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Skullcandy 50/50 earbuds review (black chrome)

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CNET Editors' Rating

3.0 stars Good
Review Date:

Average User Rating

3.5 stars 3 user reviews

The good: The Skullcandy 50/50 earbuds come in a variety of colors and offer plenty of bass. They feature an inline mic as well as playback and volume controls for the iPod/iPhone.

The bad: The clarity of the Skullcandy 50/50 earbuds isn't great, and they don't seem very durable. May not be comfortable for all users.

The bottom line: The Skullcandy 50/50 earbuds offer big bass and useful features for a reasonable price--just don't expect top-notch construction.

Skullcandy has made quite a name for itself in the headphone world, thanks largely to its focus on funky fashion and its aggressive marketing tactics aimed at tweens, teens, and young adults. However, the latest Skullcandy earphones to come down the pipe are perhaps the most adult-oriented we've seen from the company. The 50/50 earbuds, which are moderately priced at $49.95, come in an array of relatively muted color options and feature inline controls for the iPhone and iPod as well as a striking low-end response. The clarity isn't the best and they feel a bit cheap and fragile, but if you're after some earphones with a hint of style and plenty of oomph, these aren't a bad option.

As noted, the Skullcandy 50/50 earbuds aren't going to win any awards for top-notch construction. The earpieces are rather chunky and--like the accents and mic module--are made of hard, cheap-feeling plastic. The cable is flexible, but it tangles very easily and seems fragile at the connections to the plug and earpieces, both of which indicate the set may not be durable in the long run. The other downside to the design is the relatively large aperture of the earbuds, which may cause some discomfort for those with smaller or not perfectly round ear openings.

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Quick Specifications

  • Release date06/15/10
  • Headphones Type Headphones - Binaural
  • Design In-ear ear-bud
  • Color Black
  • Sound output mode [Sep 14, 2011 from CDS: Audio Output] Stereo
  • Additional features In-line microphone 11 mm driver
  • Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Lifetime

Since 2003, Jasmine France has worked at CNET covering everything from scanners to keyboards to GPS devices to MP3 players. She currently cohosts the Crave podcast and spends the majority of her time testing headphones, music software, and mobile apps. Full Bio

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