Skullcandy Terrain Mini Xt Review

Skullcandy is maximum identified for making headphones and earbuds at the extra inexpensive finish of items. However the Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT represents somewhat of a departure, because it’s a ruggedized Bluetooth speaker. Is it any excellent? Let’s take a concentrate.

Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT: $39.99 USD / $54.99CAD /£34.99 / €39.99

The Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT is an reasonably priced Bluetooth speaker with an excessively chunky, waterproof design. It’s intended to attraction to the ones on the cheap, and are in search of a Bluetooth speaker for use outdoor. As it’s Skullcandy’s most cost-effective, smallest speaker: don’t be shocked that there isn’t a lot in the best way of additional options. For the ones taking a look to suit their aesthetic, the Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT is available in both black, Blue Blaze, Mild Gray, or Astro Mud (reddish salmon) colorways.

For charging, it makes use of an exposed USB-C port, and an LED array to turn battery ranges. Moreover, the speaker makes use of the Bluetooth-mandated commonplace codec SBC, so there’s no higher-bitrate audio to be had. This speaker used to be constructed to be a natural entry-level choice, with out a headaches.

What I really like concerning the Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT

Almost certainly the most efficient factor concerning the Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT is that you simply’re getting precisely what’s marketed at the field: an inexpensive, waterproof speaker this is reasonably mild for what it’s. That suggests there are not any bells and whistles or hidden extras you want to fret about. What you notice is what you get. On this mild, it’s no wonder that the speaker works like another entry-level moveable. You’ll have to pair it on your telephone or different supply tool manually, however for the ones no longer utterly spoiled by way of rapid pair, this received’t be a hindrance, simply one thing you take care of if the speaker doesn’t pair mechanically upon powering on.

Controlling the Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT is achieved throughout the chunky buttons at the most sensible and rear of the unit. Those come with play/pause, quantity up/down, energy, and pairing. In case you continuously run out of battery together with your moveable audio system, a battery indicator LED array at the again may also be toggled by way of both plugging your speaker in or hitting a button at the unit. There aren’t truly many surprises — excellent or dangerous — with the Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT. It’s only a speaker that performs audio, and once in a while that’s all you truly want.

The sound high quality isn’t superb, however the speaker will paintings with absolutely anything with Bluetooth owing to its simple implementation of Bluetooth 5.3. There’s no 3.5mm port, however because it’s a lot more straightforward to give protection to a speaker with as few compromises to the seal as conceivable, the loss of an aux port is extra of a function than a computer virus.

In case you’re hoping for the use of a couple of audio system in an array, the Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT helps Skullcandy’s Multi-Hyperlink function by way of the use of some atypical inputs. Attach your first speaker on your telephone, and ensure your different speaker is disconnected from any supply (and powered on). Then faucet the facility button thrice on each audio system. The blue LED signifies the correct channel, and the amber LED signifies the left. It’s a neat function, nevertheless it does imply you’re dedicated to shopping for two of those if you need it.

What I don’t like concerning the Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT

In fact, what makes the Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT simple and simple may be what will get in the best way of a higher time with the Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT. Despite the fact that no person truly buys a sub-$50 wi-fi speaker with any practical hope of top-end options like voice assistants or lighting fixtures, the loss of options remains to be one thing that you simply will have to take note of.

For instance, on the time of publishing, the Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT is recently incompatible with the Skullcandy app. That suggests no firmware updates, further options, or instrument improvements. What you notice is what you get.

Moreover, regardless that there’s a ranking for water ingress coverage, there’s no ranking for mud or different overseas object harm. Is your speaker nice to take to the seashore? What a couple of development web site? There’s no option to know the way a lot it might maintain with out flying blind. Check out to not get sand on it, because it’s unclear how this may occasionally have an effect on the speaker. We will be able to say that the USB-C port is unprotected from overseas gadgets, and that’s most probably the primary level of failure long-term.

After all, new customers of the Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT might get slightly perplexed about which method is “ahead.” It is going to look like a nitpicky gripe, however it is crucial that you simply get this proper, as audio system can’t simply have their motive force firing into the bottom. The again of the speaker is the panel with the LEDs and buttons on it, and the highest of the speaker is the playback controls. So long as the playback controls are at the most sensible you will have to be golden, however there’s no different visible cue.

In case you’re in search of an reasonably priced, tricky speaker, it’s good to do so much worse than the Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT. On the other hand, different choices in the marketplace be offering somewhat of a step up for the ones in search of extra within the sound high quality division. For instance, the Sony SRS-XB100 ($58 at Amazon) might price about $20 extra at MSRP, nevertheless it’s additionally were given higher sound high quality, ingress coverage ranking in opposition to mud, and battery existence. However when you’re arduous up for money, $20 is much more than it sounds. Every so often you simply want one thing that works for the least cash conceivable.

To the Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT’s credit score, if you have already got Skullcandy audio system, it may be used together with them as a satellite tv for pc with the Multi-Hyperlink function. On the other hand, with out firmware updates or different instrument compatibility, that’s the tip of the checklist referring to compelling options. That is merely a elementary, most commonly water-proof speaker that are meant to remaining you thru some informal abuse.

I’d counsel the Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT principally to those that wish to get monetary savings and aren’t taking a look to shop for the rest fancy. Reasonable Bluetooth audio system are a dime a dozen at the present time, and there’s this sort of selection within the water-proof moveable phase that you’d almost definitely be higher served with one thing that is a bit more moveable, given the truth that this speaker’s major promoting level is its water resistance. If I have been to indicate an alternate, I’d select the JBL Clip 4 ($59 at Amazon) over the Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT as a result of its sound high quality, significantly better portability, and identical sturdiness. The facility to clip the speaker to quite a lot of issues may be a larger plus than it seems like, as that suggests it truly can pass almost about anyplace — whilst the Skullcandy Terrain Mini XT is reasonably clunky when compared.