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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-28 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Skullcandy Ink'd+ biggest strength: A noise-isolating in-ear fit with two ear gel sizes (S and M), an in-line mic plus call and track control, and a 10mm dynamic driver in a 3.5mm wired package.
• Skullcandy Ink'd+ biggest trade-off: The fit is only as good as the seal you get from the two supplied gel sizes, and the "wireless technology: Infrared" listing on the spec sheet is confusing rather than useful — treat this as a straight wired set.
• Sony MDREX155AP biggest strength: A wider stated frequency range (5Hz–24,000Hz), 9mm neodymium drivers, passive noise cancellation, and a remote that includes volume control.
• Sony MDREX155AP biggest trade-off: It comes as a pack of two with a Y-shaped 3.94 ft cord, so you're committing to a longer cable and a duplicate set rather than one simple pair.
• Pick Skullcandy Ink'd+ if you want a single travel pair with isolation, a 4 ft cable and a silicone carry case.
• Pick Sony MDREX155AP if you want two lightweight sets, a shorter Y-cord and a remote that controls volume.
The Ink'd+ is a wired in-ear earbud with a rounded-tip, in-ear shape and a nylon-and-silicone build. The headline spec is the noise-isolating fit: you get two ear gel sizes, small and medium, so you can dial in the seal that makes an in-ear design actually work. A 10mm dynamic driver handles a 20Hz–20kHz range at 16 ohm impedance, which is the sort of load almost any phone, laptop or tablet headphone jack can drive without drama.
The control story is the part that matters day to day. There's an in-line microphone for taking calls, and the remote handles play, pause and track skip. If you move between music and calls a lot — walking, commuting, working out — that single inline pod does the job without you touching the phone. The 3.5mm AUX plug means a direct connection every time, no pairing, no charging, no dropouts. A 4 ft cable is a sensible length for a phone in a pocket or a laptop on a desk, and Skullcandy includes a silicone and nylon carry case, which is the detail that keeps a pair of wired buds from turning into a knot at the bottom of a bag.
Sony MDREX155AP: Who It's For
The Sony MDREX155AP is a minimalist in-ear headset with silicone enclosures and a flexible 3.94 ft Y-shaped cord. The Y shape splits the cable to each ear rather than running one line up and over, which some people find sits more evenly and avoids the cable tugging on one side. It's light — the spec sheet lists 6.26 g — and it's sold as a pack of two, so you're effectively buying a spare or a second set for a bag, an office drawer or another family member.
Audio-wise, Sony states 9mm neodymium drivers covering a 5Hz–24,000Hz range at 16 ohm impedance. That's a wider stated frequency spread than the Ink'd+, and neodymium magnets are the standard approach for squeezing efficiency out of a small driver. The noise control is listed as passive noise cancellation, which is the physical kind: the silicone tips block outside sound rather than any electronics doing it. That's worth knowing, because it means the seal is doing all the work.
The remote includes volume control in addition to the integrated mic and smartphone playback control, so you can adjust loudness without pulling the phone out — a genuine convenience the Ink'd+ does not offer. Sony's own product note is also refreshingly honest: if the tips don't match your ear canals or the buds aren't worn properly, sound and call quality suffer, so plan on experimenting with tip fit. Skip this one if you want a single pair, a shorter cable, or a carry case included.
• Best for noise isolation → Skullcandy Ink'd+. It's explicitly built around a noise-isolating fit with two gel sizes; Sony's passive cancellation depends entirely on tip seal too, but Skullcandy leans into it as the core feature.
• Best for cable control → Sony MDREX155AP. Its remote adds volume control; the Ink'd+ remote covers play, pause, skip and calls only.
• Best for a single travel set → Skullcandy Ink'd+. One pair, 4 ft cable, silicone and nylon carry case, 3.5mm plug.
• Best for stated frequency range → Sony MDREX155AP. 5Hz–24,000Hz versus 20Hz–20kHz on the Ink'd+.
• Best for cable length flexibility → Sony MDREX155AP. Its 3.94 ft Y-cord is slightly shorter than the Ink'd+'s 4 ft straight cable, and the Y layout suits some wearers better.
• Best for driver size → Skullcandy Ink'd+. A 10mm dynamic driver versus Sony's 9mm neodymium driver — a bigger driver isn't automatically better, but it's the larger of the two.
• Best for gym and sport use → Skullcandy Ink'd+. Its listed theme is Fitness/Sports and the isolation helps in a noisy room.
My Verdict
I'd buy the Skullcandy Ink'd+. In my opinion the combination of an isolation-first fit, a real inline mic and track remote, a 4 ft cable and an included carry case makes it the more complete single-pair purchase for commuting, travel and workouts. The Sony MDREX155AP is a genuinely good alternative — wider stated frequency range, volume control on the remote and two sets in the box — and I'd pick it without hesitation if I wanted a spare pair or on-cable volume. But for one set I'd carry every day, the Ink'd+ fits the job better. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one number that can flip the decision either way.
how to clean in ear earbuds
Wipe the silicone tips and the nozzle with a dry, soft cloth, and remove any earwax gently — never push it further into the nozzle. Both the Ink'd+ ear gels and the Sony silicone tips are removable, so popping them off makes cleaning far easier. Let everything dry fully before refitting.
how to put in ear earbuds
Angle the tip into your ear canal and twist slightly as you seat it; the rounded-tip design on the Ink'd+ and the in-ear shape on the Sony both rely on that seal. Sony's own note is the key point here: if the tip size doesn't match your ear canals, sound and call quality drop off. Try both sizes until one feels snug without pressure.
how to fit in ear earbuds
Fit comes down to tip size and depth. The Ink'd+ includes small and medium gels, so start small and move up if the seal feels loose. On the Sony, the silicone tips do the same job — a snug tip is what makes its passive noise cancellation work at all.
how to ear earbuds
If you mean telling left from right, both sets are worn with one bud in each ear and the cable hanging down; the mic and remote pod sits on the cable near your mouth for calls. Seat them so the cable doesn't pull, and keep the inline controls within easy reach.
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