Danish audio model Dali says its newest wi-fi headphones are designed to cancel noise with out affecting sound high quality. The IO-8 might be preordered for $900 beginning October 8 in Iron Black and Caramel White, and can ship in late November.
Dali is being pretty quiet about the way it achieves its “audiophile ANC.” It doesn’t point out the variety of microphones it makes use of, one thing most firms wish to brag about, or the software program. It merely states that the system “delivers an immersive listening expertise, guaranteeing the audio high quality isn’t compromised.”
Nonetheless, the IO-8’s acoustic structure is claimed to borrow closely from the corporate’s IO-12 flagship headphones, that are among the many finest wi-fi headphones we’ve ever reviewed at Digital Traits, so there’s loads of cause to take Dali’s claims significantly.
Their 50mm drivers are produced from randomly aligned paper and wooden fibers of variable size, which Dali says creates a light-weight but stiff diaphragm with optimum damping. The consequence, it says, is “pure, relaxed sound high quality brimming with element.”
Frequency response has been pegged at a wonderful 10Hz-43kHz, far exceeding the capabilities of human listening to, and it ought to have greater than sufficient low-end room to ship loads of sub-bass.
In step with the premium price ticket, Dali has used premium supplies together with anodized aluminum and ear pads made from leather-based. The headphones even provide a small quantity of mud and water resistance (IP52) which is uncommon in a set of audiophile cans.
The IO-8’s wi-fi Bluetooth connection helps each aptX HD and aptX Adaptive for telephones which can be appropriate with these high-quality codecs (iPhones don’t assist them), when you additionally get two sorts of wired connections: 3.5mm analog and USB-C.
The USB-C connection permits you to cost the headphones, nevertheless it additionally offers you entry to lossless digital hi-res audio as much as 24-bit/96kHz from computer systems and smartphones with USB-C ports.
Talking of charging, Dali says the IO-8 will final for as much as 30 hours with ANC on, and 35 hours when it’s off. There’s no quick-charge perform, however charging from empty to full is claimed to take 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Different that this, the IO-8 are pretty spartan. There’s no app for options like EQ changes. As a substitute, Dali gives two “sound modes” — Hello-Fi and Bass, that are accessible from the built-in controls.
For those who just like the sound of those cans, you’ll be higher off shopping for them in Europe, the place they promote for simply 599 euros (about $656), a far cry from the $900 worth Dali has positioned on the U.S. model of those cans.
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