Review of the Skullcandy Indy Earbuds
Skullcandy is a popular manufacturer of audio equipment that’s known for its extreme sports-influenced designs. It was founded back in 2003 and has produced a wide range of affordable products ever since then. Perhaps its most famous products are its headphones and earphones, which also deliver this appealing combination of eye-catching looks and high-performance technology.
True Wireless Technology
Its Indy earbuds include true wireless technology, which means that they can be operated without any wires at all through a Bluetooth connection. There are a few key areas that should be considered when purchasing earbuds of this type, including sound quality, comfort, portability, and durability. We’ll now go through each of these features and see how the Skullcandy Indy earphones perform.
Sound Quality
Nothing is more important, in our opinion than sound quality when it comes to any form of audio equipment. These Skullcandy earphones deliver a crisp performance that is better suited to the high-end rather than low-end frequencies. One of the downsides to true wireless earphones is that the drivers need to be smaller, as the earbud has to accommodate both the speakers and the wireless technology. That’s the main reason why the bass is slightly weak with these true wireless earbuds, which have just 6mm drivers inside them. As we’ve mentioned, the mids and trebles are clear, which will make them suitable for less bass-heavy music, such as indie and rock, as well as for audiobooks and podcasts. In terms of numbers, you get a frequency range of 20Hz to 20,000Hz, which is a standard range for earbuds of this size and style.
Microphone with Noise-Reduction
These earbuds also have an in-built microphone. This is also a functional, adequate component that is the best you can expect from a true wireless construction. It’s perfectly fine for regular calls and can be used for work calls, although, it’s important to know that your voice might be distorted at times. The mic does have noise-reduction technology built into it, though, which should remove some background sounds if you’re in a loud environment. It also deals with wind pretty well too.
Comfort
A feature that stands out above all else with these earbuds is the comfort that they offer. You get a secure, snug fit thanks to the ear gels that are designed for stability, as well as for comfort. There are three sizes of ear gels to choose from so that you can get an optimal fit regardless of the size of your ear canals. This is a particularly useful feature if you plan to use the earbuds for running or other forms of exercise. If you do use them for a workout, then you don’t need to worry about sweat breaking them, as they’ve got an IP55 rating. This also means that dust shouldn’t cause any issues either.
Another reason why these earbuds are so comfortable is down to their lightweight design. It’s easy to forget you’re wearing them because of how light they are. The earbuds weigh just 10.5g combined. The charging case that they come with, which we’ll speak more about later, is also lightweight, weighing 59.5g.
Operation
It’s a breeze to operate Skullcandy Indy earbuds too. There are touch controls directly on the earbuds, which means that you can easily answer or end calls, skip tracks, or pause and play music too. It’s also possible to adjust the volume on the earbuds. We found the touch controls to be tactile and responsive.
Battery Life
As with all true wireless earbuds, then battery life should be considered. If the Skullcandy Indy earphones are fully charged, then you’ll get approximately four hours out of them, which will be ample for many people. The battery life is boosted to sixteen hours when the charging case is used. If you’re not familiar with true wireless earphones, then this is a common accessory that works in a simple way. When you place the earbuds inside the case, then it will charge them. Of course, this means that the case has to be charged too. When it has been fully charged, then it will provide you with three full charges, which is why the total battery life for the earbuds is actually sixteen hours. The case has a micro-USB connection, and if you purchase these earbuds, then you’ll receive a micro-USB charging cable as part of the package.
The case does more than just charge the Skullcandy Indy. It also keeps the earbuds protected. The small case that comes with these Skullcandy earphones is sleek and is a good size for your pocket or bag. The earbuds are kept secured inside the case through magnets. It’s an effective design that also ensures that the earbuds are charged properly once they’re inside the case. The only slight drawback is that it can sometimes be a little difficult to make sure that the earbuds are flush inside the slots. If they’re not in the correct position, then the lid can be difficult to close, or it doesn’t close at all. This is, however, a very minor flaw, and considering the price of these true wireless earbuds, then you need to expect these minor issues.
Compatibility
Let’s have a look at compatibility with these earbuds. As we’ve mentioned, they connect to devices through Bluetooth 5.0 technology. If you have a smartphone, then you’ll likely have connected it to a Bluetooth device in the past. But if you’ve never done this before, then you can rest assured that the whole process is simple. It can be done in a matter of minutes, if not seconds, depending on the device. Once it’s done, then the earbuds will automatically pair with the same device when the earbuds are on, as long as Bluetooth is still enabled on the device. The connection is lag-free and smooth, we found. The range is also impressive. You can easily stray up to 20m from the device you’re connected to without the signal dropping out.
Typically for Skullcandy, the Indy model features understated yet cool looks with a few options in terms of colors. The Skullcandy logo is emblazoned on the side of each earbud. It’s also found on the portable charging case, which is the same color as the earbuds. Everything about their design is sleek and unobtrusive while also remaining trendy at the same time.
Comparison
If you’ve never bought true wireless earbuds before, then you might be wondering how the Skullcandy Indy stacks up next to Apple Airpods, which are perhaps the most famous true wireless earphones on the market. Firstly, it’s a slightly false comparison as these products are in different price categories. Airpods cost almost twice as much as Skullcandy Indys. The question that we should be asking is if Apple Airpods are worth paying double the amount for. It will depend on your requirements. After all, that extra money does get you better sound quality and a more advanced microphone. The battery life is slightly longer with Airpods too. But these slight improvements – or big improvements in terms of sound quality – don’t justify spending twice the money, in our opinion. When it comes to a comfortable fit, for example, you could easily argue that Skullcandy’s product is even superior. As with many Apple products, you’re paying a premium for the name and also for the instantly recognizable looks. If you’re on a budget, however, we think that you’re better off spending less on an admirable product like these Skullcandy Indy earbuds.
Warranty
One of the risks of purchasing lower-priced audio equipment is that it could break. Sometimes there can be issues with the manufacturing process that lead to these early issues. In the unlikely event that this happens with this product, you’re protected, as Skullcandy offers a one-year warranty with these earbuds, so you can be safe in the knowledge that you’ll have your earphones replaced if they break because of a manufacturing fault.
Affordability
Overall, these Skullcandy Indy earbuds are an affordable earbud option for anyone wanting true wireless earphones. They deliver an extremely comfortable fit thanks to a lightweight, sleek design and soft ear gels. The stabilizing gels are also useful for ensuring that the earbuds don’t fall out even when you’re doing vigorous exercise. In this price range, they’re a good investment, in our opinion. The only downside is that they underperform on the low-end, which can be a problem if you’re a fan of bass-heavy music. They are, however, perfectly suited to audiobooks and podcasts. The integrated mic is high quality too, so the Skullcandy Indy is also a solid option for anyone wanting to make phone calls.
Summary
Skullcandy’s Indy earphones feature true wireless technology that allows you to connect to your device thanks to Bluetooth 5.0. They include 6mm drivers inside each earbud that delivers decent sound quality. Mids and highs are particularly well-articulated, making these earbuds ideal for listening to podcasts or audiobooks. There is an integrated microphone that offers noise-reduction technology for crystal clear phone calls.
Three pairs of ear gels and a set of stabilizing ear gels come with the Skullcandy Indy earbuds so that you get a snug, secure – and most importantly – comfortable fit. These earbuds can be worn during exercise due to the comfy fit without them falling out. They also have an IP55 rating, which keeps them functional even when sprayed with sweat, water, or if dust covers them. A charging case comes with the earphone. The case is lightweight and a portable size. It can also be used for three charges of the earphones, which provides you with a total of 16 hours of battery life.
Pros
+ Very affordable price tag that’s half the cost of Apple Airpods
+ Extremely comfortable and secure fit
+ Ideal for exercise thanks to IP55 rating
+ Portable charging case for 16 hours of playtime
+ Noise-reducing microphone for high-quality phone calls
+ Good sound quality that’s perfect for audiobooks or podcasts
+ Stylish looks
Cons
- The bass performance is sub-standard
Conclusion
These Skullcandy Indy earphones are perfect for anyone wanting a true wireless product that doesn’t break the bank. They’re very comfortable to wear, thanks to the soft ear gels and practical design. If you’re looking for a good value option, then the Skullcandy Indy earphones are a superb choice.
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