Tested using Methodology v1.5
Review updated Jul 21, 2023 at 11:35 am
Latest change: Writing modified Dec 14, 2023 at 10:14 am
By Jake Thauvette, Theresa Ketterling, and John Peroramas
7.5
Neutral Sound
7.5
Commute/Travel
8.0
Sports/Fitness
6.9
Office
5.4
Wireless Gaming
5.3
Wired Gaming
6.5
Phone Calls
+ Create your own
overview test results deals 3 comments
These headphones were replaced by the Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Truly Wireless
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling No
Mic Yes
The Skullcandy Dime 2 True Wireless are the next generation of the budget-friendlySkullcandy Dime True Wireless. They now support Tile, which helps you find your buds with a secondary app if you misplace them. The new version also addsa standby mode to helpconserve battery life.Otherwise, they perform similarly to the original Dime earbuds and don't haveactive noise cancelling (ANC) feator any sound customization features like an EQ.
Our Verdict
7.5 Neutral Sound
TheSkullcandy Dime 2 are good for neutral sound. They have a slightly bass-rich sound profile that adds a touch of extra rumble and punch into your audio. Vocals and lead instruments are clear but a little cluttered. They lack any customization features to help you adjust their sound to suit your tastes. Their passive soundstage seems closed-off and as if sound is coming from inside your head rather than from speakers placed in the room around you.
Pros
-
Well-built and decently comfortable.
-
Very consistent audio delivery.
Cons
-
No sound customization features.
See our Neutral Sound Recommendations
7.5 Commute/Travel
TheSkullcandy Dime 2 are good for commute and travel. They have a small, lightweight, and portable design, so you can easily slip the earbuds and case into your pocket or purse. They're also well-built and have a decently comfortable fit for long journeys. However, they don't have noise cancelling and struggle to block out the low rumble of bus and plane engines. They only last for about 3.3 hours of continuous use, so you'll have to recharge them in the case during long trips.
Pros
-
Well-built and decently comfortable.
-
Decent noise isolation performance.
Cons
-
3.3-hour continuous playback time.
See our Commute/Travel Recommendations
8.0 Sports/Fitness
TheSkullcandy Dime 2 are great for sports and fitness. Although they don't have stability fins, they don't move around in your ear and can stay in place during workouts. They're also certified IPX4 for resistance against being splashed with water. That said, even though they have a decently comfortable fit, using the controls can push the buds deeper into your ear.
Pros
-
Well-built and decently comfortable.
-
Stable in-ear fit.
Cons
-
3.3-hour continuous playback time.
See our Sports/Fitness Recommendations
6.9 Office
TheSkullcandy Dime 2 are okay for office use. They have a decently comfortable fit and are well-built. They can also block out ambient chatter well so that you can focus on your work, and they don't leak very much audio at high volumes. However, they only last for around 3.3 hours of continuous use, which won't last through your workday unless you charge them up again. Their portable case holds about 2.4 additional charges.
Pros
-
Well-built and decently comfortable.
-
Decent noise isolation performance.
Cons
-
3.3-hour continuous playback time.
-
No sound customization features.
See our Office Recommendations
5.4 Wireless Gaming
TheSkullcandy Dime 2 are Βluetooth headphones that can't connect to PlayStation or Xbox consoles. You can use them with Βluetooth-compatible PCs, but their latency is too high for them to be suitable for gaming. Their latency with Android and iOS devices is pretty low, which is good if you're interested in mobile gaming.
See our Wireless Gaming Recommendations
5.3 Wired Gaming
TheSkullcandy Dime 2 are Bluetooth-only headphones; you can't use them wired.
6.5 Phone Calls
TheSkullcandy Dime 2 are just okay for phone calls. Their integrated mic has a decent recording quality, so your voice sounds clear to whoever you're talking to. However, the mic struggles to separate your voice from ambient sound, so your voice can be drowned out by background noise. The buds can passively block out some background noise like chit-chat but won't effectively cut out the sound of rumbling engines, so it can be difficult to hear calls you make from noisy places.
Pros
-
Decent recording quality.
Cons
-
Sub-par noise handling.
- 7.5 Neutral Sound
- 7.5 Commute/Travel
- 8.0 Sports/Fitness
- 6.9 Office
- 5.4 Wireless Gaming
- 5.3 Wired Gaming
- 6.5 Phone Calls
+ Create your own
- Updated Dec 14, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless in Bluetooth.
- Updated Oct 02, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Skullcandy Smokin' Buds/Buds XT True Wireless in Battery.
- Updated Jul 21, 2023: Made minor edits to the text to bring it up to date.
- Updated Feb 02, 2023: We've included mentions of two new colourways, 'Dark Blue/Green' and 'Doritos Red', in the "Differences Between Variants" section as well as in "Style".
- Updated Mar 08, 2022: Review published.
- Updated Mar 02, 2022: Early access published.
- Updated Feb 17, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Feb 11, 2022: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Feb 05, 2022: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Skullcandy Dime 2 come in four color variants: 'Black', 'Light Grey/Blue', 'Dark Blue/Green', and a limited edition 'Doritos Red'colorway released in collaboration with the chip brand. We tested the 'Black' variant; you can see our model's labelhere.
There's also another variant of these earbuds, the Skullcandy Dime XT 2 True Wireless, which the manufacturer advertises to have an improved hinge on the case and support Bluetooth version 5.2. The manufacturer also advertises them to support 'Personal Sound', a Skullcandy feature that adjusts the sound based on a hearing test. We don't know if they perform differently, and our results are only valid for the original Dime 2.
If you encounter another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Headphones
The Skullcandy Dime 2 are the next generation of theSkullcandy Dime True Wireless. They now support Tile, which lets you track down your budsusing anapp if you misplace them. They also have a standby mode to help conserve battery life when not in use. However, their continuous battery life of under 3.5 hours is short even compared to other inexpensive buds, like the Skullcandy Jib Wireless and the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless.
Check out our picks for the best cheap earbuds, the best wireless earbuds under $50, and the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds.
Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless
The Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wirelessare a slight improvement on the Skullcandy Dime 2 True Wireless. While they have a similar design and portability, the Dime 3 have a far longer continuous battery life and feature multi-point Bluetooth connectivity, so you can connect them to two devices simultaneously. They also have a more neutral bass and mid response, with built-in EQ presets. However, the Dime 2 have a better noise isolation performance and a more accurate treble response and can connect to the Skullcandy app.
Compare Side-by-Side
SEE OUR REVIEW
JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless
The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless are better in-ears than the Skullcandy Dime 2 True Wireless. While both headphones are well-built, the JLab are more comfortable andhave three EQ presets built-in, and their integrated mic has a better overall performance. Their battery performance is better. However, the Skullcandy have a more neutral sound profile.
Compare Side-by-Side
SEE OUR REVIEW
Skullcandy Sesh Evo True Wireless
The Skullcandy Sesh Evo True Wireless and the Skullcandy Dime 2 True Wirelessare similarly performing in-ear headphones. While both headphones are well-built, the Sesh Evo are more comfortable, can block more background noise, and have longer continuous battery life. However, the Dime 2 have a standby mode to conserve battery life when you're not using them. They also support Tile,a secondary app that allows you to track your earbuds if you lose them.
Compare Side-by-Side
SEE OUR REVIEW
Skullcandy Dime True Wireless
The Skullcandy Dime 2 True Wirelessare the next generation of the Skullcandy Dime True Wireless. They now support Tile,a secondary app that allows you to track your buds if you misplace them, and they have a standby mode to help conserve battery life when you're not using them. However,both models otherwise perform similarly.
Compare Side-by-Side
SEE OUR REVIEW
Skullcandy Indy Evo True Wireless
The Skullcandy Dime2True Wirelessare slightly more versatile in-ears than the Skullcandy Indy Evo True Wireless. The Dime 2 have a more neutral sound profile and better overall battery performance. However, the Indy Evoare more comfortableandhave three EQ presets built-in.
Compare Side-by-Side
SEE OUR REVIEW
Skullcandy Jib True Wireless
The Skullcandy Jib True Wireless and the Skullcandy Dime 2 True Wirelessoffer similar performances. While both headphones are well-built, theJib True are more comfortable,block out more ambient sound, and have a longer continuous battery life. The Dime 2 have a more neutral sound profile, and they support Tile,a secondary app that lets you track your headphones if you lose them.
Compare Side-by-Side
SEE OUR REVIEW
Skullcandy Smokin' Buds/Buds XT True Wireless
The Skullcandy Dime 2 True Wirelessand theSkullcandy Smokin' Buds/Buds XT True Wirelessare similar budget in-ears for everyday use with a few small differences. The Dime 2 have a more balanced sound overall, with accurate bass performance and a treble response that is less harsh than the Smokin' Buds. Both headphones are lightweight, comfortable, and stable, making them good choices for fitness and sports use. However, the Smokin' Buds' 8-hour continuous battery life is significantly better than the 3.5 hours of playtime from the Dime 2, making them a better fit for on-the-go use. However, if you're prone to misplacing your earbuds, the Dime 2 have the useful Tile feature, which allows you to locate a lost earbud via a smartphone app.
Compare Side-by-Side
SEE OUR REVIEW
+ Show more
Test Results
Design
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Truly Wireless
Transducer Dynamic
The Skullcandy Dime 2 look identical to the Skullcandy Dime True Wireless with a simple, non-descript style. There's a brand logo on each stem. Unlike the previous generation, they only come in four color variants: 'Black', 'Light Grey/Blue', 'Dark Blue/Green', and a limited edition 'Doritos Red'.
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6.5 Design
Weight 0.02 lbs
Clamping Force
The Skullcandy Dime 2 are fairly comfortable. They don't put much pressure inside your ear and come with three differently-sized pairs of ear tips to help you get the best fit. They have a deep in-ear fit, and their design is a bit bulky, which can put pressure on your ear. You need to hold the bud in place when using the controls to avoid putting additional pressure on your ear.
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LEARN ABOUT COMFORT
6.6 Design
OS Compatibility
Ease Of Use Decent
Feedback Good
Call/Music Control Yes
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control No
Channel Mixing
Noise Cancelling Control No
Talk-Through
Additional Controls Voice Assistant
The controls are okay. Like the Skullcandy Dime True Wireless, most controls can be done on either bud. There's audio feedback when pairing, connecting, and disconnecting the buds. There are chimes to let you know when you've reached min and max volume, although it's the same sound used for both extremes. However, the buttons aren't very clicky, and using the controls can put pressure on your ear. You must press the controls a few times to adjust the volume.
On the left earbud:
- Double press: Lowers the volume.
- Press and hold for one second: Restarts the track. Also returns to the previous track.
On the right earbud:
- Double press: Raises the volume.
- Press and hold for one second: Skips the track forward.
On either earbud:
- Single press: Plays and pauses audio. Also answers and ends a call.
- Triple press: Activates your phone's voice assistant.
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LEARN ABOUT CONTROLS
9.5 Design
L 1.5" (3.8 cm)
W 1.0" (2.5 cm)
H 0.9" (2.3 cm)
Volume 1.40 in³ (23.00 cm³)
Transmitter Required No
Like most earbuds, they have a small, lightweight design and easily fit into most pockets. They also come with a small carrying case that can fit into most pockets and bags without issue.
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LEARN ABOUT PORTABILITY
7.5 Design
Type Hard case
L 2.5" (6.4 cm)
W 1.5" (3.8 cm)
H 0.8" (2.0 cm)
Volume 2.99 in³ (49.00 cm³)
They come with a small, lightweight case. Two openings on the lid allow you to see the buds. However, when the lid's closed, you can't see the battery light on the buds. There's also a small LED light on the case near the charging port, which lets you know when the case is charging.
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LEARN ABOUT CASE
7.5 Design
They have a good build quality, like their predecessor, the Skullcandy Dime True Wireless. They're mostly made of plastic, which feels solid and durable. They're also certified IPX4 for resistance against splashes of water. However, the ear tips seem prone to ripping with continuous use.
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LEARN ABOUT BUILD QUALITY
7.5 Design
These headphones have good stability. Even though they stick out of your ears and lack stability fins, they stay in place. They won't fall out of your ears during a run in the park or if you're listening to audio at your desk.
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LEARN ABOUT STABILITY
Design
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Design
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Design
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Design
- Skullcandy Dime 2 earbuds
- Charging case
- Micro-USB to USB-A charging cable
- 3x tip size options
- Manuals
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Sound
Bass Amount
Treble Amount
They have a slightly bass-rich sound profile that adds a bit of extra boom and warmth to mixes. That said, it doesn't overwhelm vocals and lead instruments, so they're suitable for a variety of audio content. However, they lack customization features, and you can't adjust their sound to suit your tastes.
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LEARN ABOUT SOUND PROFILE
8.5 Sound
Avg. Std. Deviation
The Skullcandy Dime 2 have excellent frequency response consistency. Once you get a proper fit using the provided ear tips, you'll achieve consistent audio delivery each time you use them.
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LEARN ABOUT FREQUENCY RESPONSE CONSISTENCY
Sound
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LEARN ABOUT RAW FREQUENCY RESPONSE
8.8 Sound
Std. Err.
Low-Frequency Extension
Low-Bass
Mid-Bass
High-Bass
Their bass accuracy is excellent. The response is slightly overemphasized, so your music has a little extra rumble, punch, and body.
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LEARN ABOUT BASS ACCURACY
8.7 Sound
Std. Err.
Low-Mid
Mid-Mid
High-Mid
They have excellent mid accuracy. The response is fairly flat, so instruments like the Vienna horn and trumpets throughout the theme from Jurassic Park sound clear and intense. However, some overemphasis comes from the bass range into the low-mid, which muddies the mix a bit. Vocals in the first bridge of Norweigan Wood (This Bird Has Flown) by The Beatles sound a little cluttered alongside the sitar and acoustic guitar. A dip in the mid-mid also slightly nudges vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix.
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LEARN ABOUT MID ACCURACY
8.6 Sound
Std. Err.
Low-Treble
Mid-Treble
High-Treble
They have excellent treble accuracy. The low-treble is slightly recessed, so vocals and lead instruments are slightly veiled. However, sibilants like cymbals are bright but not piercing.
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LEARN ABOUT TREBLE ACCURACY
8.3 Sound
Peaks
Dips
Their peaks and dips performance is great. A peak in the high-bass to low-mid affects the right driver a little more prominently, adding boom and some muddiness to mixes. A dip in the mid-mid also affects the right driver more than the left, nudging vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix. A few small dips in the low-treble slightly veil vocals and lead instruments, while the dip and peak in the mid-treble make sibilants like S and T sounds alternatingly dull and piercing.
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LEARN ABOUT PEAKS/DIPS
9.1 Sound
Weighted Group Delay
Weighted Phase Mismatch
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
They have an outstanding imaging performance. Most Skullcandy headphones we've tested have good imaging, indicating the brand's quality control and ergonomics. The weighted group delay for our unit falls below the audibility threshold, resulting in a tight bass and transparent treble. Also, the L/R drivers of our unit are well-matched in frequency, amplitude, and phase response, which is important for the accurate placement of objects, like instruments and voices, in the stereo image. Although there's a small peak in the phase response's mid-mid, which skews a little to the right, it's not very audible with real-life content. However, keep in mind that imaging can vary between units.
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LEARN ABOUT IMAGING
0.8 Sound
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
PRTF Size (Avg.)
PRTF Distance
Openness 3.0
Acoustic Space Excitation 0.5
These buds have a terrible passive soundstage performance, which is on par with in-ear headphones. One of the key components in creating a large and speaker-like passive soundstage is that the outer ear activates with sound. However, their design bypasses your outer ear. As a result, sound seems like it's coming from inside your head rather than from speakers placed in the room around you.
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LEARN ABOUT PASSIVE SOUNDSTAGE
0 Sound
Head Modeling
Speaker Modeling
Room Ambience
Head Tracking
Virtual Surround
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LEARN ABOUT VIRTUAL SOUNDSTAGE
7.9 Sound
WHD @ 90
WHD @ 100
The weighted harmonic distortion performance is very good. There are a couple of peaks in the treble range at normal listening volumes, but they're minor and won't be noticeable with real-life content. All frequencies fall within good limits, producing clear and pure audio reproduction.
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LEARN ABOUT WEIGHTED HARMONIC DISTORTION
Sound
Firmware
Power
Connection
Codec
EQ
ANC
Tip/Pad
Microphone
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LEARN ABOUT TEST SETTINGS
7.0 Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
Noise Cancelling No
Bass
Mid
Treble
They have a decent noise isolation performance. They don't have ANC but do a good job of passively blocking out higher-pitched sounds like background chit-chat or the hum of an A/C unit. They can block out bass-range noise like rumbling engines, but not very well.
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LEARN ABOUT NOISE ISOLATION
9.6 Isolation
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
They have an outstanding leakage performance. They don't leak much audio at high volumes. If you're listening to your favorite songs at a high volume, others around you won't hear it unless you're in a quiet environment.
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LEARN ABOUT LEAKAGE
Microphone
Integrated
In-Line
Boom
Detachable Boom
Mic Yes
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LEARN ABOUT MICROPHONE STYLE
7.1 Microphone
Recorded Speech
LFE
FR Std. Dev.
HFE
Weighted THD
Gain
The integrated mic has a decent recording quality. Your voice sounds clear and understandable but lacks body and seems a little unnatural.
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LEARN ABOUT RECORDING QUALITY
5.6 Microphone
SpNR
Noise Gate
Speech + Pink Noise Handling 6.0
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
Speech + Subway Noise Handling 5.0
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample
The mic has a sub-par noise handling performance. It struggles to separate your voice from background noise. Your voice can be drowned out if you're taking a call from a noisy environment like a busy street.
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LEARN ABOUT NOISE HANDLING
6.2 Active Features
Battery Type
Continuous Battery Life
Additional Charges
Total Battery Life
Charge Time
Power-Saving Feature
Audio While Charging
Passive Playback
Charging Port micro-USB
They have a mediocre battery performance. They last for just around 3.3 hours of continuous use, just under the advertised 3.5 hours, although battery life can vary depending on usage. The battery won't last you through long days on the go, but their carrying case holds roughly 2.4 additional charges if you need it and you can also use one bud while the other charges. If that's not enough for you, you can check out the Skullcandy Smokin' Buds/Buds XT True Wireless, which have a continuous battery life of 8 hours. Thankfully the second Dime version have a standby mode that helps conserve battery life when you're not using them, which is an upgrade on the original Skullcandy Dime True Wireless.
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LEARN ABOUT BATTERY
4.0 Active Features
App Name Skullcandy
iOS Yes
Android Yes
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
ANC Control
Mic Control No
Room Effects
Playback Control
Button Mapping No
Surround Support
The Skullcandy app is poor. It doesn't offer many features, and there isn't an EQ or presets to help you customize their sound. That said, you can see the battery and volume levels as well as the firmware version. You can also check out the FAQ section and register your buds. If you lose them, you can find your buds via Tile, but you need to download this app separately.
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LEARN ABOUT APP SUPPORT
6.7 Connectivity
Bluetooth Version
Multi-Device Pairing
NFC Pairing
Line Of Sight Range
PC Latency (SBC)
PC Latency (aptX)
PC Latency (aptX HD)
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
iOS Latency
Android Latency
Their Bluetooth performance is okay. While they don't support multi-device or NFC pairing like the Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless, they have fairly low latency on iOS and Android devices, so they're suitable for streaming videos on your phone. However, their PC latency is much higher, so you'll notice that your audio and video are out of sync. Some apps and devices compensate for latency, though.
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LEARN ABOUT BLUETOOTH
0 Connectivity
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
Non-BT Latency
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LEARN ABOUT NON-BLUETOOTH WIRELESS
0 Connectivity
Analog Audio
USB Audio
Detachable No
Length N/A
Connection
Analog/USB Audio Latency
You can only use these headphones wirelessly. They come with a micro-USB to USB-C cable to charge their carrying case.
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LEARN ABOUT WIRED
Connectivity
Analog
Wired USB
Non-BT Wireless
These buds are only compatible with Bluetooth-enabled PCs. You can't connect them in any other way.
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Connectivity
PS4 Analog
PS4 Wired USB
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
PS5 Analog
PS5 Wired USB
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
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LEARN ABOUT PLAYSTATION COMPATIBILITY
Connectivity
Xbox One Analog
Xbox One Wired USB
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
Xbox Series X|S Analog
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
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LEARN ABOUT XBOX COMPATIBILITY
2.2 Connectivity
Type
USB Input
Line In
Line Out
Optical Input
RCA Input
Dock Charging
Power Supply
The Skullcandy Dime 2 come with a carrying case that supplies roughly 2.4 extra charges. There's a micro-USB input to recharge the case, but there aren't any other inputs.
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LEARN ABOUT BASE/DOCK
