Portable cans have a certain magic that I don’t find with bigger and more serious headphones, and also with IEMs. The simplicity of a portable headphone set up makes you concentrate on your music than your gear. You never worry about an amplifier, or a recording. You just plug it and you enjoy good music through it. It can’t get any simpler. It’s the epitome of “plug and play” in the HiFi world.
Everyone knows how to wear a portable, and the newer generation of portables have evolved to products with superb ergonomics and sonics. I never really worry about the technicalities when I listen to a portable. Obvious things like bass quantity and treble quantity still matters, but other than that I just enjoy the music through them. The new generation of portables are all very competitive products, all with their own sound signature. Surprising as it may seem, lately I’ve been enjoying music the most out of these portable headphones. They are so simple, and yet they are a lot of fun. In a paradoxical way, they get out of the way of the music, in a way that big full size set ups can’t.
So, now the battle for the funest sounding portable headphone continues. After the PX100-II and the AIAIAI Tracks, I’m now investigating the sound on two Jays portable cans.
Left to Right: C-Jays, V-Jays, AIAIAI Tracks, and Sennheiser PX100-II
The V-Jays is my first encounter with a Jays portable headphone. I had a very good impression of the V-Jays that I decided to get the higher line up C-Jays and compare the two.
You can really tell when a company puts a lot of effort in designing their products. The frame is on the V-Jays is very light, significantly lighter than the competitor, the PX100-II, and perhaps about the same weight as the AIAIAI Tracks. Among the three, however, the V-Jays is the most comfortable to wear. Somehow their headband design utilizes a type of plastic with the perfect blend of rigidity and elasticity. This results in a very light, spring-like, headband that puts just enough force to remain steady even when you’re on the treadmill, and yet it feels very comfortable and light on your head. The V-Jays is very comfortable, far more than the AIAIAI or the PX100-II, and even more than older popular offerings like the PortaPro. I think the key is in the pads. The pads are also very smooth and very soft, perhaps the best one so far among all portables. Having a square shaped pads seem to help as it gives a bigger area for the headphones to rest on your head.
The C-Jays is the higher end model, and the build is almost identical to the V-Jays except for the outer cover of the housing. Both headphones have cables that’s thicker than the competition, yet still maintaining good flexibility. I like the cables on the Jays, as the thicker cable is not as prone to breaking as the thinner cables offered by Sennheiser and AIAIAI. The cables are also fairly short at 60cm, so you can use it with a small player like the Ipod Shuffle and not have to worry about dangling cables when you’re just clipping the Shuffle on our shirt pocket. When longer lengths are needed, 70cm extension cables are supplied with both Jays headphones, extending the length to a standard portable headphone cable length.
Top to Bottom: Sennheiser PX100, AIAIAI Tracks, and Jays cables. The Jays cable is significantly beefier.
If the V-Jays only come with an extra spare pads and an extension cable, the C-Jays does come with a complete line of accessories: a carrying bag made from suede leather, an airplane adapter, a headphone sharing adapter, a 1/8″ to 1/4″ adapter, and three different pairs of pads with different sizes. It’s quite luxurious for a portable. And it better be, for the C-Jays is not cheap at $125 (the V-Jays is cheaper, but still not cheap at about $95).
Adapters for all your listening needs. Even a headphone splitter.
Three different pad sizes are supplied with the C-Jays.
The Jays are foldable, but they can’t be folded as compact as the PX100. The good thing is that their folding mechanism seems less flimsy than the PX100’s. So it’s a give and take situation on this case.
How compact do they get? Top row: AIAIAI Tracks and Sennhesier PX100-II. Bottom row: C-Jays and V-Jays.
Jose
Thats a steal. Hey Mike, how would you say the sound of the SR60 compares to the V-Jays?
Mike
Hi Jose, you know what's funny? I thought about writing something in the lines of SR60 to the C-Jays (not V, though). The C-Jays, depending on the pads used, mimics the Grado sound a lot. It's like trying on the different pads configurations in the Grado: comfies is the small Jays pad, bowl is the medium Jays pad, and Jumbo Bowl (i.e GS1000, PS1000) is the large Jays pad. The sound also changes similarly as you change the pads.
At the moment I don't have the SR60 with me, so I can't really say much. But from my memory, the SR60 on comfies still has quite a bit more treble presence than the C-Jays on small pads.
Joey
Just pulled the trigger on a pair of C-Jays. Seems like what I would like 😀
They're on offer in UK for £30. Simply iresistible 🙂
thuantran
Where did you get it for £30? On Amazon UK they are more expensive. I'm more interested in the V-Jays though.
Mike
£30 sounds like a steal! But my new favorite is the V-Jays though. 😀
rpj
Joey where did you buy your c-jays? would you please provide a link.cheers
Jose
Oh, I forgot to ask how they compare to the Ultrasone Zino, take into account that I found the highs and midrange to messy and complicated, not coherent at.
Mike
I never really got attached to the Zino. Highs was too hot for me, and the midrange is way too recessed.
Earfonia
Sorry Mike, I'm a bit confused with the pictures, those with different sizes of pads is the C-Jays right? But the title of the pics for what I assumed as C-Jays is:
V-Jays with small pads.
V-Jays with medium pads.
V-Jays with big pads.
Is it V-Jays of C-Jays?
Thanks for the review! Will surely try V-Jays 😀
Mike
I need to fix those captions. Thanks, Bram. 😀
Joey
Got the c-jays today. Sound fantastic. The different pads really remind me of Grado. For 30GBP I’m one happy customer 😀
Mike
30 GBP is a steal for these!
thuantran
Again where the hell, did you get it? I'm going to get two from the UK (one for me, one for my friend), just that I don't know where you got it that low.
fanboydrockin
i’ve tried c-jays and v-jays at dBE store in indonesia. i think c and v have not a big difference in SQ. So v-jays absolutely the best for price/performace for me. Mike, have you ever compare v-jays with ULS HFI 15G for the SQ and possibility as an all around portable headphone? Regards
Mike
Hi dude, I only remembered holding the HFI15G in my hand during the last meet. I can't really remember what it sounded like :p
fanboydrockin
ok.. since you are not remember what HFI 15G sounds like, i assume it doesn't impressed u like jays did. So i'd better choose v-jays for my portable headphone than HFI 15G, LOL
rpj
can you use the different size pads on the v-jays? would be interesting to hear how the different size pads change the sound character.
Mike
I suppose you can. I did think about doing that, but I don't think it would work very well. The C-Jays with the stock pad has very thick midrange, but when you change to the bigger pads, the midrange becomes very thin. The V-Jays is more neutral to start with, and changing to the bigger pads would result in a sucked out midrange.
Rick
Mike, awesome site, just read your review again and have decided on the v-jays, i would like to know too how these would compare to the Grado SR60(i)?
Now where can i buy Jays in Vancouver BC?/Canada ?
Mike
Hi Rick. I think the V-Jays is more balanced sounding with a less piercing treble than the Grado SR60/i.
Rick
I'm now on the hunt, keep up the great work Mike, the more i visit the more i like!
Mike
Thanks, Rick!
Annie
I recently picked up a set of v-JAYS and am loving them, got them for £37.97 from Jaysearphones.co.uk in their sale. Think they still have the sale on with other Jays products at a discounted price http://www.jaysearphones.c.uk 🙂
Mike
Thanks for the link, and the correction, Annie.
I'm sure a lot of people will appreciate the info. 🙂
Annie
sorry last link didnt work, here is the right one http://www.jaysearphones.co.uk Just had a quick look and the summer sale is still on.
labilabi
there should be a fischer audio oldskool in the line
Mike
I wish I had the oldskool to compare the Jays’ with. I’ll try to schedule an oldskool review. Thanks. 🙂
Tintin
Mike,
Great review and superb pix.
I was looking at your ultra portable and closed can shootouts to get a feel for the V-Jays sound signature.
Did you have a chance to hear the Beyer DT235? if so, how would you compare its sound to the V-Jays?
Thanks
Mike
Hi Tintin,
Sorry, never heard the DT235. :S
PopScene
Hello, thank you for this nice headphones website.
I’ve read somewhere in the web that the v-jays are even better than the Alessandro MS-1i (which i really do like)… I don’t know how better it was for him 🙂
Is it real or was it someone who didn’t really know what he was talking about?
Anonymous
Nah, I wouldn’t say that the V-jays are better than the MS-1i. The MS-1i
has a bigger driver, and that translates into something better in the
sound. But over here in our local forum, the MS-1i and the V-Jays are
probably two of the most popular entry level open headphone, so both
does have their own strengths.
Atqer
Hey Mike!
Thanks for the review. Really helped me in making my choice. Just one qn before my purchase though… The c-JAYS being a semi open headphone, how is the sound leak? Is it loud or minimal? I’ve never worn an open headphone before therefore i don’t know how to gauge… I work in a school library so minimal noise is ok, but if its loud, i really have to reconsider my choice. Thanks in advance & hope its not to late to wish you GONG XI FA CAI!
Anonymous
The sound leak is quite minimal, and if you listen to low volumes then you should be fine. I think all headphones will leak sound somewhat, and if you’re blasting away at a quiet library, then no headphone will be free from sound leak (an IEM is much better at that).
One thing though, almost everyone I know who’s heard the V and the C-Jays prefer the V version. But if you worry about leaking sound, then I can understand why you choose the C. Also check out the Sennheiser PX200-II. I think it has a better tonal balance than the C-Jays.
Cheers.
Here is a link to the PX200-II review along with a bunch of others.
http://www.headfonia.com/ultra-portable-shootout-px100-px200-portapro-k404-v-jays-tracks-oldskool-and-hd238/
Anonymous
Hi Mike, Just got V-Jay and Allesandro MS1i from Jaben Indo. You rite Mike, the v-Jay more enjoy to listen compar to MS1i. Sound from MS1i, somewhat like muffle and not open whilev-Jay so open,chrystal clear and smooth. I use Toshiba portege direct as a source, using itune software. I start to hear from Queen (Bohemian rap, fat bottom girl), Rolling stone (angie,white horse, jumping jack flash), rod stewart (sailing), John Lee Hooker (It serves me right to suffer),Sefika kutluer (flute-Toccata in D minor-classical). Seem v-Jays win over Allesandro MS1i. Have you any idea how to improve performance of Allesandro?? Using specific amp???Thanks Mike.
Anonymous
Plug in the MS1 to a better DAC, better amp.
Anonymous
Have u any recommendation for 500 bucks for DAC and amps??If I choose Shiit Asgard as an amp, what the best DAC for its companion???
Anonymous
http://www.headfonia.com/recommendations/
Anonymous
I think you recommend schiit asgard combined with HRT Music Streamer II for sure…:) Thanks Mike.
Jankel
Mike! Another interesting review- do you know where I could find a pair of c jays in the states?
Thanks in advance!
Mike
Jankel,
I only found the V-Jays on Amazon.com, but I think it’s the better headphone of the two: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0040IPM2E/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=headfonia-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0040IPM2E
Cieran Brown
Hi Mike, i’ve got another question for you 🙂
Are the C-Jays open or closed-back?
Judging by the pics they look closed but I may be wrong.
Thanks
Mike
IF I remember correctly, the C-Jays are closed. The V-Jays are open.
dreamsfe
Hi Mike, how about v-jays compare to AKG K430? heard from a friend that AKG K430 has the clarity (not as bright as v-jays) also AKG 430has better bass than v-jays.
Mike
I’m not too familiar with the 430 but compared to the 420 the Jays wins on both clarity and bass.
Alberto Martinez
Hi Mike,
Congratulations for your fantastic website.
in the last days I have been reading all your tests and recommendations, but I am a liitle lost about what to do. One clear decission is to buy more than one headphone following the suggestion of better 3 of $100 each one than 1 of $300.
My Sen HD 515 is dead and my Koss Portapro was stolen. I only listen to rock (’70, Eric Clapton style) and jazz guitar, in a 65/35 rock/jazz time.
I need one with noise-cancelling or noise-isolating as I travel every week in high-speed train or plain. Which model of Bose do you suggest to me? What about Sen PXC450? How does it compare to your recommendations?
I need one portable for holidays and when I go for nordic walking, running, mountain. V-Jays is the best alternative?
And I need one for home. Any of noise-cancelling or portable can do the function or I need a 3rd one?
Thanks a lot in advance.
Alberto
Mike
Alberto,
If you don’t mind using an in-ear-monitor, then you can solve the need for having a noise cancelling and at the same time portable as a good IEM with noise sealing would take care of both.
Otherwise, at the moment the AKG K495NC earns my highest recommendation for noise cancelling headphones. For portable either the V-Jays or the PX100-II
For home you can use the 495NC or if you want a proper full size, the HD650.
Alberto Martinez
Thanks a lot Mike. As I am not able to use in-ear-monitor (until now all of them irritate my ears) I will explore your suggestions.
Thanks again.