Opulent looks ; Musical and entertaining sound ; IP rated design ; Long battery ; Excellent Bluetooth performance

Expensive ; Beaten for ANC ; Might be heavy for some

The DALI IO-12 are a luxury pair of headphones with warm, musical sound, strong wireless performance and long battery life. Its ANC satisfies, though it’s beaten by less expensive alternatives. Still, these are DALI’s best headphones yet.

Clever use of in-house tech ; Support USB-C playback ; Great battery life

Strong competition at this level

Given its audio pedigree, we’re excited to see (and hear) what Dali can do in the high-end wireless headphone space. First impressions are promising.

Entertaining, expansive sound ; Impressively built and finished from tactile materials ; Great suite of responsive physical controls

So-so noise-cancellation ; Going without a control app is not a virtue ; Very large price

Big headphones + big performance = big price

Incredible sound quality Supreme comfort Top-notch build and materials Wired, digital, and wireless hi-res connections Very good battery life Clear transparency mode

Very expensive No companion app No wear sensors

“Whether wired or wireless, the IO-12 offer sumptuous sound and comfort.”