It’s been a few years since Skullcandy were regarded as the apex of the gaming headset market, but the Skullcandy PLYR Multi-Platform Wireless Gaming Headset could mark the beginning of a huge comeback for the American audio equipment company.
That’s exactly what the PLYR is going for. It’s big, it’s bright, it’s bold and its colourful design says one thing – it’s not comfortable just blending in with the rest of your stuff. To paraphrase Conor McGregor; it’s not here to take part, it’s here to take over.
In today’s review, I’ll be looking at the Skullcandy PLYR Multi-Platform Wireless Gaming Headset and talking about design, sound quality, compatibility and value for money.
First Impressions and Unboxing
The Skullcandy PLYR is available for around £130/€150/$160 – so from the start you’re expecting a product that proves its triple-figure price point.
The PLYR design is bold and makes a statement straight out of the box. It’s adorned with blue accents and exposed pink wires which connect the headset across its translucent grey headband. They meet the equally grey ear cups at the bottom, which join to the headset in a flash of multi-coloured pixels.
This is the only colourway available for the PLYR (despite the cheaper SLYR model having multiple colour options). It works for gamers; especially if you want something that stands out against your all-white PlayStation 5 set-up or something that blends in with your LED-heavy PC set up. But your co-workers might hit you with a raised eyebrow if you jumped onto a Zoom meeting with it.
Compatibility and Functionality
The PLYR has all the bells and whistles you might expect – with a few very welcome extras. The left earcup can pause, mute and skip your music, as well as mute your mic input. At the back, it has a Bluetooth on/off switch, a volume dial, and ports for a USB-C and an aux cable. At the front is where you can plug/unplug your mic.
That’s right, it’s Bluetooth compatible, though you’d need to buy the £25 transmitter separately. Considering the triple-figure price point I’d really expect the dongle to be included, though ultimately it’s not that big of an issue for me.
Skullcandy’s headset is compatible with PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch through its interchangeable cable – perfect for those with multiple platforms.
And the highlight of its functionality? The Skullcandy HQ app lets you customise your own sound profiles – from equalizer dials to game audio/party audio balance. This means whether you need to dial up the footsteps in Call of Duty, the music in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or dialogue in Starfield, the PLYR adapts to your gaming needs instantaneously.
My Experience
Despite the bold design, impressive functionality and exemplary customisation options, the best thing about this headset by a country mile is just how comfortable it is. The ear cups are soft, and warm and feel almost weightless. When I wear my Turtle Beaches it’s a relief when I take them off after a few games. When I wear the PLYR, I could wear them for hours and almost forget they were on.
Should you buy the Skullcandy PLYR?
In my opinion, the comfort and flexibility of these headphones make the price point feel justified. The design may be offputting to some and may be made more with the younger gamer (or more eccentric personality) in mind, but as someone who normally opts for the plain black/ plain white options when it comes to tech, it’s nice to have something stand out.
And with the Bluetooth capability and the incredible addition of the Skullcandy HQ app, I would warmly recommend this for anyone looking for a comfortable way to level up their headset game.
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