Skullcandy's Crusher 1080 ANC Becomes the First Non-Bose Headphones to Ship With Bose's Full Noise-Cancellation and Spatial Audio Suite

Overview

Skullcandy launched the Crusher 1080 ANC on July 15, a $279.99 over-ear headphone that the company says is the first non-Bose product to combine Bose’s QuietControl noise cancellation, TrueSpatial spatial audio, and WaveForm audio engine in a single device, according to a press release. SoundGuys confirms the headphones “launched today for $279.99,” pairing that Bose technology suite with Skullcandy’s own adjustable bass system.

What We Know

• The Crusher 1080 ANC is priced at $279.99 and is available globally on skullcandy.com and retail locations, in four colorways: black, candy, primer, and cement. The Gadgeteer reports the headphones are also sold through Amazon, and Digital Trends confirms they are “available now on skullcandy.com and in stores.”
• According to the press release, the Bose technology suite integrated into the headphones includes Bose QuietControl 6-mic adaptive Acoustic Noise Cancellation, Bose TrueSpatial with head tracking, the Bose WaveForm Audio Engine, and Bose SpeechClarity — the same core list confirmed by The Gadgeteer and Digital Trends.
• Popular Science and SoundGuys both describe the Crusher 1080 ANC as the first non-Bose headphone to carry QuietControl’s six-microphone adaptive noise cancellation, Bose TrueSpatial head-tracked spatial audio, and the Bose WaveForm audio engine.
• Skullcandy CEO Brian Garofalow said the company “worked with Bose to be the first partner to integrate their noise cancellation, spatial audio, and other Sound by Bose technologies together,” adding that Skullcandy “set out to make the world’s greatest headphone by combining the two to deliver an incredible sonic experience for an unbelievable value,” according to the press release. Garofalow separately described the Crusher experience as “akin to standing front row at your favorite concert,” a phrase also reported by Digital Trends.
• Nick Smith, president of Bose Audio Technology and Chief Strategy Officer, said “we’re excited to bring some of our most advanced audio technologies to Crusher 1080 ANC and hear them paired with Skullcandy’s unique sensory bass platform,” calling the partnership “an exciting example of how Bose innovation can reach more listeners through distinctive new products and experiences,” per the press release.
• Battery life is rated at up to 60 hours with ANC off and up to 50 hours with ANC on, with a 10-minute charge providing roughly 4 hours of playtime, according to the press release, The Gadgeteer, and Digital Trends, which also notes Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio and Auracast support plus multipoint pairing.
• Techlicious reports the Crusher 1080 ANC “weighs 13.2 ounces, compared with 9.3 ounces for Bose’s own QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2,” making Skullcandy’s model noticeably heavier than the Bose headphones it borrows technology from.
• This is not the first collaboration between the two companies: Popular Science reports that “the Method 360 ANC earbuds saw Skullcandy breaking into the Sound by Bose vault” first, with the partnership unveiled at a New York event in April 2025 that Skullcandy “brand ambassador and sound lab consultant Tony Hawk was in attendance” for.

Hands-On and Review Impressions

Techlicious tested the Crusher 1080 ANC in a loud live-music venue and reported that “the noise cancellation held up under that pressure,” adding that the reviewer “could clearly make out the soulful lyrics on ‘Mama Says’ and the whir of helicopter blades that opens ‘Overture/Backstage Dreamland - Live,’ even with the venue’s music blasting,” according to Techlicious. The outlet also noted that, consistent with earlier Crusher models, “the ear cups vibrate along with the bass, a feature that’s polarizing: you either like the sensation or you don’t.”

Engadget’s review called the Crusher 1080 ANC “the most complete and mature pair of Skullcandy headphones I’ve used,” saying its noise cancellation is “leagues ahead of earlier Skullcandy efforts” and, in the reviewer’s own testing, “even outperformed the Sennheiser HDB 630 and Soundcore Space One Pro.” The review noted the ANC “is not quite at the level of Bose’s class-leading ANC on its own headphones,” but said “the gap is now much smaller than I expected.” On pricing, Engadget noted the headphones cost roughly $100 less than Sony’s WH-1000XM6, Bose’s QuietComfort lineup, and Sennheiser’s Momentum 5, calling them “a more affordable entry point to Bose-level audio.”

What We Don’t Know

• None of the outlets that have covered the launch report independent lab measurements comparing the Crusher 1080 ANC’s noise-cancellation performance directly against Bose’s own headphones.
• It remains unclear whether Bose plans to license the same technology suite to other third-party headphone makers beyond Skullcandy, or whether the arrangement is exclusive.

Analysis

The Crusher 1080 ANC extends a partnership that began with the Method 360 ANC earbuds, marking Bose’s continued willingness to license premium audio technology — noise cancellation, spatial audio, and its WaveForm engine — to a non-Bose brand rather than reserving those features for its own product line, as both Popular Science and SoundGuys frame it. At $279.99, the headphones are priced well below Bose’s own flagship noise-canceling model, positioning Skullcandy to compete on price while drawing on Bose’s audio engineering reputation.