The Skullcandy Hesh 2 are mixed-use headphones that are, at best, average. They are wireless and sound okay, but you shouldn’t use them for important listening. Their ability to block out noise doesn’t make them flexible enough for loud places. Also, they look a little bit cheap. On the plus side, they’re easy to use, light, and a little bit more airy than other closed-back over-ear headphones.
The Hesh 2 Wireless is a pair of big, but light, over-ear headphones that come in black, blue, gray/yellow, or camouflage colours. The earpads are comfortable, but if you wear them for a long time, they can start to hurt your ears. On the right earcup is an LED status indicator/multi-function button that controls Power, Playback, and Call Management.
The volume controls work with the volume on your mobile device and don’t work on their own. Depending on how long you press the volume buttons, they can also be used to skip tracks. Since the buttons are raised and shaped like + and – signs, there isn’t usually much confusion even though you can’t see them. Here is also where the pinhole mic is.
The micro USB connection for the charging cable is at the top of the left earcup. It’s in an awkward spot, so the earcup has to be in a certain position to show it. This can make plugging in the cable annoying. The Hesh 2 Wireless can also be used passively, with a cable that is wrapped in cloth.
Even better, the cable has a mic and remote built into it, so you can still take calls and control your device without pulling your phone out of your pocket. When you connect the cable, the headphones turn off and the Bluetooth pairing is stopped. When you turn the headphones back on and your phone is in pairing mode, the headphones will reconnect with your phone. The headphones also come with the USB charging cable and a pouch with a drawstring to keep them safe.
Skullcandy says that the Hesh ANC can last for 22 hours, which is close to what we found when we tested it. The Skullcandy Hesh ANC’s battery life is 22 hours and 58 minutes when we play music at 75dB(SPL) for the whole time.
This is longer than the battery life of the Sony WH-1000XM4, which is around 20 hours, and the battery life of the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, which is 21 hours. The Hesh ANC can be charged quickly, just like most other headsets. Just 10 minutes of charging with the USB-C cable will give you three hours of listening time.