Skullcandy Smokin Buds Headset/In-Ear Headphone (Playback 27)

A Low-Cost Headset with Bass Punch

February 10th, 2010 -- by Chris Martens
Source: Playback

Comfort Factor/AccessorieS

The Smokin Buds come with three sizes of soft rubber eartips that make it easy to achieve a good airtight seal in your ear canals. The gently angled housings and cable strain reliefs of the Smokin Buds make them very easy to insert and to adjust.

Smokin Buds ship with a fabric drawstring-equipped carry pouch.

Bottom Line:

Skullcandy’s Smokin Buds represent a worthwhile step forward from stock iPod-type earbuds, offering a smoother overall sound, more powerful bass, and good isolation from ambient noise. That said, however, they also beg an important question: why settle for some sonic benefits (some of which are a mixed blessing) when, for only a little more moolah, Skullcandy’s Titan in-ear headphones can give you giant sonic improvements?

The answer, perhaps, lies in the sheer handiness of the Smokin Buds headset functions, which make them just the ticket for those who do much of their music listening via cell phones.

SPECS & PRICING

Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds Headset/In-Ear headphones

Frequency Response: 18Hz – 20kHz
Driver: 9mm
Accessories:

Three sizes of soft rubber eartips (S, M , L)
Nylon carry pouch with zipper closure.

Price: $29.95
Warranty: Skullcandy offers an innovative two-part warranty that reflects the company’s involvement in and commitment to extreme sports. According to the Skullcandy Web site, the terms of the warranties are as follows:

“Skullcandy headphones are covered one of two ways, Aggressive Listening, which is defined as:

Aggressive Listening: Skullcandy products that fail or break due to a crazy crash on the mountain or a violent head-banging session... or any other reason that is not a product defect, we will still hook you up! Send in whatever remains of your product, and we will send you a coupon good for 50% off any product in our Online Shop.
OR
Defective Product Replacement: Which is defined as any Skullcandy product that is still in one piece and not working properly or any product damaged in shipping. In this case you will receive a brand new replacement product at no charge. In either case you will need to complete our warranty form.”

SKULLCANDY, INC.
(888) MYSKULL (697-5855)
www.skullcandy.com

Comments

styker12 (not verified) -- Thu, 02/11/2010 - 11:59

How do you compare the comfort level of the smokin buds vs the yurtopia phones?

Chris Martens -- Fri, 02/12/2010 - 12:40

styker12,

The answer to your question depends on two things.

First, how do you feel about inside-the-ear-canal designs vs. designs that essentially fit in the outer ear? The Smokin Buds are true, in-the-ear-canal headphones and I find them very comfortable as such designs go. That said, however, I recognize that some people really dislike the sensation of **anything** putting pressure on the inner surfaces of their ear canals. By contrast, the Yurtopia Yurphones have an outlet tube that directs sound into your ear canals, but that does NOT protrude very deeply into the ear canal and also does not put much pressure on the sides of the ear canal at all.

Second, how do you feel about a design that fairly closely matches the contour of your outer ear, and that is designed to fit firmly enough in the outer ear that you can wear the headphones while running? The Yurtopia is an outer ear-oriented design and--this is a point to bear in mind--it was designed by a marathoner who was sick and tired of having regular earbuds fall out when he was doing training runs. Thus, the ribbed sides of the Yurtopias do, in a sense, "grip" your outer ear--not in a painful way, but firmly enough that they will stay put even if your head bobs up and down while running or doing other moderate athletic activities.

Personally, I find the comfort factor comparison a near draw, though I ultimately prefer the Yurtopias--partly for fit, but especially for sound quality.

Best, Chris Martens

Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision

. : ) (not verified) -- Fri, 02/12/2010 - 15:00

How would you rate Skullcandy's "FMJ" series headphones with 11mm drivers?

Chris Martens -- Fri, 02/12/2010 - 17:12

The FMJ 11mm headphones are much, much better than the Smokin Buds, as are the Titans.

Best, Chris Martens

Note: Both the FMJ 11mm and the Titan are reviewed in the Playback Headphone Buyer's Guide, which you can download FREE of charge from this site.

Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision