my tech diary -- skullcandy RAIL ANCs

my broken skullcandy earbuds have been replaced with... another set of skullcandy earbuds! let it be known that I've learned from my mistakes with the last set, and I did get my hands on a different model this time. I've upgraded from my SESH ANCs to the (I think) newer RAIL ANCs and will be comparing the two to each other. was this actually an upgrade? read on!

before I bought the RAILs, I looked online for a few other (hopefully cheaper) options, namely the earfun air pro 3s or earfun free pro 3s, but there really wasn't much competition for me. I know a $130 CAD pricetag is hefty to say the least, but I loved my previous set of skullcandies and hoped for a similar (albeit longer) experience with the RAILs. plus, I found my pair on sale for $30 off at my local walmart! what a steal. I reccomend buying any tech in-person, if you can. although, I have to admit the purchase was a little bit impulsive. I planned to mull it over some more, but I can't say no to a good opportunity eheh

LOOK: much better than the SESH ANCs. the touch controls are a bit of a learning curve (I miss buttons. I miss them so bad) but they're an easy trade-off for well-fitting and sleeker earbuds. the RAILs have stems, which aren't bothersome and are in fact largely convenient, they look good, too! the SESHs stuck out of my ears at an awkward angle but I'm happy to say this isn't the case for the RAILs. the earbuds + case have portions of sleeker and clear plastic which you know I like if you've read my last entry, and I'm a fan of the visible LEDs. the case's lid is magnetised, opens 90°, and has a grip. conveniently-sized (easily fits in smaller pockets) and easy to open, especially when compared to the sausage-esque SESH ANCs.

COMFORT: I talked a lot about fit and convenience in the last section but I have a little more to add! the SKULLiQ app is a very handy addition, and, apparently, was ALSO AVAILABLE FOR MY PREVIOUS PAIR OF EARBUDS. WHY WHY WHYYY WAS I SO IGNORANT... my beautiful SESH ANCs I'm sorry I've been bashing you. you were underutilized and I have no one but myself to blame /j the RAIL voice controls are also cool, but a little unreliable. after I updated the firmware they seemed to work better? we'll see about that. and I liked being able to program the touch controls, I definitely don't mind all the customization options.

AUDIO: regular disclaimer, I'm not an audiophile by any means, just a guy with preferences and sensitive ears. so when I say the RAILs are the loudest earbuds I've used, even on the very lowest volume setting, it might not be the case for others. volume 1 for the RAILs sounds like volume 4 for the SESHs. would not use these in a quiet room by yourself, but they would work like a dream in loud or crowded areas. otherwise, audio quality's great! very wide and also customizable. the bass boosted EQ sounds like living inside a speaker.

*NOISE CANCELLING: I haven't had the time to use ANC all that much, but the stay-aware mode is helpful.

EXTRAS: I notice the range on these is a little less than what it was for my SESH ANCs, and they can get a little glitchy. this might have something to do with my phone, which was released in 2018 (considered a senior citizen in tech years, I believe).

I can't talk about the charging and battery life, but according to the skullcandy site they're supposed to be worse than the SESHs but charge faster, which I did notice.

so far, the skullcandy RAIL ANCs are shaping up to be solid earbuds and about a 4/5 on my imaginary scale. hope they hold up!

*may update this section later, once I have the chance to test it out