Over-Ear
Nectar Hive
85Outstanding
$197
Full review dataNectar Hive vs Skullcandy Crusher® ANC 2: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Nectar Hive comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 85. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Nectar Hive - Outstanding overall at around $197.
Over-Ear
Skullcandy Crusher® ANC 2
68Good
$229
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Nectar Hive
Sound9.0
Value7.0
Skullcandy Crusher® ANC 2
Sound6.5
Noise cancelling6.0
Battery9.0
Calls6.5
Value6.5
Specifications
| Spec | Nectar Hive | Skullcandy Crusher® ANC 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $197 | $229 |
| HearWiki score | 85 / 100 · Outstanding | 68 / 100 · Good |
| Released | 2022 | 2023 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | Electrostatic | 40mm dynamic |
| Driver size | - | 40 mm |
| Drivers per side | - | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-7kHz | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz |
| Sound signature | Bright neutral | - |
| Impedance | - | 32 Ω |
| Sensitivity | - | 100 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | - | 5.x |
| Bluetooth version | - | 5.2 |
| Codecs | - | SBC, AAC |
| Multipoint pairing | - | Yes |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | - | 60 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 50 h |
| Wireless charging | - | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | Yes |
| ANC type | - | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | - | Yes |
| Companion app | - | Yes |
| Custom EQ | - | Yes |
| Wear detection | - | Yes |
| Controls | - | buttons |
| Voice assistant | - | voice assistant support |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 370 g | 332 g |
| Water resistance | - | none |
| USB-C | - | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 4 |
What reviewers said
Nectar Hive
The Nectar Hive is a wired electrostatic over-ear headphone priced around $600, weighing just 370 grams. It delivers a bright neutral sound signature with a frequency response spanning 20Hz to 7kHz, offering a detailed and airy presentation that leans toward analytical clarity. This model earns high marks for its tonal balance and technical performance, making it a strong contender in its price bracket for listeners who prefer a crisp, revealing sound.
- Pro:Excellent tonal accuracy and neutrality
- Pro:Impressive technical detail retrieval
- Pro:Featherweight design for comfort
- Con:Bright tilt may be fatiguing for some
- Con:Limited bass impact due to electrostatic nature
- Con:Requires dedicated amplifier for proper use
Skullcandy Crusher® ANC 2
The Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 is a wireless over-ear headphone built for bass lovers, with a haptic-driven low-end that can be adjusted to extreme levels. It offers a long 50-hour battery life, adaptive noise cancellation, and useful extras like multipoint Bluetooth and wear detection, but its ANC performance is only average and the sound signature is far from neutral. This is a niche pick that prioritizes fun, powerful bass over balanced audio or class-leading noise blocking.
- Pro:Extremely powerful and adjustable bass
- Pro:Excellent 50-hour battery life
- Pro:Comfortable fit for long listening sessions
- Con:Noise cancellation is only average, not top-tier
- Con:Sound signature is heavily bass-focused, not neutral
- Con:Supports only SBC codec, no AAC or aptX
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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