I’ve yet to find a pair of headphones that sound better than these – but there’s a catch

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 for the reason that Eighties. Again then, I used to be residing on a pupil’s funds and could not afford the perfect of the perfect. 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 might ask, “Can I attempt these?” hoping to search out simply the precise pair.

Quick-forward to now, and I obtain lots of headphones for evaluation. Each time I open a pair, I feel, “Please, blow me away.” A couple of have reached such highs (equivalent to about something from Beyerdynamic), however even these I would not place within the audiophile class.

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Not too long ago, I acquired a suggestion to evaluation a pair of headphones from an organization I might by no means heard of known as Dali. The headphones in query? The IO-8 over-ear headphones. 

Earlier than I’m 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 reasonably area of interest viewers, however they serve it so properly. Why do I say that? Easy: the IO-8 headphones are the perfect pair I’ve ever positioned over my ears.

My expertise

There’s one explicit tune I like to tug out once I actually need to verify the sonic high quality of headphones. That tune is “Tricycle” by Flim & The BBs. Again within the mid-nineties, I labored for an audio firm that put in sound programs that reached six and 7 figures. 

After we might end an set up job, the proprietor would are available with some severe expertise and “noise” the system by introducing white and pink noise by way of the audio system. As soon as that they had the whole lot dialed in, the proprietor would play “Tricycle” to see the way it sounded. If the system might play that tune to his insane requirements, he’d name the job achieved.

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I do not play “Tricycle” for each headphone evaluation (as a result of most headphones cannot do it justice); however once I noticed the worth tag for the IO-8 headphones, I knew enjoying this piece would instantly inform me how properly they carried out.

This tune is a splendid piece of music that basically highlights a speaker’s soundstage and the way properly it might probably deal with lows and highs. I am right here to let you know the IO-8s dealt with it to perfection. These are, no doubt, 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 gorgeous. 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 tune bumped up till it felt like a large was dancing on my head.

It was head-banging glory. I am not going to undergo a set record of songs I performed for testing as a result of I can simply say one factor about all of them: Good!

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That is proper. The IO-8 headphones performed each tune and style like they had been constructed particularly for that individual tune. 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 actual deal.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

The Dali IO-8 headphones are costly, little doubt. However if you’re headphones on this stage, it’s best to count on 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 funds, 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, for those who can afford them, do not hesitate to purchase the IO-8s. I’ll simply go away you with two warnings: 

1. The IO-8s will damage different headphones for you.
2. The IO-8s may properly 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: Energetic Noise Cancellation (ANC), Transparency mode, Hello-Fi and Bass sound modes
• IP52 sturdiness ranking
• Audio codecs: 16 – 24 bit, 32/44.1/48/96 kHz pattern fee
• Hello-Res Audio Licensed