ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SKULLCANDY AND ITS BEST HEADPHONES
Skullcandy is a company that specializes in making headphones, ear phones, MP3 players and other audio products. This company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Park City, Utah. The founder is Rick Aiden who wanted to create headphones for the outdoors. Almost a decade back, the idea of outdoor action sports had not caught on, so Aiden wanted to fill this gap. So, he came up with trendy looking headphones that held up well for outdoor sports such as skateboarding.
Since it was founded, this company has got many awards for its innovative design and for its use of advanced technology to bring top audio to listeners. For example, Fortune Magazine awarded the “The World’s Coolest Earbud” award in 2008 while Aiden has been named as the one of top entrepreneurs many times. Due to these awards and the top quality headphones, Skullcandy filed for its IPO in 2011, and since then, there has been no looking back for this company.
Other than its trendy looks, these headphones are well-known for their ease of use and mobility that makes it ideal for outdoor travel. Another unique aspect of all Skullcandy headphones is their emphasis on bass. While in most other companies, there are only a handful of headphones that give importance to bass, in Skullcandy, almost every model has a strong bass presence.
Below are some models of Skullcandy headphones that are popular among users. Whilst each of these headphones has its own set of pros and cons, some features such as bass are common across all models.
1. Skullcandy SLYR
Skullcandy’s SLYR is one of the few headphones that score high on both comfort and performance. Also, these headphones are designed specifically for gaming, so it sound intense and captures the surrounding sound needed to give the best effects for any game. SLYR is one the top models for gaming fanatics, who are looking for quality and well-designed headphones with a microphone, that are compatible with Xbox 360, Xbox One, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, and PCs.
On first look, these headphones do not sound as impressive as many other models from Skullcandy. There are two options, one that is completely black and the other one that has a sports yellow accent. Later models also came with black and white accents on a black background. These headphones have a plastic body that is covered with comfortable padding on the ear cups. Despite being made of plastic, these headphones are anything but flimsy.
The one downside is that the ear cups wobble a bit, giving users the feeling that the headphones are moving when users are on the move. Though the idea behind these wobbly war cups is to give a better fit for users, it does not give the same feel for all users. Despite this slightly uncomfortable fit, these headphones feel light and the thick padding make it comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.
The audio output is one the left ear cup, but the controls are present only in the GMX In-Mixer dongle that is attached to the cables of the left ear cup. The cables are excessively long, and it can be a little bothersome for users who do not like long cables. Despite this length, the cables do not get entangled, and this helps to some extent. However, no cables are needed when the headphones are connected to a PC or gaming console, so it is not bothersome for gaming.
The audio quality is great too, though it is one of the few headphones that do not come with 7.1 surround sound, especially when it is designed for gaming. However, this headphone costs much less than many other headphones that come with 7.1 surround sound, so this could be a justification for the lack of this feature. Despite this lack of surround sound, these headphones nevertheless capture the essence of gaming. The best part is that Skullcandy SLYR gives out good bass even at high volumes, without the slightest trace of distortion. Besides the bass and gaming sound, other notes sound natural and refreshing. There is no distortion even at top volumes, and there is an overall balance among notes. In short, these headphones are a steal for this price because it is one of the cheapest options available among gaming headphones.
2. Skullcandy Hesh 2
Skullcandy Hesh 2 is an affordable headphone that comes with great audio, especially for bass lovers. In terms of design, these headphones fit into the typical Skullcandy lineup of products that give users multiple customizable options. Hesh 2 without a microphone costs about $10 less (retails for $59.99) than the Hesh 2 that comes with inline remote and microphone. When users add on the microphone and remote, the cost goes up to $69.99 Another variation is the one that comes with a favourite sports team logo or one that is covered in hemp, and these headphones cost $10 more than the standard version, and is priced at $79.99.
A convenient aspect about these headphones is that the cable can be detached. This feature gives users the option to replace it with a cheaper cable when the original one breaks. Otherwise, users will have to get a completely new pair of headphones that could bite the wallet.
One downside with respect to the design is the fit. The circumaural design of these headphones give an awkward fit that is rigid and uncomfortable. As a result, it is difficult to wear these headphones for long periods of time. Also, the earphones are a little big for the ear, and at the same time, does not cover the ear full. This in-between placement is another aspect that makes the headphones feel uncomfortable.
Despite this bad fit, the performance of Hesh 2 is top class. The sound are clear, and are not distorted at any point. This clear audio is backed by a solid bass output that can excite bass-lovers. Though the sub-bass effect is limited, it nevertheless touches many of the deepest bass notes. On classical tracks too, these headphones fare well with their clear audio, and a balanced representation of all notes. However, the lower notes have poor clarity. In short, these headphones offer excellent music if users are willing to bear the awkward fit.
3. Skullcandy SCS-SCBP3.5 -
Skullcandy SCS SCBP3.5 headphones come with Skullcandy’s signature bass effect, and a sleek looking design. These headphones come in black with a slight gloss finish to go well with any dress and occasion.
The design is simple and classy. The ear cups are padded with heavy leather and faux leather to give a rich and comfortable look. The padding makes it possible for users to listen to it for long periods of time. The head band is also covered with padding to give a comfortable feel on the head. However, the fit is a little off because because of the somewhat conical shape of the headphones. On some heads, it tends to stand up, and this makes the fit uncomfortable. These headphones fold down flat, and this aspect makes it ideal for travel. Skullcandy SCS SCBP3.5 headphones come with a neat pouch that can fit the headphones and the cord.
As for the performance, Skullcandy SCS SCBP3.5 scores high. The closed-back and circumaural design of these headphones provides good amount of noise isolation. The heavy padding on ear cups also help to keep outside noise away. An outstanding aspect of its performance is its bass output. The 30 mm drivers provide for a vibrant and intense bass, that is sure to enthuse any bass lover. The inbuilt bass enhancer provides a booming thump for those who crave for high levels of stereo in their music. Along with these enhancers, the headphones come with a AA battery that will amplify the bass subwoofer system. On the flip side, the bass can sound too intense for those who like to listen to subdued pleasant music.
Besides the bass effect, other notes also sound good. The transition between bass and midrange is smooth, and this makes the music sound pleasant. In short, these headphones are a good buy because of its stylish design and good bass output.
4. Skullcandy S6AVFM-156 Aviator
If users are looking for a fashionable headphone that is backed by a popular celebrity, then Skullcandy Aviator is the right choice as it is endorsed by Jay-Z. Their design, style and materials are undoubtedly one of the very best out there, people who have absolutely loved Skullcandy aviator include people from all walks of life including Barcelona’s superstar Gerard Pique. In general, Skullcandy is known more for its aesthetics than sound quality, so users start with a little bit of scepticism about its performance considering that is priced on the higher side.
Some aspects of the design are a little strange, especially the translucent plastic cover on the back side of each earcup. They are supposed to allow users a peek into the workings of the headphones, but the tinted nature of the material makes it impossible to see anything. Another aspect is that the inline remote is placed high up in the cable, and this could be a mild inconvenience for some users.
Despite these downsides, Skullcandy Aviator headphones have an aesthetic and pleasing design. Skullcandy aviator headphones are steeped in comfort and fit is excellent. The faux leather padding on the earcups and head band make it convenient for users to listen to long periods of time. However, The design of these headphones provide a good fit to users as it can be adjusted to suit the needs of different users. It also looks nice overall, and gives an elegant look to users. It also comes in a good looking pouch that makes it easy to carry.
These headphones are excellent on the sound quality too. The midrange notes have good clarity and there is reasonable kick in bass notes. The low notes are also clear and audible without any distortions. The downside is that the high notes are not as detailed as it should be. The final verdict – looks classy and has good audio, though it could be a little pricey.
5. Skullcandy Crusher Over-Ear
Every company is looking to add more features within its limited budget to enhance its competitiveness by giving users a little extra for their money. Skullcandy’s skullcrushers On-Ear is one such headphone that goes to great lengths to give users a good experience listening to bass tracks.
The design is glossy, and comes in three colours, namely, white, black and red. There is ample cushion both on the ear cups as well as on the underside of the head band to make it comfortable for users to wear it for extended periods of time. The padding on ear cups is black in all the three models, and is plush enough to provide a certain degree of noise isolation.
Since these headphones are particularly known for their bass output, the headphones have ports on both the ear cups to make it easier for the drivers to operate. Moreover, there is a battery compartment behind the right ear cushion that can fit one AA battery. This battery is particularly used for bass, and needs to be replaced once every 40 hours, according to Skullcandy. The bass option can be turned on or off with the bass slider present on the right ear cup. If users see a red dot on the slider, then it means that the headphones are taking power from the battery for its bass output. Though this feature provides the additional bass effect, it can get a little annoying to turn the slider on or off. It particularly gets frustrating when the batteries have to be changed every time.
In terms of performance, Skullycandy’s skullcrushers is well-known for its bass output, making it ideal for tracks that have intense bass. When the slider is placed at the top, there are lots of distortions that tend to take the intensity of the music away. However, at mid levels, these sliders get better. The sound deep, but not as intense as the track would warrant. Other notes sound good when the bass is turned off. In short, these headphones are decent choice for bass-lovers, though it comes with the inconvenience of changing batteries.
Overall, Skullcandy stands in the medium range of headphones both in terms of overall quality and price.