Skullcandy Aviator 900 ANC Review: Icon Returns with Premium Ambitions

The Return of an Icon with Modern Technology

The Skullcandy Aviator 900 ANC marks the triumphant return of an emblematic headphone model, originally adored for its unique aesthetic and muscular sound signature. More than a decade after the first version launched in 2011, the American manufacturer has relaunched its flagship model equipped with modern technologies: active noise cancellation (ANC), transparency mode, and impressive battery life. At £249.99, these headphones aim to compete with established market leaders.

Skullcandy has long targeted a young audience interested in extreme sports since its founding in 2003. Known for bold, sometimes provocative designs and powerful bass, the brand has traditionally maintained aggressive pricing. The original Aviator made its mark with aviation-inspired styling and an exposed metal structure that immediately distinguished it from the competition.

Today, by positioning the Aviator 900 ANC at this premium price point, Skullcandy is directly challenging the premium headphone market. It's no longer simply about seducing through style, but convincing through technology. This new model must prove the brand has matured, that it's capable of offering a complete audio experience beyond its usual sound signature, whilst retaining the aesthetic DNA that made it successful.

Iconic Aviator Aesthetics Brought Up to Date

The Skullcandy Aviator 900 ANC doesn't go unnoticed. It succeeds in modernising the original model's aesthetic without denaturing it. The visible metal hinges and characteristic ear cup shape give it a resolutely retro-modern and distinctive look. The headphones exude a premium feel despite their striking style.

The finishes meet the ambitious price point's expectations. Construction is solid and well-conceived, particularly through the use of metal for the hinges and headband. Even though certain parts remain plastic for weight and flexibility reasons, the overall impression is of a high-end product.

Although this is a circum-aural (over-ear) model, it's worth noting that the ear cups are smaller than those of premium competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max. For some users with larger ears, this may prove bothersome. Nevertheless, the design permits excellent passive isolation thanks to quality cushions.

The headphones are foldable, an undeniable advantage for transport, especially as they're supplied with a soft case featuring a shoulder strap. Also included are a 3.5mm jack cable and a USB-C to USB-A cable – a somewhat anachronistic choice in 2025.

Surprising Comfort for Extended Sessions

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Despite its imposing structure and metal usage, the Aviator 900 ANC is remarkably comfortable. The headband and cushion padding allows wearing for extended periods without excessive fatigue, despite weighing 332 grammes.

To our delight, Skullcandy chose physical buttons rather than touch controls. They're distributed across the ear cups, offering intuitive and reliable control. This approach is preferable to touch surfaces, particularly during movement or in cold weather conditions.

Classic controls are present: play/pause, volume management, track changing, ANC activation and transparency mode, plus voice assistant access. The ease of access and button responsiveness are strong points, enabling quick, error-free playback management and listening mode changes. One button is even customisable through the app.

Application and Connectivity: Modern Integration

The modern user experience inevitably passes through a companion application. The Skullcandy App is the central interface for personalising the Aviator 900 ANC, allowing users to adapt sound to their preferences. One major functionality is equalisation customisation. The application offers presets (Music, Podcast, Film) and crucially a five-band manual equaliser. Users can thus adjust the bass-leaning signature to obtain a more neutral rendering or one better suited to their musical genre.

The application also provides access to firmware updates and manages ANC/Transparency modes via a pleasant interface. It's not the richest in advanced features compared to certain competitors, but remains relatively comprehensive.

The Aviator 900 ANC integrates Bluetooth 5.3 and supports multipoint functionality (two devices simultaneously). Unfortunately, LE Audio isn't supported to offer the more modern Auracast function.

Effective Active Noise Cancellation, Without Being Exceptional

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ANC integration is the principal novelty of this new version. The system is performant and effective, capable of significantly attenuating low frequencies (engine noises, ventilation, train or aeroplane rumbles), but doesn't quite rival the absolute market references from Sony, Apple, or Bose. It struggles more with mid and high frequencies (human voices, shouts, keyboards) which can filter through more than with premium competition. In very noisy environments, isolation isn't total, but remains sufficient to considerably improve the listening experience. The positive point is the absence of disagreeable hiss or white noise.

Transparency mode fares somewhat better; it's natural and clear, capturing voices and important sounds well without rendering them too artificial or robotic. The hands-free kit quality is relatively solid. Multiple microphones capture voice and reject ambient noise, enabling clear calls even in moderately noisy environments. Despite inevitable artefacts, the user's voice remains intelligible and background noise is well attenuated.

Powerful Sound Signature by Default

Sound is historically Skullcandy's strong point (or criticism point, depending on taste). The Aviator 900 ANC doesn't deviate from this rule, proposing by default a powerful sound signature with a distinct emphasis on low frequencies. The sound is warm, dynamic, and engaging. Bass is deep and punchy, giving genuine energy to musical genres like hip-hop or electro. For lovers of substantial bass and impactful sound, these headphones are an excellent choice.

However, this bass predominance can come at other frequencies' expense. Mids can sometimes seem withdrawn or drowned by bass, and highs lack the precision and detail found in more audiophile competitors.

This is where the Skullcandy application becomes crucial. Thanks to the five-band equaliser, users can modify the sound signature. By slightly reducing bass and raising mids/highs, one obtains much more balanced and versatile sound. Once adjusted, the Aviator 900 ANC is capable of offering excellent sound quality, rich in details with good soundstage.

To expand this further, the Aviator 900 ANC integrates THX Spatial Audio with Head Tracking for a 360-degree sound experience – at least in theory. This technology aims to create a three-dimensional soundstage where sound remains fixed in virtual space even when you move your head. Whilst the objective is to improve immersion in films and games, its practical application is mixed. The processing can render sound artificial or metallic during music listening, without providing genuinely superior spatialisation.

Virtually Unlimited Battery Life

Autonomy is unquestionably one of the greatest assets and most impressive characteristics of the Aviator 900 ANC, promising up to 50 hours' listening with ANC activated. A performance confirmed by our real-condition testing. The headphones are also equipped with highly efficient fast charging: 10 minutes' connection suffices to recover 4 hours' listening.

Verdict

The Skullcandy Aviator 900 ANC is more than a simple nostalgic remake; it's a remarkable entry by the brand into the premium noise-cancelling headphone segment. At £249.99, it proposes a coherent and complete experience.

Its strong point is unquestionably its unique design, which radically distinguishes it from often more austere competition, and its record autonomy, which places it at the market summit in terms of endurance. Comfort is also present.

If active noise cancellation is effective for low frequencies, it remains below the best references for more complex noises. Similarly, audio quality is excellent but requires equaliser adjustment to escape the "bassy" default profile. The Aviator 900 ANC will primarily seduce those seeking stylish headphones, incredibly enduring, and offering powerful, personalisable sound.