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Skullcandy returns to the world of gaming with three new headsets: the SLYR, SLYR Pro and the PLYR headphones; all of which are aimed at different levels of gamers.
It’s been about 10 years since Skullcandy launched its last gaming headset, the PLYR 2 (opens in new tab), a device that the company officially no longer sells. Since then, gaming headsets have evolved dramatically, meaning Skullcandy has the work ahead of them. The solution, at least according to the announcement (opens in new tab)is to offer headsets with a wide range of functionality for multiple platforms at a decent price.
Each pair of headphones is currently on sale at Skullcandy’s Online Store (opens in new tab) and are compatible with PC, mobile devices and game consoles.
Features and Specifications
First, you have the SLYR ($59.99) (opens in new tab)headphones. Compared to the other two, this unit is the more barebones model. It’s a basic set of entry-level headphones; great for people who just want to plug in and listen. It houses two 50mm drivers that Skullcandy claims deliver a wide “frequency range and rich, detailed sound”. There’s also a retractable microphone plus mute and volume controls on the cups. So a fairly simple headset without bells and whistles.
The SLYR Pro ($99.99) (opens in new tab), as the name implies, adds considerably more. It comes with a Clear Voice Smart Mic that filters back noise to preserve clear audio using AI. Gamers can calibrate their audio through a combination of Skullcandy’s Enhanced Sound Perception hearing test and the new Skull-HQ app. The app also lets you adjust the mix between the game and voice chat so you can have one louder than the other and manage the audio equalization. For its battery, the SLYR Pro will last, according to Skullcandy. 24 hours. It also has fasting charging.
For the PLYR ($129.99) (opens in new tab) headset, it’s hard to see what justifies that extra $30 price tag. If you take things at first glance, the PLYR headset has two unique features: Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity and a built-in Tile function, a kind of tracking technology. Using the Tile app, you can have the PLYR headset “ring” so you can locate it if you lose it. Looking at the specs for each headset, they all have Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. In addition, the SLYR Pro has the same tile tracking function.
We reached out to Skullcandy to clarify why the PLYR is ahead of the SLYR Pro. In addition, we asked how people can download the Skull-HQ app for controlling audio. It is not publicly available in any online app store, as far as we can tell.
Decent headphones
Looking at everything, Skullcandy’s new headsets look potentially solid, even if two of them are a little too similar for our taste. But the question remains: will this be enough for Skullcandy to face the titans of the gaming headset industry? Probably not, but again, these headsets are more entry-level and for gamers who don’t want to mess with the settings too much. In that regard, they look good enough.
But if you’re looking for something a little sturdier, definitely check it out TechRadar’s best gaming headsets. We really like the Arctic Nova Pro from Steelseries. They come with built-in low latency and spatial audio. Just be prepared to pay a pretty penny.