DALI’s First Foray into Wireless Headphones with the Release of iO-4 and iO-6
Danish audio brand, DALI, has released its first range of wireless headphones into the Australian market.
The company says it has taken the technology and experienced learned from decades of making loudspeakers to create its first wireless headphones that were designed from the ground up. DALI's iO-4 and iO-6 were designed and engineered in Denmark and said to be tailored specifically for music enthusiasts with the focus on high-quality sound reproduction, durability, and comfort.
Both models feature Bluetooth aptX 5.0 as well as Clear Voice Communication (CVC) technology. A multi-function button integrated into the logo plate of the right ear cup offers intuitive control. Voice prompts report the state of operation, connectivity, battery level and in the case of iO-6, Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) mode. The iO-6's ANC also features Transparency Mode, which blends external sound from the environment while playing music. This is useful for those commuting who still want to be able to hear surrounding traffic, for example.
Battery life on DALI's new wireless 'phones is claimed as a respectable 30-hours with ANC enabled for the iO-6, and a whopping 60 hours from a single charge via USB-C. Also included is a wired analogue 3.5mm connector along with a travel case and flight adaptor.
DALI's iO-4 and iO-6 utilise large custom-made 50mm paper fibre diaphragm drivers that DALI says use an optimised Neodymium magnet for "low-distortion, minimal colouration and accurate dynamics". The earpads are made from memory foam promising a snug seal and minimising bass leakage. The ear cups also rotate 90 degrees to fold flat for storage which is a must-have feature for the traveller. We got 'ears-on' with the new models when they were previewed earlier this year at the StereoNET Melbourne Hi-Fi Show. Early impressions left us impressed with the exceptional comfort thanks to the memory-foam earpads. They offer a dynamic and engaging sound with the 50mm drivers, and a voicing that was certainly not fatiguing and likely designed to be listened to all day every day, or particularly on that long-haul flight. We'll take a closer look with an in-depth review shortly.
Both models are available now in two colour choices including Iron Black and Caramel White and sell for iO-4 ($499 RRP) and iO-6 ($699).
For more information, visit DALI.
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Marc Rushton
StereoNET’s Founder and Publisher was born in England and raised on British Hi-Fi before moving to Australia. He developed an early love of music and playing bass guitar before discovering the studio and the other side of the mixing desk. After writing for print magazines, Marc saw the future in digital publishing and founded the first version of StereoNET in 1999.
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