a-JAYS Three review

Punchy, entertaining sound on a short volume leash Tested at £40

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

The Threes deliver an entertaining, musical performance – but only if you keep them on a short leash, volume-wise

Pros

  • +

    Compact

  • +

    clear vocals

  • +

    good with dynamics

  • +

    punchy, energetic sound

Cons

  • -

    Treble can get harsh

  • -

    not great over longer listening sessions

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.

The first thing you’ll notice about the a-JAYS Threes is their wide, flat cables.

As well as looking cool, they mean you won’t need to spend ten minutes cursing while you untangle them every time you get them out of your pocket. The right-angled plug means they’re afforded some protection when plugged in to a pocket-dwelling portable, too.

They do, however, transmit rather a lot of noise when you’re moving about. A quick straw-poll in the office drew compliments about the Threes’ fit – they aren’t too unwieldy, sitting just inside the ear canal and not protruding too far out in situ.

A-JAYS Three: Performance
In use there’s good news and bad news. Vocals are clear and up-front, and conveyed with ample energy and emotion. Likewise, there’s a nice, airy quality to string parts – Sibelius’ Night Ride and Sunrise, Op.55 was easy to follow, bringing up goose-bumps at all the appropriate moments.

Large dynamic shifts are dispatched without trouble, too, and the Threes don’t get bogged down during complicated rhythm parts. It’s the high-frequency performance, though, that docks the Jays those two stars.

Increase the volume, or play something that’s a little strident in the top-end and the Threes’ character changes from amiably musical to slightly coarse and lairy, which quickly gets tiring.

A-JAYS Three: Verdict
You wouldn’t want to have them in your lugs for an entire London-to-Edinburgh train journey, put it that way. That said, though, these are far from the worst earbuds we've tested.

If you rein in the volume (and don’t listen to surf music), you’ll get a punchy, entertaining sound.

See all our headphone Best Buys

Follow whathifi.com on Twitter

Join whathifi.com on Facebook

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.


Read more about how we test