Dyson Zone evaluation: We check the $1,000 air-purifying headphones

There are lots of issues I like about Dyson Zone headphones. They’ve nice sound and wonderful noise cancellation. Then there’s the addition of the visor that filters out metropolis air pollution that can assist you breathe extra comfortably. However at $1,000 they are a robust promote, particularly for somebody who would not dwell or work in a spot like a giant metropolis, the place air air pollution is extra of a problem. Many headphone customers merely will not make the most of the Zone’s core air filtration system.

After spending a while with my evaluation mannequin, I am impressed with them as headphones, with audio high quality and noise cancellation that comfortably rival the Apple AirPods Max, however their vital weight, weird look and restricted attraction makes them laborious to suggest, at the least to most individuals. These of you with deep pockets and who stroll or bike the busy streets of NYC may see the worth in these uncommon headphones. All others will probably be higher served by the extra conventional ones noise canceling headphones.

Dyson’s Zone headphones are actually on sale within the US for $1,000 (£749, or about AU$1,395 transformed), instantly from the Dyson web site.

Dyson confirmed the Zone headphones for the primary time final yr and admittedly we did not know what to assume. They’re huge over-ear headphones with steel grilles and a unusual detachable face defend that ship purified air to your mouth and nostril utilizing micro-compressors and filters contained in the earcups. It is actually the primary of its form, and Dyson thinks he is on to one thing.

The Zone is designed for city use, for these of you who stroll or cycle by way of the world’s megacities the place inhaling ground-level air air pollution is a significant issue. Then there are the pollution in underground subway methods, which might be worse than at road stage. Dyson claims its filter system captures 99 p.c of airborne pollutant particles, together with nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and airborne mud, that are particularly problematic in cities.

Now, I can not give a verdict on how properly Truly it really works as a result of oddly sufficient I haven’t got my very own particle lab to check it scientifically. However I went to see Dyson’s laboratories within the UK, the place it has spent greater than six years testing and perfecting the Zone utilizing medical-grade mechanical lungs on dummies in pollutant-filled rooms to measure how a lot noxious fuel really enters these lungs. . Additionally they check how properly it really works on in another way formed heads and the way efficient the system is in several wind circumstances.

Sporting the visor feels slightly unusual, however it’s not uncomfortable. It attaches magnetically to the ear cups and hovers barely in entrance of your face to blow a stream of contemporary air round your mouth and nostrils. It is good.

The airflow is powered by the smallest motors Dyson has ever made – one motor in every ear cup – however having them so near your ears is a bit like having two hair dryers strapped to your head. The cancellation helps cut back that noise, however you possibly can nonetheless hear it, particularly if you happen to’re listening to delicate music or podcasts. I hearken to lots of steel from bands like Periphery, Tesseract and Dream Theater and that positively choked the engines once I turned up the amount. Even Taylor Swift’s extra upbeat hits managed to dam out the fan noise, once they had been turned up loud sufficient.

The largest difficulty for me, nonetheless, is that I personally really feel a bit foolish carrying the visor round. It feels noticeable and it positively attracted lots of bizarre seems to be whereas making an attempt it out. That mentioned, I dwell in Edinburgh, a comparatively clear metropolis which is not the focus of the Zone, so no have to put on them right here. I’d really feel in another way on the streets of Paris or Beijing. I additionally discovered that my goggles fogged up whereas utilizing them, which is an issue I’ve usually encountered when carrying common face masks.

However it’s new and one thing new usually feels slightly unusual Firstly. Face masks weren’t widespread on Western streets till the pandemic hit and are actually completely regular to see round, so maybe such a expertise is one thing we’ll finally get used to seeing. And Dyson has observe report of its offbeat merchandise going mainstream, with its bladeless followers and electrical hand dryers now commonplace, and its Air Wrap hair styler dominating TikTok magnificence feeds the world.

The filters are straightforward to entry beneath the steel grilles of the earcups, and Dyson says every set ought to final a few yr earlier than it’s essential substitute them. The Dyson app tells you once they have to be changed, together with insights into the air high quality in your space.

Take off the face masks they usually turn out to be simply an ordinary pair of headphones, albeit a big one. Because of these motors that stay fastened contained in the ear cups, they weigh virtually 600 grams (21 ounces), making them extraordinarily heavy. Considerably heavier than Apple AirPods Max, which we criticized for being too heavy and weighing simply 390 grams (13.6 ounces). Even so, the earcups are deeply padded, making them comfy to put on for a few hours at a time. The headscarf matches securely, making them really feel lighter than they’re. I by no means thought they had been in any hazard of slipping off as I walked.

I might be fascinated about a model the place not solely are the filters and visor detachable, however all the filter unit might be indifferent when not wanted. It will make headphones extra comfy for common use, reminiscent of sitting at a desk for eight hours or watching a film at house, when you do not have to fret about inhaling outside air pollution. It may additionally enable fashions with out filtration to be offered at a lower cost, whereas nonetheless permitting you to buy the filtration system as an elective additional if you happen to determine you want it. I’ll positively have an interest to see what a Technology II Zone seems to be like.

The lively noise cancellation is superb although, with road noise stored to a minimal and the final background hum in cafes and bars eliminated virtually fully.

Additionally they ship an important, balanced tone, with 40mm drivers offering wonderful bass that ship a meaty but managed kick to EDM tracks that will not overwhelm the remainder of the tone. In consequence, the upper frequencies of acoustic guitars, cymbals or strings sound crystal clear. The Tesseract Hexes observe was reproduced with wealthy, heat bass, highly effective hits on the kick drum, and shiny, outlined cymbals and vocals.

In the meantime, the shimmering excessive notes of the acoustic guitars and close-mic vocals on Enter Shikari’s acoustic model of Dreamer’s Resort sounded very good.

Battery life for audio is a whopping 50 hours, although it will drop to between 90 minutes and 4 hours with air filtration on. However that ought to be sufficient on your commute to the workplace, the place you possibly can load them onto a charger on your trip house. Dyson claims they’ll deal with being worn within the rain, however there is no official water resistance score right here. So preserve them hidden throughout torrential downpours and check out to not take them swimming.

There is not any query, then, that the Dyson Zone works properly as a set of headphones, however the truth stays that $1,000 is some huge cash, and an enormous portion of that value is for the air filtration system. Then you’ll actually have to think about how vital it’s to you in on a regular basis life. If you happen to commute each day by way of the center of polluted megacities strolling alongside site visitors or experiencing the stale air of a subway for hours every day, it may very well be funding in your long-term well being. If you happen to simply need a pair of headphones, it can save you your self a bundle and look elsewhere.

First posted on April 8, 2023 at 4:00am PT.