Skullcandy was founded in 2003, and although its market share was huge in the late 2000s and early 2010s, its popularity has waned slightly as more competitors have entered the market.
That said, it's hard not to come across a set of Skullcandy headphones at some point during the week - you'll find low-end earbuds in most supermarkets, you'll likely see someone wearing a pair on public transport or out and about in town, not to mention the fact that every emo kid from the naughties likely has an old pair hanging up in a cupboard somewhere.
“Everyone knows Skullcandy offers a premium sound experience and getting back into gaming is something our fans have been requesting for years–We’re stoked to release our new multi-platform gaming collection into the wild,” said Jason Luthman, Director of Global Product Management, Skullcandy.
Skullcandy has done just that - and we got our hands on a Skullcandy SLYR headset, the entry-level model which packs a lot of punch.
The headset is made from tough but lightweight plastics and metals and feels sturdy in your hands, but light on your head.
The whole thing is just 265g, which is really impressive considering how sturdy it feels. In addition, the design is simple and stylish, featuring the Skullcandy branding on each side of the headband.
It comes in three colours, Black, Blue, and Green, although the colour only changes the inside of the earcups and the headband, as well as the "Digihype" pattern on the inside of the headband.
In all cases, the majority of the outside of the headset remains black, which creates a great contrast to the vibrant internal colours.
The headset features memory foam and breathable materials and is comfortable to use for hours on end.
Functionally, the headset is a thing of beauty. It uses Skullcandy's "Supreme Sound" - a "unique audio-tuning process that enables users to maximise the depth and detail of each sound".
Although this might sound like marketing jargon it has a technical counterpart, the SLYR has a set of 50mm dynamic drivers that create a "super-wide frequency range and rich, detailed sound."
The phrase "super-wide frequency range" is one that headphone users will be familiar with, and in lower-priced devices, it can often be code for "messy and tinny". That's not the case with the SLYR though - the sound is genuinely rich and deep, with solid bass, mid-range, and high-end.
Music sounds great, with the mix sounding very close - if not exactly - as the producer intended. bass separates perfectly from vocals, with everything being perfectly audible and immersive.
When playing games, the headset does a great job, making use of most modern game engines and their multidirectional sound systems - sounds that are supposed to be behind you really do sound like they're behind you.
This is something that game devs spend a lot of time on (trust me, I've been there) but it often doesn't get much attention since the majority of gaming happens on TVs or PCs with fairly basic sound setups. It's rare to get a headset that does this so well for such a good price.
The headset mic is bi-directional, meaning the sounds can reach both sides of the microphone membrane, and the microphone is equally sensitive both in front of and behind it.
This kind of design is great for two reasons - firstly, it allows for better voice pick-up in general, since a lot of what makes our voices sound like it does is echo and reflection. It pays off here, because the mic quality is really good, both for calls and recording.
Additionally, programs like Discord, Microsoft Teams, and even streaming programs like OBS which implement noise suppression do so significantly more efficiently with a bi-directional mic than an omnidirectional one, since the mic can detect where a sound is coming from and feed that information into the system.
The mic is detachable and features a coloured LED to let you know when it's active. Detachable mics are great because they let you use the headset as a normal set of headphones - something that you'll definitely want to do with the SLYR.
Unfortunately, though the mic isn't massively adjustable - the stem can be bent, but it can't be rotated or moved up and down. This is presumably the price paid for the low cost of the headset combined with the removability of the microphone.
The headset has a dial tucked away on the left-hand side which lets you control the volume, and tapping the left earcup will also mute the microphone. These are two awesome features, and although I'm personally a fan of big buttons, it's hard to argue against the convenience of tapping your ear to mute your mic.
It also plugs in using a 3.5mm audio cable, which comes with a splitter to separate the input and outputs if your device supports that. It's compatible with PC, all consoles, and mobile devices, and is the definition of plug-and-play.
Skullcandy SLYR Verdict: 5/5
For the price, the Skullcandy SLYR is impossible to beat.
It does everything you need and although it doesn't have the bells and whistles of Active Noise Cancelling, specialist software, or wireless Bluetooth that the more expensive models might include, it's perfect for anyone looking for an easy-to-use entry-level headset for gaming, meetings, or music.
That's not to mention the fact that it looks great, is comfortable to use for long periods, and is immensely robust and lightweight.
The sound quality is just fantastic. I hate wearing headphones, but I love using this, and honestly, it's hard to fault.
Skullcandy SLYR is compatible with PC, Playstation, Xbox, Switch, and Mobile, and is available from the Skullcandy website for £59.99
