The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds, a surprising collaboration with Bose, offer a compelling alternative to high-end noise-canceling earbuds at a more accessible price. This unexpected partnership blends Skullcandy's youthful aesthetic with Bose's renowned audio expertise, resulting in earbuds that deliver impressive sound quality and microphone performance. While sharing some design similarities with the Bose QC Ultra, the Method 360 boasts its own distinct personality, from its carabiner-equipped charging case to its vibrant and feature-rich companion app.This review delves into the strengths and weaknesses of the Skullcandy Method 360, comparing its performance to the Bose QC Ultra across key areas such as noise cancellation, transparency mode, microphone quality, and overall sound profile. We'll explore whether the cost savings translate to compromises in functionality and whether these earbuds offer a truly competitive alternative, considering factors like app controls, unique features (such as the camera shutter remote), and overall user experience.
Pros And Cons
- Superior microphone pickup in quiet and noisy conditions
- Decent active noise cancellation for music and videos
- Sound quality comparable to flagship Bose earbuds, with slightly heavier bass
- 10% louder volume than Bose QC Ultra
- Lower price point than comparable earbuds
- Little to no noise cancellation between 900 Hz to 1.4 kHz (may not effectively deal with human chatter)
- Transparency mode is less effective than Bose QC Ultra, muffling own voice
- Audio prompts are too loud
- Putting earbuds back in the case can be tricky
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Unlikely Collaboration: Skullcandy and Bose
The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds, surprisingly tuned by Bose, represent an unexpected partnership. These brands typically target different demographics: Skullcandy's youthful energy contrasts with Bose's mature reputation. This collaboration, however, focuses on delivering superior sound quality.
While the design elements echo the Bose QC Ultra (even down to the ear tips and silicone wings), the overall aesthetic is distinctly Skullcandy. The charging case, featuring a carabiner, is decidedly not pocket-sized, suggesting a design geared towards attaching to bags or everyday carry items.
Sound and App Experience
The Skullcandy Method 360 boasts a vibrant and responsive app. This allows users to adjust noise cancellation and transparency levels, experiment with sound presets, and utilize a Bose-inspired custom EQ. The app controls provide tap gestures for music, calls, and ambient control, forgoing the swipe controls found on the Bose QC Ultra.
A unique feature is the remote trigger functionality, enabling the earbuds to control camera shutter. While a convenient addition, it's more of a bonus feature rather than a necessity.
Microphone Performance and Noise Cancellation
The Skullcandy Method 360 excels in microphone pickup, particularly in noisy and windy environments. It consistently delivers clearer voice amplification and superior background noise reduction compared to the Bose QC Ultra, even in testing situations with loud cafe noise and wind.
Regarding noise cancellation, the Method 360 provides decent ambient noise reduction, offering a good measure of silence for music and video consumption in noisy outdoor settings. However, it's less effective in the 900 Hz to 1.4 kHz range, potentially impacting its performance with human chatter. Compared to the Bose QC Ultra, the Bose offers superior noise cancellation across a broader frequency range.
Transparency Mode and Sound Quality
The transparency mode on the Method 360 presents some peculiarities. It's less transparent than the Bose QC Ultra across a wide frequency range and still cancels noise to a degree in the lower frequencies, resulting in an amplification of upper mids. This makes it suitable for quick awareness checks but less effective for verbal conversations.
In terms of sound quality, both earbuds offer very similar profiles, with the Skullcandy Method 360 producing slightly heavier and tighter bass. The volume on the Skullcandy is approximately 10% higher than the Bose QC Ultra, a significant difference for some users.
Overall Assessment and Conclusion
The Skullcandy Method 360 offers a compelling alternative to the Bose QC Ultra at a significantly lower price point. While the Bose earbuds boast features like spatial audio, wireless charging, and superior noise cancellation, the Skullcandy earbuds provide exceptional microphone quality, comparable sound quality, and a higher volume output.
However, the Method 360 does have some drawbacks: overly loud audio prompts (hopefully fixable via a software update) and a challenging charging case design. Despite these minor issues, the combination of competitive sound, superior microphone performance, and an attractive price tag make the Skullcandy Method 360 a strong contender in the wireless earbuds market. The choice depends on your prioritization of features and budget.