Some Skullcandy phones ARE very good....
Like many, I too was skeptical about these phones as the name "Skullcandy" and all the flair associated with their design made me think they were designed first to appeal to kids and sound quality being a lesser priority. I was very wrong. They are OUTSTANDING headphones and I have been EXTREMELLY happy with mine. Though I do not know the exact model number, it does not say it on the phones themselves, they are the over the ear type with a rather thick over-the-head foam cantaliever. They do not fold, but have a volume adjustment on the cord. They are VERY, VERY light and perhaps the MOST comfortable over-the-ear design I have ever owned. Headphone quality is VERY important to me as I listen to music on my computer ALL the time. I have heard others complain about bass quality of Skullcandy phones yet the bass quality is better than my over-the-ear Koss k/6ALC and my $200 Grado 220's as well as several Sony models I have owned or tried over the years.
I suspect those who complain about the quality of bass either did not choose the right model that fit their need (Skullcandy seems to make hundreds of differing models), they need to EQ the bass up a little, OR their built-in sound card on their computer just doesn't pack the punch.
Keep in mind, computer manufacturers focus primarily on four parameters: price, hard drive capacity, processor speed, and RAM. Other functions like video, audio, keyboard, and mouse functionality is now integrated on the motherboard, NOT seperate cards as they used to be in the old days. The result is that in the interest of keeping costs down audio and video will often suffer. This is why I ALWAYS use aftermarket video and sound cards. For instance, I use a Soundblaster sound card with 7.1 Dolby Digital capability. Not only does it pack more power than the built-in "card" on my Compaq, but the sound quality improvement is DRAMATIC. So when I see others complain of distortion when they boost the bass, I have to wonder if it is not the fault of the phones, but the sound producing element of their computer. The simple fact is that if you care greatly about the sound quality of your computer, you MUST purchase an aftermarket sound card. The same goes for video as well. As far as MY Skullcandy phones, I can boost the bass to ridiculous levels using my Winamp EQ and there is no distortion.
I have owned some MUCH more expensive phones in the past including the $200 Grado 220's and several Sony models. These Skullcandy phones are the equal of ANY headphones I have ever owned as far as sound quality AND they are lighter and, without a doubt, more comfortable than ALL OTHER over-the-ear headphones I have ever owned (and no, I DO NOT work for Skullcandy!). Again, the sound quality is second to none, but it is how light they are that truly make them so comfortable. I don't know about all other headphones in Skullcandy's product line, but mine are outstanding and I would certainly buy another in the future or recommend them to friends. Mine cost $50-$60 at Best Buy (as I recall, they were the most expensive Soundcandy over-the-ear, non-noise cancelling model they sold), but this is a true bargain IMHO compared to what I have paid for lesser phones in the past. I know the ridiculous colors and designs will likely steer true audiophiles away from these, concluding they are designed simply around their aesthetic appeal to young people. But that is simply not the case, at least not the case with ALL of their headphones, like mine.
Senheizer makes a great phone as well, but I cannot imagine my Skullcandy's being any better than they are. I have owned them for over a year and a half and they have been dropped, stepped on, ect., yet they are tough and are working as well as the day I bought them.
Anyway, like all things, it's safe to say you get what you pay for. Obviously, a $60 set of Skullcanyd's are going to sound better and be built better than a $15 set. This applies to all brands as well. The point I am making is that Skullcandy DOES make some outstanding phones, though the better ones will cost you more of course AND to maximize their performance you really should have a quality aftermarket soundcard.
MOSFET67