We could all use less noise and air pollution in our lives. New headphones offer a solution, but they’ll set you back $949. The Dyson Zone boasts cutting edge acoustics plus an air-filtering magnetic visor. Dyson began development on this wearable version of their air purifiers in 2016. The idea is to create a bubble of clean air just for you as you go through your day. Pre-pandemic, would anywhere wear such a device? Now we’re all used to wearing face coverings and thinking about the air we breathe.
Dyson went through hundreds of prototypes to miniaturize the air filtration and delivery system. The Zone consists of a compressor fan in each headphone that draws air in. An electrostatic filter also in the ear piece collects particles. The purified air is then delivered via the visor to mouth and nose area. It doesn’t touch your face, but blows air at you from a small distance. It will also make you look a bit like Ant-Man.
The Verge tested the Dyson Zone. There are multiple fan speeds to compensate for heavier breathing when working out versus sitting at your desk. At the highest setting, the fans in the ear piece do add some noise even with noise cancellation activated. The size and weight of this first generation technology may be an issue. But there’s no denying that there’s a market for these in our modern world of air and noise pollution.
The Dyson Zone will be available in spring 2023. The battery lasts up to 50 hours when you’re just using the headphones, but that drops to four hours once you activate the air purifier. The magnetic visor is removable when you want to use just the headphones. Or if you don’t want to look like a Benzite from Star Trek. The visor also lowers on a hinge. This automatically reduces the noise cancellation of the headphones so you can conduct normal conversations. But when you’re wearing them, will anyone want to talk to you?
Originally published March 31, 2022.
