Skullcandy hasn’t sold gaming headphones in more than a decade, the company is prepared to give them another shot and is anxious to catch up in some areas. Redesigned PLYR, SLYR, and SLYR Skullcandy headphones from the brand offer affordable gaming audio on console, mobile, and PC with a few bonuses.
In addition to having Bluetooth 5.2 wireless audio, the flagship PLYR (shown above) and the cabled SLYR Pro also have tile tracking to make it easier to locate your headset (or the device it’s linked to). In addition to using a hearing test to develop a unique sound profile, the PLYR and Skullcandy wireless earbuds (in the middle) also provide background audio reduction whether you use the boom or integrated microphones.
They can connect via USB and 3.5mm, and a wireless transmitter for the PLYR is an option that offers reduced latency for PC and PlayStation-based players (down to 20ms). When not connected via USB, any model’s battery life should last up to 24 hours. The basic SLYR is a wired device with a few bells and whistles that does not allow USB or audio processing.
Skullcandy wireless earbuds is relying on cost as the key selling point, similar to the previous headsets. The SLYR is the line’s entry-level model, costing $60, while the SLYR Pro and PLYR are both reasonably priced at $100 and $130, respectively. The warning is that the gaming headset industry hasn’t been at a standstill, as you may have guessed.
For the same $60 as the SLYR, the Astro A10 provides a more adaptable (and probably more aesthetically pleasing) design, while companies like Razer and SteelSeries offer both affordable headsets and premium ones with additions like spatial audio and RGB lighting. Your decision may come down to personal tastes and sale prices.
Skullcandy’s PLYR headset is the line’s centrepiece item. In exchange for its $130 price tag, users get Bluetooth 5.2 connection, customised sound (via an automated setup process), a noise-cancelling microphone, basic volume and mute settings, a headband with adjustable tension, and Tile tracking. Oh, and PLYR has a battery life of 24 hours.
SLYR Multi-Platform Wireless Gaming Headset ($130) from SLYR
The SLYR Multi-Platform Wired Gaming Headset costs $60, compared to the Pro Multi-Platform Wired Gaming Headset’s $100 price. Skullcandy’s SLYR Pro Wired is the middle child, despite the “Pro” designation. The majority of the functionality included in the PLYR headset is present in this $100 device. The extra-adjustable headband and wireless connection are the only items that are absent. (One oddity—SLYR Pro’s noise cancellation and built-in hearing test both need rechargeable batteries.)
The Skullcandy SLYR Wired, which costs about $60, is another affordable option. Naturally, it’s a corded headset without any cutting-edge capabilities like a noise-cancelling microphone, a hearing test, or tile tracking. But it also has a bi-directional microphone and some audio-tuning technologies. This appears to be a really good offer for casual gamers.
On the corporate website, the new Skullcandy Gaming Headsets are currently for sale. Given that Skullcandy appears to be a better known brand among adults and casual gamers, I’m interested to see how they’ll compete with Turtle Beach’s headsets.
In contrast to Competing Brands:
Brilliant patterns: Some of the market’s most vibrant headphones are available from Skullcandy. If you tend to match your tech accessories to your clothing, companies frequently provide a variety of colour options for each model, such as two-or three-tone variations and camouflage or military colour schemes.
A good selection of headphones: Skullcandy has a wide range of models available for various applications, but we haven’t tested the entire roster yet. Still, they have a decent amount of variety, especially when you consider their price range, but they don’t have enough for more critical listeners.
Poor construction quality: The majority of Skullcandy’s headphones are rather inexpensive. However, this could be a result of their fairly flimsy construction. It’s superior to some really inexpensive brands, but they don’t feel as sturdy as other budget-friendly ones.
Poor audio quality: There are several models for informal listening, but nothing that is intended for critical listeners. Skullcandy may not be the brand for you if you tend to a more neutral tone because they frequently focus on producing a bass-heavy sound.
Overall, Skullcandy offers a respectable selection of stylish headphones in a wide range of distinctive colours to suit your tastes, preferences, and style. They also provide headphones for gaming and sports at a reasonable cost. They don’t have the finest build quality, and their sound isn’t the most balanced because they prefer a bass-heavy reproduction to a neutral audio reproduction.
Lineup
Each model that Skullcandy releases has a unique name. They have several different types of headphones available, including around-the-neck and on-ear models, as well as gaming headsets. The following are only a few samples of their headphones because they do not yet have names for all of them:
- Crusher is an over-ear bass-focused line that focuses on allowing the listener to adjust the bass volume. There is a wireless version of this as well.
- The Hesh is a small over-ear headphone with wireless options.
- Grind is one of the on-ear devices with a good wireless design and build quality.
- An in-ear that can be worn around the neck and is appropriate for both casual listening and sports.
New Updates:
“Best Over-Ear Skullcandy Headphones” to “Best Skullcandy Headphones” on June 29, 2022. As the Push Active features a more comfortable fit and a longer battery life, the Skullcandy Jib True Wireless has been replaced by the Skullcandy Push Active True Wireless as of
February 3, 2022: Presets and a visual EQ are also available in their companion app.
Dec. 02, 2021: Added the Skullcandy Crusher Evo Wireless as one of the “Best Skullcandy Headphones For Bass” as certain users might like its special tactile bass slider.
Sep 03, 2021: Verified the availability of the products and the correctness of our recommendations. No changes have been made to our suggestions.
Jun. 7, 2021: The Skullcandy Dime True Wireless has replaced the Skullcandy Jib Wireless since most consumers find the Dime to be more affordable. The title of “Best Skullcandy Headphones” has also been changed to “Best Over-Ear Skullcandy Headphones.”
Conclusion
Skullcandy creates stylish headphones. They have a sizable assortment of headphones for gaming, sports, and casual listening, but they don’t have a dedicated portfolio for critical listening. Unfortunately, because the majority of their headphones feature a bass-heavy sound profile, they are not the best brand for anyone looking for a more neutral frequency response. On the plus side, their models are reasonably priced. However, they are not as strong or durable as some other headphones in their price range.
