Lifestyle audio brand Skullcandy has quickly positioned itself as “the world’s coolest ear bud” by appealing to the free-spirited nature of a young audience. Skullcandy boosts their credibility further by collaborating with celebrity athletes from sports such as motocross and skateboarding, as well as with artists like Metallica and Jay-Z. They offer all headphones styles but for now we’re breaking down the best Skullcandy earbuds.
This quick reference will get you acquainted with the brand and help you choose the unit that will satisfy your needs. You’re sure to find a set of Skullcandy earbuds to match your style, sound, and budget.
Things to Consider for Skullcandy Earbuds
- Budget. Skullcandy’s products are available in several different price points. Their highest priced units may serve multiple functions or be part of a limited edition style, but they all have Skullcandy’s signature style and reputable quality.
- Style. Their products are popularized by coming in a wide range of colors and graphics, and by having cool-sounding names. With Skullcandy headphones you can show your support for your favorite team or artist, or create your own look.
- Sound. Don’t expect all of our choices to sound the same just because they’re one style of headphones from one brand. Each will have its own sound-scape.
The Guide to the Top 10 Skullcandy Earbuds
[ws_table id=”56″]Top 3 Best Skullcandy Earbuds Reviews
1. Skullcandy S2IKFZ-024 Ink’d 2.0
Ink’d 2.0, as the name suggests, is the second version of Skullcandy’s entry-level headphone, Ink’d. Incidentally, Ink’d is also Skullcandy’s most popular bud. The newest Ink’d reflects the model’s most current features and updates.
Ink’d 2.0 starts with a simple barrel design and mushroom style tips. This simplicity keeps costs down and also gives us a bit of freedom in how we choose to wear it. The cord comfortably goes above or below our ears. There are no hooks or anything to adjust and contend with.
Included in the package are three differently sized eartips. The eartips are soft silicone that molds much better to your ears than some other budget headphones. We easily found a set that created a good seal.
The straight plug is gold-plated, though connectivity isn’t typically a problem for this type of product. It comes with a decent sized flat cord but no mic. The unit is built well-enough; it’s solid plastic with no visible seams. The flat cord is an improvement over the first edition Ink’d that is sure to stay tangle free.
Skullcandy’s flashy aesthetic is apparent in the combination of colors available. They allow for the possibility of having a set of buds comprised of four different colors and patterns: barrel, housing, accent line, cord. Color combinations and patterns depend on your retailer.
These feature fairly large drivers for earbud style headphones; 11 millimeters. Drivers are the speakers; usually bigger means stronger, louder. Packaging states that they get the same frequency response and range as full-size cans. In practice we found this to be mostly true. The sound is certainly not of the same caliper as reference cans but acceptable nonetheless.
Skullcandy caters to a young impressionable audience more interested in aesthetics and fun than strict sound reproduction. Their sound signature reflects that, however, they are as clear, crisp, and potent as expected. Overall the tone is enjoyable and we absolutely see why teenagers enjoy them.
After trying them with several different genres of music we believe these are best suited to rap, hip-hop, and pop. That’s not to say that metal and hard rock aren’t pleasurable. But the Ink’d 2.0 has strong bass with the higher tones not as emphasized which greatly corresponds with those genres of music.
The Ink’d 2.0 definitely shows us that the best Skullcandy headphones don’t have to be large in order to be useable.
2. Skullcandy Jib
Jib is another entry-level bud by Skullcandy. It’s similar in many respects to Ink’d 2.0, which helps it secure its place as one of the best Skullcandy earbuds.
Jib’s drivers are only slightly smaller than Ink’d 2.0 making them a formidable opponent to other earbuds. It has a straight 3.5 mm jack that fits just about every device in existence. Unlike Ink’d though; Jib uses nickel-plated jacks. We don’t consider this change to be a downgrade from the Ink’d.
The barrel of the Jib is shaped differently than Ink’d. This changes the fit a bit because you’re unable to simply twist and turn the bud upside down. It won’t fit properly in your ear that way. Jib, like the Ink’d 2.0, comes with three silicone eartips. We had no problem finding the right size, but don’t worry if you do because the barrels attach to after-market eartips.
Overall the Jib sounds clear and fairly neutral. We noticed that the Jib allows more sound to escape than Ink’d, but it doesn’t go as loud. Also, the range of Jib is lower than Ink’d.
Audiophiles and gamers will likely look at pricier models with more robust features but Skullcandy’s Jib is a great option for anyone simply looking to jam.
3. Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds 2
Smokin’ Buds 2 is the first style of Skullcandy that brings in extra features to increase comfort and longevity..
These have an angled barrel into your ear instead of the straight shape. We really like this touch; it’s extremely beneficial for anyone who has trouble getting earbuds to sit right. The angle completely changes the sound dynamics and keep the buds situated inside your ears.
These have the same frequency response as Ink’d 2 so the overall sound reproduction is similar. Less sound escapes these, again because of the angle, and the bass feels more potent than other models.
Smokin’ Buds 2 adds moisture-resistant materials making these sweat proof. If you’re out and about this is also a really great attribute.
The Smokin’ Buds 2 by Skullcandy is the perfect option for your sports player or band member who could use few amenities.