Dyson Zone review

It’s taken Dyson six years of analysis and improvement, together with at least 500 prototypes, to create its first pair of headphones.

However the Zone aren’t your peculiar pair of noise cancelling cans as a result of they’ll purify the air round you. 

Though they possess this distinctive skill, Dyson is pitching them as headphones first. As such, the visor that directs the air to your face is detachable so you may merely use it while you like – or by no means, in case you really feel too awkward carrying it. 

In addition to that social side, there are additionally different boundaries right here together with the heavy weight of the headphones (even with out the visor) in addition to a excessive asking worth. The Dyson Zone actually have restricted enchantment, significantly in Western markets the place mask-wearing isn’t the norm. But when, one way or the other, you’ve been searching for excessive efficiency air purifying headphones then you definately’re in luck. 

Design & Construct

• Fashionable however cumbersome 
• Spectacular engineering 
• Plasticky visor 

As you’d count on, the Dyson Zone headphones are effectively made – principally.  

The headphones themselves appear and feel extremely luxurious. The Absolute+ mannequin I’ve examined is available in a Prussian Blue/Shiny Copper color mixture whereas the cheaper possibility is a brighter Prussian Blue/Darkish Blue combo with silver highlights. 

The cone formed components of the earcups are detachable so you may insert/swap the air filters (they last as long as a yr) and the earcups fold to make the Zone extra moveable. The centre of every ear cup contains a clear window the place you may see the fan spinning spherical. That is additionally a contact delicate space for doing issues like switching between energetic noise cancellation (ANC) and conscious mode but it surely’s not delicate sufficient so requires forceful faucets. 

The Absolute+ mannequin comes with a big exhausting case that appears prefer it comprises a pair of binoculars. 

Largely comprised of a mix of metallic and plush materials, I believe they give the impression of being fairly cool. That’s in case you don’t thoughts carrying large headphones as a result of these are enormous, even for over-ear cans. With all of the tech inside, it’s maybe no shock however the Zone weigh 595g with out the visor hooked up. 

The visor solely provides 75g however this implies it wanted to be flimsy plastic and seems like one thing off a child’s superhero fancy gown outfit. It attaches magnetically, and I clarify extra on the visor within the air purification part under. 

The burden makes them extra suited to sitting in a cushty chair at house somewhat than strolling round on the streets, though that’s while you’re extra more likely to want air purification. Even utilizing them sat at my desk, I discovered them uncomfortable after a few hours at most. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

That’s due to the load as a result of they’re snug in different methods, such because the luxuriously gentle micro-suede ear cushions. Oddly, solely the highest pad of the scarf is gentle whereas the aspect ones are agency, however my head form meant they didn’t make any contact. 

The fan button on the left earcup doesn’t simply modify the fan velocity, it’s additionally used for energy and Bluetooth pairing which is tremendous complicated. Dyson actually ought to have simply put one other button on for these. 

One other design flaw, at the very least in my utilization, is that when reaching for this button, or the joystick on the alternative earcup, I virtually at all times brushed my finger throughout the mesh part with a mic hidden behind it leading to a harsh scraping sound in my ears. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Air Purification 

• Surprisingly nice 
• Dwell monitoring however no notification 
• Visor might be awkward 

Positive, the Dyson Zone are headphones with a further function, however the air purification is the standout function right here. In a marvel of engineering, the agency has managed to pack related know-how to its air purifying followers just like the Pure Sizzling + Cool into some over-ear cans. 

The tiny followers draw air in via the ear cups after which feed it via the contact-free visor, with clear air being blown in the direction of your mouth and nostril. Dyson says the two-stage filtration system can take away “metropolis fumes, viruses and 99% of ultrafine pollution” together with particles corresponding to allergens right down to a dimension of simply 0.1 microns.

Now, I can’t check whether or not that’s true so I should belief Dyson. What I can inform you is what it’s like to make use of. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Sometimes, it’s simpler to go away the fan on auto mode so the Zone can select between three totally different speeds. You want quicker speeds for extra energetic exercise somewhat than when the air is dirtier. 

It’s an odd sensation at first however I shortly obtained used to it and observed the distinction immediately after I took the visor off. Actually, I discovered it somewhat nice as soon as the ‘new automotive’ sort odor to the air dissipated after a few days. 

Though I discovered it fairly good to make use of, there are numerous downsides and issues to utilizing the headphones in air purification mode. 

Firstly, do you even want the air round you to be cleaned? Effectively, in line with the My Dyson app, the reply to that’s virtually at all times no. That’s virtually actually the case if, like me, you spend a whole lot of time sitting in a house workplace, however testing the Zone commuting to our London workplace confirmed the air high quality effectively throughout the ‘Good’ inexperienced zone – even open air in central London. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

I did discover it studying yellow (uh oh) whereas on the prepare travelling into London but it surely didn’t keep like that for lengthy. Oddly, the headphones are monitoring the surroundings round you in actual time however gained’t ship you a notification if the air high quality takes a dip to say you’d be greatest off with the visor on. You must preserve checking manually by opening the app. 

The opposite large barrier right here is whether or not you are feeling snug carrying the Zone with visor hooked up in public. Nearly everybody I’ve requested has replied with a straight-up “No” with a capital N, and I don’t blame them. 

Mid-pandemic, these wouldn’t have regarded completely misplaced, however now you actually are going to face out like a sore thumb wherever you go. I’m an introvert that principally doesn’t like being round strangers, and I felt nauseous on the concept of carrying the visor in public. 

For the sake of the evaluation, I overcame my worry and obtained a variety of reactions from double takes to pure bafflement. Maybe in markets like China the place mask-wearing is quite common, carrying the Zone would really feel extra pure. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The final situation is the match as though the visor is extendable, there are numerous awkward parts in the best way it really works. The visor isn’t adjustable in top so to get it lined up along with your mouth and nostril correctly you need to transfer all the pair of headphones.

For me, this meant transferring the scarf a lot additional again on my head than I do when not utilizing the visor and it’s extra uncomfortable.  

The visor additionally flips down on hinges in the direction of your neck so you may shortly have a dialog or take a sip of your espresso. This may even, by default, pause your music and swap ANC to its transparency mode. 

That’s fantastic – and you may swap that off within the settings if you want – however if in case you have a longish beard like me, the issue is while you attempt to put the visor again as much as your face. My beard will get effectively and actually taken alongside for the trip and requires awkwardly placing again the place it belongs. 

Sound High quality & ANC 

• Customized 40mm drivers 
• ANC with two modes 
• Three EQ settings 

With the marginally mad sci-fi ingredient coated, let’s see how the Zone carry out as pure headphones. They’re Bluetooth 5.0 however you too can use a headphone jack in case you get the in-flight package (included with the pricier mannequin) because it features a cable that plugs into the Zone’s USB-C port. 

Inside these enormous ear cups are customized made 40mm neodymium drivers to ship “a broad frequency vary for absolute readability in bass, mids and highs”, in line with Dyson.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

One factor is for certain: the Dyson Zone sound superb and are sonically the most effective pairs of over-ear headphones I’ve examined in a very long time. There are three EQ settings to select from within the app: Enhanced, Bass Increase and Impartial. 

I flip-flopped between the primary two relying on what I used to be listening to however the default Enhanced setting usually sounds nice for many content material. 

The Dyson Zone supply heat, wealthy bass tones however extra importantly, current an extremely detailed and clear sound throughout the mid and excessive tones. There’s an actual dynamic and dwell presence to the audio that may be very immersive and fascinating. 

There’s little or no in the best way of distortion in case you pump the amount up excessive, though in case you’re nervous about damaging your listening to you may set an 85dB restrict within the app. 

Lively noise cancelling can be up there with the likes of Sony and Bose. That’s partly right down to respectable noise isolation from the headphones themselves together with at least eight mics devoted to ANC.

The Zone can simply eliminate what’s happening round you, corresponding to site visitors and speech. It’s a disgrace that you would be able to’t modify the extent however you may swap to a Transparency mode to deliberately hear what’s happening round you.  

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

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Frustratingly, you may’t swap ANC off with the contact controls so that you’ll must do it by way of the My Dyson app. 

It’s value noting you may typically hear the noise of the followers while you’re utilizing the visor. The whirring is kind of gentle and simply masked by music and ANC on the slowest velocity however turns into extra audible while you use the quicker speeds, which might considerably taint delicate sections of songs. 

Battery Life 

• As much as 50 hours
• USB-C charging
• Auto-off sensors

Dyson quotes a whopping 50 hours of battery life for the Zone with ANC on. Nonetheless, you gained’t get wherever close to that determine when utilizing the air purification. With the fan on the lowest velocity and ANC on, the agency says you’ll get simply 4 hours. 

Be aware that when the battery reaches ‘essential’ stage, the air purification function is unavailable, so that you’re left with simply audio and ANC. 

A full cost will take round three hours and to assist save the battery operating down, sensors can inform while you’ve eliminated the headphones with a view to robotically pause music and shut the followers off.  

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Value & Availability 

The Dyson Zone headphones, as you may predict, aren’t low-cost. They’re distinctive and comprise a powerful quantity of engineering to suit air purification tech into them. 

Nonetheless, I’m undecided anybody anticipated them to start out at $949.99/£749.99, and that’s for the common mannequin. In order for you the nicer wanting Absolute+ mannequin (unique to the official retailer) examined right here, full with Explorer Case, gentle pouch and in-flight package, you’ll must pay $999.99/£819.99. 

Within the US you should buy the Zone headphones from Dyson or BestBuy. Within the UK you may select from the official retailer, Currys and John Lewis. 

The value makes even the $549/£549 Apple AirPods Max appear low-cost. Then while you have a look at flagship Sony and Bose fashions, you possibly can purchase a number of pairs of the WH-1000XM5 or QC45 for a similar worth as one pair of Dyson Zone. 

See extra choices in our greatest noise cancelling headphones chart.

Verdict 

Being so uncommon makes the Dyson Zone, on this specific case, troublesome to sum up.

On the one hand, they’re an engineering and technological marvel however however, they’re a cumbersome and awkward proposition. 

As a pair of headphones, they’re superb certainly. Up there with the very best by way of construct, audio high quality and ANC efficiency, with the added bonus of providing unbelievable battery life when used for simply audio.

Add within the air purification and whereas distinctive, the visor feels low-cost and the social awkwardness of carrying it in public will immediately put most individuals off – particularly within the bashful UK. Even in case you don’t thoughts the eye, the app’s environmental monitoring suggests it’s hardly ever wanted anyway.

The Dyson Zone headphones are troublesome to suggest in two easy areas: they’re too heavy and too costly. Even in case you can abdomen the latter, you’ve actually obtained to make use of the air purification to justify the associated fee.

Specs

• 200 x 210 x 240mm (with visor)
• 595g (no visor)
• 670g (with visor)
• 11 whole microphones for ANC and telephony
• ANC as much as 38dB
• Transparency mode
• Auto Mode (with exercise detection)
• Air high quality sensors
• 6Hz – 21kHz frequency response
• 0.08% @ 94dB 1kHz distortion
• Bluetooth 5.0
• SBC, AAC & LHDC codec help
• 40mm neodymium drivers
• Filter effectivity is 99% at PM0.1
• Can seize NO2, SO2 and O3 gases
• Filters last as long as 12 months
• 2,600mAh battery
• 50 hours of audio
• Low-flow as much as 4 hours
• Mid-flow as much as 2.5 hours
• Excessive move as much as 1.5 hours
• USB-C charging
• 3-hour cost time
• 3.5mm by way of USB-C cable
• MyDyson app help