Skullcandy Ink D Earbuds Review: Catchy Design at the Cost of Quality?

Extreme sports enthusiasts have made Skullcandy some big money, as some of their earbuds' most dedicated purchasers; they and anyone else who enjoy these headsets will be excited to find out that the Skullcandy Ink D earbuds are out. They have all the funk of previous designs, with the trademarks Skullcandy. Of course, they're nothing fancy in terms of sound rendition, but the look is what's supposed to count with Skullcandy Ink D earbuds, as well as a few other features. At $30, they're okay, and the teen and tween age bracket will probably go hard for them.

Like any other Skullcandy earphones, the Skullcandy Ink D earbuds give you a choice of many different styles. There are twenty-two, to be exact, from an all black version, to a crazy Rasta set, to a Paul Frank one with two-colored cables (which costs two dollars more). The cords of the Skullcandy Ink D earbuds are coated in cloth (for extra durability) and very thick. You can expect them to last. The Skullcandy Ink D earbuds also have phone controls for use with music phones, and a volume slider farther down the line. They come with a drawstring pouch for convenient storage.

Nothing especially stands out about the earpieces of the Skullcandy Ink D earbuds. They're small, constructed from ordinary plastic, and a c-shaped hook connects the earbuds to their arm. On one earbud, you'll find the logo, and on the other the whole name of Skullcandy. Three sizes of silicone ear sleeves are included, but this doesn't seem to sufficiently cater to all wearers. The smallest size didn't seal the ear enough for the best experience with low frequencies, but the medium was too large and uncomfortable.

Nothing about the Skullcandy Ink D earbuds is going to astound you as far as the listening experience. There is definite lack of clarity, especially in the higher scales, and the middle ranges' warmth wasn't nearly as rich as we would've liked. The bass is the best audio feature of the Skullcandy Ink D earbuds, but it's still not up to par, sounding a bit distorted at times. Before you start to get too disappointed, remember that the earbuds only cost $30, so they're not going to sound like a $150 pair.

That's really where we have to leave it. The Skullcandy Ink D earbuds have a catchy design, and they won't break too easily, but they belie their cost with their quality. Teenagers will probably be more than satisfied with the Skullcandy Ink D earbuds, but those who are a little pickier will need to keep looking.