Jays q-JAYS review

One of the smallest in-ear design around, the q-Jays are hugely effective, sounding good and weighing next to nothing Tested at £130.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Hugely effective, the q-Jays sound good and weigh nothing. Only the premium price sounds a false note

Pros

  • +

    Tiny

  • +

    full-throated sound

  • +

    effective noise cancellation

Cons

  • -

    Cheaper rivals

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Just like good or evil, United or City and medium or well-done, the size of one's headphones tends to be a particularly personal choice.

Jays, Swedish headphone specialist, knows which side of the fence it's on. Its new q-Jays are, apparently, the smallest in-ear design around.

Despite their tiny dimensions, the q-Jays incorporate two drivers per ear. The size also reduces these 'phones' weight: the q-Jays are among the few in-ear designs we've tested that don't feel as if they're obeying gravity and dragging at your ears.

Among the extensive collection of accessories are six differently sized pair of silicon rubber sleeves to ensure (a) a good fit and (b) effective reduction of background noise.

Small product, powerful sound
Powerful, punchy and detailed, the q-Jays are accomplished enough to reveal when your songs are suffering for their compression ratio. Grandaddy's He's Simple, He's Dumb, He's the Pilot sounds excellent as an Apple Loss-less file: spacious, well-integrated and natural.

The same song at 128kbps sounds very compressed.

For out-and-out quality-per-quid, we think the q-Jays are a fraction expensive. However, there's no denying the quality of their sound – if you're the type of person who doesn't like in-ear 'phones, these lightweight in-ears are for you.

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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