Is the Austrian Audio Hi-X15 worth the upgrade from the Skullcandy Crusher® ANC 2?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Skullcandy Crusher® ANC 2 to the Austrian Audio Hi-X15 buys you 16.0 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in value (6.5 to 9.0) and sound (6.5 to 8.5). On paper: weight 332 g to 255 g and driver size 40 mm to 44 mm. Worth checking: active noise cancelling goes Yes to No and multipoint pairing goes Yes to No. It's also $80 cheaper, which makes this an easy call. If your current pair is worn out or the gains line up with how you listen, this one is worth the money.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound6.58.5
- Value6.59.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Crusher® ANC 2 | Hi-X15 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | No | |
| Weight | 332 g | 255 g | |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | No | |
| Driver size | 40 mm | 44 mm | |
| USB-C | Yes | No | |
| Driver | 40mm dynamic | dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz | 12Hz-24kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Crusher® ANC 2 to Hi-X15". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across over-ear and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.