Having made their debut more than ten years ago, popular Aviator headphones from Skullcandy are back – and the new premium headphones are now updated with advanced app controls, customizable personalized sound, and sophisticated spatial audio listening.
The new Aviator 900 ANC wireless headphones acknowledge their roots with a classic retro headphone look, reminiscent of the original wired set released in 2010.
With new features, construction materials and audio processing built in, the new model delivers great sound in a comfortable, familiar package.
The black-and-silver accented headphones have soft, memory foam earcups for a comfortable fit; the slider-adjustable headband itself is also padded, with a nice strip of suede on the centre grip.
Coiled wires along the headband accentuate the retro look and feel of these headphones, but the Aviator’s multi-function LCD display, knurled thumbwheel, and joystick controller show how up-to-date this product really is. (For convenient travel and transport, the headphones fold flat, and they come with across-body travel bag with adjustable strap.)
Its ANC capabilities are supported through a premium six-mic adaptive array; its powerful noise cancelling capabilities deliver a distraction-free listening experience (but thankfully there’s a ‘stay-aware’ mode as well so listeners have some awareness of the environment they’re in and what’s going on around them).
And, in a Skullcandy first that’s called a “historic moment” by the companies involved, the new Aviator 900 ANC comes with THX Spatial Audio with Head Tracking, creating a 360-degree soundscape that promises a more immersive listening experience by shifting elements of the sound as the listener moves, responding to micro-movements of the head to reproduce a realistic audio environment.
(Founded in 1983 by filmmaker George Lucas, THX.com develops and certifies technologies used in sound reproduction and theatrical presentation.)
Listening to movies with the Aviator 900, for example, the dialog stays in the centre no matter where you look; footsteps can come from behind and vehicles in motion can pan across the audio horizon. Music can surround the listener with a concert hall effect even as voices and instruments remain distinctly placed on a dynamic stereo spectrum. Even on preset, the sound delivered by these phones is clear and crisp, with its powerful bass providing a solid foundation for bright high notes and multilayered music tracks.
Sound mixes and listening features like the THX Spatial Audio – and many more – can be controlled through the freely downloadable Skullcandy app. It’s the best way to get the most out of these headphones, with options for personalized and customized settings of both sound qualities and headphone controls.
There’s a five-band custom EQ adjustment available for personalized listening set-ups, and a series of presets like Movie, Music, and Bass Boost modes. There’s a setting so listeners can control how the headphones respond when they’re taken off (music stops) or put down for a while (turn off to save power after a few minutes).
Also available through the app are button remapping controls, so even the physical features of these headphones are adjustable to personal preference. ANC can be turned on and off with the thumbwheel on the left earcup; EQ settings are available by pushing on the custom button. The joystick on the right earcup controls audio volume, music track selection and more. Latency rates can be adjusted to eliminate delays on sounds from different media sources, like games. There’s even a way to tap the button to get to Spotify right away.
Also available with the Aviator 900 app is Personal Sound by Mimi, a third-party software tool that adjusts audio playback according to a person’s own hearing profile, customizing sound output based on tested hearing ability (yes, the app can test your hearing and deliver sounds that are most appropriate for your hearing capabilities). A customized sound profile can be stored and applied as desired.
Using some of the special features in the Aviator 900, like ANC, does have an impact of the headphone’s battery life. Rated at up to 60 hours with a full charge and ANC off, the expected battery life drops to about 50 with ANC on. Either way, the unit has a special fast charge feature, which gives you about four hours run time (listening features off) after just a ten-minute charge.
Maybe it’s the extra battery life that gives the Aviator its extra weight: at some 332 grams, it is heavier than some other ANC headsets. But you can always check power remaining on the Aviator with a glance at the LCD panel on the right earcup: the two-digit display means you won’t have to unlock your phone or start an app to check power.
Along with one-button controls on the headphones for answering or ending calls, the Aviator 900 uses a clear voice smart mic and sidetone feature for good natural-sounding voice calls.
Other features on the Aviator 900 include Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C charging port, 3.5 mm analog jack, and multi-point pairing for connecting to multiple devices simultaneously.
Founded in 2003, Skullcandy creates headphones, earbuds, and speakers from its headquarters in Park City, Utah.
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Aviator 900 ANC Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones
Manufacturer’s Technical Specifications
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Headphone Type: Wireless Over-ear
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Connection Type: Bluetooth v5.3, 3.5mm Aux
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Impedance: 36Ω
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Driver Diameter: 40mm
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THD: <1% at 1KHz
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Sound Pressure Level: 119.4±3 dB at 1000Hz@ 0.190V/1mW
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Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20KHz
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Weight: 332g
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