Danish manufacturer DALI has launched the IO-8, a wireless over-ear headphone with what they claim is a high-quality Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) that should make the difference with the competition. The IO-8 can receive a music signal wirelessly or via a cable.
DALI IO-8
The new IO-8 builds on the success of the previous IO-12 . We had the IO-8 in house before the official launch. Also read our review of the DALI IO-8 .
The IO-8 has been designed by the same team responsible for DALI’s flagship loudspeaker, the KORE floorstander . Utilizing many of the innovative technologies found in the IO-12, including the same electronics, and building on more than four decades of experience as a global manufacturer of audio equipment, DALI has created a headphone that can be used both wirelessly and wired to deliver quality sound.
With the addition of advanced Audiophile Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), DALI’s IO-8 allows you to give listeners a truly immersive listening experience without compromising on sound quality. The IO-8 is essentially a pair of hi-fi head-mounted speakers. The 50mm drivers reflect this thinking, meaning the IO-8 offers the largest driver in its class.
DALI’s Audiophile ANC technology delivers an immersive listening experience without compromising audio quality. The ANC on the IO-8 has three settings: ANC On, Transparency and ANC Off. Thanks to the intuitive multifunction buttons on the headphone, the IO-8 can be operated with one hand without a smartphone app. Simply connect your headphones to the audio source and start listening within seconds. The IO-8’s ‘Hi-Fi’ and ‘Bass’ sound modes allow the wearer to listen to their music the way they want.
DALI’s speaker cones are made exclusively from proprietary paper and wood fibre materials. The paper fibre material used in the IO-8 drivers uses randomly aligned fibres of variable length to create a light yet stiff membrane that provides optimum damping. The result is a natural, relaxing sound quality full of detail.
The IO-8 ear pads are finished with luxurious, high-quality genuine leather. In addition, the headphones feature a radially brushed and anodized finish on the external surfaces of the ear cups.
DALI specifies a frequency response of 10 Hz to 43 kHz. The specified playback time with a full battery is 35 hours with ANC off and 30 hours with ANC on. Charging an empty battery takes just under two hours. The IO-8 weighs 325 grams. Two cables and a storage box are included.
The DALI IO-8 is available from today for just under $600 in the Iron Black and Caramel White versions.
