Closer Examination, Build Quality, and Comfort

Much like its predecessor, the Sharkoon Skiller SGH10 is based on a suspended headband design. The outer headband consists of two rails, likely made from metal, wrapped in rubber. They connect the ear cups with each other and keep the whole contraption together. The inner headband – the one that comes into contact with the head – is suspended on a pair of plastic ribbons, and can stretch as necessary to accommodate various head sizes. Both sides of the inner headband are padded, and the headset itself is reasonably light, so you won't even feel the inner headband touching your head.


The overall wearing comfort is in fact the strongest aspect of the Skiller SGH10. Although the cloth ear pads aren't particularly soft or in any way refined, the clamping force is very modest, which is why the Skiller SGH10 can be worn for multiple hours at a time. The clamping force isn't so light that it would cause significant stability issues; unless you shake your head violently, the headset stays put. As for the removable cloth ear pads, you already know the story: they allow for better air circulation, but leak more sound in both directions.


The plastic ear cups look like they're perforated, but the faux cutouts are there only for aesthetics. This is a traditional closed-back headset. Both ear cups are additionally decorated with a metal shield with a printed Sharkoon logo.


The detachable omnidirectional microphone's arm is covered with a chain of metal rings. Positioning the head of the microphone in any preferred way without concern that it won't stay in place is easily done. The capsule is covered with a windscreen, which makes it look more professional.


The 1.1-meter, braided, black-and-blue audio cable is affixed to the left ear cup. It is terminated with a single 3.5-mm 4-pole (TRRS) connector, which you can connect to devices with a single combined 3.5-mm audio output/input. Think smartphones, tablets, gaming handhelds, laptops, and your console's gamepad. If you're looking to connect the Skiller SGH10 to a device with a separate microphone input and headphone output, such as your PC, that's where the supplied 1.4-meter Y-splitter comes in.

Where are the volume knob and the microphone mute switch, you might ask? Unfortunately, they're completely absent. The Skiller SGH1 had a fairly large in-line remote control on the Y-splitter, but that was removed on its successor. If you want to adjust the volume or mute the microphone, you have to use the controls on the device the headset is connected to. I think it was a mistake to remove those rudimentary controls; I'd prefer to keep them, even if that means I'd have to pay a couple of euros more.