Dali IO-12 headphones review
They are all dominated by one set of headphones. That is Dali’s idea for the IO-12, a pair of incredibly expensive wireless headphones that can block out noise and are made to work flawlessly with your home theater system. Dali wants the IO-12 to be your go-to pair of headphones for music listening in any way.
How you feel about wireless music will probably determine whether you perceive that as a convenient fusion of two realms that don’t often pay much attention to each other or as a conflict of interests. If you’re thinking about buying these headphones, you’ll want to take advantage of the versatility and consistency that the IO-12 offer for music lovers who want to carry a little bit of their hi-fi with them.
For £999, these are among the priciest wireless headphones I have ever owned, if not the priciest. However, they are not alone. With fierce competition from devices like the Focal Bathys, the threshold Levinson No.5909, and the B&W Px8, wireless headphones have been moving closer to the £1,000 threshold in recent years. I believe the T+A Solitaire T are the most expensive wireless headphones available, but I haven’t been able to get them yet.
It does, however, demonstrate that there is a market for headphones that combine the two worlds and that Bluetooth audio is now unavoidable for those who like high-quality music today. As long as it’s done correctly, convenience is nothing to be afraid of.
Easily influenced
The IO-12 is positioned at the top of Dali’s headphone lineup, above the 2019 IO-4 and IO-6 cans, which are now discontinued (according to Dali’s website but are still very much available online). Those headphones lacked the level engineering seen in the IO-12 and were targeted at the more mainstream £200–300 ANC headphones market. Dali has referred to this performance as having “Hi-Fi speakers for your head” because it incorporates a number of elements that were originally taken from the brand’s high-end speaker lines and transformed into headphones.
The brand’s unique Soft Magnetic Compound (SMC) magnet system, which is also used in the company’s flagship Kore collections, is essential to these. Dali claims that the IO-12 may provide “electrostatic levels” of midrange clarity when combined with the 50mm rigid paper fiber cone that is located in each earcup. This technology also helps to avoid resistance with the voice coil and any related distortion.
Dali has kept the rest of the technology on the IO-12 somewhat understated, with the exception of the headphones’ drivers. Naturally, Bluetooth 5.2 is available, supporting the AAC, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive codecs as well as active noise cancellation. However, a notable change for headphones of this type is the absence of a control app.
This implies that all adjustments must be made directly from the headphones, and that any firmware updates must be done by connecting them to your computer by hand.
The lack of features like a wear sensor, which would pause music automatically when you take the headphones off, or quick pairing with iOS or Android smartphones may also be noticeable if you’ve used more consumer-grade headphones in this category.
However, the IO-12 has Bluetooth Multipoint, which allows you to pair it with two devices simultaneously. It also has an auto-off feature that will turn off devices after 20 minutes of inactivity to conserve battery life.
When ANC is turned on, the IO-12’s battery lasts a very reasonable 35 hours for wireless listening. It will take a few hours to fully charge from flat. Do pay attention to the battery %; a nice voice prompt will also tell you the percentage each time you turn them on, and an LED will light up green, orange, or red to give you an idea. However, there is no rapid charging mode here to give you a boost if you’ve left yourself short.
Smart, snazzy, subjective
As for their design, the IO-12 is available in a single finish, a chocolate brown that may cause controversy but at least makes them stick out in a sea of chrome and black. For what it’s worth, I believe they seem very smart, and they’re also really nicely constructed.
The headband, earcups, and earpads are all coated in a very soft, real leather, so vegans should turn away now. A stylish focal point is created by the circular bronze metallic design that fits above the firm plastic earcup covers.
This serves as a control pad for volume and audio playing on the right ear, but Dali has wisely opted to forego the often annoying sensation of touch controls in favor of tactile clicks. The top and bottom parts of the outer ring control the volume, while the center section is where you press to play, pause, or skip music. The built-in voice assistant on your device will also be triggered by a prolonged hold in the middle. All of this functions flawlessly, and Dali has also succeeded in making the feedback sufficiently clicky to the touch without making the headphones actually sound clicky.
The remaining controls, which include an ANC button, power/pairing, and an EQ button for alternating between “Hi-Fi” and “Bass” modes, are likewise located around the edge of the right earcup cap. With the 3.5mm input on the left (up to 24-bit/48kHz) earcup, this side also has the USB-C port for charging or 24-bit/96kHz audio playing.
If you don’t have a charger, you can use these headphones completely passively. However, I would suggest using the integrated DSP to get the best quality possible by listening with them turned on, no matter how you listen.
They must be among the most cozy closed-back over-ear headphones I’ve ever worn. The clamping force is light and the earpads are full of spongy without feeling unsteady on your head. Even after hours of use, there are no pressure areas that are obvious. The earcups have a hinge to help them establish the ideal seal on your head, and there is ample space for larger ears. Dali has truly attempted to consider every possibility, and to aid with this even more, there is a little more cushioning at the bottom of the earpad.
Additionally, those earpads can be taken off for cleaning or replacement, which is something I always appreciate, especially when headphones are this expensive.
The box includes a USB-A to USB-C cable, two 3.5mm cables (1.2m and 3m), a 6.35mm adaptor, and an airplane adapter, but it does not include a USB-C to USB-C cable for phones.
The supplied carry case is somewhat large, but it’s really durable and will do its intended function of protecting your headphones while you’re on the go because the IO-12 don’t collapse—the earcups merely swivel flat.
Performance
The Dalis quickly demonstrate their capabilities by putting the IO-12 on and connecting them to the FiiO M11S via USB-C.
The IO-12 clings to every ounce of vitality and vibrancy that comes from the musicians and the audience when listening to the 1999 live recording of The Roots’ You Got Me, starring Jill Scott. With a spacious and open soundstage that gives you the impression that you are sitting in the front row, it is an incredibly immersive listen.
At least when it comes to closed-back headphones, there is a ton of room for experimentation, and the instrument separation is excellent as a result. Even when the tempo quickens around the five-minute mark, with each instrument and performer seemingly vying for attention, the IO-12 never sounds crowded because of the headroom. Without missing a beat, the IO-12 rises to the occasion and keeps everything in order.
Turn to “Come Away With Me” by Norah Jones, and the IO-12 demonstrates the depth of information they can uncover. Jones’ soft, breathy vocals have a lot of depth, and the piano and guitar accompanying have depth and texture as well. From the leading edge to the reverb, every note’s richness is audible. With these headphones, acoustic music will sound fantastic.
The bass and treble provide a comparably clear performance on each side of that amazing midrange clarity. With Hi-Fi Mode on, the low end is rather neutral, but there is still enough body to give bass notes authority and presence. I listen to a lot of hip-hop music, and I find that the bass response works well for me. For instance, the bouncing bassline in ScHoolboy Q’s “No Collard Greens” is really powerful. However, if you’re craving something more, the IO-12 has a secret weapon.
Bass Mode, which typically produces a boomy mess on less expensive headphones, has been handled incredibly effectively on the IO-12. Not surprisingly, it adds a little bit of intensity to the bass notes without making them stand out from the rest of the presentation or forcing the additional warmth and weight into the mids. The throbbing low bassline in Kendrick Lamar’s Backseat Freestyle has a noticeable increase in thump when Bass Mode is on. Although I don’t often reach for it, it does give some songs a little more vigor and drive during the performance.
However, Bass Mode does reduce the treble a little bit, which, depending on your preferences, may actually improve some recordings. The treble goes as far as it can before reaching its destination, but these headphones are never harsh or unpleasant. When you switch to Bass Mode, the bite is removed from the very high end of recordings that are really bright, such as Incubus’ cymbal-tastic Anna Molly, or anything with a lot of sibilance in the vocals.
But all things considered, the IO-12 deliver a very smooth, well-balanced performance throughout the frequency range, with a degree of dynamic handling and detail retrieval that distinctly distinguishes them from high-end wireless headphones like those made by Bose and Sony (albeit admittedly at more than half the price). They’re just more hi-fi, that’s all.
You will lose some information if you must or want to listen wirelessly. Though there is a slight increase in warmth in the low end and obviously not the same degree of resolution, their nature is mostly unchanged. The best method to reduce any negative impacts in this situation is to use the finest Bluetooth codec available.
Just a brief remark on the noise cancellation: it just can’t match the almost eerie quiet that products like Bose’s QuietComfort line can provide, but I doubt that’s what it’s aiming for. Compared to Bose’s most recent flagship cans, which include ten microphones for assessing noise levels, this one only has four. This may also be the reason they are more vulnerable to wind noise than their more consumer-focused contemporaries.
Even so, they eliminate a sizable portion of low-end noise, and when you turn up the music, you won’t be disturbed by office commotion or traffic noise. However, it’s arguably more of a decrease than a cancellation, so it’s more of a nice-to-have than a feature to use as a basis for your purchase. When enabled, it doesn’t affect the sound in any way, so you may appreciate everything it has to offer without sacrificing sound quality, which may have been Dali’s top priority all along.
In summary
The Dali IO-12 are, without a doubt, the best-sounding wireless headphones I’ve ever heard. They provide the freedom and convenience of on-the-go listening while still providing amazing performance at home.
However, you should take advantage of this versatility. If you listen primarily at home, wired open-back headphones will provide better sound quality overall.
Additionally, the absence of a control app may seem odd if you’re switching from more consumer-grade wireless headphones, and it would be good to have access to over-the-air upgrades and even some EQ adjustment. You won’t be satisfied if you expect the noise canceling on board to be on par with some of the best at that level.
The Dali IO-12 are an excellent pair of headphones that offer amazing levels of clarity and detail that completely outperform their wireless competitors, assuming those factors don’t bother you. This is the mature version of wireless headphones, offering a smooth and sophisticated performance that also perfectly balances comfort and high-end construction. These should be at the top of your list of things to think about if the high-end wireless market appeals to you.
Ideal for…
A single set of headphones can provide audiophiles with versatility in terms of where and how they listen to their music.
Consider…
The extent to which you require wireless connectivity. Some concessions have been made, but they have been handled with care.
Specifications
- Type: Closed-back, wired, Bluetooth-enabled over-ear noise-canceling headphones
- Range of frequencies (+/-3dB): 10–48,000 Hz
- Passive mode impedance: 25 ohms
- Full range driver: 50mm using a magnet system based on SMC
- SPL maximum: 100 dB
- Inputs for connections: USB-C, 3.5mm micro jack, and Bluetooth 5.2
