Dyson is entering the world of headphones in the most Dyson way possible: the Zone, a pair of noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones with a built-in air purifier, thanks to a magnetic face mask.
Dyson’s new Zone air-purifying headphones look like something you’d expect to see in a sci-fi movie. But the company says they’re actually a real device that you’ll be able to buy sometime this fall.
An announcement from a few days ago is just an initial look at the Zone headphones ahead of their release date, and Dyson isn’t releasing details like pricing or specs (including how much the headphones weigh or how long the battery will last) just yet. But it seems safe to assume that these will cost more than your typical premium noise-canceling headphones from Bose and Sony, and probably even more than Apple’s AirPods Max.
How the Air Purifier Works
The Zone’s air-purifying component doesn’t reinvent the wheel for Dyson, a company best known for its high-end vacuum cleaners. Instead, it miniaturizes the company’s existing air-filtration technology into a unique form factor. “Compressors in each earcup draw air through dual-layer filters and project two streams of purified air into the wearer’s nose and mouth, channeled through the non-contact mask,” Dyson explains. “Sculpted vents in the mask ensure that the clean airflow is kept close to the nose and mouth and diluted as little as possible by outside crosswinds.”
According to Dyson, the air-filtration component is a “non-contact” system, meaning it doesn’t touch your face like a mask, but sits right in front of it.
Audio Aspect
On the audio front, Dyson says you can expect a premium listening experience with an accurate, neutral audiophile sound profile and advanced noise cancellation. The headphones are also designed with comfort in mind. Each ear cup contains two motors, and Dyson says they’re the smallest in any of its machines to date. The headphones connect via Bluetooth — there’s no word on the version number — and can also be used to make voice calls.
Key features of the “Zone”
According to “Dyson”, the “Zone” headphones will have the following features:
- Radical new form factor to deliver purified air and high-fidelity audio on the go
- Electrostatic filtration that captures 99% of particulate pollution down to 0.1 microns, such as dust, pollen and bacteria
- The non-contact air distribution mask channels two streams of purified air to the nose and mouth, specially designed for use outdoors and in crosswinds
- Advanced “ANC” (Active Noise Cancellation) and a high-performance neodymium electroacoustic system deliver rich, immersive audio that faithfully replicates the audio as the artist or creator intended
- Isolation mode: the highest level of active noise cancellation
- Talk mode: activated when you dip the mask - automatically turns off purification to save battery power and amplifies conversation