Dali has all the time been an interesting area of interest headphone to me, given it’s extremely clear and distinctive paper-coney sound. However that is Dali’s highest performing headphone to this point. What enhancements has the corporate give you? And may the iO-12 compete with wi-fi cans from luxurious manufacturers, like Focal and Mark Levinson? Let’s check out what you may anticipate when it comes to efficiency and tuning.
Within the Field
- USB-C charging cable (additionally works as audio cable)
- 2 3.5 mm stereo cable (completely different lengths)
- 3.5 mm to six.3 mm adapter
- Flight adaptor
- Rattling fancy journey case
Look and Really feel
These cans are massive, particularly, the huge square-shaped ear pads that cowl the whole floor space across the ears with room to spare. In reality, it’d make your head seem like a raisin. However whereas the looks could seem a tad cumbersome (although admittedly elegant in its solidity and high-end construct), the ear pads provide one of the comfortable and comfy matches I’ve tried. In reality, your head feels fully swaddled by the considerably agency clamping pressure and plush, forgiving leather-based padding. And though the headphones have some weight to them, they by no means felt cumbersome on my head. They make for nice ear muffs within the winter too.
Design
The iO-12 incorporates patented SMC know-how within the 50 mm driver magnet system, a singular characteristic that’s the primary of its sort with respect to their headphones. This, along side Dali’s distinctive paper fibre cones, goals to attain realism and eradicate distortion. With the iO-12, the Firm has strived to duplicate the low-loss sound, unbeatable decision, and dynamic capabilities attribute of Dali audio system. In essence, they’re positioned as true Hello-Fi audio system designed for personal listening. We’ll see if they’ve succeeded.
Lastly, I all the time like to say quantity ranges in my wi-fi evaluations, as a result of there’s usually little or no headroom on Bluetooth headphones. However the iO-12 offers sufficient sonic juice with room to spare.
Controls
All of the options of the headphone might be activated by the buttons on the aspect ear cup in addition to by way of the contact controls/buttons on the face of the ear cup. You’ll be capable to change between bass mode and hi-fi mode, in addition to management the ANC and navigate by means of tracks and cellphone calls. Curiously, there is no such thing as a accompanying app for the iO-12, so that you received’t have any equalizer management or added options that always come normal with different main wi-fi headphones. However truthfully, these cans sound so good that I might by no means tinker with the equalizer anyway.
Noise Cancelling
I discovered the ANC to be very efficient, although this might not be the iO-12’s stand out characteristic. However like most different best-selling ANC headphones, the iO-12 did a great job of eliminating low rumbles and different minor ambient disturbances. Along with ANC mode, you even have a clear mode that invitations in sound from the surface atmosphere for higher consciousness.
Bluetooth
The IO-12 employs Bluetooth model 5.2. Pairing was tremendous quick and simple, and I by no means skilled any dropouts even when in a busy metropolis setting.
With respect to supported codecs, you’ve obtained aptX, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive, which is the most recent aptX codec to hit the market.
Battery
The iO-12 delivers 35 hours of battery life, which is adequate in my books, however nonetheless solely common for a headphone of this caliber.
Sound Impressions
Soundstage
It’s simple to name a headphone immersive, however that is significantly true for the Dali iO-12. By way of peak, you’ll really feel huge separations between decrease and higher-placed devices. Components can sit tremendous low in comparison with increased positioned devices, making a dynamic distinction and palpable sense of peak. Whereas you’ll get a good sense of depth, the imaging alongside this axis generally leans into the stereo area, which is impressively broad as nicely. In reality, the stereo area is the place the wow issue occurs. Though it’s not stadium-like in its expansiveness, the position is exceptionally correct, peppering devices throughout the canvas with the tiniest levels of precision. The exceptional degree of separation additionally helps the soundstage, making a higher sense of coloration and distance between components. And the result’s a completely multidimensional and entertainingly vibrant sonic expertise. Does the stage approximate what you’d get from hi-fi audio system? Nearly, however maybe not as open sounding.
Low-Finish
With the additional bass setting turned off, the bass is tight, quick and generally modest in its presence in comparison with the bass heavy profiles that characterize so many different wi-fi cans. That stated, the bass by no means felt missing. The iO-23 nonetheless supplied ample punch, however the presentation was comparatively uncolored. As soon as the additional bass is turned on, you may anticipate a fatter and hotter supply with darker tonal qualities. This proved particularly helpful after I was switching between genres; whereas I loved the added impression of the bass on trendy tracks, it was useful to modify it off on classical tracks in order that devices had been leaner and unsaturated, thereby conveying a extra life-like timbre. And right here, it must be famous simply how real looking the presentation is. String devices for instance, present an unbelievable quantity of transparency and resolve for a wi-fi headphone. Refined textures and timbral particulars had been revealed, enhancing each, the depth and character of the efficiency.
Mids
This vary offers an addictive stability that provides loads of like to the low-mids with out eradicating any impression and snap that comes from a barely ahead upper-midrange. The layering is impeccably clear on this vary, offering ample definition between devices, particularly because the presentation turns into a bit thinner in higher mids. And even within the decrease midrange, the place components can probably get cloudy, the separation inside singular devices, like guitars, is immaculate. What’s additionally hanging is how versatile this sound signature is. Pop music sounds excitingly energetic, whereas intimate acoustic tracks really feel delicate and complex of their supply.
Highs
Loads of sparkle and radiance up right here. There’s a refreshing brightness to the treble that hardly ever turns into fatiguing. And any treble peaks really feel comparatively easy, although just a few exceptions occurred when enjoying high-pitched brass, for instance. Vocals are particularly scrumptious on this vary, providing a sublime stability between smoothness and element. It’s each, velvety and ethereal, offering depth and buoyancy without delay.
Abstract
The iO-12 might be essentially the most expert and most fulfilling sounding wi-fi headphone in the marketplace proper now. With a flexible bass, complete mids, and luminous highs, there’s no style that this headphone can’t deal with. Add to that an immaculately clear and detailed profile, and also you’ve obtained a flawless sound signature that turns into extra addictive the longer you hearken to it. The value tag could also be stiff, however once you evaluate the iO-12 to different wi-fi cans in the identical echelon, you understand that it’s fully price it. In reality, you may be left questioning whether or not you want any wired headphones in any respect.
You should buy the Dali iO-12 at Audio 46.
