Recently, Skullcandy teamed up with Doritos Red to release a themed version of their SLYR gaming headset and Dime 2 True wireless earbuds. While they have had both of these pieces of audio equipment available, this collaboration has brought a limited-time, uniquely-designed version of them that is available now. When it comes to collective value, both of these items stand on their own, but let’s get into their effective use.

What’s In The Box

The Dime 2 True comes in a small cassette-sized box with everything you need in there. The little red case holds the earbuds inside them with a row of replaceable ear cushions, a user guide, and a tiny charging adapter cable inside. The cable itself isn’t the kind you can use to charge the box directly as the USB side has an adapter build and can’t be plugged in directly to a charger. Plus, the length of the cable is incredibly short which is fitting for an adapter piece. This does mean that you will need to either provide your own charging cable or have the piece that this adapts to in order to charge, again, with your own cable.

The SLYR gaming headset comes with a little more packed-in as it is a wired headset with a focus on gaming. You have the headset itself, a detachable mic, a blue 3.5mm Aux cable to connect the headset to the console of choice, a black 3.5mm split cable to connect the blue aux cable to function on a PC and Mac computer, and a slick information booklet that gives details on all the parts. Since it is a wired headset, you don’t need to charge it, but you will be limited to the length of the cables. Luckily, the cables plug into console controllers, the Nintendo Switch console, and the computer with the split cable, so you won’t be far from the source. Plus, the cables have a good length to them.

Aesthetics and Build Quality

The Dime 2 True earbuds come in a case that recharges the earbuds while they are not in use, but you do need to charge the case itself, which can hold up to 12 hours of recharge power, in order for it to recharge the earbuds. The battery life on the earbuds is 3.5 hours per charged earbud, so a solid length single-session use is viable which makes them great for traveling with. They auto-connect via Bluetooth after you set up the initial connection and can then function as a hands-free phone device as well as a listening device with the aid of the microphone, track, call, and volume controls. On top of that, they are water and sweat resistant, so they are pretty ideal for working out.

Two cool factors on these earbuds worth noting are the size of the case and the built-in loss prevention. The case itself is just 2.45” long x 1.53” wide and packed with only a small, efficient battery making the design cut its carbon footprint to less than half that of other earbuds. As for the loss prevention, more specifically in the concept of misplacing or dropping the earbud, it has Tile finding technology. This means if you misplace them, you can just ‘ring’ them from the free Tile app.

For the gamers, the SLYR headset comes packed with SkullCandy’s Supreme Sound which is created with 50mm drivers, advanced microphones, a detachable boom mic, and plush memory foam earcups. The soft cushion also covers the underside of the adjustable headband that is durably built out of metal. It has full compatibility, whether you plan to use these to play on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch, it is as simple as plugging it in and playing. The downside to this build is the fact that all the volume is controlled by a single volume wheel, so you won’t be able to adjust the volume of media and chat on the fly.

What the limited-edition collaboration brings to both the Dime 2 True and SLYR headset is the noticeably cool UV-Reactive Glow Graphics. Those with a decent RGB setup for their gaming station or just find themselves under blacklight will find that the cool red design on the Doritos Red versions of these devices literally glows!

Specs and Special Features

All of the specs for both devices are pretty simplistic yet modernized.

For the Dime 2 True, you have:

3 and a half-hour battery life in each earbud
12-hour recharge life in charging case
Small, compact design to cut their carbon footprint in half
Easy-to-find technology with the Tile app
Bluetooth 5.2 connection
Phone Call capabilities - Microphone, Call, Track, and Volume controls
Sweat and Water Resistant
Driver Diameter: 6mm
Sound Pressure Level: 95+/-3dB
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20KHz
Weight: 32g

For the SLYR gaming headset, you have:

Skullcandy Supreme Sound
Detachable Microphone
One Tap Mute On/Off Button
Multi-platform Connectivity (Plug-and-Play) - PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch
Durable, Lightweight Design
Soft, Compressable Cushions
Driver Diameter: 50mm
Sound Pressure Level: 95±3dB
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20KHz
Weight: 265g

What It Could Have Done Better

The Dime 2 True are very solid earbuds, but I am personally a fan of earbuds with the over-the-ear option. The only time I really wear earbuds is when I go to the gym after work and the last thing I want is for one of the earbuds to fall out of my ear in the gym. Especially since these are limited-edition, I would hate for them to get crushed or damaged in any way from a mishap like that. Adding the over-the-ear grip, even if it were removable, would have made it more appealing to more users.

The SLYR gaming headset does feel a bit limiting when it comes to the volume controls. It is pretty standard these days to have separate controls on the headset for the game and chat. Communication is key in so many multiplayer games, but at the same time, some cutscenes deserve the full immersive experience. Being able to highlight which volume I want to be turned up for different moments without having to leave the game program is a must in my book.

Also, for the SLYR gaming headset, I don’t care for the split cable setup they have. When reviewing this product, I tried to use my gaming laptop, but it isn’t equip with a separate mic and headphone input jack; it just has the one input jack for both uses. Trying to just plug the headset in directly, as if the PC were the same as a Nintendo Switch and PlayStation controller, and I found it didn’t work. I was only able to test the PC capability on my older, work laptop which does have both input jacks. That said, if you have a computer tower (which I believe most users on PC do) then this is a non-issue. Even so, it ultimately feels a bit limiting because of it.

Verdict

Skullcandy has chosen two of their top affordable products and made a collector’s edition out of them with this Skullcandy x Doritos Red collaboration! Both the Dime 2 True earbuds and SLYR gaming headset are great pieces of equipment that simply get the job done. While they may not be the device of choice for a top-ranked esports player, they will be more than enough for the average gamer. They are both comfortable to use and easy to set up; what more could you ask for?

After considering both of these options, I find that they both deserve the same score and level of recommendation. Given they both have their minor complaints, the low cost is enough to overlook those minute issues. If you are geared more toward gaming on the go or are looking for some earbuds for your daily commutes and workouts, the Dime 2 True is an affordably cool-looking option to consider. If you are geared more toward home gaming on PC or console, the SLYR gaming headset is an easy-to-use, affordable choice that can really highlight your RGB-lit gaming space.

The Doritos edition of the Dime 2 True Earbuds is available now for $34.99 USD, with the standard edition running for $29.99 USD. The Doritos edition of the SLYR Gaming Headset is available now for $69.99 USD, with the standard edition running for $59.99 USD.