Skullcandy has launched Sesh ANC Active TWS earphones in India, targeting fitness enthusiasts who are involved in sports and other activities. The earbuds are IP67 dustproof and waterproof and feature a unique design to ensure a comfortable and safe fit. They feature Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) powered by a four-microphone system. However, without ANC, it is claimed to offer up to 48 hours of total playtime on a single charge. Does this battery life, this build and more features justify the Rs. 8800 price point? Let’s take a look.
Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active Design and Function: The Perfect Gym Companion
- Weight – 56g
- Water and dust resistant – IP67 (earbuds only)
- Color- black/orange
The Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active earbuds feature a black-orange exterior with the bold Skullcandy logo highlighted. While they’re mostly made of plastic, the construction doesn’t feel flimsy or low-quality. The earbuds may look a little bulky, but their lightweight and unique shape keep them securely in place, making them a good choice for workouts. Skullcandy includes three pairs of silicone ear tips in the box to ensure a comfortable fit, with the medium size proving to be the best fit for me.
The earbuds’ lightweight design stays secure on every move
The Sesh ANC Active headphones rely on touch-sensitive controls on each earphone. Although the touch panels are comfortable and responsive to use, they can be accidentally triggered if you’re not particularly careful when adjusting the fit. The earbuds have an IP67 rating, ensuring complete dust resistance and water resistance to a depth of 1 meter. It’s safe to say they’re also great at preventing sweat during exercise. However, since the case does not offer any waterproofing, be sure to dry the earbuds carefully before placing them back in the case.
The Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active’s charging case is made of plastic, has an orange Skullcandy logo on the lid, and has a small nylon loop on the side for attaching a hook. While the case is slightly larger than most competing headphones, it still fits easily into most pockets (excluding women’s jeans). Inside the case, magnets are designed to guide the earbuds into place, but they’re still very easy to misalign, preventing proper charging or closure. The process can be frustrating at first, but with some practice, placing them correctly will soon become second nature. There is a USB Type-C port on the back of the case, but it does not support wireless charging.
Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active headphones are IP67 rated, sweat and dustproof
Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active Apps and Specs: The Basics Covered
- Driver – 12mm
- Companion App – Skullcandy App
- Gesture control – Yes
The Sesh ANC Active earbuds pair with the user-friendly Skullcandy app, available on Android and iOS, offering a comprehensive selection of features and customization options. That said, the app takes a few seconds to detect the headphones every time you turn them on, which can be a bit annoying. At the top of the app’s home page, there’s a graphic showing both earbuds along with individual battery life indicators for each.
Out of the box, just tap the earbuds to play or pause audio or answer a call, tap twice to skip to the next track, and tap three times to toggle between ANC, Stay-Aware (transparent) and off modes. Press and hold the touch panel to reject or end a call or activate Spotify Tap. However, most controls can be reassigned through the application. In the app, you can also switch between ANC, Keep Aware, and Off modes, and manually fine-tune noise cancellation and transparency levels. It also offers three preset EQ presets, Bass Boost, Music and Podcasts, or the option to build a custom five-band EQ ranging from 60Hz to 12kHz.
You can use the EQ presets in the app to get a personalized sound
Meanwhile, the Personal Sound Profile feature adjusts the audio output to your hearing. The setup process takes a few minutes, but the personalized sound it provides is worth it, and you can choose from a number of presets once you’re done. Additionally, the app supports downloading and installing firmware updates to keep the earbuds up to date.
The Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active earphones feature 12mm drivers, support Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, and feature AAC and SBC audio codecs. They allow multi-point pairing with up to two devices and are compatible with Google Quick Pair.
Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active headphones are IP67 rated, sweat and dustproof
Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active Performance and Battery Life: Almost Impressive
- ANC – Yes
- Battery – Up to 12 hours without ANC (headphones) + Up to 36 hours (charging case)
- Fast charging – Yes (claimed to charge up to 2 hours in 10 minutes)
- Bluetooth – v5.3 (AAC, SBC)
Without beating around the bush, let me say one thing first. For a product with “ANC” in its name, the Sesh ANC Active’s noise-canceling performance is disappointing. What it does best is drown out some low-end rumble, like a plane flying overhead or a refrigerator whirring. With ANC enabled in a busy environment, you can easily hear most noise, with only slight silence. In a coffee shop, college, or office hallway, you might find yourself double-checking whether ANC mode is actually enabled. Of course I had to. Transparency mode, on the other hand, is useful for short conversations, but the audio quality isn’t particularly good as a lot of high-end detail is lost.
During my testing of the Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active, I used the default Music EQ preset, which emphasizes the bass at the expense of the mids and highs, reducing the detail and energy of the sound. On Massive Attack’s “Angel,” the bass overpowers the mix, making it feel uncontrolled, while the lack of highs is overwhelming. Tom Waits’ “Hold On” sounds dull and dark. Weak treble flattens guitars and dulls percussion. There’s some warmth to the vocals, but the earbuds don’t enhance them, leaving the track lifeless.
Earbuds offer easy touch control of music and calls
Anderson Paak’s “Come Down” works better. Since it relies less on treble, vocals sound smooth and pleasant, but the deepest bass lacks punch. Orchestral works expose these flaws most clearly. In Jóhann Jóhannsson’s Arrival OST, the strings lose their luster, while a boost in background frequencies makes the sound muddy and unbalanced.
The Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active is clearly tuned for workouts, where a bass feedforward configuration is usually preferred. Switching EQ modes can help balance things out a little, but the hardware ultimately determines the upper limit of sound quality.
However, the microphone setup works reliably and is adequate for voice calls. However, connectivity is where it falls short. In total, five times during my month of using the Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active, the earbuds experienced considerable instability in their connection to a paired Bluetooth 5.3-enabled smartphone. There will usually be lag at first until one of the earphones malfunctions and stops responding completely. Every time, the only thing that worked was to put the headphones back in the case and put them back on. In all these cases, there is no physical interference between the paired earpiece and headphones. The battery is far from dead, either.
I was able to get over 11 hours without it with the volume turned to 50%
Statistically speaking, this should be fine. But in reality, this possibility is at least undesirable and at best a very unfortunate distraction. After the first time this problem occurs, you often wonder if it will happen again in the bridge section of the currently repeating track. It’s definitely not the end of the world, as you can reconnect the headphones and replay your favorite tracks, but of course, the vibe is inevitably lost. In this economy, that’s not what we spend our hard-earned money for.
Finally, I was impressed with the battery life of the Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active. According to the company, battery life is about 12 hours with ANC disabled and two additional charges from the charging case, for a total of 48 hours of playback. During testing, the numbers were very similar. At 50% volume, I got about 9 and a half hours of use with ANC and over 11 hours without ANC. The case also adds nearly 35 hours of gaming time. With moderate use, I was able to get through a full week without charging. The earphones support fast charging and can be used for up to 2 hours after 10 minutes of charging.
Sesh ANC Active’s rugged case fits easily into your pocket
Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active: Verdict
At Rs. If you’re looking for a pair of rugged, workout-friendly TWS headphones at $8,800, look no further than the Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active. The IP67 rating, secure fit, and bold design clearly position them as fitness companions rather than sophisticated audio devices. Battery life is a plus, lasting a week of moderate use before recharging.
However, if you’re buying these primarily for the ANC, you may come away disappointed. The noise cancellation here isn’t great, often making you wonder if it’s even on. The sound signature is bass-heavy, which is fine for aerobics, but if you care about detail or clarity in vocals and treble, these won’t provide much satisfaction. Connection issues, while uncommon, can also dampen the experience.
For the asking price, there are a few options that strike a better balance. Sony WF-C710N (Review) brings more reliable ANC performance and classic Sony tuning at a price of Rs. 8,990. The OnePlus Buds 4 (Review) also offer more powerful ANC and a more balanced sound profile at a lower price of Rs. 5,999.
If fitness durability and long battery life are your top priorities, the Sesh ANC Active will perform well. But for those looking for stronger noise cancellation or more general audio quality, your money might be better spent elsewhere.
