So I picked up these Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds three months ago. Why? Because my old earbuds met an untimely end just before a massive work project, and I needed something fast. Amazon was selling these for $179, at a reduction from $199. Seemed like a decent deal.
You know what you never really have a sense of before you buy earbuds online? you never really know how they’ll handle phone calls until you’re stuck on a conference call with your boss, praying your voice doesn’t sound like garbage.
First Phone Call Was… Awkward
My mom called me the day after I got them. She’s the sort who will end a call if she doesn’t like the sound quality. After about five minutes, she goes, “You sound kinda weird today. Like you’re talking through a computer or something.”
Great. Exactly what you want to hear about your new $179 earbuds.
But she didn’t disconnect, which was a good sign actually. She quipped that she certainly could hear me, but I did sound processed. Consider it a less flamboyant version of Instagram’s voice filters.
Work Calls Tell the Real Story
I’m on Zoom calls for like four hours a day. My colleagues do not mince words about tech stuff, so I figured they would give me the straight scoop on audio quality.
Jake from accounting said I sounded ‘clearer than usual but kind of flat.’ Sarah in marketing didn’t notice anything. My boss asked if I got new headphones because my voice sounded “crisper but less warm.”
So the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC call quality reviews situation is basically this: you sound clear, but not quite natural. It’s like your voice gets cleaned up by some algorithm that removes a bit of personality along with the background noise.
The Bose Thing Is Real
Here’s something wild, these are actually tuned by Bose. At first, I didn’t believe it because, you know, it’s Skullcandy. But it looks like Bose had a hand in designing the sound profile, which is why they don’t sound like your typical Skullcandy products.
My buddy Alex has the Bose QC Earbuds, which were $100 more or something. Here we are on a group call testing them out side by side. Everyone said my Skullcandys actually sounded clearer for phone calls, even though his Bose was better for music.
That blew my mind. Cheaper earbuds with better call quality than premium Bose? Sometimes the world makes no sense.
Background Noise Test
I am fortunate enough to live near a bustling street, so I get to test noise cancellation whether I want it or not. Trash trucks, leaf blowers, construction — the whole suburban symphony.
Phoned my sister while standing next to a landscaping crew. She didn’t even realize that there was a leaf blower on at full volume ten feet from me. The earbuds just erased it. Pretty impressive stuff.
But here’s the catch. If it’s windy, then you are going to feel a lot of trouble. Tried taking a call while walking the dog on a breezy day. The person on the other end said I sounded like I was broadcasting from a hurricane. Wind and these earbuds don’t mix.
Reddit Users Keep It Real
I looked up Reddit before purchasing these because, let’s face it, random internet strangers write better reviews than most tech blogs. The verdict was mixed but mostly favorable.
One guy said his girlfriend couldn’t tell the difference between these and his old AirPods for calls. One user even griped that they “sound too digital” but conceded that it wasn’t an issue since the clarity was excellent.
Folks in general on Reddit seem to think that at under $200, you’re not going to find much better for call quality. It is not exactly a ringing endorsement, but fair enough.
Battery Life Saves You
These earbuds have an excellent battery life. The case provides you with, like, 40+ hours overall. I need to charge them maybe once a week, and I use them all the time.
Good battery life has saved me so many times. Dead earbuds in the middle of an important call is basically a professional nightmare.
When They Don’t Work Great
But there are some downsides, so let’s talk about those too. The result is your voice losing some warmth, and sounding less natural. It’s not bad, just noticeable.
If you are on a lot of video calls and need to sound superprofessional; such as like when meeting with a client or recording a podcast; then these might not cut it.
They’re more “good enough for everyday use” than “ready for prime time.”
Also, if you’re used to really high-end headsets, the processed sound will bug you. It’s like the difference between talking in person versus talking through a really good phone connection. Better than bad, not as good as perfect.
Should You Buy Them?
Depends on what you need. For regular phone calls, work meetings, and general daily use, they’re solid. The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC call quality reviews from actual users seem to agree – they work well enough for most people’s needs.
If you’re upgrading from cheap earbuds or nothing at all, these will feel like a major improvement. If you’re coming from something really premium, you might be disappointed.
I’ve had mine for three months now. Would I buy them again? Probably. They’re not perfect, but they get the job done without breaking the bank.
The call quality isn’t amazing, but it’s reliable. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need – something that works consistently without any major surprises. In a world of overpromised tech products, that’s actually pretty refreshing.
Just don’t expect miracles, and maybe test them out somewhere with a good return policy first. But for most people doing normal phone stuff, they’re a decent choice at the price point.