ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Dali IO-8 headphones can be found on Amazon for $1,250.
- They produce a readability of sound and separation that may blow you away.
- The beige colorway is not essentially the most engaging, and the designed excuses premium.
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I have been a connoisseur of headphones because the Eighties. Again then, I used to be residing on a pupil’s finances and could not afford the very best of the very best. Nonetheless, I sought out headphones that not solely I might afford however delivered a sound worthy of my discerning palette.
Each time I noticed somebody with headphones, I would ask, “Can I attempt these?” hoping to seek out simply the fitting pair.
Quick-forward to now, and I obtain lots of headphones for overview. Each time I open a pair, I feel, “Please, blow me away.” A couple of have reached such highs (comparable to about something from Beyerdynamic), however even these I would not place within the audiophile class.
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Lately, I acquired a proposal to overview a pair of headphones from an organization I would by no means heard of referred to as Dali. The headphones in query? The IO-8 over-ear headphones.
Earlier than I am going any additional, the IO-8s have a hefty price ticket of $1,250 on Amazon. Due to that value, the IO-8s serve a slightly area of interest viewers, however they serve it so nicely. Why do I say that? Easy: the IO-8 headphones are the very best pair I’ve ever positioned over my ears.
My expertise
There’s one specific music I like to drag out after I really want to verify the sonic high quality of headphones. That music is “Tricycle” by Flim & The BBs. Again within the mid-nineties, I labored for an audio firm that put in sound techniques that reached six and 7 figures.
After we would end an set up job, the proprietor would are available in with some critical expertise and “noise” the system by introducing white and pink noise by means of the audio system. As soon as that they had every little thing dialed in, the proprietor would play “Tricycle” to see the way it sounded. If the system might play that music to his insane requirements, he’d name the job accomplished.
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I do not play “Tricycle” for each headphone overview (as a result of most headphones cannot do it justice); however after I noticed the worth tag for the IO-8 headphones, I knew enjoying this piece would instantly inform me how nicely they carried out.
The controls are simple to entry.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
This music is a splendid piece of music that actually highlights a speaker’s soundstage and the way nicely it may well deal with lows and highs. I am right here to let you know the IO-8s dealt with it to perfection. These are, for sure, the best-sounding wi-fi headphones I’ve ever skilled.
Ever. Interval.
And that is with out having to put in an app and modify the EQ curve to fulfill my discerning style. I merely turned them on, paired them with my Pixel 9 Professional, and tapped play on Spotify. These infants are magic.
The IO-8 headphones have two modes: bass and hi-fi. By default, they’re set on hi-fi, which was beautiful. The bass mode was a bit a lot for “Tricycle,” so I switched it up and tapped play on Devin Townsend’s “PowerNerd.” The bass mode on this music bumped up till it felt like an enormous was dancing on my head.
It was head-banging glory. I am not going to undergo a set checklist of songs I performed for testing as a result of I can simply say one factor about all of them: Sensible!
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That is proper. The IO-8 headphones performed each music and style like they have been constructed particularly for that exact music. The one draw back of this expertise is that each different pair I take a look at from this level on out will in all probability not measure up.
This isn’t hyperbole, as these headphones are the true deal.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
The Dali IO-8 headphones are costly, little doubt. However while you’re headphones on this stage, you must anticipate costs to soar into the 4 and 5 figures. And to be clear, the IO-8 are Dali’s mid-range headphones.
If spending over $1,250 on headphones is over your finances, look away now. In case your style in audio tends to rise above the typical, and also you’re prepared to half methods with that a lot money, you would be hard-pressed to discover a higher pair of headphones at this value vary.
In abstract, in the event you can afford them, do not hesitate to purchase the IO-8s. I’ll simply go away you with two warnings:
- The IO-8s will break different headphones for you.
- The IO-8s would possibly nicely put a everlasting smile in your face.
You’ve got been warned.
Dali IO-8 headphones tech specs
- Frequency vary: 10 – 43,000 Hz
- Driver: 50mm with free edge paper fibre cone
- Headphone precept: Closed again circumaural (over ear)
- Impedance (Passive mode): 25 Ohm
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2, 3.5mm mini jack, USB-C
- Bluetooth codecs: AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
- Battery life: As much as 35 hours (30 hours with ANC on)
- Weight: 325g
- Options: Lively Noise Cancellation (ANC), Transparency mode, Hello-Fi and Bass sound modes
- IP52 sturdiness score
- Audio codecs: 16 – 24 bit, 32/44.1/48/96 kHz pattern price
- Hello-Res Audio Licensed
