active noise cancellation, spacial audio, ambient mode, or even adjustable bass, has grown in the headphones market in the past couple of years, and still are the top-notch features that every customer looks for. Now recently, Dyson, a multinational technology company, implemented a new potential feature that might be bizarre even to think of. Introducing the Dyson Zone, an over-ear headphone with an air-purifier attached, filtering the outside air and transmits towards your mouth and nose.
Now you might be wondering why there is such a feature like this upon headphones and why headphones in general. According to Dyson’s website itself, they address the issue of urban pollution world-wide. It is expected that 70% of the population lives in cities, and with the increase of urban populations, other problems arise. Traffic, transport, construction, are only a part of the problems that causes detrimental impact to the environment, resulting in worsening air quality and auditory noise (dyson website). How Dyson is planning to tackle this problem is with the Dyson Zone headphones. These over-the-ear headphones are designed to address both the problems of air quality and city noise.
AUDIO ASPECT:
- Advanced noise cancellation: Dyson ANC system uses eight microphones which monitor surrounding noise 384,000 times a second, completely silencing the outside world.
- full-spectrum audio: Dyson accomplishes a full range of audible frequences from 6hz – 21hz, making sure that the users can hear every note and word.
- low sound distortion: achieving realistic detailed audio
POLLUTION ASPECT:
- air purifier was built with 30 years of expertise in airflow, filtration, and deep understanding of indoor and outdoor quality.
- electrostatic filters capture 99% of particle pollution as small as 0.1 microns.
- Carbon filters to prevent acidic gases most associated with city pollution.
(both information of the aspects were taken from the dyson website)
General Information
stepping aside from the technical aspects of the headphones, lets talk general. These headphones offer 50 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation, or 4 hours including activated purification. Within 3 hours the headphones is charged up to 100%. Starting at a price of $949, Dyson will launch its first products in January 2023 starting in china, and will make it’s way to the UK, US, and more in March.
Opinions
My opinion on an innovative feature on such a common wearable technology to everyone is beneficial to an extent (2-sided). For the beneficial reasons, most of the people I know would always have some kind of wearable earphones/headphones to listen to while on public transport to reduce boredom, and coming from a country where pollution is among the worst, a combination of both air purifier and ANC are a great pair. However, I dislike the fact that prices are astronomically expensive. I understand that it takes a long enough time to produce such a product, hence why its expensive. But what about the more rural areas, where pollution is just as bad as cities, and most people can’t afford such prices just for headphones with an air purifier. Also, people typically purchases headphones for the aesthetics, which would be a big aesthetic adjustment with an air purifier across your face. You would look like a drippy super villain though.
What are your thoughts on these headphones? would it be something you would purchase in the near future?
Sources:
“Dyson ZoneTM: Dyson’s Entry into Audio.” Dyson.com, 2020, www.dyson.com/newsroom/news/product/dyson-zone-audio.
Alderson, Alex. “Dyson Zone: Price and Launch Window of Elaborate Over-Ear Headphones Confirmed.” Notebookcheck, Notebookcheck, 12 Dec. 2022, www.notebookcheck.net/Dyson-Zone-Price-and-launch-window-of-elaborate-over-ear-headphones-confirmed.674170.0.html.
