Our Verdict
The Grind are decent mixed usage headphones. They're quite comfortable for an on-ear design, they have an efficient and easy-to-use control scheme and a sturdy build quality. Unfortunately, they do not block enough noise for commuting, and they're slightly too unstable for sports. On the upside, they deliver an above-average audio reproduction which should be good enough for most listeners.
- Above-average sound quality.
- Sturdy and comfortable design.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Less portable than most on-ears.
Above-average for neutral listening. They have a decently balanced audio reproduction that caters well to instruments and vocals. Their bass is not too overwhelming but the Treble range can sometimes be a bit too sharp on some tracks. Unfortunately, they don't have the best Soundstage due to their small and closed-back ear cups but they should sound good enough for most listeners.
Mediocre for commuting. They a lot of noise seep into your audio which is not suitable for the loud environments involved in commuting.
Average for sports. They're wireless with an easy to use control scheme and they do not get too hot when exercising. However, they are not the most stable and ear cups sway a lot while running which is not ideal for sports.
Average for office-use. They have an efficient and easy to use control scheme, but they're a bit leaky at high volumes and they won't block the noise of a particularly lively office.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Sep 28, 2017: The microphone has been tested with our new methodology, as explained here
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Skullcandy Grind are one of the best closed-back headphones we've tested in this price range. See our recommendations for the best headphones under $50 and the best wireless headphones under $100.
The Skullcandy Grind Wireless are much better on-ear headphones than the JBL T450BT Wireless. The Grind have a great build quality for their price; they're also a lot more comfortable than the T450BT. The Grind also have longer battery life, a slightly better-balanced sound quality, and a headphone jack so you can use them wired with most devices, unlike the JBLs. On the other hand, the JBLs have a more compact and portable design that folds and can even fit into some larger jacket pockets. They're also lighter and leak a little less at high volumes.
Overall, the Skullcandy Grind Wireless are better headphones than the Sony WH-CH500 Wireless. The Skullcandy have a more accurate bass response, which some may prefer, and their on-ear design is more comfortable. You can also use them wired, even if the battery is dead, and they don’t feel as cheap as the Sony. On the other hand, the Sony have a slightly better battery life with power-saving features, which the Skullcandy lack, and have a better wireless range.
The Skullcandy Grind Wireless are more comfortable on-ear headphones, and you can use them wired. They’ll be more versatile than the Sony WH-CH400 Wireless, and they're noticeably more durable. These headphones will sound fairly similar, but the Skullcandy will have a more accurate bass for most, with a slightly V-shaped sound profile. They also take about half the time to charge, which is nice. However, the Skullcandy don’t support NFC like the Sony, but you can use them wired and get an in-line microphone, which the Sony are lacking.
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