Skullcandy Crusher 540 Active review: Gym-ready headphones with immense bass power
Scullcandy Crusher Active 540 wireless headphones with a bass slider to rock your gym sessions. Pictures: Scullcandy.
Open-ear buds may have dominated workouts in recent years thanks to their safety and awareness benefits, but not everyone wants lightweight sound during high-intensity training. Sometimes you need some isolation, pounding bass, and headphones that stay locked in as you move, and that’s exactly what Skullcandy promises with the Crusher 540 Active.
The Crusher 540 Active are designed as a pair of lifestyle headphones sculpted with a familiar Crusher aesthetic and toughened up for the gym. The over-ear cups are wrapped in breathable fabric cushions that help to prevent heat build-up. The reinforced silicone TPU headband feels both rugged and flexible. The entire frame is coated with a sweat-resistant nano-layer, allowing it to withstand long cardio sessions.
The headphones fold flat for easy storage in a gym bag and come with a soft pull-cord fabric pouch. It’s not the sleekest design on the market, but function clearly takes precedence here, and that’s a good thing for anyone prioritising workout durability.
During my weeks of testing, the Crusher 540 Active impressed me with how secure they felt. Skullcandy has added a touch more clamping force compared to earlier Crushers, which helps keep them firmly in place regardless of the activity.
The breathable ear cushions definitely help reduce sweat build-up, although they don’t completely eliminate it.
For longer sessions, I found them surprisingly comfortable, although I initially found the clamp a bit tight. The stability during movement is excellent, and once on, they don’t slip or slide even when I’m drenched in sweat or rain.
The Crusher 540 Active has an adjustable sensory bass slider, powered by Skullcandy’s Crusher technology. This lets you dial in as much (or as little) bass as you want. Audiophiles may roll their eyes at this feature, but I think many people will find it a superb option when switching between bass-heavy playlists for cardio and podcasts during cooldowns.
You also get Skullcandy’s Personal Sound by Audiodo, which customises audio to your hearing profile via the Skullcandy app. After a quick hearing test, it creates a sound profile tailored to your strengths and weaknesses.
Built-in Tile tracking is a valuable addition, making it easy to locate the headphones if you misplace them.
Connectivity is achieved via Bluetooth 5.0, which, although not the newest standard, provides reliable and seamless auto-connect functionality. I also appreciated the physical controls on the earcups, which meant I didn’t have to fumble for my phone.
Battery life is impressive, although not class-leading, with up to 40 hours of use on a single charge, more than enough to keep you going through the week. A quick 10-minute top-up provides an extra four hours of listening.
USB-C charging keeps things simple, and Skullcandy also includes a backup AUX cable. This allows you to use the headphones in wired mode with any device that has a 3.5mm jack. In wired mode, the headphones don’t draw on battery power, which is handy for long journeys, but you’ll lose access to features like the bass slider.
The Crusher 540 Active has a dual-driver system that delivers a powerful low-end thump to get the blood flowing. With the bass slider cranked up, you can really feel the physical vibration that pushes you harder. It’s not just gimmickry; the sensation is addictive when paired with high-tempo tracks.
That said, I appreciated being able to dial it down for a more balanced listening experience. With the slider at a low level, mids and highs cut through clearly, vocals retain presence, and podcasts sound sharp without being drowned out.
Passive noise isolation is solid, thanks to the snug seal of the ear cushions, although there’s no active noise cancellation for those wanting to shut out the world completely.
This isn’t a studio-accurate sound signature, but it doesn’t need to be. The Crusher 540 Active is unapologetically tuned for motivation, and it succeeds brilliantly.
The Skullcandy Crusher 540 Active brings the brand’s iconic sensory bass into the gym with a design rugged enough for sweat, movement, and long sessions. With excellent stamina, secure comfort, and sound that drives performance, they’re a serious contender for anyone wanting motivation through music during workouts.
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