Skullcandy SCS-SC Skullcrushers review

I have bad luck with headphones. They're always breaking on me; something inside that's apparently beyond my control(as I've taken every precaution with them). I'd been quite happy with my current ones until, you guessed it, they broke. Great.

I'd been reading around some review sites, and this specific model had kept popping up. Needless to say, what was being said about them was good, it got me interested. At first I wasn't going to buy them because of the MSRP, but I found a deal elsewhere that was too good to pass up, so I picked 'em up.

The packaging is very attractive; kind of a new-age headphone capsule(no annoying clamshell!), with a big orange cartoony skull logo on it. Hard to miss on shelves. Upon taking it out of the package, you realize the headphone body is just plastic. It's feels rather rigid, but still strong. The headphones are collapsible, too, so they'll fit in your backpack with ease. Comes with a fake leather bag as well, so you don't have errant cords messing about your other backpack contents. That's handy.

First thing you notice the minute you play through these; they vibrate. When I read "subwoofer" I assumed "pounding", as it was with my old headphones(though, of course, I had assumed that with these it'd be to a higher extent). I should never have assumed. If you've ever sat in traffic next to some loc'd out gangsta's rollin' on 22's, you'd notice that bass rings out, it's not abrupt. Your old headphones would lead you to believe all bass is like that of a bass drum; short and deep. Yes, it's deep, but it's not short. That's what these headphones tell you. They don't beat your head mercilessly, they massage it.

Second thing you notice; you really really like it. Listening to music on these headphones is like listening to music for the first time. You hear things you'd never hear on conventional headphones. They're nothing short of incredible.

Other reviewers would have you believe the mid/high tones are lacking on these headphones. I think in saying this they're referring to the fact that the mid/highs don't hurt when you've got the volume turned up. With every past set of 'phones I've owned, assuming my volume was all the way up, a snare hit would make me blink because it was literally painful. I've yet to get this from these headphones(even after listening to the one song in my collection that's notorious for this).

Speaking of volume; that's the one area I was disappointed with. They aren't as loud as my old headphones. They're loud enough to drown out talking/crowds, and certainly loud enough for when you're out walking, but, for example, if you want to listen to these headphones while mowing the lawn? Stick to a playlist of generally loud music, otherwise you'll hear more 3.5hp gasoline motor than you will entertaining music.

I lied earlier, the volume wasn't the only area I was disappointed with. See, I use these headphones with my 20gb 4G iPod, and I think I may have gotten at most 5 or 6 hours out of the battery.(side note:I've found that the best sounding eq setting to listen to these headphones on is "small speaker". Read and learn, kids, I'm here to help!) This may be because my battery is losing some of its charge integrity, but it may also be that the subwoofers, despite the fact that they are powered by an inline AA battery, are leeching off my iPod's battery. This isn't a huge deal when you're simply out for a walk, but if you're out of town for the day and the battery dies halfway through, it's a little more than aggravating. Of course, both of these "problems" are easily solved with a $70 investment in a headphone amp.

Conclusively; these are outstanding headphones, whatever the price. I don't hesitate at all to say they're the best set I've ever owned. I have a diverse taste in music(American Analog Set to Fugees, Drive Like Jehu to Archers of Loaf, Mogwai to Converge, I've put these headphones through a workout!) and the Skullcandy SCS-SC Skullcrushers have improved the quality of all aspects of my library. 5/5, 10/10, A , 100 %, whatever. Definitely buy these.