Reviews

a-JAYS One+ Earphones Review

 

If you’re an audiophile, you’ve probably heard about JAYS.  The brand has been around for quite some time now and has been in the market long enough to gather a certain level of recognition and some name recall.  The brand sells itself mainly because of good product quality, and it helps that the products are reasonably priced.  The brand is also responsible for making flat, tangle-free cables a popular option in earphones.

There are several JAYS products available in the market.  The a-JAYS One line is one of the cheapest, but certainly not the least impressive.  I’ve had the chance to review the a-JAYS One+ earphones.  It is a follow-up to the original a-JAYS One earphones, the main difference being the one-button remote with mic in the newer version.

Design, Features

a-JAYS One+ is being marketed as a pair of earphones that’s optimized for Android handsets.  However, it also works with Windows Phone and Apple’s iOS devices.   To make it work perfectly with Android, JAYS has made available for download an Android app called JAYS Headset Control that adds functionality to the earphone’s one-button remote with a built in mic.

In terms of design, the a-JAYS One+ is an attractive set of earphones.  It’s most distinctive feature is the tangle-free cable that’s also present in most JAYS products.   The cable is flat and coated with rubber, making it tangle-resistant.  The flat cable has gone through a lot in my test.  It has been inside my jeans pocket and my bag, and all other imaginable places.  It has therefore been mixed with a lot of other items and articles and in every situation, it easily untangles when it’s time for me to use it.  This feature is nice to have in a set of earphones since it also lessens the possibility of breaking the wires inside the rubber coating.

The design of the ear buds is edgy, pun intended.  Each ear bud is flat and tapered at the back where the flat cable joins it, giving it a chopped look.  The effect is nice, giving this pair of headphones a distinct feel.   The words “a-JAYS One+” in white print can be seen on the flat cable, right below the ear buds.   The remote button runs along one of the flat cables.  what I like about the ear buds on the a-JAYS One+ is they are not to intrusive.  They don’t go very deep into the ear so as to be uncomfortable.

Apart from the earphones, the package comes with up to five pairs of interchangeable silicone sleeves ranging in size from XXS to L.  This is designed to give the user the best possible earphone fit, something that’s essential not only for comfort but also for maximum sound isolation and optimum sound performance.  The silicone sleeves can be stored in the box where they have their individual storage slots.

Overall, I like the build of a-JAYS One+.  It looks and feels durable, and the materials used are obviously high quality.  This is a product that’s bound to satisfy would-be owners.

One-Button Remote

The a-JAYS One+ is not only ideal for listening to music, it is also ideal for use with handsets.  This set of earphones works specifically well with Android phones but as previously mentioned, it also words with the iPhone and Windows Phone devices.   The one-button remote with a built in mic works in two modes – as a control for music and as a control for calls on mobile devices.   Out of the box, the button can be used to control Play/Pause as well as Answer/Hang Up functions.   It worked well on my Samsung Galaxy Note, ably doing Play/Pause functions on the phone’s media player and also doing Answer/Hang Up functions during calls.  It has a built-in mic so you can use it to make calls on your handset.

The remote and mic of a-JAYS One+ work with most HTC, Samsung, BlackBerry, Sony, LG, Nokia Lumia Series, Motorola and Apple devices like the MacBook, iPhone, iPad and iPod.  The remote and mic are also compatible with most applications such as VOIP, Skype, iChat and other recording applications such as voice memo.  The remote works with your local music library as well as with streamed music or video content on your smartphone applications such as Spotify and YouTube.

The one-button remote does simple functions out of the box but with the JAYS Headset Control App for Android, the user will be able to add functions to the remote.   Using the app, the user can choose the Easy Mode or the Advanced Mode.   The Advanced Mode offers a host of options for button actions, settings, delays and extra features.   With this app you can now turn your a-JAYS One+ into a fully customized multi feature control. Change volume, skip songs, voice control and much more.  The JAYS Headset Control App is free to download from Google Play.

Here are screenshots of the app.

 

Sound Performance

The a-JAYS One+ is a very good pair of earphones.  For the price of Php3,099, I cannot find any pair of in-ear earphones that can match its audio performance.   The a-JAYS One+ comes loaded with a 8.6mm dynamic speaker.   The earphones are designed with the active user in mind as it is designed to efficiently block out ambient noise.  This makes it more ideal for use with a mobile phone.

a-Jays One+ Technical Specifications

Driver
Type 8.6 mm Dynamic Speaker
Sensitivity 95dB @ 1kHz
Impedance 16 Ohm @ 1kHz
Frequency Response 20 Hz – 18 000 Hz
Earphones
Finish Matte
Isolation -40dB @ 2kHz
Size (L)18.3 x (W)11.8 x (H)13.8 mm
Weight 14 grams (0.49 oz)
Cord
Type TPE coated flat tangle free cable
Size Width 5mm / Thickness 1.2mm
Length 115 cm (45 in)
Plug L-shaped, Silver-Plated Stereo Plug 3.5mm (1/8 in)
Remote
Controls 1 button remote
Mic Yes

 

The in-ear nature of these pair of earphones make it ideal for isolating noise.  The silicone sleeves make sure that the user gets the best sound isolation possible.   As you might have already guessed, I liked the sound isolation on the a-JAYS One+.  Unwanted external sound is sufficiently drowned out, without having to be too tight to create annoying sounds during movement.  I’ve had this unfortunate experience in other in-ear earphones and I’m glad the a-JAYS One+ does not have this problem.

As to sound performance, the a-JAYS One+ simply delivers.   Like I mentioned, I’m hard pressed to find any pair of in-ear earphones at the same price point that can match its audio performance.    The a-JAYS One+ almost matches the performance of on-ear cans.  It does not behave like small-sized earphones, it behaves like a bigger-sized cans.   The most obvious advantage of the a-JAYS One+ over other in-ear earphones in the market is its bass response.   The a-JAYS One+ is a beast in delivering details in low frequencies, making R&B and drum-n-bass tracks shine.   House and party music also get the right treatment from the a-JAYS One+.  Play a track like Maroon 5’s Moves Like Jagger with its bass-thumping intro and you’ll see what I mean.

The a-JAYS One+ also delivers a high level of clarity on practically the whole range of frequencies.  It has excellent reproduction on mid0range and high-range frequencies.  Try to experiment with your equalizer and when you find the ideal setup for these earphones, you’d learn to appreciate it even more.   The a-JAYS One+ offers a vibrant yet warm overall sound, almost all genres of music sound good when played on these earphones.

Wrap Up

The a-JAYS One+ is a steal at the price of P3,099.  It is a good set of earphones with good, durable design and excellent audio performance.  It is an enjoyable set of earphones that delivers warm and dynamic sound, with rich low-frequency response.    For the sound quality alone, the a-JAYS One+ is already a must buy set of earphones.  It’s a bonus that these set of earphones also feature a one-button control with built-in mic that makes it ideal for use with smartphones.  If you’re using an Android smartphone, you’d even have the chance to enhance the control features of the a-JAYS One+ through a free Android app.

Rating: 8.9/10

 

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5 Comments

  1. MIne has a problem. The button doesnt actually follow the click.. i cant get to work. seems it has a mind of its own. I tried it with my ipod and Samsung Galaxy tab and Galaxy Ace plus, all with the same result. I will return it to the store today and hopefully i could get a replacement. (cross fingers)

  2. Subterfuge_05 Reply

    Where can I buy one? I’ve been searching for a-Jays earphones in major malls but I can’t seem to find a store that sells it..Need your help.

  3. hello. just want to ask .. what is the difference between a-jays one plus to a-jays? is it compatible to sony ericson xperia ray?? please reply.

    • The original a-JAYS One earphones has no remote with mic. It should be compatible with Xperia Ray. To be sure, check out the website of Jays

  4. I think this a-JAYS one earphone will suit any mobile gadgets requiring this accessory.     The design is detailed and seems bring a comfortable feeling as you wear. It has a remote and mic that can work with 
     most , Samsung, BlackBerry, Sony, Nokia, Motorola and Apple devices like the MacBook, iPhone, iPad and iPod.  

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