What will happen when a legendary Hi-fi brand decides to jump into the portable audio scene? We get something unique yet solid both in performance as well as the build. Dali is a danish loudspeaker company that was founded way back in 1983 and they are famed for their amazing high end loudspeaker that is a known fact globally. They are a serious player in the high end Hi-Fi scene with their legendary products that are created with sheer attention to details and with an enthusiastic soul. Recently they have been rather active in the portable segment, most specifically the bluetooth headphones segment and they are incorporating the same principles im the loudspeakers into their headphones.
Dali has kindly sent us a pair of the all new IO-8 for an honest take and we are grateful for the opportunity given. The IO-8 is situated in the middle of the IO line between the entry IO-4 and the flagship IO-12. So how will the Dali IO-8 perform in this segment? We shall see right here on Audiomonsta.
Functions & Specifications
Before we start the review, here are the specifications and features of the Dapi IO-8;
- Frequency Range [+/- 3] dB [Hz]
- 10 – 43,000
- Headphone Principle
- Closed back circumaural (over ear)
- Impedance (Passive mode) [ohms]
- 25
- Full Range Driver
- 50 mm
- Connection Input
- Bluetooth® 5.2, 3.5 mm mini jack, USB-C
- Wireless Input Audio Codecs
- AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
- Battery Playback Time
- Up to 35 hours
- Input Audio Formats
- 16 – 24 bit audio, 32/44.1/48/96 kHz
- Weight [gr]
- 325
The Dali IO-08 can be purchased at Starspicker and they are set to launch on the 2nd of November 2024 and will be on sale soon
https://starspickeraudio.net/search?q=Dali#
Packaging & Accessories
Packaging here is a rather simple, compact paper box that looks professional yet quite premium but it doesn’t feel like a flagship product. Inside we are greeted with the carrying case that is semi hard encasing the product itself. The case is rather small, great for portability with a premium finishing and solid zippers. The package includes necessities like an aeroplane jack adapter, USB C to USB A cable and a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable along with some paperworks. Simple and straight to the point packaging which creates less waste but the cable does look pretty generic and basic though. For the price paid, I would hope to get some braided or sleeved cables.
Design
The design of the IO-8 is a simplistic, minimalist design that has a modern yet rustic look to it as I have in my hand the white version. It has a sleek and small footprint design that has a circum-aural fit that covers most of the ear. It doesn’t have a bold design like some other mainstream brand but it has the Danish style of design of a clean, modern look. There aren’t any touch gestures here and all the functions are a button approach which I prefer as touch gestures are prone to accidental clicks.
The heart of the IO-8 is driven by a 50mm full range dynamic driver developed by Dali themselves.
Material selection here is spot-on with high quality plastic and metal parts with a lightweight design. Pads are made from protein leather and they fit comfortably with great isolation. They have swivel cups and earpads giving a more conform fit. Headband adjustment is done by sliders and they are quiet and sturdy. The headband material is made from fabric and leather which give it a stylish look and they have a good feel on hand. No complaints here for their style of design language.
There is no LDAC support here but is being done by APTX HD and AAC which might deter some hardcore high bitrate bluetooth users but for my ears, they are indistinguishable from one another. The connectivity strength is actually pretty good and they can stay connected for a solid 10 metres if there is no obstruction. All the buttons are on the right side where the ANC button is located at the side and below that is the equaliser button where users can choose for Hi-Fi for a purer sound and bass for more thump in the low end . Below that is the power button or bluetooth pairing. The faceplate of the right side serves as the music control where the middle is the play/pause button, volume is at the up and down position and the sides are for next and previous tracks. Buttons are easy to operate and have a satisfying click. There is one nit-pick though as the power button only needs a single to disconnect rather than a long press and with accidental click, they disconnect with a single click.
The IO-8 has a great battery life of up to 35 hours of continuous usage and it does charge up rather fast in 2 to 3 hours. There is an LED light at the right side which indicates the battery charging completion. There is a 3.5mm input for wired usage and they do sound better in terms of low end weight and overall dynamics but only in a small margin.
Gears Used for Comparisons
FiiO Q7
Hiby FC6
Beyerdynamics DT1350
Sennheiser HD800s
Sony WH1000 XM5
Focal Bathys
Moondrop A8
Dunu Luna
Hidizs MS3
Dunu EST112
Letshuoer S15
Blur daBass custom earbud
Toneking TO600
Songs list
Tone and Presentation
The tone of the IO-8 is a balanced neutral type of sound that has smooth, great detail retrieval capabilities with a slightly warm sound that is clean and accurate. They are leaning towards bright tonality to them but aren’t overly bright that may cause fatigue in the long run. The IO-8 possesses a wide frequency range that is full sounding and with an airy extension on both ends of the frequency. They are a balanced sounding unit without any major emphasis on any frequency which is good for an accurate presentation of music played which makes them an all rounder set of headphones.
Soundstage
The soundstage of IO-8 is decent as they are wide and have a good height to them and perform best with transparent mode on. Albeit it’s a closed system they are quite airy but at this price range, they are up against cheaper competition that gives similar sized soundstage. The soundstage here has great immersive sound that is holographical and accurate which is suitable even for gaming and movies.
Separation and Timbre
Separation of the IO-8 is excellent as they are able to have a great left to right separation with no crosstalk issues on Bluetooth or wired. Texture and layering here is great as they are able to keep with fast tracks such as EDM or metal and timbre here is superb with a breathy and clean sound with a good natural sound that is accurate with an immersive sound. The IO-8 does have a good musicality and they are a fun sounding unit with decent technicalities.
Drivability
The IO-8 on Bluetooth mode isn’t a beast in their driving power and they just produce loudness in a rather soft loudness as even on maximum volume, they just sound enough for normal listening, unsuitable for loud usage. On wired mode, their scalability is actually pretty good and does sound better versus on the Bluetooth mode but marginally. They do not need a good source or good driving power to sound their best but with wired mode, the dynamics, clarity and technicalities do sound better. They are only able to support aptx-HD which is OK but an LDAC support will be much more appreciated as they do have higher bitrates giving a cleaner, clearer sound versus the aptx-HD.
The Bass (Low)
Bass that the IO-8 produces is a neutral warm bass that has a flat response with good texturing and sharp bass response. Details and clarity here is top notch along with amazing resolution that produces an accurate bass performance. It has a decent amount of energy that provides a tight slam that is natural and it is superbly clean without any overpowering issues. The bass has a clinical sound signature that is accurate with a good bass amount that doesn’t sound too dull. They have a well extended bass with a good depth and air without any bleed present. The bass is certainly not for bassheads users but it is for purists who want a clean and accurate bass presentation. Sub-bass here is clean with good extension and a deep reach and they possess a good rumble that blends well with the overall bass.
The Mids
The midrange here is neutral warm with a slightly bright tone and they are well balanced mids. The mids here have a good amount of warmth that gives some lushness and sweetness to their overall sound. Details here are decent as they possess all the details like macro or micro details well presented but at this price range, I would hope to get more clarity here as clarity here is rather mediocre for the price paid even though they possess decent clarity. Resolution here is great with a vivid sound that has a mild coloration while having a rather good transparency as they are natural and accurate. Vocals sound intimate while having a spacious sound and they are able to give a lush, sweet, balanced vocals that suits male or female vocals alike. Instrumentals sounded good but they do lack clarity for some instruments like piano and some strings but in a small margin.
The Highs
The high frequency on the IO-8 is a slightly flat high range that has a neutral sound and they are smooth while having a good presence here. They are great in detail retrieval and have a good clarity here with a clean presentation without being too polite. The highs here have a good sparkly sound and they are crisp in their decay giving a good lively sound. Extension here is mediocre though while they do have some air but the highs here are slightly rolled off at the end. Resolution here is great with a vivid sound and they do have great transparency as they are accurate and natural without any weird timbre goin on. Treble here is leaning mildly towards a laid-back sound but they are still able to give some energy here without being too dull or dark and they are able to keep up with complex sound without any issues. The overall high range tuning here is actually pretty good for matching a wide range of genres from hip-hop to EDM to vocals, the IO-8 high are adaptable for their smooth presentation that possess some energy.
Comparisons
VS Sony WH1000 XM5
The XM5 from Sony is the 5th generation of their venerable line of wireless headphones and they are very well received and touted as a better value wireless headphones than the Airpod Max. They are priced lower than the IO-8 and they have a wider selection of bluetooth connections like the addition of LDAC and various other Aptx connections. Build quality is good but the IO-8 does feel more luxurious with its fabric and metal construction. The XM5 does have slightly lighter weight but comfort on both is superb. The active noise cancelling on the XM5 works better and isolates better.
The high region on the IO-8 has a slightly stronger style of presentation with a more energetic style versus the more laid-back style of the XM5. Details and clarity here is better on the IO-8 and they are more refined while being similarly smooth. The extension in the high range on the XM5 is slightly better with more air and extension present in their presentation.
Midrange on the XM5 is thicker with a more coloured sound that has a lusher mids versus the more neutral mids on the IO-8. Details are better on the IO-8 but clarity is rather similar. The forward mids on the XM5 sounded more intimate while the IO-8 had a more spacious mids.
Bass on the XM5 does have a bigger mid bass lift with a deeper sub-bass rumble while the IO-8 neutrality does give a more accurate bass presentation though lacking in authority when compared to the XM5. Details and clarity here are similar but the bass on the XM5 does sound a tad airier.
Soundstage on the IO-8 is wider and taller with a better depth but the XM5 sounds airier to my ears.
Beyerdynamics DT1350
The DT1350 from Beyerdynamics is my go-to portable headphones and they are built like a tank as all other headphones from them are made. They have a smaller dynamic driver and don’t have bluetooth connectivity and this comparison is made with the 3.5mm input on the IO-8. The DT1350 have a brighter, bolder signature with a better passive isolation but the IO-08 has better comfort versus the smaller supra-aural style DT1350 that sits on the ear. The DT1350 does cost half the asking price of the IO-8 with similar metal and plastic build but it lacks the bluetooth technology so bear that in mind.
Bass quantity here is similar but the DT1350 does have the authority and they do hit harder due to their strong mid bass. Sub-bass on the other hand goes deeper with a bigger rumble and air on the IO-8 marginally. Details and clarity do go to the DT1350 with a cleaner and clearer overall bass.
The midrange of the DT1350 has a more resolving sound and sounds more forward with a clearer sound. Details here are similar but the DT1350 are more resolving and has better transparency. Spaciousness on the IO-8 is better and they have more air versus the forward mids on the DT1350. Vocals on the DT1350 are more clinical and clearer with good intimacy but the IO-8 does sound lusher and sweeter.
High range on the IO-8 is smoother with a more relaxed sound while the DT1350 sounded brighter with a sharper sparkle along with a crisper sound but it is a tad aggressive. Details and clarity is slightly better on the DT1350 marginally with a slight edge on the extension side as well.
Soundstage on the IO-8 does sound wider and taller by a small margin.
Focal Bathys
The Bathys is touted as the best in class for their sonic performance in the bluetooth headphones category. They have the pedigree of their venerable line up of headphones with a solid build and an uber comfy fit. They are priced rather similarly but the Bathys looks more professional in design and they do have app support with a slightly better active noise cancelling along with a built-in DAC for USB C connectivity. The driver size of the Bathys is stated at 40mm versus the slightly larger IO-08 50mm driver.
Bass on the Bathys does sound airier with better extension but the IO-8 bass is snappier and faster. Details and clarity on both are similar while both having a neutral bass signature. Sub-bass in the Bathys does go deeper with a more evident rumble.
Midrange on the Bathys sounded slightly thicker and they are more spacious with more intimacy. Details and clarity does sound better on the IO-8 but resolution on the Bathys seems more vivid. Bathys does perform better on vocals for their lushness and slightly better brilliance. Transparency does go to the IO-08 as they are more neutral and natural but only in a small margin.
Highs on both are similar in amount and both have a good sparkle along with a crisp decay. Extension is better on the Bathys though and they are able to sound airier. Treble on the Bathys does sound a tad more intense that gives some added brilliance to their sound. Both are fatigue free and suitable for an everyday carry.
Soundstage on the Bathys does sound wider and higher with a slightly bigger headroom.
Who Is It For?
For those users who seek fashionable yet having a premium, solid build in a bluetooth headphone form but still keep a decent headphone sound, the IO-8 might fit you. It is a great choice for users who want something different than the mainstream ones and possess a more professional tuning as they are well tuned headphones that have an audiophile neutrality with a touch of fun sound. They aren’t for bassheads nor treble heads as the IO-8 has a mere adequate amount that is accurate and also their loudness is not loud per se in their bluetooth mode. They are also a suitable pair of headphones for gaming for their accuracy and great for gaming for their immersiveness.
Final words
Technology is advancing and tech is getting smaller, more efficient and Dali has honestly made a right adapting choice by diving in the portable section rather than just focusing on speakers. The IO-8 is a statement of their testament in producing a high quality, high performance product and the IO-8 is a product with the essence of Dali. It has a true audiophile tuning that has great details, a well balanced sound and an overall smooth signature that is suitable for all occasions. The Build is exquisite and looks modern with a fashionable style. Though being slightly short in terms of performance versus competition and being slightly expensive, they are a great choice for those who want a taste of the legendary Dali sound. The only downside of this product is the asking price unfortunately as it is steep and might be overshadowed by cheaper or even similarly priced products by their better value or performance. All that being said, Dali does have a potential here in this realm and I hope they will continue to pursue in search of the perfect ratio headphones. Alla de bästa Dali!
I would rate this product 3 and a half stars over 5.
Pros
- Superb build and nicely design
- Excellent battery life
- Good clicky buttons
- Comfortable, lightweight with good clamping force
- Good neutral sound
- Decent technical performance
- Good separation
- Good overall detail retrieval
- Great resolving capabilities with good transparency
- Clean, accurate bass response
- Neutral, clean midrange
- Strong, smooth high range with great sparkle
- Inoffensive sound
- Decent soundstage for a closed back
Cons
- Included white cables too generic
- Treble a little polite/safe tuning
- Sub-bass has mediocre air
- Upper midrange clarity isn’t the best
- High range lack bite
- ANC works but not perfect
- Bluetooth mode volume isn’t loud
- No LDAC
- Some buttons like the power buttons prone to accidental clicks
- Steep pricing/tough competition
