American brand Skullcandy is returning to the true wireless active noise-cancelling earbud segment with a surprising offering: the Method 360 ANC. Their mission? To offer a more affordable alternative to the genre's leading brands, such as high-end earbuds, while retaining key features: effective ANC, transparency mode, and advanced integration with the company's app. Priced at €120, the equation seems appealing on paper, but how do they perform in practice? We tested them in all kinds of everyday settings.
These earbuds benefited from a technological collaboration with Bose. Skullcandy called on the expertise of the American audio specialist to develop the active noise cancellation and other acoustic aspects of the Method 360 ANC. While it's not the same technology as Bose's flagship models, the Method 360 ANC shares a technical approach, with noise reduction algorithms derived from those designed for the premium brand's headphones, such as the QuietComfort Ultra, which have a very similar design. This connection partly explains why the ANC's performance is so surprising in this price range. This discreet but real partnership is a real selling point for audio technology enthusiasts who want to enjoy a high-end experience without spending an astronomical budget.
A distinctive and neat design
Skullcandy doesn't revolutionize the aesthetics of true wireless headphones with its Method 360 ANC, but the design is original enough to stand out from the rest of the market. It's especially on the charging case side that we're most surprised, with an earphone holder that slides into a transparent case. It's original, certainly, but above all, bulky and not very practical for everyday use. A mini strap, however, allows you to attach it wherever you want, like to your jeans or backpack.
The earphones themselves have an ergonomic shape, with a slight angulation that allows for a good fit in the ear canal. The support is excellent thanks to a fin system (3 sizes available), even during a sports session or a long walk. They stay in place without exerting excessive pressure. In terms of weight, nothing to report: they are light, without giving an impression of fragility.
Another good point: their IPX4 certification, which guarantees resistance to perspiration and splashes. They are therefore perfectly suited to use outdoors or in the gym, without fear of the slightest drop.
Ergonomics and controls: simple and effective
Each earphone has touch surfaces that can be personalized via the Skull-iQ application. The default controls allow you to manage playback, volume, calls, activating ANC, switching to transparency mode, and even calling the voice assistant. The touch surface responds well, without excessive latency or accidental activation. The earbuds connect automatically as soon as you take them out of their case, and the connection is instantaneous with paired devices.
The Skull-iQ app, available on iOS and Android, is a true control center. It allows you to customize touch controls, activate or deactivate certain functions, choose between several equalizer presets, and even create your own audio profile via a 5-band equalizer.
The Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity is stable and allows multipoint functionality: you can connect the earbuds to two devices at the same time, such as a computer and a smartphone. Switching is seamless.
ANC, transparency mode, and call quality: a good and a bad student
Active noise reduction is one of the strong points of these Method 360 ANC. For headphones under 120 euros, the performance is simply amazing. The background noise of a train or a cafe is largely attenuated, with low frequencies being particularly well managed. At this price, few competitors can compete.
This result is no accident: as mentioned above, Skullcandy collaborated with Bose engineers to develop this ANC system. The algorithms and adaptive management of ambient noise use certain principles proven in high-end products, and the processing is both responsive and fluid. The ANC adapts well to changes in the sound environment, without pumping or auditory artifacts.
Transparency mode is no exception. It offers a natural reproduction of the environment, allowing you to hold a conversation without removing the earphones. The transition between ANC and transparency is smooth and fast, with no perceptible latency.
On the other hand, using a hands-free kit is disappointing. While the microphones are sufficient for calls in a quiet environment, they quickly show their limitations in a noisy context: the voice becomes metallic, even difficult to understand, and ambient noise sometimes takes over. The microphones' noise reduction algorithm seems to have difficulty sorting through it, which affects the overall quality of calls. In urban environments or on public transport, your interlocutors will have a hard time understanding you.
Audio quality: a definite V-shaped signature
Where many affordable models are content with a flat sound, the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC offer a very pronounced V-shaped sound signature. This means reinforced bass, emphasized treble, and more withdrawn midrange. This is a choice assumed by the brand, which targets an audience who love strong sensations and modern music.
The bass is deep, powerful, sometimes a little invasive depending on the song, but it brings a real impact to electronic music, hip-hop or current pop. It goes down low without saturating, and remains well held, without excessive smearing.
The treble is bright, even a little too aggressive on certain poorly mastered tracks. That said, it contributes to a good feeling of detail and airiness in the mix. Cymbals, female vocals, and acoustic instruments stand out well.
The mids, on the other hand, are more timid. Vocals sometimes lack body, and some instruments (guitars, piano) can seem a little crushed in the mix. Fortunately, the customizable equalizer allows you to correct this imbalance by manually raising the mids. The soundstage is relatively wide for in-ear headphones.
If you like a punchy, ample, and immersive sound, the Method 360 ANC will delight you. Audiophiles looking for absolute neutrality, on the other hand, should move on.
Battery life: about average
In terms of endurance, the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC performs well. With the ANC activated, you can get about 6 hours of listening time, to which you can add 24 hours thanks to the case. Without ANC, you can get up to 8 hours + 30 hours.
Recharging is done via a USB-C port, and a quick charge function allows you to recover around 2 hours of listening time in 10 minutes, which is practical for users in a hurry. We regret the absence of wireless charging, but it is a reasonable compromise considering the overall price.
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