[rwp-review id=”0″]
I’m not usually the type to sport headphones instead of earphones, but the new Skullcandy Grind recently released by Skullcandy is starting to change my mind. Wearing it for hours on end didn’t seem to bother me, unlike my usual pair of earphones that start to hurt after a while. The cushioned earpieces on the headset leave me feeling like I’m pressed against a fluffy pillow, listening to some of my favorite tunes.
Design
With its plush foam ear pads, the Grind is extremely comfortable to wear for a long period of time. Even with a metal headband, the headset is still quite light.
The left ear cup features the new TapTech feature, which allows users to conveniently pause/play the music, as well as take calls. However, the button could come in the way when adjusting the headset; I’ve found that when trying to make the headset fit more comfortably, the button presses rather easily, pausing my tracks midway.
There is also a built in microphone in the same ear cup, rather than the usual microphone placed on the cord.
The headset that I’ve tested comes in all black; a personal preference, to be quite honest. It has a very simple yet slick look, sported with the famous Skullcandy logo. The audio cord is just at a perfect length to be attached to a device that’s stuffed inside your front/back pocket, and doesn’t come in your way at all.
Performance
With the custom-tuned REX40 driver, the headset works well with different types of genres. Delivering natural acoustics, an attacking bass and precision highs – listening to Alternative music is truly a religious experience. If you’re like me and love an amplified bass in any type of song, you really will appreciate the way the music sounds with the headset.
Similarly with Pop or EDM, you feel like you’re at a party and can’t have a conversation with your friends because the music is just too loud (but in a good way).
For tracks with a quick paced drum loop and heavy bass, such as Lane Boy by Twenty One Pilots, I really did feel like I was right there at a concert. The sound quality is so crisp, appealing to the ears on a whole other level. On a more slower paced song, like Bloodstream by Ed Sheeran and Rudimental, the bass is heavily amplified, but still prevents any distortion when listening to the track. The vocals are still clean and smooth over the mix, allowing for an enjoyable listen.
However, in terms of noise cancellation, the headset doesn’t perform all that well. Sitting on a public bus with the Grind, I found that I was even able to hear the bus moving, as well as passengers talking around me. I personally don’t mind it too much, as I like to be aware of my surroundings even when I’m immersed in the music. I do see how some buyers would see this as an issue, however.
The headset itself doesn’t have volume control, and I’ve found that the volume on your device needs to be adjusted quite high. At first I thought it was just a problem with my own phone, because I do tend to have volume issues with it, but when I tested it out on a friends Note 4, the volume still needed to be increased on the phone, in order to have an enjoyable listen.
I’ve also found that the Grind tends to leak a lot of noise. Since the volume has been increased significantly on the device, music being played through the headset can still be heard by those around you.
All in all, I found that the Grind is a very comfortable headset, and I never felt the need to take them off. From Steve Aoki to Royal Blood, you really can enjoy all of your favorite genres when using the new Skullcandy Grind. Along with its diverse range of colors and designs, the Grind starts at AED 235, and surely appeals to all demographics.
