10 Best Skullcandy Headphones in 2020
The best Skullcandy headphones you should get in 2020.
Contents
- Comparison: Best Skullcandy Headphones
- 10 Best Skullcandy Headphones
- 1. Skullcandy Crusher ANC – best overall
- 2. Skullcandy Crusher Evo Wireless – runner-up
- 3. Skullcandy Indy Evo True Wireless – best true wireless
- 4. Skullcandy Push Ultra – best for sports
- 5. Skullcandy Hesh 3
- 6. Skullcandy Riff Wireless – best on-ear
- 7. Skullcandy Venue
- 8. Skullcandy Sesh Evo – best cheap
- 9. Skullcandy Method Wireless – best neckband
- 10. Skullcandy Grind Wireless
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Comparison: Best Skullcandy Headphones
Rating | Price | Type | Battery life | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Skullcandy Crusher ANC best overall | ![]() | 4.6 | Under $320 | Over-ear | 24 hours (USB-C) | Review |
Skullcandy Crusher Evo Wireless runner-up | ![]() | 4.7 | Under $200 | Over-ear | 41 hours (USB-C) | Review |
Skullcandy Indy Evo True Wireless best true wireless | ![]() | 4.0 | Under $80 | True wireless | 6 hours + 24h in the case (USB-C) | Review |
Skullcandy Push Ultra best for sports | ![]() | 3.8 | Under $100 | True wireless | 6 hours + 34h in the case (USB-C) | Review |
Skullcandy Hesh 3 | ![]() | 3.9 | Under $80 | Over-ear | 22 hours (Micro-USB) | Review |
Skullcandy Riff Wireless best on-ear | ![]() | 4.4 | Under $50 | On-ear | 12 hours (Micro-USB) | Review |
Skullcandy Venue | ![]() | 4.5 | Under $180 | Over-ear | 24 hours (Micro-USB) | Review |
Skullcandy Sesh Evo best cheap | ![]() | 4.0 | Under $25 | True wireless | 5 hours + 19h in case (USB-C) | Review |
Skullcandy Method Wireless best neckband | ![]() | 4.4 | Under $40 | Neckband in-ear | 9 hours (Micro-USB) | Review |
Skullcandy Grind Wireless | ![]() | 4.4 | Under $90 | On-ear | 12 hours (Micro-USB) | Review |
What Makes Skullcandy Headphones Unique?
Skullcandy is a relatively young audio company, founded in 2003. From the very beginning, their target audience was youngsters with their own style and who wanted to look different.
Because of that, Skullcandy is picking their ambassadors very wisely. Their headphones are often seen on heads of professional skaters, snowboarders, and even NBA basketball players.
There is a lot of variety, offering everything from in-ear, on-ear, and over-ear headphones and classic earphones for everyday and sports activities. Lately, they released a mobile app that should add more functionalities in the future.
Their design and flashy colors amplify the cool factor of Skullcandy headphones. There is also their distinct logo, which is instantaneously recognized, much like Apple or Beats.
When it comes to sound, Skullcandy loves powerful and deep bass. With a mission to please a broader user base, their headphones’ have always leaned towards heavy low-end. Bassheads love them primarily for that reason.
Also, they’re quite affordable. You can find their headphones at any price range, from budget $50 to premium $300 cans. Usually, you don’t have to spend more than $100 to get a good pair of Skullcandy headphones.
This is why many users swear by this brand. They’re innovative and deliver what people want. And most importantly, they’re one of the few brands that don’t take themselves too seriously and know how to make their products look cool and appealing.
More similar guides:
10 Best Skullcandy Headphones
1. Skullcandy Crusher ANC – best overall
One of the best Skullcandy headphones in 2020 with signature bassy sound, haptic feedback, and decent active noise cancellation.
Why Buy These?
Crusher headphones offer big over-ear cups with a generous amount of memory-foam padding. High-quality plastic construction is robust for day to day use and is responsible for keeping the weight down. Overall, these are super comfortable to use.
Skullcandy opted for physical buttons instead of touch controls that provide a more tactile feel when pressed. There is an adjustable slider underneath the left ear cup where you can increase or decrease the bass.
As the name suggests, these are active noise cancelling headphones. While it works pretty well, it can’t match the competition from Sony or Bose. However, they can still effectively eliminate low-frequency noises well.
The Bad
You can’t adjust EQ settings.
Pricey.
The Sound
As expected, they have a very powerful bass. A truly majestic experience for bassheads and a nightmare for audiophiles. However, these are not meant for the latter. With these, you get a boomy, disco-like sound that can make you shake your head to the rhythm.
These Skullcandy Crusher headphones are one of the best noise cancelling headphones in the brand lineup, especially for frequent commuters.
2. Skullcandy Crusher Evo Wireless – runner-up
These are a more stripped-down version of Skullcandy Crusher ANC without the noise-cancelling feature. And they’re also more than $100 cheaper.
Why Buy These?
They come in a similar design as a more expensive ANC brother. Your ears will rest on thick memory foam earpads, while your head can enjoy the comfy headband. Because of that, you can expect them to offer great comfort and fit for long listening sessions.
There is also an adjustable bass slider underneath the left earcup, which lets you add low frequencies when needed. Physical controls should prevent accidental touches that are common with other touch-sensitive headphones.
These are great for commuting and travel since they come in a practical carrying pouch with a foldable design. The battery life is among the best, with around 40 hours per charge. Fast-charging can boost their battery up to 4 hours in just 10 minutes.
The Bad
The mobile app adds nothing to the experience.
The Sound
Much like the ANC version, these are also extremely bassy when you turn the slider all the way up. However, you can make their audio performance surprisingly balanced if you slide the bass to the minimum.
Cheaper Skullcandy Crusher headphones that undoubtedly please a wider audience.
3. Skullcandy Indy Evo True Wireless – best true wireless
The best Skullcandy true wireless earbuds and an upgrade over the original Indy in every possible way.
Why Buy These?
Indy Evo true wireless earbuds come in a small, pocket-friendly case with many similarities to the AirPods Pro. Even earbuds themselves have elongated stems like Apple’s product, although Indy Evo have additional ear gels that double as ear fins.
The latter give a much-improved stability during vigorous movement. Thankfully, ear tips are separated from ear gels if you want to try out different, third-party solutions. To add to durability, Indy Evo’s have an IP55 rating, making them both dust and water-resistant.
You can expect around 6 hours of battery life on a single charge, with another 24 hours waiting in the charging case. Fast charging can give you an additional 2 hours of playtime in 10 minutes. You also get a few extra features like Tile support and Ambient mode.
The Bad
Microphones struggle to reduce background noise.
The Sound
They sound really good, especially considering the amount of low-end. The midrange and treble remain clean and pleasant, while the bass offers a good punch. Their only weakness are more congested genres, like metal.
Skullcandy Indy Evo are a great budget alternative to the AirPods Pro.
4. Skullcandy Push Ultra – best for sports
The best Skullcandy headphones for extreme sports activities, with ear hook design that grab your ears.
Why Buy These?
Earbuds are made from high-quality hard plastic and rubber. Plus, they’re IP67 certified. They come in a cool-looking charging case that opens up with a zipper. It even supports wireless charging. Regarding the battery, Ultra’s can last 6 hours, whereas you get another 34 inside the beefy case.
Ear hooks are adjustable to contour your ear’s shape. Once you place them on your ears correctly, there is no way they can fall off.
Interestingly, Push Ultra’s are only hanging in front of the ear canal, much like classic earphones. While that means they lack isolation, that could also be a good thing. When you’re outside running, you need to be fully aware of your surroundings.
The Bad
They start to irritate after a while since their housing rubs against the skin.
The Sound
It’s good quality and can get pretty loud. They lack bass depth and punch, although there is still plenty of it to enjoy music casually. Overall, the response is very clean and doesn’t get sibilant, even at higher volumes.
The best Skullcandy headphones if you do sports and need stable true wireless earbuds.
For more information check our full Skullcandy Push Ultra review.
5. Skullcandy Hesh 3
Clean-looking wireless over-ear headphones with monstrous bass.
Why Buy These?
Similarly to Skullcandy Hesh 2, the Hesh 3 use primarily plastic for its construction, which keeps the weight down to a minimum. With only 200 grams, you barely feel them on your head. And thanks to massive, plush earpads, comfort get outstanding.
Thick earpads also carry excellent passive isolation properties, blocking the ambient noise. Ear cups rotate in all directions and can even fold upward to save space, making them very portable.
You get 22 hours of playback per charge, with an option for fast charging, which adds 4 hours of battery in merely 10 minutes. For extra versatility, you do get an option to plug these via a 3.5mm audio jack.
The Bad
Not many features.
Brittle plastic around the headband.
The Sound
The mids and highs are somewhat balanced, which is excellent. However, the bass is noticeably boosted and can affect the overall clarity. The sound signature leans towards very warm, which some might find fun and pleasing.
Skullcandy Hesh 3 are an excellent wireless over-ear headphones for bassheads who want to enjoy their music in public but don’t want something too flashy.
6. Skullcandy Riff Wireless – best on-ear
Best Skullcandy on-ear headphones with unique ear pads and super lightweight construction.
Why Buy These?
Durability-wise, these are pretty decent, even though they’re made entirely from plastic. Even extenders are plastic, with no headband padding whatsoever. However, because Riff’s are so lightweight, you practically don’t feel them on your head, despite their on-ear design.
Earcups are foldable for better portability and nicely padded. Earpads come in different colors with tiny speckles, which makes them look unique. There are also small holes in the pads, resembling older telephone speakers.
You can control essential functions like changing volume, answering phone calls, and summoning smart assistant right from the headphones themselves. Skullcandy Riff boast a moderate 12-hour battery life with quick charging support, which gives them 2 hours of extra playtime in a 10-minute charge.
The Bad
No option for wired listening.
Micro-USB for charging.
The Sound
These are overall V-shaped with a clear emphasis on bass and sparkly treble, while the mids remain slightly recessed. This signature works perfectly with popular genres like hip hop and electronic dance music (EDM), while it can get a bit too bloated with heavier tunes like rock.
The best Skullcandy headphones with on-ear design, especially in terms of comfort and portability.
7. Skullcandy Venue
Skullcandy headphones with clear sound and active noise cancellation technology.
Why Buy These?
As with many Skullcandy headphones, these also have an incredibly lightweight plastic and aluminum body. There is a generous amount of padding on the synthetic leather earcups, ensuring that you can wear these for hours without any problem.
Venue were the first Bluetooth noise-cancelling headphones from this brand, and they implemented it really well. They’re great for blocking noisy city life, which makes the Venue perfect for commuting. With a simple press of the ANC button, you can activate Monitor mode that amplifies your surroundings.
You can easily find them if they ever get lost, thanks to integrated Tile support. Their battery life measures around 24 hours and also supports rapid charging. A simple 10-minute charge gives you another 5 hours of runtime.
The Bad
Microphones are of mediocre quality. They’re somewhat older.
The Sound
The wireless over-ear headphones have a distinctly V-shaped signature with surprisingly clear sound, despite the powerful bass. Anything you throw at them sounds very exciting and engaging, which many users enjoy.
Skullcandy Venue are an excellent first attempt at active noise cancelling. They’re also very comfy and have a surprisingly clean, enjoyable sound.
8. Skullcandy Sesh Evo – best cheap
The best Skullcandy true wireless earbuds with enjoyable sound quality.
Why Buy These?
They come with a decent amount of features for an affordable pair. Firstly, you get a Tile integration that comes in handy when you can’t find your lost earbud. Sesh Evo are also rated IP55 for dust and water-resistance. While that doesn’t make them waterproof, they should be perfectly fine to use during a sweaty workout session.
The battery life got a nice boost compared to first-generation. Now you can expect 5 hours on a single charge, with 19 hours packed inside the charging case. The latter supports USB-C and rapid charging, giving you extra 2 hours in 10 minutes.
Sesh Evo boast a slim design that doesn’t protrude that much, which should prevent wind noise.
The Bad
Microphones for phone calls could be better.
The Sound
By simply tapping physical controls, you can shuffle between Podcast, Music, and Movies mode. The latter is by far the best from the bunch, presenting the whole mix with extra energy and presence. Their sound quality isn’t analytical, but still very enjoyable for listening to music.
Skullcandy Sesh Evo are a big upgrade over their first model and a bargain for under $25.
9. Skullcandy Method Wireless – best neckband
If you don’t mind Bluetooth neckband design for working out, Method Wireless are the best option you can get from Skullcandy.
Why Buy These?
As mentioned, these Skullcandy headphones are excellent for exercising or running. Ergonomically designed stems fit nicely into your ears without creating unnecessary irritation. Skullcandy says that the ear tips come with a Dual Lock fit, which prevents earbuds from falling out too quickly.
Build quality is pretty great too. The neckband is made of bendable plastic, which you can twist in all directions. They should be fine even if you throw them in the backpack after every workout session.
Neckband also offers some basic physical controls for skipping tracks and answering calls. Next to them is the Micro-USB port for charging. Speaking of it, you get a 9-hour battery life out of these.
The Bad
Sharp edges on the neckband.
The Sound
A nicely clean sound with punchy, deep bass. The low-end is noticeably present but doesn’t take away from the rest of the frequency response. While headphones sound very fun, they still work exceptionally well with all music genres.
Sweat-resistant Bluetooth wireless headphones from Skullcandy that offer excellent fit and a fun, punchy sound.
10. Skullcandy Grind Wireless
Classy Bluetooth on-ear headphones from Skullcandy with a leathery headband.
Why Buy These?
A Bluetooth wireless on-ear version of the Grind is also quite similar to the Skullcandy Uproar model. If you’re a fan of understated on-ear headphones, these should fit right in. They come in different colors, with an eye-catching pleather finish on top of the headband.
Although the added weight compared to the wired version, Skullcandy Grind Wireless are still very comfortable to wear. You get comfy on-ear earpads and a foam padding inside the headband.
Relative to the size, the headphone’s battery life lasts around 12 hours. That isn’t ground-breaking, but it should give you enough juice for a day or two of use. Also, you should worry much about sound leakage. You can easily take them on a bus and enjoy your music privately.
The Bad
Basic model with basic features.
The Sound
Surprisingly rich and balanced, especially in the midrange and treble. Of course, the bass is still punchy and deep but tamed enough to not interfere with the rest of the spectrum. These serve as a great example that not all headphones from Skullcandy sound bassy.
Skullcandy Grind Wireless are cool-looking on-ear headphones with a decent battery and a great sound quality.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are Skullcandy headphones good?
It depends on what you’re looking for. In terms of sound quality, they’re not among the best out there. However, Skullcandy headphones are not meant for analyzing little nuances but to enjoy music and look cool.
That is why Skullcandy headphones usually have powerful bass. It’s because that makes you dance, and gives you a rush. That comes in handy when you’re studying or have a workout session.
Thankfully, we can’t complain about anything else. While they’re usually made from plastic, headphones always feel robust enough to withstand daily abuse. Comfort is also high. Skullcandy’s, usually have thick, cushy earpads on most of their full-sized headphones.
How much are Skullcandy headphones?
Thankfully, you can get them at any price point, from super cheap models to more premium ones. Budget options usually cost around 10-20 dollars, whereas more expensive headphones can reach up to $300.
What Do Specific Names in the Lineup Mean?
As with many brands, Skullcandy uses different names to distinguish between the lineup. Here are the most popular ones:
- Crusher: Over-ear headphones that fall into a premium category. They’re quite bass-heavy and can also come with a bass slider to adjust the bass quantity.
- Hesh: A more compact, basic, easy to use over-ear headphones that focus on sound.
- Push: True wireless earbuds geared toward sports activities, offering higher IP ratings and stability enhancers like ear fins of hooks.
- Supreme Sound: Skullcandy headphones with a focus on the best sound quality.
Where to Buy Skullcandy Headphones?
The most obvious and practical places are either Amazon or Skullcandy’s official website. There, you can select between a variety of different colors. Headphones usually arrive in a day or two after submitting the order.
You can also find them in physical multimedia stores, although first check if they have them in inventory. The good thing is that you get at least a 2-year warranty on all Skullcandy products in both cases.