- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Updates
- Comparison
- Best Headphones
- Conclusion
- Discussions
We've currently tested 22 pairs of Skullcandy headphones. They're a fashion-forward brand that has a decent variety of models for casual listening, sports, and gaming.
Updates
- 01/19/2022 Skullcandy Push Active True Wireless reviewed
- 12/10/2021 Skullcandy Grind Fuel True Wireless reviewed
- 11/05/2021 Skullcandy Indy Fuel Truly Wireless updated
- 10/15/2021 Skullcandy Indy Evo True Wireless updated
- 09/22/2021 Skullcandy Jib True Wireless updated
Best Skullcandy Headphones
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Best Over-Ear Skullcandy Headphones
Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesNoise Cancelling YesMic YesTransducer DynamicThe best Skullcandy headphones with an over-ear design we've tested are the Skullcandy Venue. These Bluetooth-enabled over-ears feature generously padded ear cups and an easy-to-use control scheme. They clamp the head tight enough to stay in place during light physical activity and deliver audio with amazing levels of consistency. While their bass-heavy sound profile may be overwhelming to some listeners, fans of genres like EDM and hip-hop may enjoy the added thump and rumble. Their ANC feature helps them block out a decent amount of background noise, and even with the system turned on, you should still expect roughly 24 hours of continuous battery life. They support multi-device pairing, which is handy if you want to listen to content from your phone while remaining connected to your computer.
Unfortunately, their integrated microphone makes your voice sound thin, muffled, and lacking in detail. It also struggles with separating speech from ambient noise. Some users with larger ears may also dislike their relatively small ear cups and tight fit. Still, they're a fairly feature-dense option for commuting or office work.
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Best Skullcandy Headphones For Bass
Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesNoise Cancelling NoMic YesTransducer DynamicThe best Skullcandy headphones for bass we've tested are the Skullcandy Crusher Evo Wireless. If you're looking for extra thump, rumble, and boom in your mixes, these headphones are equipped with a haptic bass slider to help increase their bass to your liking. On the lowest setting, mixes have more warmth and boom without muddying or vocals and lead instruments. However, in their highest setting, they deliver a very intense thump, rumble, and body, which should please fans of EDM and hip-hop. If you still prefer a different sound, their companion app offers three EQ presets to help you adjust their sound to suit your tastes. These headphones also have over 34 hours of continuous battery life, and you can even use them passively with their 1/8" TRRS cable.
Unfortunately, their bass and treble delivery can vary depending on fit, seal, and positioning. You may also notice a drop in bass if you have thick hair or wear glasses. They also have a poor noise isolation performance, and they struggle to block out the low rumbles of bus and plane engines around you. However, if you're looking for a more bass-heavy sound, they're a suitable choice. They're even among the best bass headphones that we've tested.
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Best Skullcandy Wireless Earbuds
Type In-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless Truly WirelessNoise Cancelling NoMic YesTransducer DynamicThe best Skullcandy earbuds with a wireless design that we've tested are the Skullcandy Jib True Wireless. These lightweight in-ears have over six hours of continuous battery life, and their carrying case holds roughly 2.7 extra charges, which is handy in a pinch. They're also well-built and are certified IPX4 for protection against splashes of water. Thanks to their in-ear fit, they have very low leakage. Even though they lack an active noise cancelling system like the Skullcandy Indy ANC True Wireless, they can passively block out a decent amount of background noise like office chatter. Their bass-heavy sound profile also adds extra thump, rumble, and boom to your mixes.
Unfortunately, they can't block out many of the low rumbles of bus and plane engines. They don't have sound customization features either, so you can't adjust their sound to suit your tastes. Using their physical control scheme can push the buds deeper into your ears, which can be a bit uncomfortable. However, if you're looking for cable-free headphones, they offer a solid performance that should please most users.
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Best Cheap Skullcandy Earbuds
Type In-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless Truly WirelessNoise Cancelling NoMic YesTransducer DynamicThe best Skullcandy earphones at a cheap price that we've tested are the Skullcandy Dime True Wireless. Although these earbuds have a basic, no-frills design, they offer solid overall performance at a lower price point. They have a slightly bass-heavy sound profile that delivers a touch of extra thump and boom to your mixes. However, they're still balanced enough for a variety of different audio genres. They're also well-built, have a stable as well as breathable fit, and are rated IPX4 for water resistance. Even though they lack active noise cancelling and struggle to block out bus and plane noise passively, they can be a suitable choice in an office setting as they do a very good job of reducing ambient chatter.
Unfortunately, they have a somewhat bulky design, and using the controls can push the buds deeper into your ears, which may be unpleasant for some users. They also lack a companion app and don't have any sound customization features to help you adjust their sound to your liking. Their continuous battery life is short at under four hours. Luckily, their carrying case holds roughly 2.5 additional charges, which is handy if you need it.
Compared to other brands
- Colorful designs. Skullcandy offers some of the most colorful headphones on the market. If you like to match your tech accessories to your outfits, they tend to have several color schemes for each model, including two or three-tone variants as well as camo/military color schemes.
- Good headphone variety. Although we have yet to test Skullcandy's full lineup, they offer many models for different uses. They lack a lineup better suited for critical listeners, but the variety is still quite good, especially considering their price range.
- Plasticky build quality. Most of the headphones from Skullcandy are pretty affordable. However, this may be due to their somewhat plasticky build quality. It's better than some super cheap brands, but they don't feel very durable compared to other affordable models.
- Mediocre sound quality. They have many models for casual listening but nothing designed for critical listeners in mind. They also tend to focus a lot on delivering a bass-heavy sound, so if you want a more neutral sound, Skullcandy may not be the brand for you.
Overall, Skullcandy delivers a decent variety of fashion-forward headphones that come in many unique colors to match your taste, style, and preferences. They have sports and gaming headphones at an affordable price, too. Unfortunately, they don't have the best build quality, and their sound isn't the most balanced as they favor a bass-heavy audio reproduction over a neutral one.
Lineup
Skullcandy has a specific name for each model that they release. They offer a wide variety of headphones from on-ears to gaming headsets, as well as around-the-neck designs. However, since they don't have a name for their entire lineup, below are just a few examples of their headphones:
- Crusher = An over-ear and bass-centric lineup that focuses on letting the listener alter the bass level. They also have a wireless variation.
- Hesh = A compact over-ear that also has wireless variations.
- Grind = One of the on-ear models with decent build quality and wireless design.
- Ink'd = An around the neck in-ear that's suitable for sports and casual listening.
Recent Updates
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Dec 02, 2021: Added the Skullcandy Crusher Evo Wireless as 'Best Skullcandy Headphones For Bass' as they have a unique haptic bass slider that some users may prefer.
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Sep 03, 2021: Checked our picks for accuracy and product availability. There hasn't been a change in our recommendations.
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Jun 07, 2021: Replaced the Skullcandy Jib Wireless with the Skullcandy Dime True Wireless as the Dime offer better value to most users. Also renamed 'Best Skullcandy Headphones' to 'Best Over-Ear Skullcandy Headphones'.
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Mar 09, 2021: No changes in product picks after verifying their accuracy and availability; minor changes to text for accuracy.
Conclusion
Skullcandy makes fashion-forward headphones. They have a pretty big selection of headphones for casual listening, sports, and gaming, but they lack a more specific lineup geared towards critical listening. Unfortunately, they're not the ideal brand for those seeking a more neutral frequency response since most of their headphones favor a bass-heavy sound profile. They're also not as sturdy or as durable as some other headphones in their price range, but on the upside, their models are relatively affordable.