How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-21 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Plugfones Guardian's biggest strength: It's a hybrid earplug-earbud with an ANSI-certified 27–29 dB noise reduction rating (NRR), so it's built to protect your hearing in genuinely loud environments — not just block some background noise.
• Plugfones Guardian's biggest trade-off: It's a purpose-built work tool with a bulky blue-and-yellow look and a wired connection, so it isn't the sleek, casual earbud most people want for commuting or the gym.
• Skullcandy Ink'd's biggest strength: Lightweight, comfortable and universal — a 3.5mm jack, built-in microphone and in-line controls make it a simple grab-and-go earbud for everyday listening and calls.
• Skullcandy Ink'd's biggest trade-off: Its noise control is passive isolation only, with no certified protection rating, so it won't do much against sustained industrial noise.
• Who each pick is for: Plugfones Guardian for people who work around loud machinery and need protection plus audio; Skullcandy Ink'd for casual listeners who want cheap, easy wired earbuds with a mic.
The Guardian is the rare product that treats hearing protection as the headline feature rather than an afterthought. Its core claim is an ANSI-certified NRR of 27 and 29 dB, which is the kind of rating that puts it in OSHA-approved territory for noisy workplaces. That single spec separates it from almost every consumer earbud. Most earbuds "isolate" noise by sealing your ear canal; the Guardian is engineered as an earplug first and a headphone second, which is why it earns a place on a construction site, in a factory, in a warehouse, or on a motorcycle.
It also leans hard into durability. The listing calls out sweat resistance and a double-reinforced audio jack — two failure points that kill ordinary earbuds fast when they're yanked out of a pocket or snagged on equipment. The Guardian ships with a real kit: one pair each of foam and silicone tips, a waterproof storage case, a cable clip and a quick-start guide. The interchangeable tips matter because foam and silicone seal differently, and being able to swap them lets you dial in both comfort and how much noise you block.
Who should buy it? Anyone whose job or hobby puts them next to sustained loud noise and who wants music, podcasts or radio while staying protected. Landscapers, manufacturing workers, and tradespeople are the obvious fits. Who should skip it? If your listening happens on a quiet bus or at a desk, the heavy-duty design is more than you need, and the blue-and-yellow earplug styling is unmistakably work gear rather than a fashion accessory. In my opinion, buy this for the protection first and the audio second.
Skullcandy's Ink'd is the classic wired everyday earbud, and it knows exactly what it is. The design is lightweight, with a rounded-tip in-ear shape and a plastic-and-silicone build that keeps it comfortable for long stretches. It includes small and medium ear gels so you can get a secure seal without much fuss. That seal is what gives it its noise-isolating character — it's passive isolation, meaning it simply reduces ambient noise by fitting your ear well rather than by any protective rating.
What makes the Ink'd genuinely practical is the connectivity and controls. It uses a standard 3.5mm AUX jack, so it plugs into laptops, phones, tablets, handheld consoles and older devices without adapters or pairing. There's a built-in microphone for hands-free calls and voice commands, plus an in-line remote for managing calls and playback. For anyone who takes meetings or answers calls on the go, that combination is the whole point.
Who should buy it? Casual listeners who want simple, affordable wired earbuds with a mic — students, commuters, office workers, and anyone whose device still has a headphone jack. Who should skip it? If you work around loud machinery and care about your hearing, the Ink'd won't cut it. Its passive isolation is fine for a noisy café or a plane, but it carries no certified reduction figure, so it can't stand in for real hearing protection. It's also a lighter-duty product overall, without the reinforced jack or ruggedized build the Guardian advertises.
• Best for hearing protection → Plugfones Guardian Earplug Headphones. The 27–29 dB NRR is the deciding spec here; the Ink'd has no equivalent rating.
• Best for calls and voice commands → Skullcandy Ink'd. The built-in microphone and in-line remote make it the more convenient choice for talking, not just listening.
• Best for loud workplaces → Plugfones Guardian Earplug Headphones. OSHA-approved protection plus sweat resistance and a reinforced jack are aimed squarely at industrial use.
• Best for everyday commuting and casual listening → Skullcandy Ink'd. Lightweight, universal and simple, with small and medium ear gels for a comfortable fit.
• Best for fit customization → Plugfones Guardian Earplug Headphones. You get both foam and silicone tips, which is more flexibility than the Ink'd's two ear-gel sizes.
• Best for durability under rough handling → Plugfones Guardian Earplug Headphones. The double-reinforced audio jack and waterproof case are built for abuse the Ink'd isn't.
• Best for travel convenience → Skullcandy Ink'd. Lighter and simpler, with no extra kit to keep track of.
• Best overall for most people → Skullcandy Ink'd. If you don't need certified noise reduction, it covers the basics — audio, calls and controls — in one straightforward package.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the Plugfones Guardian Earplug Headphones — but only if noise is the reason you're shopping. The certified 27–29 dB NRR, the OSHA-approved framing, the sweat resistance and the reinforced jack make it a genuinely different class of product from a standard earbud, and for anyone working around loud equipment that protection is worth more than any convenience feature. For everyone else — commuters, students, casual listeners who just want wired earbuds with a mic — I'd recommend the Skullcandy Ink'd instead, because it's simpler, lighter and better suited to everyday use. In my opinion, this isn't a close call once you know which job you're hiring the earbuds to do.
FAQ
Yes. It has a built-in microphone plus an in-line remote for call and track control, so you can take calls and manage playback without touching your phone.
Both are in-ear designs, but they approach comfort differently. The Guardian ships with foam and silicone tips so you can find the seal that suits you, while the Ink'd includes small and medium ear gels. Which feels better comes down to your ears and how long you wear them.
Prices change, and I don't quote them here. Use the "Check latest price on Amazon" button on this page to see the current cost of whichever one fits your needs, then compare that against what each product actually does for you.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.