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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want pocketable, waterproof earbuds with adjustable noise cancelling for training and commuting, choose Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active; if you need a lightweight over-ear gaming headset with a detachable boom mic and multi-platform wireless, choose ASUS ROG Pelta. These two are not really rivals — they solve different problems, and the "premium" angle here is about build intent, not a single spec sheet.
• Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active — biggest strength: adjustable 4-mic active noise cancelling plus an IP67 waterproof, sweatproof build and up to 48 hours of total battery with the case.
• Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active — biggest trade-off: it's an in-ear true wireless set with plastic housing, so it's built for movement and pockets rather than long stationary sessions at a desk.
• ASUS ROG Pelta — biggest strength: 50mm titanium-plated drivers, a 10mm detachable super-wideband boom mic, and up to 70 hours of battery in 2.4GHz mode with RGB off.
• ASUS ROG Pelta — biggest trade-off: it's an over-ear headset at roughly 300–309g with no noise cancelling at all — you get isolation from the earcups, not active cancellation.
• Choose Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active if you want earbuds for the gym, runs, wet weather and dual-device phone/laptop life.
• Choose ASUS ROG Pelta if you want one headset for PC, PlayStation, Switch and mobile, and you talk to people while you play or work.
This is the pick for people who treat audio gear as kit, not furniture. The Sesh ANC Active is a true wireless in-ear set with adjustable 4-mic digital active noise cancelling, and the word "adjustable" matters — you can dial the cancellation to suit a noisy train or a quiet office instead of accepting one fixed level. There's also Adjustable Stay-Aware Mode, which lets outside sound back in without pulling the buds out, and you control how much through the Skullcandy App. For anyone who runs, lifts or cycles near traffic, that's a genuinely useful pairing of features rather than a gimmick.
The durability story is the other half. An IP67 waterproof and sweatproof rating is about as protected as in-ear gear gets — rain, sweat, dust and the bottom of a gym bag are all covered by the spec. The Fit Grip design is meant to keep them seated during movement, and the rounded-tip earpieces are a standard in-ear shape rather than something exotic. Battery is quoted at up to 48 hours total: 12 hours in the earbuds plus 36 more in the case, with Rapid Charge giving you 2 hours of listening from a 10-minute top-up. A full charge takes about 3 hours. Multipoint pairing connects two devices at once, so a laptop call and a phone can coexist, and the app adds Personal Sound by Mimi, EQ tweaking and Low Latency Audio for video.
ASUS ROG Pelta: Who It's For
The ROG Pelta is aimed squarely at someone who sits down to play — or to work while sounding like they're on a broadcast. It's an over-ear headset with 50mm titanium-plated diaphragm drivers and a 20Hz–20kHz frequency range, tuned for detail and reduced distortion so positional cues in games come through clearly. The 10mm detachable boom mic uses a super-wideband frequency range, which is the part that matters most for voice: it's designed to capture speech with clarity and detail during team comms, streaming and online calls, including work meetings. A detachable mic also means you can pull it off and use the headset as plain headphones when you're not talking.
Comfort is clearly the design priority. It weighs about 300–309g, uses a three-level adjustable elastic headband to spread pressure, and pairs that with mesh fabric ear cushions for airflow. That combination is built for long sessions rather than short bursts. Connectivity is genuinely flexible: Bluetooth, ultra-low latency ROG SpeedNova 2.4GHz, and wired USB-C, covering PC, Mac, PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, and mobile. A power slide switch on the left earcup flips between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz, and physical buttons handle volume, mic mute and power. Battery is quoted at up to 70 hours in 2.4GHz mode with RGB off, and a 15-minute charge gives you 3 hours of use. Armoury Crate Gear lets you check battery level, adjust EQ and sync RGB via Aura Sync.
Who should skip it? Anyone who needs active noise cancelling, because the Pelta has none — its noise control field is empty by design, so isolation comes from the earcups alone. Anyone who wants buds for the gym, swimming or heavy rain should look elsewhere too; there's no waterproof rating here. And if you want a headset you can wear on a run, the over-ear, on-ear fit and weight make that awkward. It ships with a USB-C to USB-A dongle adapter and a 1-year warranty.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for battery life → ASUS ROG Pelta. Up to 70 hours in 2.4GHz mode with RGB off, versus up to 48 hours total on the Sesh ANC Active including its case.
• Best for voice calls and streaming → ASUS ROG Pelta. A 10mm detachable super-wideband boom mic beats an in-ear mic array for spoken clarity.
• Best for workouts and wet weather → Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active. IP67 waterproof and sweatproof, with a fit designed to stay put.
• Best for gaming across PC and consoles → ASUS ROG Pelta. Tri-mode Bluetooth, ROG SpeedNova 2.4GHz and USB-C across PC, Mac, PS4/PS5, Switch and mobile.
• Best for travel and pockets → Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active. True wireless with a charging case and multipoint pairing for two devices.
• Best for long desk sessions → ASUS ROG Pelta. Roughly 300–309g with a three-level elastic headband and breathable mesh cushions.
• Best for customizing your sound → either, depending on platform. Skullcandy App (EQ, Personal Sound by Mimi, Low Latency) versus Armoury Crate Gear (EQ, RGB, battery level).
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the ASUS ROG Pelta — but only because my use case is a desk, a PC and a console, and a detachable boom mic plus 70 hours of battery solves more of my daily problems than noise cancelling does. The 50mm titanium-plated drivers and multi-platform wireless make it the more versatile single purchase for gaming and calls. That said, if your life happens outdoors — gym, runs, rain, commuting — the Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active is the smarter buy: IP67, adjustable ANC and a pocketable case are worth more than earcup comfort when you're moving. There's no universal winner here, just a fit question.
what are premium headphones
There's no fixed definition, but the term usually describes gear with better materials, more advanced drivers or audio processing, and features aimed at serious use — things like active noise cancelling, multipoint pairing, low-latency wireless, detachable microphones or app-based EQ. Both products here qualify in different ways: the Sesh ANC Active leans on ANC and an IP67 build, while the ROG Pelta leans on 50mm titanium-plated drivers and a super-wideband boom mic.
how to connect anc-premium bluetooth headphones
Switch the headphones on and put them into pairing mode, then open your phone or computer's Bluetooth settings and select the device from the list. The Sesh ANC Active supports multipoint pairing, so it can hold two devices at once, and it also supports Google Fast Pair. The ROG Pelta adds a 2.4GHz dongle path and USB-C wired mode alongside Bluetooth, switched via the slide control on the left earcup.
what are the best premium headphones
In my opinion there's no single best — it depends on whether you want in-ear or over-ear. For movement, sweat and rain, I'd point to the Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active, thanks to IP67 and adjustable ANC. For gaming, streaming and voice work across PC and consoles, I'd point to the ASUS ROG Pelta, thanks to its detachable boom mic and tri-mode connectivity.
what are the most premium headphones
"Most premium" is really about which features matter to you. The Sesh ANC Active's premium case rests on adjustable 4-mic ANC, Stay-Aware Mode, IP67 and up to 48 hours of total battery. The ROG Pelta's rests on 50mm titanium-plated drivers, a 10mm detachable super-wideband mic, roughly 300–309g of comfort engineering and up to 70 hours in 2.4GHz mode. Check the current price on Amazon for each before deciding.
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