Feed: Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Feed Link: https://www.engadget.com/
---

Title: Skullcandy Method 360 ANC review: A cheaper version of BoseΓÇÖs best
earbuds, with a few key sacrifices

Date: Mon, 26 May 2025 13:00:47 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/sku...

Skullcandy isnΓÇÖt a name that usually comes to mind when you think of
premium headphones. The Utah-based company has primarily made its name in the
budget space, selling more on low prices and loud, sports-heavy marketing
than the promise of excellent sound quality.

With the new Method 360 ANC, the audio maker is trying to change that by
latching onto another brand entirely. Skullcandy proudly boasts that its
latest wireless earbuds feature ΓÇ£sound by Bose,ΓÇ¥ which is to say that
Bose has supplied the acoustic tuning, ear tips and overall shape of the
device. In fact, the new buds look quite similar to BoseΓÇÖs QuietComfort
Ultra Earbuds from afar. But that upscale pair retails for $299 and the
Method 360 ANC only costs $130 (or as low as $100 at third-party stores of
this writing). So has Skullcandy managed to capture the best of Bose at a
more affordable price? Kind of.

Design and features

The Method 360 ANC is indeed roughly as comfortable as the QuietComfort
Ultra. Each earpiece is slightly heavier and more plastic-y ΓÇö and BoseΓÇÖs
pair was already on the bulky side ΓÇö but the soft ear gels and stability
fins help them fit snug without creating too much pressure. I had no issues
with them coming loose over several weeks of testing. The earbuds have an
IPX4 water-resistance rating ΓÇö not the best, but enough to survive most
peopleΓÇÖs workouts. The larger frame creates more space for the side touch
panels, and all the controls do work reliably, which isnΓÇÖt a given in the
$100 range.

These earbuds also come with most of the features youΓÇÖd want from a modern
pair. There are active noise cancellation (ANC) and ambient sound modes.
Battery life is fine at eight to 11-ish hours, depending on ANC usage. They
can dependably connect to two devices simultaneously, and they work with
GoogleΓÇÖs Fast Pair tech on Android devices. They support wear detection,
too, and there are three different sets of ear gels and fins in the box. Any
settings tweaks IΓÇÖve made in SkullcandyΓÇÖs Skull-iQ app have taken effect
quickly, and in general the software is easy to navigate. The only major
omissions here are the lack of wireless charging and a short one-year
warranty.

The Method 360 ANC is almost identical to Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
in terms of design. For this review, we mainly compared the new Skullcandy
buds against the QC Ultras and Anker's Soundcore Space A40, the top pick in
our budget earbuds buying guide. Jeff Dunn for Engadget Sound quality

Once you start listening to the Method 360 ANC, though, you start to see why
itΓÇÖs priced under $150. The default sound signature is extremely V-shaped:
The bass is massive, the treble is bright and everything in between is
recessed. Bass lovers should appreciate this with hip-hop, dance music and
many pop songs. A track like Kendrick LamarΓÇÖs ΓÇ£DNAΓÇ¥ becomes
particularly easy to rock to: The low-end is deep and impactful, while a
giant spike around the upper midrange keeps the vocals clear throughout. In
general, the Method 360 ANC is a step up from the Anker Soundcore Space A40,
the longtime top pick in our guide to the best earbuds under $100. That pair
is far more muffled in the treble, whereas the Skullcandy pairΓÇÖs crisper,
more extended highs tend to make songs feel less closed-off.

That said, itΓÇÖs very easy to see how this kind of signature could get
fatiguing over time. ItΓÇÖs consistently intense, and the recessed mids cause
it to lose details in moderately intricate compositions. An indie rock track
like Hop AlongΓÇÖs ΓÇ£The KnockΓÇ¥ is a bit of a mess, as the bassline and
crunchy rhythm guitar overwhelm the lead guitar riffs and rob the raspy
vocals of air. With AmericaΓÇÖs ΓÇ£Ventura Highway,ΓÇ¥ the folksy acoustic
guitar comes through clearly, but the overemphasized treble makes ΓÇ£essΓÇ¥
sounds a touch too sharp.

The QuietComfort Ultra doesnΓÇÖt exactly sound neutral, but it always comes
off as more balanced by comparison. Skullcandy has also omitted support for
higher-quality Bluetooth codecs, so it only supports the basic SBC and AAC.
All of this is still better-than-average for bassheads shopping in this price
range ΓÇö just donΓÇÖt expect it to compete very far beyond that. Thankfully,
you can rein in some of the default profileΓÇÖs excesses with a custom EQ in
SkullcandyΓÇÖs app.

The charging case is on the larger side, to put it mildly, and uses a sliding
mechanism to open and close. Jeff Dunn for Engadget ANC, ambient sound, call
quality and one funky case

SkullcandyΓÇÖs ANC is perfectly respectable for $130, and itΓÇÖs great you
can customize the intensity of the noise-canceling effect via the app. But
itΓÇÖs not on the level of the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds or even the step-
down QuietComfort Earbuds. It cuts out a fair chunk of the bassy rumble of an
NYC subway train, but higher-pitched screeches and stop announcements are
very much audible with music playing at moderate volumes.

The ΓÇ£Stay AwareΓÇ¥ (ambient sound) mode, meanwhile, is passable but nothing
more; itΓÇÖs one of those deals where you need to keep the volume somewhat
low to ensure you can hear yourself clearly. Call quality isnΓÇÖt great,
either: The mic does well to limit background noise, but it struggles with
wind and makes your voice sound noticeably thin and processed. My testing
partner said it made me sound like I was in an elevator.

My biggest complaint, however, is with the ginormous tube of a case. ItΓÇÖs
comically large next to pairs like the QuietComfort Ultra or Space A40, so
much so that I have to question just how spacious Skullcandy thinks most
peopleΓÇÖs pockets are. There is a built-in clip that lets you hook the case
to a bag or belt loop, but as a resident of New York City, I will never be
comfortable sauntering around with anything of value dangling on my person.
Actually snapping the earbuds back into the case is cumbersome as well: You
have to slide the case open, then flip the earpieces upside down and insert
them on opposite sides. I can understand wanting to make something unique,
but this is an instance where boring wouldΓÇÖve been better.

The Method 360 ANC's case has a built-in clip for attaching to bags or belt
loops. Jeff Dunn for Engadget Wrap-up

The Method 360 ANC has its problems, but most of them arenΓÇÖt too surprising
for a relatively affordable pair of wireless earbuds (oversized case aside).
DonΓÇÖt be fooled into thinking the Bose branding means youΓÇÖre getting a
Bose-level product ΓÇö the real-deal QuietComfort Earbuds are better if
youΓÇÖre willing to pay more. But this is still a tier above most budget
pairs weΓÇÖve tested. It has nearly all the features weΓÇÖre looking for
(unlike, say, the Beats Solo Buds), itΓÇÖs comfortable and the sound
signature will hit right if youΓÇÖre hungry for bass. At its normal $130,
itΓÇÖs well worth considering for bassheads who can go one rung above the
bargain bin. For $100 or less, itΓÇÖs a great value. Just make room for that
case.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/sku...
cheaper-version-of-boses-best-earbuds-with-a-few-key-sacrifices-
130047025.html?src=rss

---
VRSS v2.1.180528