Customer Ratings & Reviews

Years ago, I picked up a pair of Skullcandy Aviator headphones right when they released because I loved that retro styling, the acoustic sound, and the fresh vibe from a newer brand trying to stand out in the headphone scene, they really hit different. I still remember how those headphones felt premium without trying too hard. So, when Skullcandy dropped their new Hesh 540 ANC, I figured why not revisit a brand that left a solid first impression? Unboxing the Hesh 540, I was hit with some serious déjà vu. Skullcandy clearly stuck to their roots with that signature hard plastic shell, bold Skull branding, and familiar build. One thing I wish they’d modernized a bit more is the ear cup finish. The glossy plastic housing is a straight-up fingerprint magnet. A matte or textured finish would've gone a long way in upping the premium feel. The ear cups are snug borderline tight for a over-the-ear headphone if you’ve got a larger ear size, but surprisingly still very comfortable. I wore them for hours at a time without pressure build-up or that overheating feeling you sometimes get with over-ear headphones. So props to Skullcandy there. But let’s get into the real reason anyone picks up a pair of headphones, the sound. The Hesh 540 comes with a QR code for the Skullcandy app, which offers personalized sound tuning. But I hit a bit of a hiccup where the app initially didn’t recognize the Hesh 540, telling me they weren’t compatible yet. That was just a slight as I don’t usually mess with headphone apps much anyway, so I just went straight to Bluetooth pairing with my iPhone. And right out the gate, that classic Skullcandy sound hit me. Rich bass, warm mids, and that acoustic signature I remembered from the Aviators. It instantly felt like being wrapped in a sound bubble. But as I cranked the volume up, I started noticing some distortion and popping, which I assumed was just a “break-in” thing. I backed it down to a sweet spot, and it sounded great again. Once I rounded back to to trying the app, it finally connected, I ran a firmware update, and it definitely helped smooth out a few rough edges. The app’s EQ and sound personalization tools are intuitive and easy to use, but I’ll be real, it still felt a bit underwhelming. One of my biggest letdowns was the active noise cancelling (ANC). It’s there… but just barely. I’m chalking that up to the hard plastic build, which doesn’t create the same seal or isolation as other higher-end ANC headphones. Even with the EQ tweaks, turning on ANC would sometimes bring back the distortion at higher volumes. After playing with the settings, I found that either going full-on ANC or turning it completely off fixed most of the sound issues. Once dialed in, I was able to comfortably run max volume and just get lost in the music, I know its not customary by hearing standards to listen to anything at the highest volume setting, but sometimes you just need to escape and want to be fully immersed in your media. The joystick-style control is a nice concept, but takes some getting used to. It's a little tricky to get the right directional input without accidentally clicking something else. Still, it does work once you get the hang of it. One feature I absolutely loved is the wear detect function. Pop the headphones off and your music pauses automatically. Put them back on, and it resumes without missing a beat. It’s one of those tiny features that makes a big impact on usability. Also, the multipoint Bluetooth pairing is a major win being able to pair both my phone and laptop at the same time made it easy to switch between calls and watching content. I also gave the THX Spatial Audio a try, but honestly, it just felt like a slight treble bump to me. Not super immersive, more like a preset EQ curve than full-on spatial surround. Could just be personal taste, but it didn’t blow me away. Where the Hesh 540 does win big is battery life. I’ve been using these for days, streaming, commuting, and relaxing and I haven’t had to charge them once. For wireless headphones with ANC and all the modern trimmings, that’s pretty impressive. And after a few long listening sessions, I can confidently say they sounded better after a short break-in period. Warm, powerful, and immersive, the Skullcandy signature sound is alive and well. Final Verdict: The Hesh 540 ANC aren’t perfect, but they are impressively solid for their price point. Skullcandy isn’t trying to compete with $400 flagship headphones, and honestly, they don’t need to. This set delivers great sound, comfort, and enough smart features to keep most casual listeners and media lovers happy. Sure, the ANC could use some work, and the app experience was a little rocky at first. But once things settled in, I found myself enjoying these headphones more and more. They’re a worthy successor to my beloved Aviators and a great reminder that Skullcandy is still very much in the game. If you’re looking for a stylish, punchy-sounding wireless pair without blowing your budget the Hesh 540 ANC is a strong pick.

Skullcandy’s use of a black glossy finish on the exterior of these headphones means everything you touch ends up smeared on the sides of these headphones. Keep a soft cleaning cloth packed with you. Cleaning woes aside, these things sound fantastic! Especially after installing the Skullcandy mobile app, completing the obligatory day-0 firmware update, and enabling the THX Spatial Audio feature. Shortly after enabling the Spatial Audio, Metallica’s song “One” started playing and the opening 30-second sounds of war are an auditory treat. The app includes a Personal Sound optimization test that further tweaked the experience. 
The big round button on the right earpiece is named a Joystick offering a majority of the controls available on the device by either tapping or clicking. Spend a few minutes memorizing the helpful controls card that comes in the box. I like that there’s not much give in this joystick so casual touch is not going to trigger any odd behavior. Press with purpose and it responds. 
As a frequent flyer, I look for long battery life and noise cancellation as the two most important factors. If the headphones are compact and travel friendly that’s a bonus that the Hesh 540 offers. They are not heavy and offer enough cushion without being excessive. After multiple hours wrapped in them my ears don’t feel squished (a sensation I’ve had with other headphones). I’m happy to have an alternative to the big two in the headphone market and appreciate Skullcandy for continuing to offer a solid product in this category.

The Skullcandy hesh 540 active noise canceling headphones are an excellent set of headphones. They have an advertised 65 plus hour battery life, and they also seem to keep their charge very well when not in use. I kept them in my workout/ golf bag, and used them for a week at least 2 hours a day, and they didn't even seem to be half discharged. They come with an included charger, that is very small for travel convenience. They also include a 3.5 mm cable, which is awesome. These can also operate as wired headphones. So many headphones. Ignore having this port, but it's so great to have for legacy devices. My only complaint here is I wish there was also a USBC adapter for it so that I could use them as wired headphones on my cell phone if I ever wanted to. Comfort wise, these are fantastic. I can even lay on my side. So with my head on the ear cup without discomfort. These are great for late night movie watching without having to wake up the house. The active noise canceling works well, but I really appreciate that. It has a stay aware mode, a mode where you can still hear sounds outside of your headphones. Excellent for if you're mowing the lawn or jogging or anything. I wouldn't normally jog and headphones but I wear them all the time to mow. I want to be able to hear if someone's trying to get my attention.

Skullcandy HESH 540 ANC WIRELESS OVER-EAR Headphones live up to their claims. It was well packaged when received and was easily paired. The headphones themselves are light and quite comfortable. I didn't experience that "getting heavier and warmer" sensation I've encountered with other over the ear headphones. The earpieces swivel so you can adjust them to fit you and not average Joe Schmoe. These I could wear for hours at a time, and did, trying to outlast the charge. I'm not sure just how long it will hold a charge, but I can tell you that it was still going strong after 60 hours for me. Charging time was fast so even if you are one of those that forgets to charge things, twenty minutes charging will get you hours of use. The noise canceling aspect works as I think it should. There are several modes you can choose, including being able to hear what is around you while also canceling the background noise you don't notice until it's not there. To me, the sound quality is great. I was able to immerse myself in some great classical music while still enjoying more contemporary music as well. I have not yet found any cons with these.

As a long time fan of Skullcandy, I was expecting a lot better from these pair of headphones. The spatial audio sounded artificial, it lacked a surprising amount of clean bass, and it felt like a pair of $20 headphones that cost $150. Not sure if I got a defective pair or not, but they did get sent back to Best Buy. They responded to the return quickly and I got my money back within 5 days.

I have had the Skullcandy Hesh 540 ANC Wireless Headphones for about three weeks, and overall, they gave a very good experience with a few small compromises. The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) was surprisingly effective for the price, I made bus commutes and walks in the park much quieter experience. Obviously, it will not compete with the high-end competitors such as Sony, or Bose, but it definitely was able to reduce the noise in the background enough to listen to music or podcasts without distraction. The sound quality was quite engaging with THX Spatial Audio. I found that it greatly expanded the depth to the music or shows I listened to, especially with more layered tracks. The recordings were detailed, even in the highest frequencies, clarity of the punchy bass; yet not overpowering and suitable for casual-listening. They were also relatively comfy to wear for a longer period of time, with soft ear cups and overall reasonably lightweight. The battery life is of impressive standout. I used the headphones over multiple days before charging them again, and the Rapid Charge was helpful, when I needed to get just a quick charge. The USB-C port may be a minor detail, I am one who appreciates this for their convenience. One thing which I use frequently is Stay Aware Mode. I find it especially advantageous while walking outdoors or in spaces with others; it lets enough ambient sound in without removing physically my headphones from my ears. If you are looking for a budget ANC headphone with impressive performance, battery life, head on a swivel then the Hesh 540 ANC is a wonderful consideration, particularly for casual listening or general usage.

After using the Skullcandy Hesh 540 ANC for about a week, I’m really impressed by what it offers for the price. It’s a great value. Honestly, the difference between these and some of the more expensive brands isn’t as big as I expected. (I don’t think many people can tell the difference, if you can spend the money) Setup was quick and straightforward. Pairing with both my laptop and phone took just seconds, and switching between the two has been smooth. No hiccups or weird connection issues. In terms of sound, it delivers clear, balanced audio with a solid amount of bass. I don’t know if its studio-grade, but for everyday use—music, videos, online calls—it holds its own. The active noise canceling works well too. It might not block everything but it definitely takes the edge off background noise and helps keep you focused. I can easily go a full day using this the Skullcandy Hesh without needing to charge it. The package say battery life is around 22 hours, I think more like 19 to 20 hours (but never tested it) Comfort-wise, the over-ear design feels good. I’ve worn them for hours at a time without any discomfort. Just got a little hot at times. They’re lightweight, and the build quality feels decent—not fancy, but not cheap either. All in all, the Hesh 540 ANC is a solid option if you want wireless ANC headphones without spending a fortune. Unless you’re super picky about sound tuning or an audiophile, this set gets the job done.

The Hesh 540 ANC is Skullcandy’s new over-the-ear headphones with active noise-cancellation technology and a budget-conscious price. ANC is in everything now so it is no surprise that lower cost offerings should be available. But straight out of the box, these headphones feel fragile and clunky at the same time - they feel disposable. The foam cushioning that surrounds the ears is acceptably comfortable but I didn’t feel like they were isolating me from exterior sounds (better quality headphones have ear coverings that give an initial isolation from sounds). I mention that first because the electronic (active) noise-cancellation implementation in the headphones is underwhelming at best and in modes where noise-cancellation is turned off or reduced for situational awareness, the headphones actually introduce a strange white noise / low hiss that is incredibly annoying. Operation seems straightforward on the tiny print card that serves as instructions, but in practice the multi-use buttons were difficult to use with the desired outcome. All the real functionality is controlled by the on/off switch and a five-directional toggle switch, the latter of which is very difficult to use in practice - a solid concept with incredibly poor execution. Skullcandy has installed some kind of technology that changes the equalization to boost bass notes and it is annoying - music sounds out of balance because the boosted bass makes the higher frequencies sound thinner and undeveloped (probably psychological, but that doesn’t matter in the long run). One curious inclusion here, though, is a toggle for THX Spatial Audio which, boom-y bass aside, was quite well implemented. So…with a poor reaction to build quality, annoying functionality, and oddly contoured sound, I wouldn’t recommend these to anyone. The sole redeeming quality is surely the crazy good battery life expectancy of up to 65 hours (ANC off) and a quick charging feature that Skullcandy claims will give you up to four hours of play time from a 10 minute charge. Additional features are apparently available through the Skullcandy app, but it won’t run on my older OS iPod Touch (sigh). Though even without using that, it is nice that you can pair the headphones with two different devices and toggle between them. But, alas, the negatives overwhelm the smaller niceties. Surely they could have done better and still keep the price down - none of this is new technology.

I'm a huge fan of Skullcandy's devices. I've owned quite a few sets of headphones, earbuds, and Bluetooth speakers from them. These headphones are a little bulky, but they are lightweight and have a good sound. They can be used either over Bluetooth or with a wired connection. They come with both a charging cable and a removable AUX cable. Battery life is excellent. The build quality is "fair." They feel a little hollow and "plasticky," but they seem durable enough. They've held up just fine tossed in my backpack for a week, and I don't see any significant evidence of scratches or anything. The headphones don't have much in the way of controls built onto them. There is a Skullcandy app for tweaking numerous settings. I'm not keen on this. I'd much prefer having physical controls on the headphones themselves. I have entirely too many apps for all of my various devices. The headphones are quite comfortable. I've been wearing them for extended gaming sessions, and I haven't noticed any discomfort whatsoever. They also do an admirable job of blocking out ambient noise.

I have a pair of Bose QC (SC model) headphones that I used when a travel and they do a very good job. The sound quality is excellent and the active noise cancelling feature works very well, especially in crowded environments and airplanes. I was looking for a pair of less expensive headphones to wear when working around the house. I wanted decent sound quality so I could listen to music or podcasts, and good noise cancelling to drown out the sound of power tools. I came across these Skullcandy HESH 540 ANC headphones, and at half the price of my Bose QC headphones and decided to give them a try. My review will be based on a comparison of these two headphones. SIZE: For overall weight, it’s a tie. Although the specs on the website list the Bose as being much heavier, on a scale, there is less than third of an ounce in difference. When folded for carrying, such as in my carry-on, the Bose has the edge. They are slightly flatter by almost ½ an inch, and almost an inch less in width. The outer diameter of earcups on the Skullcandy headphones is slightly larger, but the inner diameter is smaller. If you have larger ears, the Bose might be more comfortable, but otherwise, the Skullcandy headphones have more padding so they provide slightly more comfort, but more importantly, better passive sound isolation. Overall, I’d say it’s a draw on size unless that extra fraction of size is a problem with storage. COMFORT: As I mentioned, the Skullcandy headphones offer more earcup padding and they are more comfortable. My ears are just slightly larger than the inner size of the pads, but I can hook them over my ears and they fully fit against my head. The headband on the Bose has one extra “click” of adjustment, so if you have a tall head, they may be more comfortable. In my case, they are both fine in height. The Padding on the Skullcandy headphones is not as thick on the Bose. Id’ give the edge to the Bose headphones because of the headband adjustability and its padding. APP CONTROLS: Both the Skullcandy and Bose headphones use an app. The apps are very similar in their available functionality and user-friendliness. The Bose app has the edge, though because it loads and connects much faster. Even with the Bluetooth connection enabled and active, The Skullcandy app takes 5 to 10 seconds to connect to the headphones, whereas the Bose app is instantly connected to active headphones. Both apps support “over the air” updates. Both headphones support pairing with more than one device, and both apps allow switching between paired devices with a simple click. Both allow the creation of personalized profiles for sound equalization and ANC settings. Just because of the Skullcandy’s delay in connecting, I give the edge to the Bose app. ONBOARD CONTROLS: Both have physical controls on the headphones. The Bose uses buttons for volume control on the right earcup. Between the up/down volume buttons, there is a tiny “action” button that can pause/skip tracks or answer/end calls. It also has a toggle switch for power on/off. It has a button on the left earcup for ANC mode. The Skullcandy controls are all on the right earcup. There is a button for power on/off, and a fingertip joystick that controls everything else. Tilting it up and down controls the volume, left and right is the track. Pressing on it calls up various actions. The joystick is very intuitive to use and also very easy to find blindly with your finger. The Bose controls take some time to get used to their position and to differentiate the three small buttons. Although I like the toggle power switch on the Bose, the Skullcandy’s joystick wins hands-down for easy of use. SOUND QUALITY: This is what it’s all about! At first, I was going to give the Bose the edge, but after playing around with the equalization settings, I have to say that the Skullcandy headphones win. Their bass is more lifelike, where the Bose can sound artificially boosted. Mids and highs are also very clear on the Skullcandy headphones. I’m not saying that the Bose is bad, it’s just that after spending some time making adjustments, the Skullcandy headphones just sound better to me. They are the clear winner here. NOISE CANCELLING: Both do a good job of quieting external noises. I have a few pairs of in-ear buds that are noise cancelling, but nothing compares to over-the-ear headphones for tuning out annoying sounds, especially loud noises like power tools and jet engines. I’d say the Bose does a better job with its active noise cancelling, but the great fit and thicker padding on the earcups of the Skullcandy headphones, they are nearly equal in the long run. Overall, I’d say this is a tie. My final thoughts are that you really can’t go wrong with either of these two ANC headphones. The better onboard controls on the Skullcandy headphones are a big advantage even where they fall slightly short of the Bose in other areas. Once I factor in the price, I’d say the Skullcandy headphones win. At about half the price, the minor cons that I mentioned become non-issues. If you take price out of the equation, then my advice is to choose the ones that fit your ears the best.

The Skullcandy Hesh ANC headphones offer a very decent audio experience. No one will mistake these for high end cans. No college student will be disappointed either. The noise cancelling is only moderately successful with crowds or even at home. While better than nothing, you might not notice the ANC is on unless you toggle the switch. In addition, it's worth noting an occasional, subtle buzzing sound that can surface from time to time. It gets worse when your hand is near the controls, but it never goes away. One of the standout features of these headphones is their impressive battery life. Users can enjoy extended listening sessions without the constant worry of needing to recharge, making them ideal for long commutes, flights, or extended work periods. They’s amazingly comfortable for long periods of time. They do a good job of isolating from the outside world when noting is being played. This ergonomic design ensures that even during extended use, the headphones remain a pleasant accessory rather than a burden. Finally, the practical design of these headphones includes a convenient folding mechanism. This feature allows for easy storage and transport, making them a highly portable option for those on the go. They fold up neatly, taking up minimal space in a bag or backpack, further enhancing their appeal for daily use and travel. There are likely better choices, even for just a few bucks more. Look for them on sale before considering them further.

The Skullcandy Hesh 540 active noise cancelling over the ear headphones are Skullcandy's newest offering in the headphone space. The headphones are packaged in a simple box with a good amount of startup literature that include quick startup directions along with a QR code if you prefer online directions. In the box you will also find a 3.5 mm headphone cable as well as a USB C charging cable. Initial setup was quite easy as I simply paired the headphones with my iPhone via the bluetooh settings. Once connected a message prompted me to download skull candy app which allows you to view and change various settings on the headphones. When I first opened the app it alerted me that there was a new firmware update available which was easily updated via the app. The app allows you to adjust the ANC to either ANC, OFF or stay aware mode. You can also adjust the THX Spatial Audio settings from the APP as well as adjust the equalizer settings. One thing that seems more like a software issue was the fact that the app said I had 99% battery life remaining however when I turn on the headphones the audible alert says 90% which is a fairly large discrepancy. The headphones also feature Multipoint pairing which simple means that you can pair the headphones with 2 devices at once. The headphones are rated at 65 hr of runtime on charge and from my use it seems as if this is easily attainable. You can also add 4 hrs of use by charging via the USB cable for 10 minutes. The headphone also will automatically pause when you take off the headphones and then resume playing when you put them back on. Sound quality is good but not great however I suspect they will get better as I break them in Overall this is an affordable pair of ANC headphones with a great feature set. One thing I dislike about them is that the glossy finish seems to look dirty quickly due basic everyday handling. It would have been better if they had a matte finish. Overall I would recommend these headphones

I have these and feel they are best compared to the Sony WH-1000XM4 (which I also have). It may sound strange to compare $150 headphones to $500 headphones, but hear me out... From a sound-quality perspective, the Skullcandys are great. Perhaps 95% of what you're getting with the Sony headphones. As an added bonus, the microphones built into the Skullcandys are also fantastic, with people on the other end of phone conversations saying that I was coming in clearer than with almost any other headphones I've ever used (and I test a lot of them...). For noise-cancelling, I'd say the Skullcandys give you about 50-60% of what you get with the Sonys. This is enough for it to be plenty isolating when you have music playing, but to a lesser extent when listening to something with more space/silence as you might find in a podcast. For touch-controls, the Sonys are definitely better. It is far easier to swipe the headphone cup rather than find the small joy-stick on the back of the cup. The Skullcandys are fine, but nothing amazing. Battery life is actually as predicted, with about 65 hours or so of use on music and phone calls. The big question is durability. Skullcandys tend to wear out faster than other headphones. I've had the Sonys for about 5 years and they still work perfectly and have held up fantastically despite the use in travel. If the Skullcandys can last for at least 2 years without breaking/malfunctioning (might be a stretch given my prior experience with the brand), then these could be excellent economy headphones (for the noise-cancelling, over-ear space).

I was excited about these and as far as sound performance, they are everything they proclaim to be. Bass quality I would say are these headphones claim to fame. The ear cushions are soft and comfortable. I just wonder about their durability longterm though. A few things to note: - This particular model does NOT connect to the SkullCandy app. This was very disappointing. Please check ahead of time if the one you purchase is compatible with the app. - The "smart" feature was a little too smart for me. Everytime I put my head down while working out, music stops. Then, when I am doing virtually anything except standing up straight, it does the same thing. Usually when the item has an app, I can adjust this easily, but not sure how to fix this. It makes these frustrating to use at the gym. My main issue is the lack an app to use it with. Otherwise, these headphones are fairly decent quality sound, they have the 3 noise cancelling modes (noise cancel on, noise cancel off, and ambient mode) which are good and work fine, but the turning off when I move my head a certain way is very undesirable.

I hope that this review finds you well and in good health today. We were asked to do a review on the Skullcandy HESH 540 ANC headset. The packaging was perfect for the product and had no issues opening the package. The instructions were also nicely placed on top for visibility and ease of access. When I got them out of the packaging, I noticed that the headpieces are movable which worried me a tad. After wearing them a few times, I got used to that. Overall, my opinion is that the headphones look and feel cheaper than what they are . The headphones were easy enough to charge, but when I got them connected to Bluetooth, I was terribly disappointed with the not only the volume, but the controls as well. The volume control is a knob that is not user friendly. It controls volume as well as the track that you’re listening to. It’s a pain to constantly have to go back and forth because the knob went too far one direction for the track adjustment. Overall, I’d rate them a 4/10. YMMV

GOOD - Outstanding battery life - Good controls - Controls can be customized through the mobile app - Auxiliary 3.5mm jack BAD - Terrible ANC - No hi-def Bluetooth codec support - No protective carrying case TLDR The Hesh 540 has great battery life and intuitive joystick controls on the back, but the ANC is almost non-existent. Without that, there's nothing to justify its high price tag. DETAILS The Hesh 540 ticks a lot of basic feature boxes I expect from wireless headphones these days. It's comfortable, it has good-enough audio quality, and a companion mobile app for customizing the headset, like adjusting EQ and updating firmware. As an added plus, the mobile app doesn't require you to make an account with Skullcandy and you can even customize some of the buttons and controls on the headset. Not that you really need to change the controls because it has a five-way joystick which is already quite intuitive and easy to use. There's also a 3.5mm auxiliary input, though the headset can't use it and Bluetooth at the same time. The headset claims a very good battery life of 50 hours, even with ANC on. That seems to hold up pretty well as over five hours of use only dropped the battery from 100% to 90% for me. Such a long battery should make these great for traveling, but the Hesh doesn't come with any sort of protective case to keep the earcups from getting smooshed in a backpack. However, the Hesh 540 ANC hardly lives up to its name because the ANC barely does anything. For $150 ( as of this writing ) I don't expect high-end ANC performance like you get from nice Bose or Sony models. But the Hesh might as well not have ANC it doesn't do much more than the normal passive noise reduction all over-the-ear sets provide. This set won't dull the buzz of a busy office space. It won't block voices from the other end of your house. It certainly won't help at all on busses, trains, and other public transit. Even my desktop computer fans, which are barely above a whisper at 35 dBA from my desk chair, aren't blocked out. Given the weak cancellation effects, and audio artifacts the ANC can periodically bring up when trying to adapt to some outside noise, the ANC sometimes isn't worth turning on. If these things sold for under $100, it would be a different story. For that price they'd be a decent headset with some minor noise-canceling abilities. But as-is, these are nowhere near the price of admission.

Sounds good but the noise cancelation is poor. Just two button for commander