Skullcandy has got itself a pretty large collection of earhphones and headphones that range in price. Recently we got our hands on the Navigator, which you can find online or at retail stores for $99.99.
The headphones, which are made for iPod, iPhone and iPad, come with a soft, black carrying bag that has the Skullcandy logo printed on. You’ll also find the auxiliary jack, which features an inline mic, volume control, a play/pause button and track control, which is always appreciated. While you can certainly use these headphones for an Android device or a laptop, it’s not guaranteed that the controls will work perfectly, so be sure to keep that in mind.
The Navigator, for anyone who’s familiar with the Skullcandy line, looks quite similar to the higher end Aviators, but come in a smaller form factor. The headphones I received have a blue hue on the outer part of the earcups, with a spring steel headband, that is seated inside of a leather and foam band. I also like the fact that the hinges allow for a foldable option, which is helpful for traveling and keeping it compact. Putting them on, I found the Navigator quite light and unassuming, while still getting a somewhat snug fit around my dome. The earpads are also pretty comfortable, and while it’s all about sound quality with headphones, you should never overlook comfort - these feel great.
Now getting into the actual sound quality of these bad boys, the Navigator produces soft and warm tones which should be pleasant for the typical user. Bass is certainly present but not overwhelming, as I found when listening to Flo Rida’s “Wild Ones”, though users who listen to rap, hip hop, or dance music might find themselves wishing for a bit for power in that department. Flipping gears to something a bit more mellow, I used John Mayer’s “My Stupid Mouth”, and thought the vocal clarity was pretty nice, while the strums of the guitar retained the aforementioned warmth. Highs aren’t particularly bright, but mids are ever-present.
Kaskade’s “4 AM” (Soha & Adam K Mix), provides a good mixture of bassy beats and soft vocals, which the Navigator’s reproduced pretty well. All in all, I was happy with the audio reproduction, and while I have honestly listened to other headphones in this price range that have performed a little better, the biggest win for the Navigator’s is the overall comfort when using them for short or extended periods. And that’s perhaps what impressed me most overall. I’ve used other headphones, that while sounding fantastic, can make you feel a little claustrophobic, like you’re in a small room. These headphones allow for some outside noise and don’t make your ears feel like they’re in a vacuum.
Overall, the Navigator headphones have a cool and small form factor that are a pleasure to wear and offer up a good amount of audio quality for a recommendation.
Final Score: 3.7 out of 5
via Examiner National Edition Gadgets & Tech Channel Articles http://www.examiner.com/article/review-skullcandy-navigator-headphones?cid=roadrunner