Dali IO-8

Clean, crisp and detailed sound ; Expressive dynamics and pleasing rhythmic drive ; Classy build with competitive battery life

Ergonomics could be better ; Some of the controls feel imprecise in use ; No control app

Dali’s IO-8 is a superb effort combining competitive battery life, high-quality build and terrific sound quality

Superb standard of build and finish ; Articulate, revealing and entertaining sound ; Can be used as passive, hard-wired headphones with no power requirement

Not short of competition ; Lack of a control app is a bold decision ; The use of real leather seems a bit retrograde

Proof that a brilliant pair of headphones doesn’t rely on an exhaustive feature-set, the Dali IO-8 get on with the important business in a deeply satisfying manner. If you’re in the happy position of having this sort of money available for wireless...

Positive, detailed and completely convincing sound ; Can happily function as hard-wired passive headphones, too ; Outstanding standard of build and finish

No control app ; No vegan option ; Plenty of credible competition

The Dali IO-8's downsides are a) minor and b) nothing to do with the way they sound. Dali has challenged itself to create a competitive wireless headphone at a (relatively) real-world price and come up smiling…

Well-judged, smooth sound ; High-grade build justifies price premium ; Comprehensive physical controls and analogue input

App-free approach means a limited feature set ; No vegan leather option ; Easy to find better noise cancelling for the money

These luxury over-ears have a one track mind. Audiophiles will love the Dali IO-8’s unwavering musical focus, and it holds its own everywhere else against all-rounder alternatives.

The Dali IO-8 headphones are expensive, no doubt. But when you're looking at headphones on this level, you should expect prices to soar into the four and five figures. And to be clear, the IO-8 are Dali's mid-range headphones.

The Dali IO-8 headphones are expensive, no doubt. But when you're looking at headphones on this level, you should expect prices to soar into the four and five figures. And to be clear, the IO-8 are Dali's mid-range headphones.

Excellent build ; Great, well-rounded sound ; Useful on-device EQ shift ; Solid controls ; No app…

No App?! ; Slightly cheap case ; Extremely expensive

The Dali IO-8 are a spectacular pair of headphones — faultless, almost. They’re a great-looking, stunning-sounding, comfortable set of cans that are only let down by their slightly cheap feeling carrying case. The recipe is there for the perfect set of...

Well-judged, smooth sound ; High-grade build justifies price premium ; Comprehensive physical controls and analogue input

App-free approach means a limited feature set ; No vegan leather option ; Easy to find better noise cancelling for the money

These luxury over-ear headphones have a one track mind. Audiophiles will appreciate the musical focus, but those wanting more of an all-rounder will find plenty of alternatives for similar – or less – cash.