Although the Skullcandy Riff retails for $50, a wired version is also available for as cheap as $20. Given that they are only $50, we won’t be harsh on these headphones because they pretty much cover the fundamentals very well. The Skullcandy Riff are primarily made of plastic, but Skullcandy went over and beyond to give them a more premium feel. The leatherette used on the ear pads themselves doesn’t feel half bad, and the ear cups themselves have a soft touch feel to them akin to the $300 Crusher 360s. There is a very strong click when you adjust the headband, and there is barely any cracking or squeaking when you flex them. However, we would be cautious and avoid over-flexing them because you risk snapping them.
Skullcandy Riff Wireless review: Design
The Skullcandy Riff Wireless has a striking appearance and maintains the classic aesthetic vibe for which the company is known for its headphones. Three color combinations—all Black, Blue/Sunset, and Grey/Teal—are available for the headphones. In all honesty, we like the look of the three color options, but the Grey option particularly appeals to us due to the subtle Teal accents on the cushions and the branding. Supra-aural headphones, or on-ear headphones, are what the Skullcandy Riff Wireless are. It has a matte texture throughout, which helps to lessen the roughness that results from fingerprint residue. The headphones don’t seem particularly strong because they are totally comprised of plastic. In reality, they feel really clumsy and rattle a lot when simply handled. They genuinely do feel as though they will snap under light pressure, yet this couldn’t be further from the truth. We were very astonished by how robust the headband is and how much tension it can sustain given how flimsy it initially appeared. We significantly altered our perception of the build quality as a result, and we have been impressed ever since. The padding on the earpads is covered with a very plush faux leather overlay. The whole experience is really comfortable, and we applaud the business for taking this seemingly insignificant detail into account because it may significantly improve usage. This is extremely significant for people who wear headphones for extended periods of time because, in addition to audio quality, comfort is a key consideration when buying headphones. While the earpads have good padding, it’s odd that the headband has none at all. To prevent the headphone from falling off, certain headphones have a rubber padding. In the case of the Riff Wireless, there is none at all. However, the modifications are quite secure, and even when engaging in demanding activities, they don’t readily come off your head.
Comfort
Perhaps the most significant aspect of headphones for us is comfort. Even if a headset has an angelic sound, we won’t really appreciate it if it is uncomfortable. The Skullcandy Riff Wireless set is supra-aural, as opposed to the circumoral (or around-the-ear) fit that we generally choose for the ear cups (or on-ear). Fortunately, this wasn’t a problem because the Skullcandy Riff Wireless has the plushest cushions we’ve ever touched. The fabric that encircles the cushions has a pleasing texture as well. We were pleasantly delighted by this headset’s level of ear comfort. Additionally, the Skullcandy Riff didn’t present any problems for us because we wear glasses. also you will learn our article on Skullcandy Riff Wireless review. It can occasionally grow painful to wear headphones for longer periods of time (over an hour), especially when you eventually take them off. However, this is to be anticipated with on-ear headphones. However, the Skullcandy Riff Wireless regrettably falls short in terms of headband comfort and craftsmanship. The plastic headband was difficult to get on our heads and, after a while, we found it to be mildly uncomfortable. The entire set is susceptible to tilting or falling off with head movement when the headset is worn in place of the headband.
Skullcandy Riff Wireless review: Connectivity
The Riff Wireless only supports Bluetooth connections because there is no cable connection option available. However, the connection proved unbreakable. No random disconnections or cutouts occurred for us. A simple three-button setup allows you to control volume, play/pause, and power, as well as track skipping with a 3-second press of either volume button. The controls are also unremarkable. Although the buttons are all covered by a rubberized cap, we would prefer if they were physically separated.
Controls
The right earcup has all of the controls. A Micro USB charging port is also present. The control buttons are embedded in a thin rubber strip. There are basic options for pausing, volume-adjusting, and playing music. You just need to figure out what is happening because the buttons have a few different functions. For example, pressing the volume button causes a track to be skipped. By pressing and holding the play button, you can reach a virtual assistant contact. Holding down the play button also enables other features including Bluetooth connectivity. Then you press and hold the button until the LED starts to flash. When it is paired with the device, it will flash red and blue. The gadget should provide a crisp, high-fidelity sound with a frequency response field of 20Hz–20KHz. Its powerful sound is supported at high volumes with 98 dB of sensitivity. Additionally, its 32 Ohm impedance makes it a mobile tool that many audio devices may use. Let’s see if the Skullcandy Riff Wireless lives up to its reputation as a good tool for audiophiles.
Noise cancelling
Something that was made worse by the fact that these headphones have no noise isolation, allowing a lot of background noise to enter. However, in more serene settings, we delighted in the Riff Wireless audio, both for music and spoken word. We believe the majority of people purchasing these headphones will be listening to audio that is sent over Bluetooth and is easily good enough to get the most out of your streaming music. also you can read our article on Skullcandy Riff Wireless review.
Audio performance
One area where the well-known Skullcandy strategy is apparent is the sound. They can be quite bass-heavy if you’ve ever listened through a set of their phones. If that’s what you desire, there is nothing wrong with it. When compared to some of its more affordable rivals, Skullcandy executes its EQ setup rather effectively. We have heard headphones where the bass is so strong that it completely eliminates the mids from the sound. With the Riff, the mid-range just about competes. After all, that is where a lot of the important things are. However, Skullcandy does enjoy their powerful bass, which affects the other frequencies. The mids have a soundstage that is pretty small and are a little murky. Typically, the vocals are located in the mids. With these, the voices do not sound as clear and are often overshadowed by other noises, particularly the bass. The sound is very much in the shape of a “V,” or “smiley face,” with high bass, treble, and lower mids. The bass has a nice, organic sound that doesn’t boom at you. Sometimes the highs are a touch too abrupt. If the volume levels were a little bit too high, we would imagine a lengthy session with them might result in some fatigue. You won’t find perfectly balanced, easy-going sounds, but given the price, they are still acceptable. The frequency range of the 40mm drivers, which are located in each ear cup, is 20Hz to 20,000Hz.
Skullcandy Riff Wireless review: Call performance
As the input is played back to you during phone calls, you are acutely aware of how you sound and whether your surroundings are noisy. Anytime you speak into the microphone, including when speaking to the Google Assistant, the same rules apply. Speaking of Assistant, the Skullcandy Riff Wireless has a double-tap on the centre button that activates Google Assistant (or Siri on iOS). This is helpful for anything you would typically ask the Assistant to do, like provide information or play a particular piece of music.
Battery and charging
It has a rapid charge feature that enables you to get up to two hours of playback on just a 10-minute charge, and the battery life is rated at 12 hours on a single charge. Similar battery performance was seen during testing when the volume was adjusted to roughly 50%. The volume setting and individual usage do, however, have an impact on battery life.
Conclusion
Do you want to spend money on only decent sound and comfortable earbuds? The Riff is now your preferred pair of headphones. The build quality has been reduced as much as a headphone can go before going extinct. The feature set is adequate, but if it meant the build could be improved, we almost wish it didn’t have the button and microphone. The new shape and comfort of the ear pads are the Riff’s biggest improvements over the Grind and other previous low-end Skullcandy headphones. It’s an idea so simple that we can’t stop thinking about it: we’d love to see a Grind 2 with these bigger pads.
