[Audio46]

Audio46 is an Authorized Dealer of DALI

Designed and engineered using the same sound principles as DALI's full-size loudspeakers, the IO-8 wireless Hi-Fi headphones deliver an exceptionally lifelike performance. With features like our custom-designed 50 mm drivers with paper fiber cones and electronics inherited from their acclaimed IO-12s, Hi-Res-certified DALI IO-8 headphones are true Hi-Fi speakers for your head.

The Dali IO-8 is in stock and shipping now at Audio46!

Read our full expert review here
Unsure if they're for you? Stop by our shop at 29 West 46th Street, Between 5th and 6th Avenue, New York, NY, 10036 for an in-store demo

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[bronco1015]

I just picked up the 12 and almost got the iO-8 at the same time. i'd be curious how they compare.

 

[Halimj7]

I just picked up the 12 and almost got the iO-8 at the same time. i'd be curious how they compare.

Anyone hear these and can provide some information on how they sound?

 

[Azreil24]

I got these a couple of days ago. Sorry form the get go as I'm not too good at describing sound nuances, especially as English is not my native language. These replaced my 3 year old iO-6s as one of the cups just died...

Listening done through AptX-HD connection from a Node 2i and Tidal FLAC streaming (glad they removed MQA).

What I noticed until now

Good

- Build quality is definitely better. Gone is the weird iO-6 headband oval shape that made the sides of the band bend backwards, which in turn caused cracks on the plastic bits.
- The pads feel much better. Hopefully these will not require replacement once 1 - 1.5 years like the ones used on the iO-6s
- On the fly switch between Bluetooth sources. With the iO-6s I had to manually switch each time

The not so good

- Gone are the sparkly highs that I love on the iO-6, thus also taking away some of that airines around some voices. Some tracks even sound a bit muffled in comparison. There seems to be some weird early and abrupt roll-off in some instances. At the same time they seem to sound a bit more detailed with other, a bit lower side of the highs range.
- Some high frequencies sound a bit aliased, even the announcer's voice has an aliased hiss in the "bass" and "percent" pronunciation which I do not hear on the iO-6s.
- Bass is a bit too much for my taste. Where the iO-6s would off benefited from just a tad more bass, now the iO-8s sound like the Sennheiser M4s, but the Dalis do not have the parametric equalizer option to tone it down a bit. For me the Bass profile is just useless, as it's way too much.

The annoying

- Power button is now just a one press for On or Off, which makes it annoying as you can easily trigger it

They still sound great but they do not sound like the same Dali and not sure at this time if that's a good thing or not. That aliasing in some of the highs are bit annoying. Not sure if maybe this is source related and maybe the iO-6s are not able to expose that well.

 

[Halimj7]

thanks for sharing. How would you describe the bass? Is the bass a fast bass, bloomy, etc.? Is the bass detailed? Thanks.

 

[Azreil24]

The bass is thumpy and energetic. Has plenty of detail and rhythm. Sadly it seems that in some cases, some bass guitar can be a bit overbearing. Listening to Hiroyuki Sawano's Attack on Titan Suite, the bass guitar sounds a bit boosted and fatiguing. I had no such issue with the iO-6 or the Sennheiser M4s. I'm curious to see if what I hear can also be seen on a frequency response graph. As these are fairly new, I couldn't find any detailed, more technical, reviews.

It seems as if Dali boosted the bass to maybe combat possible seal issues that the iO-6s had, although the iO-8s are better in that regard also.

 

[Halimj7]

The bass is thumpy and energetic. Has plenty of detail and rhythm. Sadly it seems that in some cases, some bass guitar can be a bit overbearing. Listening to Hiroyuki Sawano's Attack on Titan Suite, the bass guitar sounds a bit boosted and fatiguing. I had no such issue with the iO-6 or the Sennheiser M4s. I'm curious to see if what I hear can also be seen on a frequency response graph. As these are fairly new, I couldn't find any detailed, more technical, reviews.

It seems as if Dali boosted the bass to maybe combat possible seal issues that the iO-6s had, although the iO-8s are better in that regard also.

Thank you! Are you keeping? This review agrees with you

 

[Azreil24]

Not sure if I'll keep them. I only have two weeks to decide. We'll see.

My impresions we're based on the Hi-Fi profile and ANC off, so according to that clip I should be in the most balanced range of settings that iO-8s can deliver.

I'm not huge believer in burn-in, as I think it's more of our ears getting used to the sound, but still hoping for a change, as otherwise I am not sure what to go for in this price range to have the iO-6 similar spind signature. The M4s are nice, but they had connection issues, I hate the touch implementation as I always touched it when I was just adjusting them on my head, for me they look so Sony-boring (big fan of the M2 and M3 designs).

 

[Halimj7]

Not sure if I'll keep them. I only have two weeks to decide. We'll see.

My impresions we're based on the Hi-Fi profile and ANC off, so according to that clip I should be in the most balanced range of settings that iO-8s can deliver.

I'm not huge believer in burn-in, as I think it's more of our ears getting used to the sound, but still hoping for a change, as otherwise I am not sure what to go for in this price range to have the iO-6 similar spind signature. The M4s are nice, but they had connection issues, I hate the touch implementation as I always touched it when I was just adjusting them on my head, for me they look so Sony-boring (big fan of the M2 and M3 designs).

I have the Dyson ANC and like them

 

[Azreil24]

Found the iO-12s on sale, 20% off. But it's still another €200 over the iO-8s. Not sure what to do. The iO-8s are definitely fatiguing for my ears with that bass.

 

[Halimj7]

Found the iO-12s on sale, 20% off. But it's still another €200 over the iO-8s. Not sure what to do. The iO-8s are definitely fatiguing for my ears with that bass.

Try the Dyson onTrac. Definitely more neutral from the sound of it

 

[Azreil24]

From what I see the general consensus is that the Dyson headphones aren't that good.

 

[Azreil24]

Quick update, I will be keeping the iO-8's

Not sure what happened in span of a few days. I didn't listen to them for a couole of days. I now picked them up and they now sound way better. I have the sparkly highs, I can hear details which I could swear I did not hear on the iO-6s, the midds are no longer muffled on some of the tracks that sounded weird. Same sources and tracks and setup. Not sure how and why, maybe my ears weren't fully recovered from a cold I had prior, maybe burn-in actually is a thing, although not sure how. I don't know, but I love them now. Makes me wonder now how much better would the iO-12s sound.

Only thing that annoys me, is the announcer weird sibilance hissing. Not sure if it's just due to low quality of the sound itself and the headphones being more revealing, as even though sounds as the same announcer track, this hissing is not audible on the iO-6. I do not hear it with music, so, it wouldn't be a big issue if it's only that.

 

[Halimj7]

thanks for sharing! Do you still find it to be a warm headphone? In other words, more bass than treble? This happens to me often - our mood often changes how we hear thing too. Glad you are enjoying now!

 

[Azreil24]

Yes, definitely the bass is still the center of attention, but now they are way more balanced, it doesn't feel overwhelming anymore.

It's 2AM where I live and I can't get myself to sleep as I can't stop listening to them now