Jays u-Jays

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In an old brewery in central Stockholm, Sweden there is a company making headphones. That in itself is enough to gain my interest! Founded in 2006 Jays set out with a goal "to create great music experiences that everyone could enjoy and love". In order to achieve this they claim to "to stay true to our core value of simplicity in everything we do, in order to make products that are beautiful, easy to use and are built to last". So today I'm looking at the u-JAYS closed back on-ear headphones. These are gorgeous to look at and according to the company are durable, comfortable and sound pretty good. Could it be true? Read on to find out.
 
Disclaimer:
 
This product was sent to me for the purpose of this review. I'm not affiliated with the company in any way and all opinions and observations here are my own, based on my experience with the product. I'd like to thank Josefina and Jays for the opportunity to test the u-JAYS on-ear headphones.
 
Jays website: https://www.jaysheadphones.com/
 
u-JAYS product page: https://www.jaysheadphones.com/products/u-jays/
 
Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/JAYS-u-JAYS-ear-iOS-Headphones/dp/B01DKT0XYU
 
Specifications:
 

1. Weight: 224 g (7.9 oz)
2. Type: JAYS 40 mm dynamic
3. Sensitivity: 100 db SPL @ 1 kHz
4. Impedance: 32 Ohm @ 1 kHz
5. Frequency responce: 10-20,000 Hz

 
Packaging and accessories:
 
My first thought when I picked up the u-JAYS box was "wow, heavy!" Immediately I was intrigued. The box is black with a simple image of the headphones on the front. Simple and sophisticated, just the way I like it. It looks kind of like the dark nemesis of an Apple product. On the back of the box is another image of the headphones along with some of the features and the specifications. These come in 4 colors: black, black and gold, white, white and gold. I have the black and gold version.
 

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Opening up the box (which folds open like a large book) is an experience in itself. Inside we find the headphones with the cups detached, the 135 cm (53 in) removable cable with remote and microphone, a fabric carrying bag and a multi-language user manual. The manual is of a high quality and includes many different languages and it's pretty large as a result. This is partly the reason why the box felt so heavy. The other reason is the density of the foam in which the headphones are stored. More high quality stuff and it would take some very serious punishment before the headphones were at risk of being damaged. So far so good.
 

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The cable is thick yet supple, is resistant to tangles and 'sits' well when wearing the headphones. The in-line controls have easily defined buttons and seem to work well. The microphone is also pretty decent and worked as intended.
 

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Build and comfort:
Once the headphones and ear-cups have been removed from the box you'll need to attach the ear-cups. This is a very simple process of just putting them on and twisting to lock them on. It feels very secure and there's no way the cups will come off unintentionally.
 

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The headband is a stainless steel core covered in silicone. All the wires are encased within the frame. Very simple yet elegant and strong as there are less separate parts to reduce risk of damage. On the underside is an area with some extra padding to reduce pressure on the top of your head. The headband has good flexibility and therefore the clamping force is sufficient without being uncomfortable. The arms of the headband are covered in a solid plastic that is well matched color and texture wise to the silicone giving the headphones a cohesive appearance.
 

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The ear-cups are a solid and fairly thick plastic that makes me want to use the durable word again. They can be rotated 90 degrees one way and almost as far in the other direction so they're great for wearing around your neck while you're not listening to them. These headphones look fantastic in my opinion, understated and classy. The pleather ear-pads are very soft and added with the low clamping force make for a comfortable experience. Isolation is pretty ordinary and I would have liked to see the ear-pads slightly thicker to make them even more comfortable and block out a bit more external noise.
 
Sound:
 
Sources used for testing:
 
NiNTAUS X10
FiiO X1 II
PC > JRiver Media Center > Micca OriGen+
 
I'm happy to say that along with their build quality and pleasing aesthetics the u-JAYS also sound fantastic. They're nicely balanced with a smooth, textured bass with enough grunt to get your feet tapping. Sub-bass has great extension but never gets overbearing and allows the mids to shine. The mid-range is clear and articulated and oozing with naturalness. Separation is very good and vocals have good definition and realism. The highs on the u-JAYS bring a sense of air and detail, are incredibly smooth and never get splashy. In Miles Davis' "Perfect Way" all the different sections of the song meld together but you can still hear each individual sound. High horn notes can often be an area of sensitivity to me but the u-JAYS have a smooth but energetic presentation that's very easy to listen to for prolonged periods of time. Soundstage and imaging are also handled very well with an openness and positional accuracy. The kick drums in "Hem" by Mathias Eick are particularly meaty and have a satisfying thump with the u-JAYS.
 
Comparisons:
 
These are the only on-ear headphones I have at the moment because I have never been a fan of them in the past. Since testing these though, I'm now very interested to delve deeper into this type of headphone as I find the u-JAYS comfortable and very competent when it comes to sound. Hopefully I will be able to update this section at a later time.
 

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Conclusion:
 
The u-JAYS are a great looking pair of headphones that have fantastic build quality for their asking price. They're currently available for just $119 on Amazon which I think is a steal, especially when I think about the equivalent you get for IEMs in the same price range. They're build really well and are more comfortable than most other on-ears that I've tried in the past. With a textured, impactul but balanced bass, clear, engaging mid-range and smooth yet detailed treble they have a mature but still lively sound signature that is better than you'd probably expect for the modest expense. If you're into on-ear headphones I seriously recommend you get your hands on some of these as I believe to get the same quality sound you would normally have to pay quite a bit more.

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The Jays u-Jays On-Ear Headphone:
 

                           
 
**Disclaimer – I would like to thank Peter from Jays for providing a sample unit of the u-Jays in return for my honest review**
 
[Product Link]:  www.jays.se/u-jays
 
 
Before I get into how amazing the u-Jays look or how incredibly well they are put together they are, I want to touch on something else…

I just LOVE that Jays decided to release three different OS versions.  I know it is just as simple as throwing in a different cable, but the fact that it can be ordered for Android, Windows or iOS is just wonderful. 

I’m an Android user.  I don’t hate Apple; it is just that it is not the system that works best for my needs.  Too often I find manufactures will only release products that are tailored for iOS.  So, yes some of the functions will work, but then others won’t.  In almost all of Jays product line, there are multiple versions so Android users can eat their cake too.  It is such a treat to have a Headphone with dedicated Android controls.
 

 
                        
 
*Specifications*

Driver - JAYS 40 mm dynamic
Sensitivity - 100 dB SPL @ 1 kHz
Impedance - 32 Ohm @ 1 kHz
Frequency Response - 10 - 20 000 Hz
Weight - 224 g (7.9 oz)
 
 
 
*Content/Packaging*
 
u-Jays On-Ear Headphones
Removable Ear Pads
Detachable Cable (Either - Windows/Android/IOS)
Drawstring Pouch
User Manual
 

 
 
 
*Build/Design*
 
If I could describe the u-Jays in one word, it would be: Solid.  Just during the unboxing I could feel how sturdy the whole build was.  The box had a good weight to it and so do the u-Jay headphones.  Once you open up the case, you find the u-Jays headband and drivers separated from the removable ear pads.  Firmly screw the ear pads onto the drivers and you will feel a satisfying [click] as they are locked into place.

The ear pads themselves are firm, yet supple.  The viscoelastic material is leather-like in both feel and looks.  To the touch, that ear pads are as premium as they look. 

The headband is covered with a hard rubber like substance that is great for gripping with the hand and feels like it could take quite the beating before it showed any signs of wear.
One slight issue, is that the R (right) and L (left) are marked very small and kind of hard to see.  Once you figure out the cable goes on the right, you should be all set, but before that, I kept squinting to see which side was which.

The drivers are placed with precision and skill.  There are no traces of blemishes or imperfections; they are perfect (and smaller than I thought they would be for 40mm).  The whole package is tight and well put together. 

Overall, as you can see from the photos, the u-Jay is a beautiful, well build headphone.
 

 
 
 
*Fit/Comfort*

On-Ear can be a tricky design.  Here I think Jays did a good job, but even with the adjustable headband and nice leatherette pads, comfort can be hit or miss.  There is a decent amount of clamping and weight to the u-Jays which in return can lead to some minor discomfort over lengthy uses.  I found adjusting the headband can greatly increase both comfort and fit.  Because of the tighter fit, I did notice that my ears would get a bit warm after some time.

One size fits all, so for all, it might be a different fit.  I have a smaller head to go with my smaller 5’3” body, so those with larger heads will most likely have a different experience with fit.
 

 


*Use*
 
After I received the u-Jays and before I laid them down for their burn-in, I took them outside for a walk.  It was nice to not to have to hold the S4 in my hand and I was free to look around more than normal.  While I knew I could not test the u-Jays sound yet, I was excited to experiment with the cable controls and microphone. 

Before I actually played a single song, I realized I had forgotten to call my Mom back.  So I quickly dialed her number and luckily she picked up.  The u-Jays provided great isolation and crisp vocal reproduction.  I was able to hear my Mom loud and clear.  More importantly, even though I was outside with a bit of wind and traffic going by, she was able to hear me loud and clear in return.

My phone call lasted a little longer than I thought it would and I had walked about half mile before we said goodbye.  I decided at that point to turn around and finally play with the Android version controls.  I was able to start/stop with a click of the microphone button.  I could adjust the volume on the fly.  If I was not in the mood for the song playing through PowerAmp, all I had to do was two fast clicks of the microphone button and I was on to the next.  In contrast, if I needed to back up a track, three clicks of the microphone button would back me up to the last song.  I was happy to find everything worked as advertised and as expected.
 

 
 
 
*Sound*

Lows – I love how well the u-Jays handle down low.  They do so with ease and NEVER become bloated.  Instead, I would say that bass is very close to neutral, still having a small amount of sub-bass in the distance.  Mid-bass is on the smaller size.  The lows are quite wonderful and controlled.

Mids – Again, the u-Jays seemed to have found a decent middle ground, well in the mids.  While there is a good neutral tone, I did notice the slightest veil over vocals that give the u-Jays an easy going feel.  There is no rush to be found here in the middle, things are slowed down and smooth.

Highs – The upper frequencies are rolled off quite early; this could be due to the slight veil that is also found in the mids.  There is still plenty of detail to enjoy music reproduction.  People who are sensitive to highs are going to like the effortless top end.

Soundstage - Jays found a nice space for soundstage for a closed headphone.  It is not necessarily that wide, but there is enough separation to give the instruments their own area.

Isolation – With the firmer clamping and big on-ear pads, the u-Jays isolates rather well.  It would be quite easy for someone to sneak up on me without me knowing they were there. 
 

 
 
 
*Sources*

Samsung S4 – Ahh, my pride and joy.  I love my S4, it might be an older model now, by three generations, but I love it all the same.  The u-Jays were designed for smartphones and I found out right away that it played very nicely with my older Samsung.  Sound was full and bass seemed to be slightly elevated, though still in full control.  Mids took a little more of hit, but overall playback was still very much musical and enjoyable.
 
FiiO M3 – A bit of a step up from the S4, the little DAP was able to push the u-Jays a little harder and bring out some more detail.  I was kind of caught off guard on how well these two paired together.  I actually spent my most time with the M3 and u-Jays, as they are a fun pairing.
 
ORB JADE casa (system) –The ORB JADE casa system is the most neutral and accurate system I own, thus for all my main testing, I use this.  Playback is exactly as I described in the *Sound* section.
 
Head Box DS – As with other slightly darker or veiled headphones, the Head Box DS is able to push through to provide the most detail and clarity of any of my other sources.  There is a decent reduction in the bass, but in return, the mids and highs get a nice boost.  It is with this setup that got the best out of the u-Jays.
 

 
 
 
*Comparisons* 
 
I noticed that I really don’t own any other on ear headphones in this price range.  The u-Jays is up for $230 USD on Jays site.  Most others like the Music Hall De Be, Veho VEP-008-Z8 and I-MEGO MAZE all hover around $140 - $100 range.  The u-Jays easily best the Music Hall and Veho in every category, but has a little more trouble with the I-MEGO. 
 
Vs. the I-MEGO Maze, they are on an even playing field with overall presentation of sound.  The Maze has a little more of a V shaped signature, yet still has a tad more detail.  Both look very good in design, but the u-Jay has a clear advantage in toughness of build.  The Maze can be found for around $100 less than the Jays.  Both have removable cables and the same circular ear pads.  Both headphones can get warm and firm on the ears after a short amount of time.  The Maze has the ability to fold and is much lighter for portability.  While the u-Jays has the removable ear pad system which can help change up any issues that might arise over time. 
 

 
 
 
*Final Thoughts*
 
The u-Jays are a premium built on-ear headphone, that much is for certain.  It has a smooth signature, which is non-fatiguing and great for extended listening.  It has solid isolation to keep you one on one with your music.  Where the u-Jays lack a bit is in overall clarity. There is a slight veil throughout the spectrum, though they still stay musical and fun.
 
I could easy recommend these for travel with their easy going sound and ability to close off the world around you.  The u-Jays, with their three OS version cables also gives people on the go a lot more control with their music playback. 
 
Before I end this review, I want to jump back to the ear pads, the removable on ear pads.  While Jays has not confirmed anything is in the works, I think it would be highly beneficial to include or give the option for other pad types.  I would love to see an over ear version with velour pads.  While this would give up some isolation, I think it would help overall clarity, soundstage and comfort.
 
I do look forward to seeing what Jays have in store for the u-Jay.  Until then, I will continue to enjoy them for what they are.
 

 
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