Gadget review: The U-Jays are a sound investment

Most serious headphones look geeky. The U-Jays sound great, and look cutting-edge

Most serious headphones look geeky. The U-Jays sound great, and look cutting-edge

U-Jays headphones look impressive(Photo: jaysheadphones.com)

The U-Jays weirdly remind me of the Transformers. Maybe it’s the soft, tyre-shaped, faux-leather cushions; maybe it’s how they lock into place on the headphones. There’s something tremendously attractive about good-looking mechanical parts. The U-Jays manage to bring that design sensibility into a pair of headphones. Arguably, these are the most impressive-looking headphones in stores right now. And they’ve got the sound performance to match.

What’s good

“U-what?” you might ask, if your idea of audio is Sony, Panasonic, and Sennheiser. Jays is a fairly new brand (founded in 2006), based in Stockholm and dedicated to making cutting-edge earphones/headphones. Of course, when it’s all you’re making, you can’t just make them run-of-the-mill. The U-Jays are anything but that. Right from the point you’re unboxing, the headphones have a premium feel. The ear cushions lock on (they come separately so you can replace them after an extended period of use); the aux cable (with a three-button remote) can also be detached. The cushions sit light and comfortable on your ears, and the headphones, overall, are light enough to be worn over extended periods. The device has crystal clarity on the low and high ends, with a deep bass, and neat sharp notes. We even used it to listen to the podcast Serial, and discovered the narrator’s voice tone, and background details with more clarity than earlier.

Read: Gadget review: Le Max smartphone

What’s not

We found little to complain about in terms of sound output. The only warning, in terms of design, is for those who wear glasses. The headphones press the stems hard behind your ears, and can get uncomfortable over a long period.

U-Jays are for serious listeners (Photo: jaysheadphones.com)

Verdict

At Rs 15,999, the U-Jays are an investment. They’re for professionals, or serious listeners. We’re talking the same price territory as a high-end Sennheiser, or a mid-range Bose. The U-Jays hold their own against anything in this price range. And they look smarter than the whole lot.

Quick specs

What: U-Jays on-ear headphones
At a glance: Exchangeable ear cushions, 224g, 3-button remote, 40mm dynamic speakers
Best buy: Rs 15,999 on headphonezone.in
USP: Elegant design, impressive sound output, three colour options
Rating: 4 stars