Skullcandy Hesh 2 Bluetooth headphones review
Skullcandy Hesh 2 Wireless
£80
Pros
- Wired/Wireless option
- Good isolation
- Easy control
- Decent hands free
- Comfortable
Cons
- EQ a little one-sided
Hesh 2 from Skullcandy are over-ear style headphones and, because no one likes getting tangled up in cables, Skullcandy have unleashed a wireless set, which I happen to have here to review.
The Skullcandy Hesh 2 Bluetooth headphones are what I would describe as being full-sized cans.
You have the option of running these fully wireless or wired – but are these mid-range priced headphones anything to get excited about?
Hesh 2 Wireless design
These headphones are remarkably subtle for Skullcandy who I would normally expect to produce something in neon or, at least, camouflage print (these are available in the latter finish).
The set I have been loaned are in a rather tasteful matte black finish emblazoned with a chrome-finish skull logo which I think looks pretty cool.
The chunky padded faux leather earcups are really comfortable and offer pretty good passive noise-cancelling isolation from the outside world.
Between the padded cups and the hard matte plastic body is another chromed detail in the ring around the ear-pieces.
The headphone is equipped with a three-button remote on the right ear cup which is also home to a microphone.
The large illuminating multifunction button serves as the power on/off button, call answer/end button, and pause/play button.
The volume buttons don’t light up but are really easy to find when wearing the headphones. These also double as track advance/back buttons when you hold them down for 3 seconds.
On the left cup is where you’ll find the micro USB charging port and a 3.5mm jack lead port. The headphones are bundled with a lead, complete with inline remote and microphone, that allows you to use the Hesh 2 Wireless as wired headphones.
The headband has a softer rubberised finish than the cups and features the Skullcandy name embossed along its length.
The overall build quality seems to be darned good for this price point.
Hesh 2 Wireless performance
Sound quality
The Hesh 2 are fairly well balanced but do seem to have a little bit of bass push, but not so much that it will overwhelm you.
The sound is perhaps more on the warmer side when compared with more ‘honest’ headphones such as the Oppo PM-3.
Even though they are a little heavier on the bass than I would normally like, they don’t muddy the overall experience or make the performance appear dull. On the other hand, if you are looking for an exciting reproduction of your music, it’s perhaps best to look elsewhere.
Mids and highs are crisp and clear without sounding clipped.
Because of this slightly warmed and smoothed output you are better able to get away with ‘lossy’ recordings than you would with headphones such as the Onkyo H500M, for instance. This means your MP3s and Spotify tunes will be fine here.
The extra bass does make these good for movies and more action-based box-set series though.
Stamina
Battery life is pretty great for a Bluetooth headset.
Skullcandy claim 15 hours of battery life and they’ve easily got me through a week’s worth of commuting and an episode of Dare Devil each lunchtime so I think they can manage more than the company is claiming which is fine by me.
If you should run out of battery power nowhere near a power source then you can attach a cable and use the Hesh 2 as wired headphones.
The sound changes a bit in wired mode to me though. It’s a little like the mids have been scooped as the bass and treble appear more higher in the EQ and so the music has more edge to it. It’s down to personal taste as to whether or not this characteristic is better or worse than its wireless output.
Hesh 2 review conclusion
The Skullcandy Hesh 2 Wireless is a competent performer.
I like how they look and they are comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Bluetooth is always a good thing when commuting – the amount of people getting tangled on the tube is a source of almost constant amusement.
Granted, these might not be the most exciting or truest sounding cans out there but , for £80, they do everything they promise to.
For another tenner you could get the Lindy BNX-60 noise-cancelling cans but, out of the two, I actually do prefer how the Skullcandy Hesh 2 sound.
These are great for video watching, especially action flicks.
Hesh 2 cost and availability
The Skullcandy Hesh 2 Wireless headphones are available now in White/Brown, Black, or Camo for £79.99 direct from the website.
