Buzz
Design
Very few in-ear headphones in this price range can provide a discreet-looking model with good sound. Sony has thought about it, but once again Sony is a global giant that really doesn't need reminding who they are. Skullcandy is not like this.
The Ink’d 2 in-ear headphones, like most of its competitive counterparts, have a bold design. Ink’d 2 stands out in terms of image in quite a few unique ways that in-ear headphones can stand out – with vibrant colors. If you think of one color, it's very likely Ink’d 2 has it available.
This is really not a bad thing, there is certainly a market for this flashy design. And if you like what Skullcandy offers but prefer a more minimalist design, you can achieve a compromise by choosing the black version. It will still have over half a dozen Skullcandy logos on it that might make you feel like an advertisement is talking, but hey, they're 20 bucks.
Construction
The build of the Skullcandy Ink’d 2 is pretty much what you’d expect from budget earphones – they’re mostly made of plastic with some parts made of rubber. This isn’t a criticism, it’s a standard, but you should be aware of the durability aspect here. Take good care of them and they’ll last long, but no matter what you do, they’ll look as good as new at best after a month.
The straight cables help avoid tangles to some extent, but we can’t in good conscience call it tangle-free just because of how thin it is. Although you might commend the cable for having a gold-plated 3.5mm plug.
Speaking of the cable, these in-ear headphones also have inline remote control with a push-to-talk mic. Besides one of the many Skullcandy logos, the remote control has just one button that you can use to pause, play, answer calls, and operate the mic. For what it’s worth, the mic isn’t half bad, at least not for this price. It has good sensitivity and does a decent job isolating your voice. We’d like to see volume control options on the remote, but we really can’t complain.
The sound isolation capability is also quite good. Noise cancellation is of course passive, but we’ve certainly seen worse. As long as you keep the volume reasonable and don’t damage your hearing with loudness, people around you won’t be able to hear your music.
Fit
The Ink’d 2 in-ear headphones use standard silicone ear tips, although they also come with a smaller and a larger pair that you can swap out. Getting a good seal doesn’t guarantee a perfect fit, but this isn’t a bad deal; some competitors offer less.
They fit quite snugly if you try to hug them just right. You can use them for sports, just be mindful of their structure as they won’t survive many falls.
Overall, they are very comfortable and can be worn for many hours straight without any issues. If you don’t find headphones comfortable in general, they won’t do much for you. Otherwise, they're pretty good.
Sound Quality
The first thing you need to know about the sound is that these are bass-heavy headphones. And for what it's worth, the bass isn’t half bad. The 11mm drivers give it a lot of power, a lot of punch, a lot of oomph. But if bass isn’t the highlight of all your music, then they fall a bit short.
We expected them to hit at least two frequencies right, but these aren’t even your typical V-shaped headphones. The midrange is quite muddy, vocals get drowned out, and the treble overall is not significant. On top of that, there’s a slight rolloff in the bass frequencies, meaning you’ll hear the bass more in one ear than the other.
However, surprisingly, there is no distortion. So, if you intend to listen to music at high volume and do that on a pair of cheap headphones, at least do it on these in-ear headphones. Overall, they are definitely an improvement over the type of headphones you get for free with a smartphone, so if they fit you, they will certainly be even better.
Conclusion
Skullcandy Ink’d 2 is a typical budget in-ear headphone – eye-catching appearance and deep bass sound, but that's about it. For bassheads, this headphone is great for enjoyment, but if you're looking for more balance and versatility, users should seek another option.
