Ayla Enterprises LLC AY8

The Ayla AY8 scores 12.9 out of 100 overall, with sound at the 29th percentile and mic at the 12th. It's cheap, but the gaming score of 4.9 and mediocre build quality make it a tough sell. Only worth considering at the lowest end of its price range.

Sound quality sits at the 29th percentile, which translates to underwhelming. The marketing mentions bass-driven surround sound, but our testing shows it falls behind most of the wired and wireless earbuds we've tracked. The mic is a real weak spot at the 12th percentile, so don't expect clear calls. Connectivity is even rougher at the 13th percentile, which is surprising for a wired product, but the 3.5mm jack limits it to older devices without an adapter. The multifunctional button does work for play/pause and call control, but that's table stakes these days.

Stacked against the Nothing Buds 2, Soundcore P31i, Anker Space A40, Baseus Bass BP1 Pro, and TOZO Crystal Pods, the AY8 doesn't just lose, it gets lapped. The Anker Space A40 brings real ANC and far better sound for not much more money. The Soundcore P31i is a budget wireless option that beats the AY8 on comfort and connectivity without a cable getting in the way. Even the Baseus Bass BP1 Pro, which is also a budget play, delivers better bass response and build quality. The only thing the AY8 has going for it is the wired connection, which some people still prefer for gaming controllers and older devices. But with a gaming score of 4.9, that argument falls apart fast.

Pricing is all over the map depending on where you shop. In Europe, listings range from EUR 23 to EUR 77 across DE, ES, FR, and IT. That's a EUR 54 spread for the same product, which is wild. If you're buying in Europe, stick to the EUR 23 end of that range. Anything above EUR 40 is a bad deal for earbuds that score 12.9 overall. The CAD 24 to 25 range in Canada is more reasonable, and GBP 15 in the UK is about the only price where these start to make sense as a throwaway pair.

The Ayla Enterprises AY8 is a wired pair of earbuds that scores 12.9 out of 100 in our total ranking. That puts it near the bottom of our database, and the numbers don't get much prettier when you zoom in. Music performance lands at 9.2, gaming at 4.9, and even its best category, budget, only manages a 19.7. This is a budget accessory in every sense of the word, and the scores reflect that.

Gamers should absolutely skip this. A gaming score of 4.9 is one of the worst we've seen, and the mic at the 12th percentile won't do you any favors in voice chat. Anyone who cares about sound quality should also look elsewhere, since the 29th percentile sound ranking means music sounds thin and muddy. And if you're in Europe, don't pay anywhere near the EUR 77 end of the price range. At that price, you're getting fleeced for a product that scores 12.9 overall.

The Ayla AY8 is hard to recommend when the numbers are this rough. A total score of 12.9 and a music score of 9.2 put it near the bottom of our database. The 24-month warranty and low entry price are the only real selling points. If you need a cheap wired pair for a backup or a kid's tablet, and you can grab them at the EUR 23 or GBP 15 end of the pricing, fine. Otherwise, spend a little more and get something that doesn't sound like a tin can.