Skullcandy INK'D Earbuds (Dark Grey) by Skullcandy
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List Price: Our Price: $9.95 You Save: $10.00 (50%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Skullcandy INK'D Earbuds (Dark Grey)
Digital camera Review: Excellent buy
Summary: 5 Stars
The price is right, the noise blocking is effective and they sound great. I ordered several more pair.Digital camera Review: Fantastic Product!
Summary: 5 Stars
I got these as a '08 Christmas Gift. I'll say now that in this short period of usage, they have been beaten, dropped, stepped on, had things dropped on them, and most recently, been thrown through the washer.
They have never once failed to impress. Even after their adventure in the washer, they are still working strong. In fact, the washer only cleaned them! (I claim no responsibility if your earbuds go through the washer and don't survive. I do not endorse the cleansing of these headphones in the aforementioned manner.)
The one and only drawback that I have found is that they LOVE to pop out of your ear; but if you get them in securely, they are absolutely fantastic. Believe it or not, they could be called noise canceling headphones. While I wear them, I can hear almost nothing going on around me. (Don't wear these while you're driving.)
I would recommend these to just about anybody. Incredible sound quality, very loud if you want them to be. (Yet again, no liability. Turn the volume up at your own risk.)
Skullcandy makes some incredible products. These are just about their cheapest and still fantastic.
The drawback here is from Amazon. Shipping costs are a little steep. Still, it's not that expensive. Even with those costs added in, they sound like they cost at least 2 times that amount.
If you buy, you will not be disappointed with the headphones.
Digital camera Review: Fantastic customer service!!!
Summary: 2 Stars
However, it is unfortunate that I had to find out how good their customer service is. I know you get what you pay for, but mine came apart in a little over a month. Skullcandy was great and offered to replace them for the price of a bubble envelope and 6 stamps. I sent the end from my broken ones in, and bought another pair since, for the price, the sound is excellent and who doesn't need spares right? In less than a week, the metal grill on the inside of the ear bud fell out on my coffee table. I put it back in with tweezers, but I won't put them in my ears for fear of that little metal grill getting lodged in my inner ear. Summation: great sound for the price, excellent customer service, 2 pairs in pieces in less than 2 months. I'm going to check into the FMJ reviews to see if more money gets more quality in the Skullcandy line. Really left wondering what to buy now.Digital camera Review: Fantastic for the price, but not without issues.
Summary: 4 Stars
Ok, let me start this review by saying that had I paid $25 for these earbuds, they would not have ranked nearly as high.
But I didn't. I paid $8 for them. (FYE was having a sale, they were $9.99, and I have their discount card...)
I have been searching low and high for a suitable replacement for my lost/stolen Sony EX71 buds. I know people have issues with the build quality on the EX71's, but I have always loved them and lamented that I couldn't just get another pair at retail.
I tried a number of other buds. Philips has a set comparable to the EX71, which are slightly inferior in virtually every way. Sony's own replacements, the EX75, are angled oddly and nowhere near as sleek. Sennheiser's CX300's have overamped highs which make my brain hurt.
I was hesitant to try Skull Candy at first. It's impossible to get performance data on these things anywhere. Their stated frequency response is nowhere near as good as Sony or Philips (20-20k hz versus 6-23.5k!) and they are... clearly targeted at a youth demographic.
But for $8, what's to complain about?
NOTHING.
But in the interest of fairness, let's examine further, shall we?
Sound: The sound is perfectly acceptable. It's a little tweaky - these phones don't really shine at lower volumes, and I'm not 18 any more so I don't turn them way up. I have to adjust the EQ occasionally, as opposed to the other aforementioned units where one standard setting produces great sound in 99% of cases.
Fitment: The sound isolation is, I daresay, BETTER than the others I've mentioned. There are a few issues, however. They aren't as comfortable in my ears. They're a little bigger - they stick out further. This isn't a huge issue, but I wouldn't want to keep these in a minute longer than my train ride, whereas the EX71's I'd leave in all day if the environment was noisy, just for the sound isolation. Also, these tend to dislodge more easily. I think the rubber just isn't as flexible as some of the other units.
Build Quality: No labeling of the ears. Seriously, would an "L" or "R" kill them? I had to plug them into a unit that had a balance knob, and turn it to the left to figure out which one was which. A sharpie and 2 seconds later, and I had a nice "L" on the left one. Also, they're cheap. I wasn't expecting high quality construction, and I didn't get it. They are surprisingly well built for the price, but not getting awards for quality.
Final Verdict: These are excellent secondary earbuds. I'm using them for a few days until my replacement EX71's (found 'em at an Amazon merchant) arrive on the slow boat. At that point, they'll probably live in my desk drawer at work for the rare occasion when I forget the Sony.
Digital camera Review: Fantastic sound and comfort
Summary: 5 Stars
Normally, I only wear over the ear headphones because earbuds always hurt my ears after just a short time. That is not the case with these Skullcandy earbuds!! I can wear them for hrs. Besides the comfort, the sound quality is outstanding. Also, these earbuds seal your ears off from outside sounds. Whenever I go to the gym I always take my Zune but the gym always has music playing on loud speakers so I would have to turn my volume way up just drown them out. With these earbuds, that is no longer necessary because of the way they block out all the outside sound. Bottom line, I LOVE THESE EARBUDS! For the record, my 15 year old son says he loves them also.