Optus Mobile Review ALDI Mobile Review Amaysim Mobile Review Belong Mobile Review Circles.Life Review Vodafone Mobile Review Woolworths Mobile Review Felix Mobile Review Best iPhone Plans Best Family Mobile Plans Best Budget Smartphones Best Prepaid Plans Best SIM-Only Plans Best Plans For Kids And Teens Best Cheap Mobile Plans Telstra vs Optus Mobile Optus NBN Review Belong NBN Review Vodafone NBN Review Superloop NBN Review Aussie BB NBN Review iiNet NBN Review MyRepublic NBN Review TPG NBN Review Best NBN Satellite Plans Best NBN Alternatives Best NBN Providers Best Home Wireless Plans What is a Good NBN Speed? Test NBN Speed How to speed up your internet Optus vs Telstra Broadband ExpressVPN Review CyberGhost VPN Review NordVPN Review PureVPN Review Norton Secure VPN Review IPVanish VPN Review Windscribe VPN Review Hotspot Shield VPN Review Best cheap VPN services Best VPN for streaming Best VPNs for gaming What is a VPN? VPNs for ad-blocking Marketed as a powerful, budget option, the Hesh ANC headphones are “for those more concerned with sharing a great playlist than showing off our status”, at least according to Skullcandy. But I wouldn’t be too sure these are the best headphone option for music lovers looking to save some cash. Up to a certain register, the treble balances out well with the bass, but as the high-notes get higher the audio begins to reverb and squeal. Portishead’s “Humming” is a cacophony of treble which was tiresome to listen to through the Hesh ANC. You know that feeling of nails on a chalkboard? I know that candy can hurt your teeth but I wasn’t expecting it from Skullcandy headphones. The microphone however is clear enough to take phone calls, or hop on a Zoom, but like the audio itself, can sound a bit distant. Right now the only Skullcandy over-ear headphones that allow for customisable sound are the Crusher Evos, which can be tuned using the Skullcandy app. I’d love to see these features rolled out to the rest of the family, but for now you’ll need to opt up if you want more control. Practically speaking the charge wasn’t a huge issue. I got through around a week before needing to charge them up again, but if you’re juicing up for a long-haul flight then they may not last. They’re reliable however, with quick and consistent pairing even when switching between devices. Even though they don’t have multi-point, the pairing process is quick enough to not be burdensome for use with more than one device. Part of the comfort comes from how light they are, but also because they sit loosely on the top of my head. But what is a boon for longevity does a disservice to their fit. While the Hesh ANC are secure as long as you keep your head upright, they tend to slip off your head during a headbang, or even if you gently lay down. Although I found these mostly fine for use in the gym, when it comes lifting that involves being horizontal they would slide off. Good for squats, not for bench press. The most uncomfortable aspect of the form factor is where the control buttons sit. Placed at the bottom, towards the back of the right headphone, the controls are awkward to get to at first. They’ve opted for a single panel design with the button symbols protruding to indicate where to press. Personally I find this too subtle and need to run my thumb back and forth multiple times before being able to figure out which button I need to press. Individual buttons are easier to navigate blind. They are by all means good enough for the less audiophiliac listener, especially if you’re into bass-heavy music. But, if you’re interested in more variety on your playlists and longevity in your devices then these may not be for you.
Sound: Do they sound good? Audio quality is pretty important for headphones, after all. Comfort & Design: Are they comfortable to wear over extended periods of time? Features: How long does the battery last? Is the connectivity reliable? Is the noise-cancelling good? Vibe: What’s the overall experience? Value: Are they good for the money?
While audio products can be quite subjective for many reasons, we have standardised testing procedures across the team designed to help us look at the category in a consistent way. You can read more about how we review over-ear headphones here.
