up to 100 hours of playtime without ANC (70 with it), three adjustable noise-cancelling levels, Transparency mode and Soundstage spatial audio.
• Marshall Monitor III A.N.C — biggest trade-off: smaller 32 mm drivers and a more polite low end, so it won't rattle your skull the way the Skullcandy does.
• Buy the Skullcandy if you're a bass-first listener who games, gyms and travels and wants to tune the thump in an app.
• Buy the Marshall if you want a lightweight, foldable, hard-case travel companion with class-leading stamina and a more spacious, refined presentation.
The Crusher ANC 2 is not a "balanced" headphone, and it doesn't pretend to be. Its headline trick is multi-sensory Crusher Bass: two full-range 40 mm dynamic drivers paired with additional dual bass drivers, so low frequencies hit hard enough that you feel them as much as hear them. If you've ever wanted a subwoofer strapped to your ears, this is that idea in over-ear form. The 20 Hz – 20 kHz frequency range, 32 ohm impedance and 100 dB sensitivity are all standard, workable numbers — nothing here needs a headphone amp to get loud.
Around that bass engine, Skullcandy built a genuinely practical travel headphone. Adjustable 4-mic active noise cancelling lets you dial the quiet up or down instead of forcing one fixed level, and Stay-Aware mode lets the outside world back in when you need it. Multipoint pairing holds two devices at once — laptop and phone, say — with seamless switching. And the battery story is strong: up to 60 hours with ANC off, and Rapid Charge giving you roughly 4 hours of listening from a 10-minute top-up.
In the Skullcandy App you get Personal Sound by Mimi plus a custom 5-band EQ, and you can also flip between music, movie and podcast presets using the on-headphone buttons without touching your phone. Around the house you're covered too: a 3.5 mm jack for wired listening, Bluetooth 5.2, a protective case, USB-C cable and a 1-year US limited warranty. Buy it if you want maximum, adjustable bass and long battery life for gym sessions, gaming, commuting and movie nights. Skip it if you want a neutral, analytical sound or the lightest possible fit — at 332 g it's a substantial headphone, and bass-forward tuning is the entire point.
Marshall's Monitor III A.N.C. plays a completely different game. It's the endurance-and-refinement pick: up to 70 hours of wireless playtime with active noise cancelling on, and up to 100 hours with it off. That's enough that charging becomes a background chore rather than a daily one, and a 2.5-hour charge fills it back up. The noise cancelling itself is a step up from the previous generation, using advanced technology that continuously measures ambient noise to block it out, with three selectable levels — plus Transparency mode when you want to hear the barista call your name.
Sound-wise, Marshall leans on Dynamic Loudness, which rebalances treble, mids and bass at every volume so the tuning stays coherent whether you're at a whisper or cranked up. Soundstage spatial audio pushes the music out of your head for a wider, more immersive feel — great for films and live recordings, and a very different sensation from Crusher Bass. The driver here is 32 mm with 46 ohm impedance and 117 dB sensitivity, so it's efficient and easy to drive from a phone.
The physical design is arguably the strongest argument for it. It's rugged, built to shrug off everyday wear and tear, and it folds into a premium hard case — a genuinely useful trait for travel. Soft ear cushions make long listening sessions comfortable, and it's noticeably lighter than the Skullcandy on paper. You also get Bluetooth 5.3 with a 33-foot range, a USB-C to 3.5 mm detachable audio cord for wired listening, button controls plus app control, and a 1-year manufacturer warranty. Buy it if you want a lightweight, durable, foldable travel headphone with enormous battery life and a spacious, grown-up sound. Skip it if chest-thumping bass is your priority — that's not what this headphone is built to do.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for bass and physical impact → Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. Dual dedicated bass drivers plus multi-sensory feedback is a feature the Marshall simply doesn't have.
• Best for travel and packing → Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. The foldable design and premium hard case make it the easier one to throw in a bag.
• Best for lighter, all-day wear → Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. Its lighter build and soft ear cushions suit marathon sessions; the Skullcandy is the heavier of the two.
• Best for adjusting noise cancelling to your taste → Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. Adjustable 4-mic ANC plus Stay-Aware gives you fine control over how much world gets in.
• Best for immersive, wide presentation → Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. Soundstage spatial audio is aimed at pulling sound out of your head.
• Best for gaming, gym and movie nights → Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. Multipoint pairing, a 3.5 mm jack and tunable bass fit that mix of uses well.
• Best for a refined, balanced everyday listen → Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. Dynamic Loudness keeps the tuning even across volume levels.
In my opinion, the Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. is the better all-round headphone for most people. The combination of up to 100 hours of playtime, three-level noise cancelling, a foldable rugged body with a hard case and a more spacious soundstage makes it the one I'd reach for on a flight, at a desk or on a walk. The Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 is the one I'd recommend only if bass you can feel is the whole reason you're buying — and if that's you, nothing else here delivers it. So: buy the Marshall for balance, stamina and travel; buy the Skullcandy for the thump.
If battery life, a lighter foldable build and a wider soundstage matter more to you than bass impact, yes — up to 100 hours of playtime is a big practical advantage. If you want that chest-pounding low end, the Skullcandy wins that specific fight.
The Skullcandy gives you adjustable 4-mic active noise cancelling plus Stay-Aware mode. Marshall uses continuously measuring ANC with three selectable levels and a Transparency mode. Both are adjustable; Skullcandy leans on mic count, Marshall on adaptive measurement. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
The Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 runs up to 60 hours with ANC off, with a 10-minute Rapid Charge giving about 4 hours. The Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. runs up to 70 hours with ANC on and up to 100 hours without it.
Marshall has the edge on the road thanks to its lighter build, foldable design and premium hard case. Skullcandy counters with multipoint pairing and a 3.5 mm wired option, which is handy on planes with seatback screens.
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