On trial: Dyson Zone™ headphones and purifier

When Dyson embarked on the Zone™ headphones project over six years ago, they were stepping into uncharted territory. With zero experience in headphone manufacturing but armed with 30 years of expertise in air purification for large spaces, Dyson aimed to create a personal air purification device like no other. They started with a ‘snorkel-like air mouthpiece’ prototype, coupled with a backpack to house the motor and internal mechanisms. Thankfully, they continued refining the design and the result is the stunning device now sitting on my desk.

The Dyson Zone™ defies traditional categorisation, much like other groundbreaking innovations from Dyson's skunkworks. It transcends being just a pair of high-fidelity over-ear headphones; it’s a portable, personal air purification device. Simply put, it purifies the air you breathe. Think: a fan but for your face. It is one of the most strange but enjoyable feelings you’ll ever experience from a pair of headphones. 

The headphones work just like any other pair of luxury wireless headphones with Bluetooth connectivity. The set-up process was pretty idiot-proof, you just have to download the MyDyson app. 

Getting started with the new air purification is fairly intuitive (especially if you already have a Dyson purifier fan) but because there’s nothing like it on the market, I can’t promise there aren’t going to be a few headscratchers. Case in point, as part of the unboxing process you have to insert a purifier filter into each headphone. That was definitely a first for me. The purifier visor clips on with magnets and can be adjusted easily to ensure it remains ‘contactless’. 

Good, really good. Tyler, the Creator has never sounded better. A double tap on the headphones lets you switch between ‘Transparency’ and ‘Isolation’. You can also select from three preset equaliser settings: Enhanced, Bass Boost and Neutral. 

According to Dyson, this is their first ‘wearable purifier’. The visor basically feeds a stream of clean air directly to your mouth and nose. Two little motors draw in air into the filters and then pump it through the removable visor. Hygiene-conscious people note, the visor is easily adjustable and designed to be contactless. When it’s on you feel a pleasant and gentle breeze around your mouth and nose. I can’t say I’ve experienced anything quite like it. Most of Dyson’s other filters are designed to last up to 12 months, but the MyDyson app will track and notify you when you need to change them. The app also can be used to show you little spikes in NO2 (the major pollutant from motor vehicle emissions).

The headphones weigh 595g without the visor and 670g with the visor. I can honestly say I’ve never had a more comfortable set of over-ear headphones. I wear glasses and usually the heavier they are, the more it pushes down on my frames. But with the Dysons, any pressure was evenly spread out by the headband’s thick padding. According to the press release, this is because the designers took ‘inspiration from the shape and design of a horse’s saddle’ which pushes the weight to the sides and not the top – now you know. The visor is very light and well balanced so it wasn’t a strain to wear. 

They cost £749.99. Simply put, they are the second most expensive headphones we sell. But they are the only headphones that purify your air. 

Dyson says they’ll last up to 50 hours with just audio. They’ll only do four hours with air purification, which sounds like a dramatic cut-off, but I haven’t had many occasions to wear the purification visor for more than 30 minutes at a time. I did find that the auto on/off battery-saving sensor sometimes didn’t trigger which meant they were still on in the case.

Despite getting a few pointed comments, I’m still an utter Dyson stan. The Dyson Zone™ headphones are different, they are unusual, and they are daring – you should be too. 

Just like with its Airwrap™ I think this Dyson device could be a must-have status symbol in the making. If you can afford it, get it before the rest of your IG feed does.