Skullcandy Venue review: Get'em for more than an audio-listening experience

The earphones' active noise cancellation feature works flawlessly and the difference it brings is noticeable

American lifestyle audio brand Skullcandy recently launched the Skullcandy Venue wireless on-the-ear earphones with an active noise cancellation (ANC) feature and a claimed battery life of up to 24 hours. However, it is the live tracking and ring-to-find features, courtesy of Tile, that make these wireless earphones a unique proposition in their segment.

Sporting an on-the-ear design, the Skullcandy Venue has a plastic build with rubberised buttons on the bottom side of each oval-shaped ear cups. These ear cups have a soft leatherette dome covering the speakers with a good cushion, so they feel comfortable on ears. This cushiony leatherette cover is also there on the headband, making it easy to use for extended hours without any discomfort. Overall, the Venue has a no-frills design. It looks plush and feels comfortable on the ears. These 10-step retractable earphones can be adjusted according to the user's head. For those who like to carry their headphones around the neck, these earphones also offer swivel adjustable ear cups that can be rotated.

As for the performance, the earphones’ ANC feature works flawlessly and the difference it brings is noticeable. However, with the ANC turned off, the loudness of the audio takes a knock. With the ANC activated, the difference is felt in terms of overall audio output and a reduction in ambience noise levels. The ANC activation creates a kind of vacuum inside the ear cups, which is apparent during music playback, and even otherwise. The ANC feature works even with wired connectivity. However, there is no respite for audio quality and it remains average with or without a wired connection.

With ANC turning out to be a common feature among earphones these days, Skullcandy takes the wireless earphones game a notch higher by bundling the Venue earphones with quick charging capabilities and class-leading on-battery time. With a normal wall charger, these earphones take 30 minutes on an average to charge from zero to 100 per cent. However, standing true to the company’s claim of five hours of music playback in 10 minutes of charge, the earphones’ battery charges quickly in the first few minutes — good enough for four to five hours of use.

Find with Tile is another important feature that makes it easy to locate the earphones with the help of a mobile-based app. The app allows the earphone to ring, making it easy to figure out where exactly they are kept. Otherwise, there is a built-in feature in the app that makes it easy to track the earphones on maps.

Priced at Rs 18,999, the Venue might not have an audio output to impress the audio connoisseur. But it comes loaded with features that make it a reliable daily driver with a regular audio-listening experience. The ANC feature works as intended and adds to the overall utility of the earphones. With a plush design, sturdy build and powerful battery life, the Venue offers more than just the audio-listening experience.