Skullcandy Set USB-C review: decent sound and all-day comfort in stylish, cheap wired earbuds

Skullcandy Set USB-C: Two-minute review

The Skullcandy Set USB-C earbuds stand as a stylish and well-priced option for those favoring the way of the wire, and they stack up well against some of the best wired headphones value-wise. Even if you own some of the best wireless earbuds, Skullcandy’s offering can still be of great use if you forget to charge your pesky Bluetooth ones.

I’ll be upfront – the Set earbuds don’t whip up top-drawer sound, and many tracks I listened to lacked the depth I’d grown accustomed to from competitor SoundMAGIC’s E11D model. To be specific, the audio isn’t the most full-sounding, something I sensed when listening to Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes by Paul Simon. Percussion in the background, the looping guitar lick, and the smooth bass all sounded a little bit feeble on these buds compared to the E11D’s.

With that said, sound quality is still decent, especially given the Set earbuds’ list price of just $31.99 / £29.99 (about AU$50). A lot of the more budget buds out there present listeners with borderline-repulsive, tinny audio, and these never subjected me to such horrors. The Skullcandy Set earbuds offer pretty good all-round sound; it's just a bit thin on detail and dynamism. Even at louder volumes, I was satisfied with the audio output on show and didn’t feel as if it was overly distorted or constrained. 

Skullcandy says the Set earbuds have a “noise-isolating fit”, thanks to the included ear gels. These won’t totally reduce noise from your surroundings, but they definitely do a solid job of keeping you tuned in to your music. Unfortunately, one unwelcome sound you may well hear is the Set’s rustling wires, especially when touching the cables or making sudden movements during listening sessions.

In spite of this, the ear gels are actually very pleasant to wear, and I happily kept the Set wired earbuds in for two full days in the office without feeling any discomfort. Not only that, they stayed in without me needing to constantly fiddle with them to find the perfect fit. This earns Skullcandy’s wired in-ears plenty of points in my book – many similar products either cause me irritation after an hour or so, or need to be repeatedly reinserted into the ear. The Set earbuds also come with small- and large-sized gels so you can find the best feel.

Continuing on a positive note, I’m a big fan of the earbuds’ design. They sport a sleek, curved look, and come in four snazzy colorways. You can go for a more versatile True Black (the version that I tested), or select one of the three new color options in 'Triple Threat' finish, which Skullcandy tells us "mimics the scratches, gouges and dings that prove your board is getting the love it deserves". These include Sunset (orange), Snow (white), and Ocean (blue), all of which capture their respective theme with panache. 

The buds also come with a call and music controller attached, which has a nice glossy finish, although functionality-wise, it’s a bit limited. It has a play/pause button in the form of the Skullcandy logo, which can also be used to take or hang up calls and skip songs. Additionally, it has a microphone that maintained clarity at various speaking volumes and distances and, despite a bit of background static, it was certainly good enough. 

However, that’s where it ends for the controller, which is a bit of a shame. Whenever I wanted to turn a track’s volume up or down, I had to reach into my pocket and adjust this via my phone – something that frustrated me when walking home in the pouring rain one evening. Skullcandy says that the earbuds are designed for use “from work to workout”, but this issue, along with the loud rustling noises from the cable, suggests that these aren’t the ideal pick for a workout after all. 

A design feature that could be useful, if like me you’re taking walks during downpours, is the Set earbuds’ IPX4 rating, which means the buds are protected against splashing water from any angle. IPX4 certification is pretty common for a lot of models at this price point, and ensures that the Set buds resist sweat if you use them during a run or similarly intensive activity.

One small but notable thing I appreciated about the Set earbuds is that Skullcandy hasn’t made outrageous promises about game-changing sound, revolutionary design, or world-class noise isolation – we’re just told that if “simplicity is your thing” and you’re looking for an “all-day earbud”, they’re a worthy choice. This level of honesty helps to keep expectations closer to reality, something which many competitors fall flat on. So, despite the “from work to workout” tagline feeling a little questionable, these still deliver the quality that many will hope to receive from a set of cheaper wired earbuds.

Skullcandy Set USB-C review: Price and release date

• Released on June 1, 2020 in True Black
• Released on March 19, 2024 in 'Triple Threat' colorways
• $31.99 / £29.99 (about AU$50)

Skullcandy’s Set USB-C earbuds are available on its US and UK digital stores, but unfortunately don’t feature on its Australian site. The buds have been available in True Black since 2020, and Skullcandy re-released the model in three vibrant Triple Threat colorways in March 2024, at the same price point. They aren’t the absolute cheapest option in the realm of USB-C buds, but still won’t set you back much, coming in at $31.99 / £29.99 (about AU$50).

You can grab alternatives for a bit less, such as the Apple USB-C EarPods and Belkin’s SoundForm wired earbuds (both of which cost less than $25), but you may be left wanting more, sound quality-wise. Indeed, neither of these deliver particularly great sound quality, with Skullcandy’s Set USB-C buds offering solid audio output for only a few dollars more.

Skullcandy Set USB-C review: Specs

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Skullcandy Set USB-C review: Also consider

Skullcandy Set USB-C review: How I tested

• Tested across a week-long period
• Used in the office, at home, and while walking
• Predominantly tested using Spotify on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4

I whisked the Skullcandy Set earbuds away for a week of travelling (between my apartment and the office), and tested them while walking and while seated. I mainly used the buds on my Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 using Spotify, but I also tried listening to music via Tidal on the FiiO M11S hi-res music player. 

When trying out the Skullcandy Set earbuds I listened to tracks from the TechRadar testing playlist and beyond, and also watched YouTube videos. To test the microphone quality, I recorded multiple voice notes, and spoke at a variety of volumes, distances, and pitches. I also made calls to ensure the controller worked as described, and to once again determine microphone quality. 

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed: June 2024