Jays v-Jays

Until now, anyone looking for a pair of 'ultra-lightweight' headphones had a choice between the Sennheiser PX100/PX200 or the Koss PortaPro. However, Senheiser's two models have now been updated (and are less generous with accessories), and the Koss is guaranteed to inadvertently rip out your hair. So although the v-Jays are almost certainly less gifted when it comes to hair removal, they may shape up to be a decent alternative.

Design: light, sturdy but not necessarily comfortable

Like the c-Jays, the v-Jays have a minimalist design that's mainly based on fibreglass and plastic. They seem sturdy enough and they won't take up too much room in your bag. The v-Jays have a single slim, black headband with slide-out extenders to increase the size, and the earphones themselves can be folded up into the middle of the headband when not in use (see insert). We found the headband so comfy that we soon forgot we were wearing it.

Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the earpads. The v-Jays' transducers are big, especially for headphones designed for use on the move, and the plastic moulding and sponge covering fit tightly around them. The sponge covering is too thin for our liking, and although it does ensure close contact with your ears, it doesn't give much protection from the hard plastic underneath. After a few hours' use, you many have forgotten you've got the headband on, but you won't forget about what's on your ears. It's a bit of a shame, but it won't be too much in shorter daily commutes.

One really annoying thing is that no case is supplied. In fact, although they're billed as portable headphones, the v-Jays don't come with half of the accessories that can be useful to users on the move. Here, you'll have to make do with an extension cable (admittedly, very handy) and some spare sponge earpad covers. Frankly, we're used to seeing better bundles from Jays.

Audio Quality: very good bass

We were expecting the v-Jays to be bass-heavy, but the sound they deliver is, above all, very clean. In fact, nothing's too strong or too weak and not a note seems out of place. It's a sound that's very reminiscent of the c-Jays, with their slimmer earpads (although the resemblance to the v-Jays is striking), and which is as clean and as linear as it gets.

Deep bass sounds aren't over-exaggerated, in spite of a lower end of the spectrum that's very wide. It's nice to see medium frequencies strongly present too, as this isn't very common. Higher frequencies don't come through too strongly but aren't too weak. Add to that a touch of clarity and accuracy and you'll get the best sound output from a pair of ultra-lightweight headphones currently on the market!

It's a shame that Jays decided to supply the v-Jays with so few accessories and not to correct the few comfort issues already noted in the brand's previous headphones. Otherwise, the v-Jays could well have reigned supreme in the ultra-lightweight headphones market.