DALI IO-12 Headphones to make global debut in October 2023

The world's first headphones featuring DALI's patented Soft Magnetic Compound (SMC) technology. With 50mm Custom Drivers, Active Noise Cancellation, 35-Hour Battery, aptX Adaptive Bluetooth and USB-C/3.5mm wired connections.

October 2, 2023

Drawing upon four decades of Hi-Fi expertise, as DALI celebrates 40 years in the global audio business, the DALI IO-12 headphones have been engineered to deliver stunning Hi-Fi quality sound, together with sumptuous levels of comfort. The DALI IO-12 will launch in October 2023 priced at £999, €999, $1,299.

You can learn more about the history of DALI here.

Utilising the same material found in DALI's high-end speakers, the DALI IO-12's are the world's first headphones to feature DALI's patented Soft Magnetic Compound (SMC) magnet system. When using conventional magnets in a speaker design, it is not unusual to experience a phenomenon known as hysteresis. This introduces an unintended resistance to the voice-coil, which can lead to unwanted distortion in the audio signal. DALI's SMC technology, combined with their signature paper fibre cones, significantly reduces hysteresis, lowering uneven harmonic distortion drastically. The result is a crystal-clear sound with ultra-low distortion, delivering unrivalled depth and musicality.

"By applying SMC to the DALI IO-12 headphones we have essentially achieved electrostatic levels of midrange clarity." - Krestian Pedersen, DALI Head of Product Management

The IO-12 driver also incorporates some DALI speaker driver techniques. Rather than employing a self-supporting, former-less construction in its voice-coil (typical of many headphone drivers), the IO-12 uses a voice-coil former, with the same shape and style as in a normal DALI speaker driver. The result is lower distortion through improved voice-coil structural integrity.

In addition, the IO-12 driver diaphragm borrows from DALI’s proprietary paper fibre diaphragm material. This offers a unique combination of mass, rigidity and damping that’s perfectly tailored to wide-band reproduction with minimal distortion and energy storage. Employed in the IO-12, in combination with its SMC motor system, the result is a headphone driver with truly excellent performance and sound quality.

Versatile and intuitive, the DALI IO-12 headphones have been designed to be used either wired or wirelessly. Thanks to support for SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, and the supplied 3.5mm mini-jack and USB-C cables, you are able to listen to your music from a host of devices including: smartphones, Digital Audio Players (DAPs), PCs, games consoles and more. When using the supplied USB-C cable — dependent upon source and device — audio can be listened to at up to 24Bit/96kHz Hi-Res quality.

In contrast to many other headphones on the market — when using the 3.5mm cable in passive analogue mode — the IO-12 do not need to be powered on. When used in this passive mode, the IO-12 utilise a sophisticated internal passive filter, ensuring the same sound quality and performance, as when using the DSP based filtering used in active mode.

The DALI IO-12's offer two sound profiles for listening to your music. Prefer to listen to your music as the artist intended, or perhaps you're after a punchier, bass-focused performance? The DALI IO-12's tailored 'Hi-Fi' and 'Bass' sound modes let you listen to your music just the way you want it.

Adopting a simple, app-free operation, users can skip tracks, pause/resume, adjust volume, and more using the IO-12's integrated buttons. Cutting-edge Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) adds even more functionality and ensures — even in noisy environments — an immersive listening experience, where every musical detail is revealed. With their comfortable design and long battery-life delivering 35 hours of fatigue-free listening, the DALI IO-12 headphones let you enjoy a level of musicality on the go like never before. And, thanks to the high-quality integrated microphones, you can be heard clearly when making hands-free calls or voice-controlling your compatible device.

Featuring a real leather headband and oversized square ear-pads, you'll be able to enjoy hours of comfortable listening on the go with the new DALI IO-12.

DALI IO-12 will launch in October 2023 priced at £999, €999, $1,299.

For review samples, please contact Starscream Communications.

Starscream Communications

KEY FEATURES:

World's First Headphones with DALI's patented Soft Magnetic Compound (SMC) Magnet System
True Hi-Fi Wireless Headphones
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
Transparency Mode
Custom-developed 50mm SMC-based Drivers
Large-capacity Battery (Up to 35 Hours of Listening)
Real Leather Ear-pads and Headband
Bluetooth Audio Codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
USB-C Charging
Hi-Res (up to 24Bit/96kHz) USB Audio
Voice Assist Support