What Hi-Fi? Verdict
If compatibility is important to you, these buds are a handy option
Pros
- +
There’s a version for every main operating system
- +
Energetic presentation
Cons
- -
Indifferent dynamics
- -
Short on insight
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.
Mobile operating systems make choosing headphones a chore. Three-button remotes nearly always work on iOS, but are unpredictable on Android.
One-button offerings nearly always work on Android, but there’s no option to change volume quickly.
MORE: Jays a-Jays Three | Jays a-Jays Four
Sound
The Jays solution is to make three dedicated versions of the a-Jays Five; one each for Android, iOS and Windows. And it works – just make sure you have the right version.
Besides this considerate attitude to compatibility, the a-Jays Five seem fairly ordinary. The sound is good, but nothing extraordinary.
There’s a good sense of energy and a decent sense of balance. It’s a little brash though, and dynamics feel a little flat.
The sound could also be cleaner: these aren’t the most insightful headphones we’ve heard for the price.
Verdict
If compatibility is important to you, these buds are a good option. But if you’re willing to sacrifice those buttons, there are better headphones to be had around this price.
MORE: Best in-ear headphones to buy in 2014
See all our headphone Best Buys
