 "Skullcandy's New Earphones Add a Touch of Metal")
I’ve never really been impressed with Skullcandy products. Although they’re supposed to be a luxury brand, the ones I’ve used sounded just above average and fell apart within 6 months of everyday use. Now they’ve launched two new in-ear models, the Titan and Full Metal Jacket. Will these make the cut? Lets find out.
Titan
Design and Features
The pair I got was bronze in colour and looked pretty cool in the box. They have this whole metallic thing going on, and even the wire has a nice steel clad look to it. The only problem is, they’re not really metal, but plastic, except for the earplug heads, which feel pretty sturdy. This set of earphones also has a volume slider and a couple of extra silicone plugs in 2 different sizes.
Here are the specifications:
- Speaker Diameter: 11mm
- Magnet Type: Neodymium
- Frequency Response: 20-20k Hz
- Impedance: 16 ohms
- Max Input Power: 100mW
- Cable Type: Aluminum Braided, Nylon Braided
- Cable Length: 1.3m
- Plug Type: 3.5mm Gold Plated
Performance
To put it in simple words, these are average. They’re just too sharp with annoyingly muddy bass. I can hear the songs I’m listening to clearly, but what stands out is that annoying ‘sizzle-sizzle’ sound. And if I wanted that in a set of earphones, I could just as well buy something for less than half the price. Even though they sounded pretty decent when I played NFS Underground on my iPhone, I’m still going to have to pass on these. Even the volume slider is too sensitive and not accurate at all. I wanted to lower the levels, so I barely touched the slider, and I heard the volume drop by almost half. Not at all happening.
Here’s the good and bad:
Good:
- Looks nice
- Earpiece heads look and feel sturdy
Bad:
- Substandard Sound
- Pricey
- Bad volume slider
Verdict
These Titans should have been named the Titanic, as they sink way down in my books. Yeah, sure they look cool, and will appeal to teenyboppers, but they will definitely put a hole in your eardrums after continuous listening. Besides, they cost Rs. 2,099, which is too much to pay for a product that is not worth even half that amount. I give these a 2 out of 5 rating.
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Full Metal Jacket
Design and Features
I got the black ones with white skulls on the earpieces, and these ones look great! They also double up as a hands-free set. The design is really cool, and the earplug heads are made of metal and feel quite solid. They have wires similar to the Titan in-ear phones, and feel pretty sturdy.
Full Metal Jacket: Aight, aight
Check out the specs:
- 11-mm speaker
- Magnet Type - Neodymium
- Frequency range: 16 Hz – 20kHz
- Impedance: 16 ohms
- Max input power: 500mW
- Cable type: Aluminum foil
- Cable length: 1.1 M (43-inches)
- Plug type: 3.5mm gold plated
Performance
I tested them on a couple of devices, and I really like the sound these give out. The bass is pretty full and rounded, and the treble is just right, with the correct amount of sizzle. What’s also good about these is that they work great as a hand-free set as well. I tested them out and could be heard, as well as could hear the other person clearly. A solid thumbs up from me!
Here’s the good and bad:
Good:
- Great sound
- Sturdy Design
- Works really well as a hands-free set
Bad:
- Pricey
Verdict
My only problem with these is the price, as they come at an MRP of Rs. 3,559, which is pretty steep. But then, again, this is a luxury brand, and the price could also be justified with the inclusion of a hands-free. After being thoroughly disappointed with the Titans, the Full Metal Jacket comes as a pleasant surprise. I sincerely hope that this company launches more products such as this one. I give these a 4 out of 5 rating.