Sound Quality: Xiaomi Redmi Buds 5 Pro vs. Skullcandy Indy ANC
The Redmi Buds 5 Pro delivers bass-forward sound with better overall balance and clarity, while the Indy ANC goes even heavier on bass to the point where it muddies everything else and makes vocals feel buried. Both emphasize low-end punch, but the Redmi manages to keep midrange and treble intact enough that you can still hear lyrics clearly and appreciate instrumental details, something the Indy ANC struggles with due to its overwhelming bass presence.
The Redmi’s tuning feels more refined—yes, there’s plenty of bass for EDM and hip-hop, but it doesn’t completely dominate the sound signature like Skullcandy’s approach does. The Indy ANC might excite bass lovers initially, but its lack of balance becomes fatiguing quickly and makes anything that isn’t bass-heavy music sound recessed and unclear. The Redmi also offers better ANC performance that actually blocks noise effectively, while the Indy ANC’s noise cancellation feels more basic. App-based customization is more useful on the Redmi since you’re starting with a better foundation rather than trying to fix fundamentally unbalanced tuning.
Verdict: What should you buy?
Choose the Redmi Buds 5 Pro if you want bass-forward sound that’s still balanced enough for all genres, appreciate better ANC, are in Xiaomi’s ecosystem, and value overall audio clarity. Pick the Indy ANC only if you’re a devoted Skullcandy fan who specifically wants that extreme bass emphasis regardless of how it affects everything else.
The Redmi Buds 5 Pro is the clear winner here—it gives you satisfying bass without sacrificing clarity and works better across different music types. The Indy ANC’s one-dimensional focus on bass makes it less versatile and honestly less enjoyable unless you exclusively listen to bass-heavy genres and don’t care about hearing anything else properly.