Priced around 900 SEK, the Skullcandy Indy occupies a mid-range position within the increasingly crowded true wireless earphone market; defined as wireless earphones operating without any physical cable connecting the earpieces (e.g., Apple AirPods). We recently evaluated another true wireless model from the same manufacturer, the Skullcandy Push. While we appreciated its features, we subsequently encountered an issue with one earpiece losing connection. Online research suggests this isn’t an isolated incident. However, Skullcandy’s responsive customer service provided a replacement, a professional and reassuring resolution.
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Technology and design
The Indy design bears a striking resemblance to Apple’s widely adopted true wireless earphones, including the charging case. Subjective opinions on Apple’s design aside, the outward (downward) protrusion offers the advantage of positioning the microphone closer to the user’s mouth, potentially improving call quality – a feature often inconsistent in wireless earphones not specifically designed for telephony. A potential drawback is the creation of a lever arm, making the fit susceptible to movements like jaw motion during eating or yawning.
Fit presented the most significant challenge during our evaluation of the Indy. While the inclusion of three sizes of silicone eartips is standard, achieving a secure and comfortable fit proved difficult. True Wireless technology, inherently, doesn’t guarantee exceptional bass response. However, an improper seal drastically diminishes sound quality, resulting in a thin and tinny output. Removing the “stability ear gels” – ironically intended to improve stability – paradoxically improved both the sound and fit of the Indy. This suggests potential oversights in the ergonomic design and testing phases.
Beyond Bluetooth 5.0, which ensures stable connectivity and range, the earphones feature an IP55 rating, providing protection against moisture and sweat. Battery life, including the charging case’s capacity for three full recharges, totals approximately 16 hours of playtime. While adequate, this falls short of the 24 hours offered by some competitors. The earphones support a quick charge function via microUSB, providing over an hour of playtime with just ten minutes of charging. The implementation of USB-C could potentially enhance this feature.
How does the Skullcandy Indy sound?
In short: Acceptable. True Wireless technology inherently allocates some of Bluetooth’s bandwidth to inter-earphone communication, impacting overall audio fidelity. This trade-off prioritizes convenience and aesthetics over uncompromising sound quality, aligning with users who prioritize ease-of-use and modern design, accepting a “good enough” audio experience. The technology is still evolving and has yet to reach peak performance.
Once a satisfactory fit was achieved, listening to the Indy became a more enjoyable experience. Well-produced music from high-resolution sources (e.g., Tidal) exhibited decent audio quality, considering the price point and inherent technical limitations. Consistent with Skullcandy’s sonic signature, bass frequencies are emphasized, potentially at the expense of nuanced high-end detail and precise treble reproduction. Removing the “stability silicone” also facilitates a more secure fit within the charging case, mitigating closure issues.
A notable drawback is the latency exhibited by the earphones. While inconsequential for audio-only content, the delay becomes problematic when viewing video content on platforms like YouTube or Netflix, resulting in a discernible desynchronization between audio and video. This limitation restricts the Indy’s ideal use case to music, radio, podcasts, and audiobooks, rather than streaming video.
The earphone design offers a degree of passive noise isolation, heavily reliant on achieving a proper and secure fit. Inadequate fit significantly diminishes, or negates entirely, any noise reduction benefits.
Summary
The Skullcandy Indy represents a mid-tier option within the true wireless earphone market, both in terms of price and, sonically, within its category. While the fit can be challenging, proper adjustment allows the Indy to deliver acceptable audio quality. The relatively high latency with video content should be considered. These earphones are suitable for users primarily focused on music or audio-based content, prioritizing generous bass response and true wireless convenience over absolute sonic fidelity, and seeking a more affordable alternative to Apple’s AirPods.
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