The Skullcandy PLYR headset isn’t afraid to stand out with its bold “DigiHype” design, combining a stealthy black with a not-so-stealthy smattering of pink, blue, and yellow accent colors. It’s certainly a looker, but how does it perform when it comes to actually putting it on and booting up a competitive game? Here’s my Skullcandy PLYR headset review.
Style confirmed
As mentioned in the intro, the Skullcandy PLYR goes the extra mile when it comes to aesthetics. While other gaming headsets have started to blend together in a mess of stealth black plastics, Skullcandy is here to flip the script.
Buy the Skullcandy PLYR headset on Amazon here.
What’s more, there’s a Street Fighter edition that goes extra hard with SF graphics. I’m particularly fond of the right earcup, which has Ryu and Chun-Li facing off.
Substance, too!
So the PLYR looks great, but it can perform, too. Skullcandy has gone with 50mm dynamic drivers, a cliche at this point in the world of gaming headsets, but a tried-and-true method of delivering great gaming sound that is both accurate and immersive.
Left stock, bass is deep and impactful, though not so much as to overwhelm the mids and treble. It’s an inoffensive sound that leans more into the low-end, which I found pleasing enough for both single-player and multiplayer games.
Customize the sound
As with most gaming headsets, there’s an optional companion app that allows users to further customize the sound. In the Skullcandy Gaming app, users can fine-tune EQ, enable “Enhanced Sound Perception,” tweak mic sound, and more.
While it’s nice to be able to personalize the audio experience, I found the stock settings to sound best and it made for a seamless transition as I moved between platforms, as the software isn’t available on all devices.
The main drawback
The main issue with the Skullcandy PLYR is its lack of low-latency wireless support. You see, out of the box, the PLYR is only capable of wired or Bluetooth connections. The latter might ditch the wire, but the latency is not good enough for any type of competitive gaming.
The big twist is that the PLYR headset is capable of low-latency wireless, but it’s through a wireless transmitter that is being sold separately. What’s more, it’s not yet available, with it planned for launch in spring 2023. It’s a very odd move!
Some extra shout-outs
For those who do make heavy use of the wireless functionality, you’ll be pleased to hear that the PLYR has quick charging and a 24-hour battery. And, if you somehow forget where you left the headset, you can track it using the Tile App. That’s pretty unique!
PLYR headset review sample was provided by Skullcandy.
Final Verdict
Despite the bizarre scenario with the low-latency wireless transmitter that’s to be sold separately at a later date, the Skullcandy PLYR still has plenty going for it. At $129.99, Skullcandy isn’t terribly priced, though the lack of 2.4 GHz currently hurts it. If you can deal with that temporary omission, the PLYR delivers a great aesthetic and dependable audio for gaming, movies, and music.
Positives and Negatives
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I love the look of the PLYR headsets.
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Sound is solid enough for gaming, both casually and more competitively.
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Works especially well on PC with the companion app.
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The app has limited functionality and isn't available on some platforms.
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Battery life is good and charging speeds are fast.
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Lightweight, but a bit cheap feeling.
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Mic is passable at best.
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No 2.4 GHz support at launch.
