Not only are these Dali headphones super spot on, but this review is absolutely bang on in every way possible! You’re right OPAZ, Dali do deserve recognition, an award, for nailing these headphones. These IO-12 are very special, I’m hearing more in every track. I’d even go as far as to say I’ve heard more in these via their Bluetooth mode than in many well regarded wired headphones on the end of killer headphone amps. As you said OPAZ, the balance of these Dali headphones is supremely well judged. Everything is perfectly in its place, playing at the right level. Scenario 1: Imagine going to a studio, or a concert, and imagine the singer or band not performing at their peak, or having some tuning issues. Or maybe the sound engineer is having issues with getting the sound right… Scenario 2: Now imagine going to the same studio, or concert, but the singer or band is absolutely on fire, and the sound engineer has totally nailed the setup - this is how these Dali headphones sound every time. These IO-12 are Scenario 2 for everything, no matter what genre of music you listen to. I’m currently trialling these Dali’s, but I’ll definitely be buying a pair because these are astoundingly good headphones with clearly exceptional drivers as they sound awesome in passive wired mode too. There are a couple of things I’d love to see Dali improve if making a version 2 of these headphones. Firstly, make the volume adjustments just a bit more granular to allow for finer volume adjustment. Audio Technica’s ATH-M50xBT2 allows for finer volume control and this matters for getting things just right. The other improvement I’d like to see is better, more premium feeling buttons. When I press the buttons, I want them to make me feel like they belong to a £999 product before I’ve even heard how the headphones sound. Also, if making a version 2, please keep everything else as is. Stick with not providing an app, because it’s just not needed. You don’t need an app to eat your dinner, so why do you need one to listen to music? I don’t even think the app is needed for updates - just get the product right prior to release, then release it. Simple! And by far the most important aspect for a version 2; if the sound can’t be improved, please just keep it as is. It’s exceptional already. Loving your work Dali, and loving your review OPAZ… Stellar! 👏👏👏
I'm with you! an app to eat your dinner 😆. .. love it Again, "THE DALI iO-12PRODUCE "HIGH END WIRED" AUDIO ✅ from a Bluetooth connection, that is absolutely astonishing! As for the volume increments, I have found using the vol slider from my smartphone best for my ML 5909, maybe that is also better for the iO-12 Thanks for your valuable, detailed and treasured comments 👍🏼
I agree with everything that you have said, with the exception of the app. The ability to customize the sound shape to one's particular needs is what will take these to the next level. Including adjusting transparency and other anc details. And the ability to set specific profiles for different environments would be special. Everyone is different. Being able to adapt is key.
Firstly, I want to commend your amazing review of the Dali io 12 headphones. I have purchased these headphones and have been using them continuously for about 3 months since September 2023, you are absolutely spot on with your findings.. I have the Bathys, PX8 and even the XM4's for everyday commutes, but I always come back to Dali io 12 when I want to listen to music on how music should sound.🎉 Well done for this review
Too big and too expensive to risk it under the rain and all... Whereas Sony xm-3/4/5 are perfect for that (smaller, comfortable a d cheaper). Io-12 are my favorite go-to wireless pair though.
The Dali iO12s are the absolute best bluetooth headphones on the market. If you want to experience true audiophile quality then these are for you. These are music perfection in bluetooth mode but if you want to bump it up even more, pair these with the Questyle M15 Dac Amp. You will never need another pair or want another pair of headphones in your life. These headphones are made to deliver music to you the way the artist intended for you to hear it. I have the Focal Bathys also and I didn't think anything could beat them. Well I was wrong. These headphones are a true masterpiece. I would say almost addicting. They may sound a little duller than what you would expect at first but after about the first 5 hours of burn in they start to really open up and it only continues to get better. I have about 45 hours on mine and my goodness they are magnificent. When you listen to these it is an EXPERIENCE, not just a listening session. These are medicine for the soul. Everyone needs to experience these because they are truly something else. Best wishes and goodluck putting them down.
OPAZ I just got my Dalio 12 I listen to a jazz song and I had to put the 5909 back in there case. These are are my #1 headphones 🎧 now OMG THESE ARE TOP TIER. Thank you for your review
I been waiting on this review and gotta say im happy something finally sounds better than the 5909, im a big fan of Mark Levinson audio so hopefully this will make Mark Levinson make something better
I spent some time with my buddy's IO-12 and I have to say they are definitely up there with the best of the best BT headphones. Extremely comfortable, one of the two widest soundstages (Bathys being the other), and a fantastic sound. The Solitaire T I honestly didnt care for too much as they were pretty uncomfortable and truthfully I enjoyed the 5909, Bathys, and PX8 more. Maybe I was subconsciously focused on the Solitaire's price tag but I didnt see their worth in comparison to the others. With the Dali I do. The 5909 is still my favorite overall as I prefer the cleaner and more balanced sound I get from it vs the Dali but they are something special. I do wish the 5909 had a physical button to switch the sound profiles like the Dali though. Also I find the 5909 a little bit better received wired through a DAC then the Dali which did sound really good, just not quite as good except for it's spaciousness. The last thing I want to touch on is the part that impressed me the most about the Dali IO-12. That spacious immersive soundstage you get coupled with that clean deep bass especially in HQ mode is INSANE for movies. It reminds me of the B&O H95, which was my favorite BT headphone for movies, only better because it's so damn comfortable and immersive. While not on its level it kinda reminds me of watching movies with a Dan Clark Aeon 2 Noire only you don't have to bother with any DACs or wires to get it to work. Like I said for music overall I still prefer my 5909 but the IO-12 is definitely a consideration for watching movies if nothing else
I was in the market to upgrade my Sony MX4 as Inhave been holding back on the MX5 due to it being not foldable as a frequent business traveller. I’ve awaited long enough and decided I had enough of the muffled Sony found after taking out my Hifiman Deva Pro out of the cupboard. Sold my IO6 last year and came across your vid on IO12. Being testing the Focals recently and considering the Solitaire T and 5909. I watched your Bathys vs 5909 and this IO12. Thanks to your reviews and honest real life insight, I could make the decision and end up cop the 5909 at the end - Ice Pewter.
Likely the only true competition to the T+A Solitaire T! Not going to sell my beautiful white Solitaire T, as I predominantly use it in passive balanced mode with my FiiO M17, but I am so happy another manufacturer really putting good audio voicing in both passive and active modes, as T+A have done. Bravo Dali! 👏🏽
Hey Opaz hope you've been well man. Loving these videos bro and really appreciate all the time you put into them. I have to agree that wirelessly for most things the Dali is a slightly more enjoyable listen than the 5909 (probably cause the 5909 just feels like the more analytical listen), but what's your take on the two of them wired? Maybe it's just me but I feel like the 5909 is more DAC responsive and changes its sound signature a bit more than the Dali does. To me, wirelessly, I would give the edge to the Dali over the 5909, however while they both improve when listening wired I feel like the 5909 improves a little more and just sounds cleaner and impactful. Just curious what your thoughts were and whether you felt the same. Both are absolutely fantastic and worth their price though.
I'm great, thanks I have only listened to my 5909 wired once. That was on a flight and it sounded as if it was a completely different headphone, it sounded incredible. I tend to listen to my wireless headphones only wirelessly, I think mainly as I'm so busy to test or listen to them otherwise. I shall sometime soon listen to more of them wired
I don’t need an app either! I have the app for my older H9i but I hardly ever touch it! However the one good thing of an app is to change some settings on some headphones… such as disabling all the voice prompts. After that, I don’t really touch the app anymore. About the Dali, they seem to have touch controls instead of actual buttons for pause/play and volume control? That would be a drawback for me. Anyway thanks for the review! Everyone seems to be gushing about the Dali IO-12, placing them in the top spot for audio quality. I hope my budget will stretch to something like these!
as I stated in the upload the symbols for volume up/down are a physical press down as you would with a button and not touch controlled. The audio is head and shoulder above the others, nothing else comes close. They are a totally new benchmark in bluetooth/anc audio.
@@opaz. I should have paid more attention when writing my question! Sorry about that! Thanks for your answer. I should try to organise a listening session somewhere and try to compare these to some other headphones.
How would you describe the sound of the Dali IO-12 if you were to compare them to expensive wired audiophile headphones? I am thinking of buying new headphones for about 1000-1500eur and have thought about buying wireless ones and forgetting everything that has to do with cables. Today I have HD600, HD650, HD800s, Hifiman Ananda.
Great review! I'm assuming you drive these with your iPhone and MacBook. I use a DAP & am a burgeoning audiophile, so the Bluetooth codecs they support would have been good to know.
Opaz, thank you again for a brilliant review. I ended up getting the B&Wpx8 but always wanted the Mark Levinson because you were so passionate about them. I want a really luxurious pair of noise cancelling headphones. Would you still recommend the Levinsons. They are much more affordable now. The Dali's look so tempting but you think the ANC is not so good. I have high end headphones for my music but wanted a premium bluetooth. Reluctant to get the Bang and Olufsen as they are too expensive for their age. Can you help. thanks again. Please don't suggest Bathys (I hated them).
Well Ann, the Mark Levinson ANC is extremely good and very effective. Audio is definitely Class Leading. The price (today) makes it the best priced premium all-round choice out there. Dali option, incredible and no doubt Class Winning audio. As an all-rounder commuter friendly headphone the Dali ANC could be improved and the price is still a little steep. Haven't listened to the PX8 for a while as I'm still away on holiday. Got the Dali & 5909 with me. The 5909 will always be special and still a fantastic choice
Ok…a couple of weeks in, are you still enamoured with the Dali io12 in comparison to the 5909…and the Solitaires ? I have the Bathys and 5909 but am considering the Dalis because, like you, audio quality is paramount to me…if they are better then both those sets will go and the Dalis will be ordered 👍
Oh my god steph, the Solitaires and 5909 have more detail but their delivery can't touch the Dali. The Dali is not normal, it opens up so many hidden instruments, backing vocals, effects etc and they are now making so much impact to all the music that i listen to. As somebody has already said, I'm noticing something totally new in tracks that I've listened to for years! Don't believe me or anybody else. .. demo them for yourself if you can
Finally bought a pair so gonna a-b with my 5909 and Bathys…so far they are super impressive, i would question you when you said the 5909 have more detail, if that were the case i probably wouldn’t have bothered with the Dalis but your enthusiasm got my juices flowing and boy am i glad they did…i’m in love with the Dali IO12 and can’t see them being beaten…and i got them for £700 used for one month only…i’m one happy chap 🎉🎉 one track i listened to that blew me away was Stranger In Moscow by Michael Jackson…it is supreme through these cans 👍
Nice vid, very informative. I recently got a pair of Focal Bathys, and though I’m normally a wired/open-back kind of guy, the Focal made me realize the potential of BT cans (especially if they have a built in DAC) though I do most of my listening at home and any BT pair would mostly be for travel. One quick point of feedback, and I’m not trying to be critical or rude, but this vid would probably be five minutes shorter if you didn’t pause for a second or two between words all the time. Maybe that’s just the way you speak and if so, I apologize. Not to take away from the vid because it’s quite good and I look forward to seeing what else you have/will put out
Just checked, would have been 9 minutes shorter if I edited the audio but had to catch a flight so didn't bother 😆 I had the Bathys but sold them, the iO-12 audio is in the league of elite wired headphones. If you get a chance you gotta demo them Feedback noted and appreciated 👍🏼 and thank you for watching
Noted that you’re not trying to be overly critical, but I actually really liked the long pauses in the video. They’re honest. And if you hear these Dali headphones, you’ll understand why the pauses are there - they leave you with that sense of speechlessness!
Hi . I had the sonys xm4, but they did not please me too much, i like classic , opera, jazz and metal music, are the dalis perfect for these kind of music.. I Know that there are the heavys h1h for metal music but not for cassic music , but i would like an opinion thanks for reading.
can I ask you what bluetooth source are you using? I have Samsung phone, so only basic aptx, bought them, while still presentation is outstanding, there is a noticaeble difference in details when compared to wired usb c. It's when ML 5909 sometimes takes the edge in detail reproduction over bluetooth, because of LDAC?
Bluetooth source is my Samsung S23 Ultra. ML 5909 using LDAC is still a league behind the audio, detail, presentation etc etc of the Dali. LDAC codec alone will not guarantee superior audio. Design, research, technology & components also play an extremely huge part
@@opaz. Thank you. Yes, I agree in general. But with ML 5909, I didn't have to wonder if some quirkiness in the sound was due to compression artifacts or just the recording itself, as there was almost no difference between the wired and Bluetooth connections to me. With Samsung (Fold 5 in my case), unfortunately, the USB-C wired connection makes a difference with Dali, adding another level of clarity for me. I'm literally mad at Samsung for not supporting at least AptX HD in their flagships... To the extent that I'm considering buying a separate AptX HD transceiver dongle...
If you like bass, the sonys, tend to have boosted bass as well as so many other brands (too many to mention) and they all are so much more affordable. Whatever you do, don't fall for the HEAVYS hype.
@@NamocerFantastic for movies. They were very immersive and the sound is incredibly clean and well delivered. Wirelessly for me the Dali IO-12 and the B&O H95 are the two best wireless headphones for movie watching. The Dali doesn't have quite as much bass as the H95 but it's soundstage is bigger. It also depends on what types of movies you most like to watch and how you like to watch them. The H95 has a more cinematic sound and I love them for Action and horror movies (Man of Steel and Paranormal Activity were awesome), plus they have better ANC. The Dali is more expansive and laid back in comparison but it can get you really into the film (Interstellar and Dark Knight were something special), plus they're really comfy. If you're doing more on the go movie watching I'd probably recommend the H95 cause they'll stay in place better when moving around due to the slightly higher clamping force. If not, and you're doing most of your movies without moving around too much the Dali is just pleasant. Another thing I wanna mention is that the Dali doesn't need battery in order to use them wired, but the H95 does
@@NamocerHonestly to me these are one of the two best BT headphones for movies alongside the B&O H95. They don't have quite the same bass impact that the H95 has but they're super immersive. While the H95 throws you into the movie, the Dali just envelopes you. Bass mode was decent but whether for movies or music HQ mode is Dali at its best
@opaz Which of these are the Best Sounding Bluetooth Wireless Headphones 🎧 for playing Hiphop and Reggae music (bass heavy)? 1)Mark Levinson No. 5909 2)FOCAL - Bathy’s Headphones 3) T+A Solitaire T Wireless 4)Master and Dynamics MW75 5)Dali IO-12
From the listening I have experienced, the Dali has the best audio from the headphones you have listed. Listening to (bass heavy) music will be a totally different experience for a general consumer vs somebody that would class themselves an audiophile If you class yourself a not critical general consumer listener you will not need to spend anywhere near the cost of the items in your list. The focal might have stock boosted bass tuning but the others you've listed can also benefit from effective eq adjustments The real, best & easiest answer to your question is to demo all options in your list and to demo other cheaper popular & possible options
@@opaz. thank you so much for your quick response. I recently purchased the Mark Levinson’s and I have the Bang and Olufsen H95 and the Air Pods Max those are the most expansive headphones 🎧 I’ve purchased so far. I am only going to buy one more pair and want to buy the absolute best. That’s why I asked which of the ones I posted is the best overall sound for a Bluetooth headphone wireless sound wise and figured I’d ask you since you test and posses the best pairs of Bluetooth headphones 🎧 in your stash. Which would you say has the best overall sound regardless of genre I mostly play reggae and hiphop music but want to know which is the best final pair of headphones to buy to round out my Bluetooth headphones 🎧 collection?
Been looking for new headphones to replace my original B&W PX. These might just be the ones. Tried the ML 5909s and felt the volume was lacking for some situations. You mention the IO 12s are loud. How much louder would you say than the 5909s? Have also tried the Focal Bathys and PX8s which had more volume. HNY.
5909 lacking volume? WOW, my listening limits are way lower than their available limit. Haven't listened to the others for ages but. .. ua-cam.com/video/CHwbs5UgJ00/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/ZDCZ6ZVI1vQ/v-deo.html Happy New Year
@@opaz.Thanks. I’ve heard a firmware update fixed the low volume. Could be the ones I tried didn’t have that update. Anyway the Dalis look great and your review mentioning if you like loud headphones, these are the ones is helpful. Going to sort a demo and buy them if all goes well.
Just ordered a pair of these. Hope they live up to what you've said about them. I've been using the Bathys for the last year and think they are awesome. But I got the itch to see if there was something even better so I ordered the Dali. We will see I guess.
@@alexsmith1207Yes! I didn't think it could get better than the Bathys within the bluetooth realm. I can confirm after a week of break in with the Dali io12 they are better than the Bathys. They just have a different cleanliness and clarity and separation. I hooked both my Bathys and the Dalis up at the same time and switched between pairs during the song. These Dalis just have that special IT factor. They are expensive because they sound expensive. I can't put the things down and they just keep getting better and better with the burn in. They do take a few hours of listening after opening to get broke in. But they just get better and better and better. Also I used the Adapt Sound in settings on my S22 Ultra and did the hearing test equalizer where it sets it to your ears. It's life changing. If you love yourself you will get these. You won't regret it.
Can you use them wired just analog and still use anc? I am looking for top audio and comfort to use with a dap but on airplanes. i dont mind the cabling as I just sit still on the plane anyway and then there is no compression of bitrate, as there is with all bluetooth. Also to be clear, could you just repeat again sound of them purely passive/ with bluetooth / as usb dac, so cabled but digital? Thx!
Reading up on them on WhatHiFi and listening to this whole review, it appears that not only can they be used wired, you actually get the option when doing so to use the source DAC (good for if using an Amp or inline DAC) or use the headphone's internal DAC (good for direct wiring to a phone or laptop). Can't actually confirm how well this all works until I get the chance to demo them at my local shop.
This is your subjective opinion. I compared the 5909 with the Dali i0-12. The Dalis have a wider sound stage. The 5909s however beat them in clarity and detail. No bluetooth headphones matches the 5909 in clarity and detail. The T&A Solitaire and Dalis are quite clear, they sound tremendous. They do not match the clarity of the 5909s. I returned the Dalis because of this and for having no app.
I have been waiting for somebody to mention this (thank you). I had already started an upload mentioning detail but was unsure if it was worthy of uploading I am aware and have mentioned (I think in my comments) that my 5909 have more detail retrieval. My Solitaire T also (as I mentioned in my Solitaire T upload) has incredible vocal detail, unheard of in any other BT headphones that I own. My Stax SRX-9000 are all "out & out exaggerated detail, detail, detail". They have more detail than my Sennheiser HE-1 but for musical engagement, accuracy, controlled delivery, presentation and enjoyment, the Stax honestly fall flat on their face to my much older HE-1 Bottom line, I love my 5909, enjoy the detail but it's not all about detail. Headphones need to deliver much, much more and that is what the Dali iO-12 are capable of and are all about. As for the app, again as you mention "subjective opinion". Todays portable smart devices and the ear cup controls have everything necessary and all bases covered. In a way I hope and am glad that there are no firmware updates, they could just tamper & hamper with how great they already sound
@opaz. I agree with you. I have both ML 5909 and IO-12, and while there is more detail retrieval and clarity on the 5909, the soundstage is smaller, some details are a bit harsh, even metallic sounding (not organic), highs can be painful, and they are more fatiguing. The sound in the 5909 feels inside the ear cups--you always know you are wearing headphones--whereas with the IO-12 you are immersed, just listening to music.
agree with both overall (full spectrum) details and metalic sounding (for highs) with ML 5909. What's funny, Focal Bathys sounded wooden to me instead (which is more pleasant than metalic I have to admit ;) ). With Dali there is no metalic (unless it should be, like for bells), you can hear strings sounding as strings ("organics" as you said), you can hear wood from the soundbox, and you can hear impresive mids, like vocal fluctuations, or harmonics in trumpets, organs, etc. Like every instrument is rendered as a real thing, not just its sound captured and replayed with super duper details.
I did also a A+B test between the Dali and the 5909. WIthout no doubt both are very good headphones capable of playing with the big boys in the hifi headphone market. The Dali is way more comfortable that the Mark Levinson but in matter of resolution and detail especially in the low and very high frequency the 5909s are still slightly better. The fact with the soundstage is true but in a trade off I decided to go with Mark Levinson - also because the full package of size, ANC, better BT codec, how it looks etc.! I guess the wider soundstage is also because the cups are so much bigger on the ear (which is very comfy also). At the end it was a tough decision and I am able to recommend both without any regret .... strongly recommended to give both a try for personal taste. The best thing is, that just the fact having hifi companies developing such best of both worlds (mobile ANC BT and passive mode capable audiophile headphone) products is a very cool step in the right direction. By the way...I just tested the passive mode but from a smartphone with an Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt DAC.
This is the nature of the audio game. It's quite the rabbit hole which can easily swallow one whole if they allow it. I own the Levinson 5909 and they are paid for. I prefer a wired headphone and own some pretty good ones in both dynamic and planar versions. I'll stick with my 5909 and be perfectly happy with them.
@@GEFELICITEERD45 yes, the ferrari is expensive, it can't do more, so it doesn't even move. he also has the ex, I don't think he has an opponent on the market yet. The ex's voice encouraged me to buy the h95. I think I'll stick with the b&o line for now
For my taste Dali io-12 isn't best choice for metal or modern electronic music. I compared this with focal bathys, and notice, that bathys is more universal for different genres of music, but bathys can't beat io-12 in instrumental genres at all.
Would you say theres enough of an advantage to justify the much higher price over the Focal Bathys? I havent tried either, but just by the looks and functionality, I like the Bathys more on all parameters except the audio quality, which is what Im trying to find out.
For me sound is #1. The Bathys audio especially is inferior to the others and personally the others are definitely worth their extra price. The 5909 New are now 200-300 cheaper than their original asking price and I've seen them (hardly used) go for
@@opaz. I cant demo them since no store here sells any of them. But Ive heard from audiophile subreddits that the 5909 have harsh treble with that 10K spike and that overall the Bathys sounds better, so between those 2 Id pick the Bathys, but also considering the Dali now that Ive found out about it.
This is where opinions differ. I have both the 5909 & Solitaire T but sold my Bathys. 10k spike/harsh treble humours me 😆. This is where the expert is you the consumer. We all have a different preference when it comes to audio. The 5909 are my bluetooth reference, sounding consistently better IMO than my Solitaires over many genres and during BT & Wired tests. The Bathys have a boosted bass and lack the detailed clarity and balance of the mids and HF compared to the others. Overall the Bathys sound not as refined as the others but Focal would definitely disagree 😆 50 different people blind or viewed testing will have different preferences due to brand names, looks and price (disregarding audio performance) I recommend you go with your gut. Go for the Bathys, they are what you want and I believe you'll be most happy with that choice as a demo is out of the question
@@opaz. True. Its really unfortunate I cant try them out first, although This Is Tech Today did a sound comparison (which sadly didnt include the 5909) and I liked the Bathys the best out of the most popular mid-to-high end BT headphones. And since Im quite oversensitive to treble, I think the warmer sound of the Bathys would fit me better. Theres also recommended EQ profiles that boost the dip at 900Hz and overall make them more exciting.
@Henry14arsenal2007 What did you end up with? I've owned my Bathys for 18 months now and have had constant issues. Fortunate for 2 years warranty but still, can't wait to try Dali on Friday
So, the best bluetooth earphones would be: Dali i-012 sound Sony WH 1000 XM5 ergonomics Bowers and Wilkins PX8 styling Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra ANC A dream bluetooth headphone? I wonder which company can deliver the best attempt at this headphone. Sony? Jabra? Senheiser?
I sold my Bathys a while ago, can't remember clamp force Obviously it all depends on the size of head that the force is on. I find that all the smaller sized ear cups padding have a firm to firm> force distribution. The Dali having the largest pad surface area on your head with much more generous padding, giving it more of a comfort firm & perfect fit clamp distribution over the others.
@@opaz. I understand they're different... But you know, sometimes style kinda pushes things over the top sometimes. But I got so many pairs of headphones I will get them almost pulled the trigger today.
last year I had a demo of the abyss 1266 phi tc. They are raved about but they weren't for me. impractical and uncomfortable regardless of their status. Honestly if the Dali look is not for you, don't buy them
@@GEFELICITEERD45 The Bathys is already on the bulky side for commuting, the Dali IO 12 takes it another notch up in size. I'm not sure if I would want to use the IO12 for commuting
I agree with Opaz the Dali does sound better in most cases than the H95, not drastically to me, but better nonetheless. The H95 is bassier and more dynamic with a constant cinematic type sound. The Dali is just super spacious with excellent separation, clarity and tonality. I'd put the sound quality of the IO-12 above the H95 for everything but HipHop/Rap and maybe movies (depending on what I'm watching) just because the Dali can't match the H95's bass but that's pretty much it. Everything else as far as sound quality is concerned belongs to the Dali
I just sent back my Focal Bathys that I'd bought 2 weeks back and ordered Dali iO 12 to compare the sound quality between the two. They're coming tomorrow. Was that a good move...?
Not only are these Dali headphones super spot on, but this review is absolutely bang on in every way possible! You’re right OPAZ, Dali do deserve recognition, an award, for nailing these headphones. These IO-12 are very special, I’m hearing more in every track. I’d even go as far as to say I’ve heard more in these via their Bluetooth mode than in many well regarded wired headphones on the end of killer headphone amps. As you said OPAZ, the balance of these Dali headphones is supremely well judged. Everything is perfectly in its place, playing at the right level.
Scenario 1: Imagine going to a studio, or a concert, and imagine the singer or band not performing at their peak, or having some tuning issues. Or maybe the sound engineer is having issues with getting the sound right…
Scenario 2: Now imagine going to the same studio, or concert, but the singer or band is absolutely on fire, and the sound engineer has totally nailed the setup - this is how these Dali headphones sound every time. These IO-12 are Scenario 2 for everything, no matter what genre of music you listen to.
I’m currently trialling these Dali’s, but I’ll definitely be buying a pair because these are astoundingly good headphones with clearly exceptional drivers as they sound awesome in passive wired mode too.
There are a couple of things I’d love to see Dali improve if making a version 2 of these headphones. Firstly, make the volume adjustments just a bit more granular to allow for finer volume adjustment. Audio Technica’s ATH-M50xBT2 allows for finer volume control and this matters for getting things just right. The other improvement I’d like to see is better, more premium feeling buttons. When I press the buttons, I want them to make me feel like they belong to a £999 product before I’ve even heard how the headphones sound.
Also, if making a version 2, please keep everything else as is. Stick with not providing an app, because it’s just not needed. You don’t need an app to eat your dinner, so why do you need one to listen to music? I don’t even think the app is needed for updates - just get the product right prior to release, then release it. Simple! And by far the most important aspect for a version 2; if the sound can’t be improved, please just keep it as is. It’s exceptional already.
Loving your work Dali, and loving your review OPAZ… Stellar! 👏👏👏
I'm with you! an app to eat your dinner 😆. .. love it
Again, "THE DALI iO-12PRODUCE "HIGH END WIRED" AUDIO ✅ from a Bluetooth connection, that is absolutely astonishing!
As for the volume increments, I have found using the vol slider from my smartphone best for my ML 5909, maybe that is also better for the iO-12
Thanks for your valuable, detailed and treasured comments 👍🏼
@@opaz. Thanks re the volume, and you’re totally welcome for the comments, credit where credit’s due! 💫
I agree with everything that you have said, with the exception of the app.
The ability to customize the sound shape to one's particular needs is what will take these to the next level. Including adjusting transparency and other anc details. And the ability to set specific profiles for different environments would be special.
Everyone is different. Being able to adapt is key.
Firstly, I want to commend your amazing review of the Dali io 12 headphones.
I have purchased these headphones and have been using them continuously for about 3 months since September 2023, you are absolutely spot on with your findings..
I have the Bathys, PX8 and even the XM4's for everyday commutes, but I always come back to Dali io 12 when I want to listen to music on how music should sound.🎉
Well done for this review
Thank you, your comments and kind words are greatly appreciated
Is there a reason why the Dali's wouldn't be your daily drivers?
Think to big for outside @@SharinganNin
@@GEFELICITEERD45 eh they’re not that big
Too big and too expensive to risk it under the rain and all... Whereas Sony xm-3/4/5 are perfect for that (smaller, comfortable a d cheaper). Io-12 are my favorite go-to wireless pair though.
The Dali iO12s are the absolute best bluetooth headphones on the market. If you want to experience true audiophile quality then these are for you. These are music perfection in bluetooth mode but if you want to bump it up even more, pair these with the Questyle M15 Dac Amp. You will never need another pair or want another pair of headphones in your life. These headphones are made to deliver music to you the way the artist intended for you to hear it. I have the Focal Bathys also and I didn't think anything could beat them. Well I was wrong. These headphones are a true masterpiece. I would say almost addicting. They may sound a little duller than what you would expect at first but after about the first 5 hours of burn in they start to really open up and it only continues to get better. I have about 45 hours on mine and my goodness they are magnificent. When you listen to these it is an EXPERIENCE, not just a listening session. These are medicine for the soul. Everyone needs to experience these because they are truly something else. Best wishes and goodluck putting them down.
I have the paired with the Aune Yuki
do the Dali sound loud, at the same volume level, as the Bathys?!
is it good for movies
@@rajendrabiswas It's AMAZING for movies. A great all rounder honestly.
Not only does Opaz has great headphone taste but he has exceptional music taste
OPAZ I just got my Dalio 12 I listen to a jazz song and I had to put the 5909 back in there case. These are are my #1 headphones 🎧 now OMG THESE ARE TOP TIER. Thank you for your review
👍🏼
I been waiting on this review and gotta say im happy something finally sounds better than the 5909, im a big fan of Mark Levinson audio so hopefully this will make Mark Levinson make something better
🤞🏼
I spent some time with my buddy's IO-12 and I have to say they are definitely up there with the best of the best BT headphones. Extremely comfortable, one of the two widest soundstages (Bathys being the other), and a fantastic sound. The Solitaire T I honestly didnt care for too much as they were pretty uncomfortable and truthfully I enjoyed the 5909, Bathys, and PX8 more. Maybe I was subconsciously focused on the Solitaire's price tag but I didnt see their worth in comparison to the others. With the Dali I do. The 5909 is still my favorite overall as I prefer the cleaner and more balanced sound I get from it vs the Dali but they are something special. I do wish the 5909 had a physical button to switch the sound profiles like the Dali though. Also I find the 5909 a little bit better received wired through a DAC then the Dali which did sound really good, just not quite as good except for it's spaciousness. The last thing I want to touch on is the part that impressed me the most about the Dali IO-12. That spacious immersive soundstage you get coupled with that clean deep bass especially in HQ mode is INSANE for movies. It reminds me of the B&O H95, which was my favorite BT headphone for movies, only better because it's so damn comfortable and immersive. While not on its level it kinda reminds me of watching movies with a Dan Clark Aeon 2 Noire only you don't have to bother with any DACs or wires to get it to work. Like I said for music overall I still prefer my 5909 but the IO-12 is definitely a consideration for watching movies if nothing else
I was in the market to upgrade my Sony MX4 as Inhave been holding back on the MX5 due to it being not foldable as a frequent business traveller.
I’ve awaited long enough and decided I had enough of the muffled Sony found after taking out my Hifiman Deva Pro out of the cupboard. Sold my IO6 last year and came across your vid on IO12.
Being testing the Focals recently and considering the Solitaire T and 5909.
I watched your Bathys vs 5909 and this IO12.
Thanks to your reviews and honest real life insight, I could make the decision and end up cop the 5909 at the end - Ice Pewter.
Likely the only true competition to the T+A Solitaire T!
Not going to sell my beautiful white Solitaire T, as I predominantly use it in passive balanced mode with my FiiO M17, but I am so happy another manufacturer really putting good audio voicing in both passive and active modes, as T+A have done.
Bravo Dali! 👏🏽
You’re welcome and I’m glad you had the same experience I did. The first few notes and I knew :)
👍🏼
Hey Opaz hope you've been well man. Loving these videos bro and really appreciate all the time you put into them. I have to agree that wirelessly for most things the Dali is a slightly more enjoyable listen than the 5909 (probably cause the 5909 just feels like the more analytical listen), but what's your take on the two of them wired? Maybe it's just me but I feel like the 5909 is more DAC responsive and changes its sound signature a bit more than the Dali does. To me, wirelessly, I would give the edge to the Dali over the 5909, however while they both improve when listening wired I feel like the 5909 improves a little more and just sounds cleaner and impactful. Just curious what your thoughts were and whether you felt the same. Both are absolutely fantastic and worth their price though.
I'm great, thanks
I have only listened to my 5909 wired once. That was on a flight and it sounded as if it was a completely different headphone, it sounded incredible.
I tend to listen to my wireless headphones only wirelessly, I think mainly as I'm so busy to test or listen to them otherwise. I shall sometime soon listen to more of them wired
I don’t need an app either! I have the app for my older H9i but I hardly ever touch it!
However the one good thing of an app is to change some settings on some headphones… such as disabling all the voice prompts.
After that, I don’t really touch the app anymore.
About the Dali, they seem to have touch controls instead of actual buttons for pause/play and volume control?
That would be a drawback for me.
Anyway thanks for the review! Everyone seems to be gushing about the Dali IO-12, placing them in the top spot for audio quality.
I hope my budget will stretch to something like these!
as I stated in the upload the symbols for volume up/down are a physical press down as you would with a button and not touch controlled.
The audio is head and shoulder above the others, nothing else comes close. They are a totally new benchmark in bluetooth/anc audio.
@@opaz. I should have paid more attention when writing my question! Sorry about that! Thanks for your answer.
I should try to organise a listening session somewhere and try to compare these to some other headphones.
Yes, I highly recommend a demo although an audio comparison with similar headphones will be a short one 👍🏼
@@opaz. Then I guess it will be a matter of budget! 😂
And wether I think I can survive a few more years of touch-controls for play/pause.
A friend should hear STAX SPIRIT S5, oh how cool this new version is!
Supporting snapdragon qualcomm aptx lossless etc, they should compete with my HED Unity
@@opaz. LDAC/LHDC ,aptX Lossless
How would you describe the sound of the Dali IO-12 if you were to compare them to expensive wired audiophile headphones? I am thinking of buying new headphones for about 1000-1500eur and have thought about buying wireless ones and forgetting everything that has to do with cables. Today I have HD600, HD650, HD800s, Hifiman Ananda.
I would love to review these on my channel, but $1600 is WAY too expensive for me.
Before you know it Ron, you'll be reviewing them on your channel 😁
@opaz. Looking forward to it!
I think if you listen to pop and techno, then the Technics EAH-A800 was simply invented for these genres!
Great review! I'm assuming you drive these with your iPhone and MacBook. I use a DAP & am a burgeoning audiophile, so the Bluetooth codecs they support would have been good to know.
Opaz, thank you again for a brilliant review. I ended up getting the B&Wpx8 but always wanted the Mark Levinson because you were so passionate about them. I want a really luxurious pair of noise cancelling headphones. Would you still recommend the Levinsons. They are much more affordable now. The Dali's look so tempting but you think the ANC is not so good. I have high end headphones for my music but wanted a premium bluetooth. Reluctant to get the Bang and Olufsen as they are too expensive for their age. Can you help. thanks again. Please don't suggest Bathys (I hated them).
Well Ann, the Mark Levinson ANC is extremely good and very effective. Audio is definitely Class Leading. The price (today) makes it the best priced premium all-round choice out there. Dali option, incredible and no doubt Class Winning audio. As an all-rounder commuter friendly headphone the Dali ANC could be improved and the price is still a little steep. Haven't listened to the PX8 for a while as I'm still away on holiday. Got the Dali & 5909 with me. The 5909 will always be special and still a fantastic choice
You can get a like new Dali IO-12 in the headfi classifieds
Ok…a couple of weeks in, are you still enamoured with the Dali io12 in comparison to the 5909…and the Solitaires ? I have the Bathys and 5909 but am considering the Dalis because, like you, audio quality is paramount to me…if they are better then both those sets will go and the Dalis will be ordered 👍
Oh my god steph, the Solitaires and 5909 have more detail but their delivery can't touch the Dali. The Dali is not normal, it opens up so many hidden instruments, backing vocals, effects etc and they are now making so much impact to all the music that i listen to.
As somebody has already said, I'm noticing something totally new in tracks that I've listened to for years!
Don't believe me or anybody else. .. demo them for yourself if you can
@@opaz. thsnk you sir 👍🎉
Finally bought a pair so gonna a-b with my 5909 and Bathys…so far they are super impressive, i would question you when you said the 5909 have more detail, if that were the case i probably wouldn’t have bothered with the Dalis but your enthusiasm got my juices flowing and boy am i glad they did…i’m in love with the Dali IO12 and can’t see them being beaten…and i got them for £700 used for one month only…i’m one happy chap 🎉🎉 one track i listened to that blew me away was Stranger In Moscow by Michael Jackson…it is supreme through these cans 👍
Nice vid, very informative. I recently got a pair of Focal Bathys, and though I’m normally a wired/open-back kind of guy, the Focal made me realize the potential of BT cans (especially if they have a built in DAC) though I do most of my listening at home and any BT pair would mostly be for travel. One quick point of feedback, and I’m not trying to be critical or rude, but this vid would probably be five minutes shorter if you didn’t pause for a second or two between words all the time. Maybe that’s just the way you speak and if so, I apologize. Not to take away from the vid because it’s quite good and I look forward to seeing what else you have/will put out
Just checked, would have been 9 minutes shorter if I edited the audio but had to catch a flight so didn't bother 😆
I had the Bathys but sold them, the iO-12 audio is in the league of elite wired headphones. If you get a chance you gotta demo them
Feedback noted and appreciated 👍🏼 and thank you for watching
Noted that you’re not trying to be overly critical, but I actually really liked the long pauses in the video. They’re honest. And if you hear these Dali headphones, you’ll understand why the pauses are there - they leave you with that sense of speechlessness!
You had me at AC/DC...
😆
how is the difference between the Dali and the Solitaire, volume?
For me, the Solitaire sounds way to low at higher volume.
What about the Dali?!
Can't compare, sold the Solitaire in January
@@opaz. I'm talking about the volume at higher level
Thank you in advance
I've never compared the two, to test highest volume level.
My brother just bought a pair and he is in love with them
Your brother has great taste!
I wonder if their cheaper counterparts performs just as good or at least have that flavour these have.
they’re completely different. These are a complete quantum leap above the IO4 and IO6
Hey Opaz , do you feel the Dali are loud? IMO I believe they should be louder. There not loud like my 5909 or APM, XM5.
The Dali audio is so good, I either listen to a song twice or louder. I could never imagine listening to closed backs anywhere near 70% volume.
Hi .
I had the sonys xm4, but they did not please me too much, i like classic , opera, jazz and metal music, are the dalis perfect for these kind of music..
I Know that there are the heavys h1h for metal music but not for cassic music , but i would like an opinion thanks for reading.
Dali ception! Watching a video on the Dali IO-12s while wearing the Dali IO-12s :D
👍🏼
@@opaz. you were one of the main motivators for me to buy! Ty so much!
you're welcome
Is the battery replaceable like on the ST?
I have asked and was told it can be done. I've no idea what price you're expected to pay Dali Service for battery replacement
can I ask you what bluetooth source are you using? I have Samsung phone, so only basic aptx, bought them, while still presentation is outstanding, there is a noticaeble difference in details when compared to wired usb c. It's when ML 5909 sometimes takes the edge in detail reproduction over bluetooth, because of LDAC?
Bluetooth source is my Samsung S23 Ultra. ML 5909 using LDAC is still a league behind the audio, detail, presentation etc etc of the Dali. LDAC codec alone will not guarantee superior audio. Design, research, technology & components also play an extremely huge part
@@opaz. Thank you. Yes, I agree in general. But with ML 5909, I didn't have to wonder if some quirkiness in the sound was due to compression artifacts or just the recording itself, as there was almost no difference between the wired and Bluetooth connections to me. With Samsung (Fold 5 in my case), unfortunately, the USB-C wired connection makes a difference with Dali, adding another level of clarity for me. I'm literally mad at Samsung for not supporting at least AptX HD in their flagships... To the extent that I'm considering buying a separate AptX HD transceiver dongle...
Are these good for heavy metal? I like bass
If you like bass, the sonys, tend to have boosted bass as well as so many other brands (too many to mention) and they all are so much more affordable. Whatever you do, don't fall for the HEAVYS hype.
Great video, can you tell me , in your opinion are these headphones that much better then focal bythis or slighty better.
Our "slightly" better will differ greatly.
Do you own the Bathys?
Hi
great review how are they for movies enough bass? wide soundstage? mainly going to use them for movies so just want your thoughts on that. Thanks!
Not listened to movies on them, using any eq on a smart device or audio equipment will deliver adequate bass/effects required
Hello!
Any update about how they sound in movies, movie quality? I'm thinking about getting them.
Maybe the bass mode works great for movies?
@@NamocerFantastic for movies. They were very immersive and the sound is incredibly clean and well delivered. Wirelessly for me the Dali IO-12 and the B&O H95 are the two best wireless headphones for movie watching. The Dali doesn't have quite as much bass as the H95 but it's soundstage is bigger. It also depends on what types of movies you most like to watch and how you like to watch them. The H95 has a more cinematic sound and I love them for Action and horror movies (Man of Steel and Paranormal Activity were awesome), plus they have better ANC. The Dali is more expansive and laid back in comparison but it can get you really into the film (Interstellar and Dark Knight were something special), plus they're really comfy. If you're doing more on the go movie watching I'd probably recommend the H95 cause they'll stay in place better when moving around due to the slightly higher clamping force. If not, and you're doing most of your movies without moving around too much the Dali is just pleasant. Another thing I wanna mention is that the Dali doesn't need battery in order to use them wired, but the H95 does
@@NamocerHonestly to me these are one of the two best BT headphones for movies alongside the B&O H95. They don't have quite the same bass impact that the H95 has but they're super immersive. While the H95 throws you into the movie, the Dali just envelopes you. Bass mode was decent but whether for movies or music HQ mode is Dali at its best
Thinking of getting these for the premium build. I have the px8. Is the noise cancelling as good as the PX8 on the Dali. thanks
@opaz Which of these are the Best Sounding Bluetooth Wireless Headphones 🎧 for playing Hiphop and Reggae music (bass heavy)?
1)Mark Levinson No. 5909
2)FOCAL - Bathy’s Headphones
3) T+A Solitaire T Wireless
4)Master and Dynamics MW75
5)Dali IO-12
From the listening I have experienced, the Dali has the best audio from the headphones you have listed. Listening to (bass heavy) music will be a totally different experience for a general consumer vs somebody that would class themselves an audiophile
If you class yourself a not critical general consumer listener you will not need to spend anywhere near the cost of the items in your list. The focal might have stock boosted bass tuning but the others you've listed can also benefit from effective eq adjustments
The real, best & easiest answer to your question is to demo all options in your list and to demo other cheaper popular & possible options
@@opaz. thank you so much for your quick response. I recently purchased the Mark Levinson’s and I have the Bang and Olufsen H95 and the Air Pods Max those are the most expansive headphones 🎧 I’ve purchased so far. I am only going to buy one more pair and want to buy the absolute best. That’s why I asked which of the ones I posted is the best overall sound for a Bluetooth headphone wireless sound wise and figured I’d ask you since you test and posses the best pairs of Bluetooth headphones 🎧 in your stash. Which would you say has the best overall sound regardless of genre I mostly play reggae and hiphop music but want to know which is the best final pair of headphones to buy to round out my Bluetooth headphones 🎧 collection?
Been looking for new headphones to replace my original B&W PX. These might just be the ones. Tried the ML 5909s and felt the volume was lacking for some situations. You mention the IO 12s are loud. How much louder would you say than the 5909s? Have also tried the Focal Bathys and PX8s which had more volume. HNY.
5909 lacking volume? WOW, my listening limits are way lower than their available limit. Haven't listened to the others for ages but. ..
ua-cam.com/video/CHwbs5UgJ00/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/ZDCZ6ZVI1vQ/v-deo.html
Happy New Year
@@opaz.Thanks. I’ve heard a firmware update fixed the low volume. Could be the ones I tried didn’t have that update. Anyway the Dalis look great and your review mentioning if you like loud headphones, these are the ones is helpful. Going to sort a demo and buy them if all goes well.
Just ordered a pair of these. Hope they live up to what you've said about them. I've been using the Bathys for the last year and think they are awesome. But I got the itch to see if there was something even better so I ordered the Dali. We will see I guess.
Glad you enjoy the Bathys. I wanted to love them but I've had them repaired twice within 4 months. Getting them refunded for these. Hope this pays off
I had the IO-4, wasn't my cup of tea but i do miss that large soundstage and sound signature. How's the Dali? Are they better than the Bathys? 🤔
@@alexsmith1207Yes! I didn't think it could get better than the Bathys within the bluetooth realm. I can confirm after a week of break in with the Dali io12 they are better than the Bathys. They just have a different cleanliness and clarity and separation. I hooked both my Bathys and the Dalis up at the same time and switched between pairs during the song. These Dalis just have that special IT factor. They are expensive because they sound expensive. I can't put the things down and they just keep getting better and better with the burn in. They do take a few hours of listening after opening to get broke in. But they just get better and better and better. Also I used the Adapt Sound in settings on my S22 Ultra and did the hearing test equalizer where it sets it to your ears. It's life changing. If you love yourself you will get these. You won't regret it.
@@Spyplane2005You won't regret it. These things are amazing. The absolute best bluetooth headphones out there.
Can you use them wired just analog and still use anc? I am looking for top audio and comfort to use with a dap but on airplanes. i dont mind the cabling as I just sit still on the plane anyway and then there is no compression of bitrate, as there is with all bluetooth.
Also to be clear, could you just repeat again sound of them purely passive/ with bluetooth / as usb dac, so cabled but digital? Thx!
Reading up on them on WhatHiFi and listening to this whole review, it appears that not only can they be used wired, you actually get the option when doing so to use the source DAC (good for if using an Amp or inline DAC) or use the headphone's internal DAC (good for direct wiring to a phone or laptop).
Can't actually confirm how well this all works until I get the chance to demo them at my local shop.
This is your subjective opinion. I compared the 5909 with the Dali i0-12. The Dalis have a wider sound stage. The 5909s however beat them in clarity and detail. No bluetooth headphones matches the 5909 in clarity and detail. The T&A Solitaire and Dalis are quite clear, they sound tremendous. They do not match the clarity of the 5909s. I returned the Dalis because of this and for having no app.
I have been waiting for somebody to mention this (thank you). I had already started an upload mentioning detail but was unsure if it was worthy of uploading
I am aware and have mentioned (I think in my comments) that my 5909 have more detail retrieval. My Solitaire T also (as I mentioned in my Solitaire T upload) has incredible vocal detail, unheard of in any other BT headphones that I own.
My Stax SRX-9000 are all "out & out exaggerated detail, detail, detail". They have more detail than my Sennheiser HE-1 but for musical engagement, accuracy, controlled delivery, presentation and enjoyment, the Stax honestly fall flat on their face to my much older HE-1
Bottom line, I love my 5909, enjoy the detail but it's not all about detail. Headphones need to deliver much, much more and that is what the Dali iO-12 are capable of and are all about.
As for the app, again as you mention "subjective opinion". Todays portable smart devices and the ear cup controls have everything necessary and all bases covered. In a way I hope and am glad that there are no firmware updates, they could just tamper & hamper with how great they already sound
@opaz. I agree with you. I have both ML 5909 and IO-12, and while there is more detail retrieval and clarity on the 5909, the soundstage is smaller, some details are a bit harsh, even metallic sounding (not organic), highs can be painful, and they are more fatiguing. The sound in the 5909 feels inside the ear cups--you always know you are wearing headphones--whereas with the IO-12 you are immersed, just listening to music.
agree with both overall (full spectrum) details and metalic sounding (for highs) with ML 5909. What's funny, Focal Bathys sounded wooden to me instead (which is more pleasant than metalic I have to admit ;) ). With Dali there is no metalic (unless it should be, like for bells), you can hear strings sounding as strings ("organics" as you said), you can hear wood from the soundbox, and you can hear impresive mids, like vocal fluctuations, or harmonics in trumpets, organs, etc. Like every instrument is rendered as a real thing, not just its sound captured and replayed with super duper details.
The T&A solitaire T are the best
I did also a A+B test between the Dali and the 5909. WIthout no doubt both are very good headphones capable of playing with the big boys in the hifi headphone market. The Dali is way more comfortable that the Mark Levinson but in matter of resolution and detail especially in the low and very high frequency the 5909s are still slightly better. The fact with the soundstage is true but in a trade off I decided to go with Mark Levinson - also because the full package of size, ANC, better BT codec, how it looks etc.! I guess the wider soundstage is also because the cups are so much bigger on the ear (which is very comfy also). At the end it was a tough decision and I am able to recommend both without any regret .... strongly recommended to give both a try for personal taste.
The best thing is, that just the fact having hifi companies developing such best of both worlds (mobile ANC BT and passive mode capable audiophile headphone) products is a very cool step in the right direction.
By the way...I just tested the passive mode but from a smartphone with an Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt DAC.
This is the nature of the audio game. It's quite the rabbit hole which can easily swallow one whole if they allow it. I own the Levinson 5909 and they are paid for. I prefer a wired headphone and own some pretty good ones in both dynamic and planar versions. I'll stick with my 5909 and be perfectly happy with them.
Just realised. .. is that the real Jagger?
h95 does for me ❤️
The Dali IO-12 sounds better
@@GEFELICITEERD45 It's okay, the h95 is a three-year-old model, I personally like it a lot and I'm really looking forward to the next edition
The H95 ferrari edition are the latest price 1299€ pff i have the beoplay ex ferrari edition top sound !
@@GEFELICITEERD45 yes, the ferrari is expensive, it can't do more, so it doesn't even move. he also has the ex, I don't think he has an opponent on the market yet. The ex's voice encouraged me to buy the h95. I think I'll stick with the b&o line for now
For my taste Dali io-12 isn't best choice for metal or modern electronic music. I compared this with focal bathys, and notice, that bathys is more universal for different genres of music, but bathys can't beat io-12 in instrumental genres at all.
you said its not very 3d audio..so its not good for movies like AirPods max ?
My S23 Ultra has Dolby Atmos
Would you say theres enough of an advantage to justify the much higher price over the Focal Bathys? I havent tried either, but just by the looks and functionality, I like the Bathys more on all parameters except the audio quality, which is what Im trying to find out.
For me sound is #1. The Bathys audio especially is inferior to the others and personally the others are definitely worth their extra price. The 5909 New are now 200-300 cheaper than their original asking price and I've seen them (hardly used) go for
@@opaz. I cant demo them since no store here sells any of them. But Ive heard from audiophile subreddits that the 5909 have harsh treble with that 10K spike and that overall the Bathys sounds better, so between those 2 Id pick the Bathys, but also considering the Dali now that Ive found out about it.
This is where opinions differ. I have both the 5909 & Solitaire T but sold my Bathys. 10k spike/harsh treble humours me 😆. This is where the expert is you the consumer. We all have a different preference when it comes to audio. The 5909 are my bluetooth reference, sounding consistently better IMO than my Solitaires over many genres and during BT & Wired tests. The Bathys have a boosted bass and lack the detailed clarity and balance of the mids and HF compared to the others. Overall the Bathys sound not as refined as the others but Focal would definitely disagree 😆
50 different people blind or viewed testing will have different preferences due to brand names, looks and price (disregarding audio performance)
I recommend you go with your gut. Go for the Bathys, they are what you want and I believe you'll be most happy with that choice as a demo is out of the question
@@opaz. True. Its really unfortunate I cant try them out first, although This Is Tech Today did a sound comparison (which sadly didnt include the 5909) and I liked the Bathys the best out of the most popular mid-to-high end BT headphones. And since Im quite oversensitive to treble, I think the warmer sound of the Bathys would fit me better. Theres also recommended EQ profiles that boost the dip at 900Hz and overall make them more exciting.
@Henry14arsenal2007 What did you end up with? I've owned my Bathys for 18 months now and have had constant issues. Fortunate for 2 years warranty but still, can't wait to try Dali on Friday
Dali IO 12 or Bathys for bt streaming from Apple Music and IP 14 pro max. Which on will be better for that using ?
Dali without a doubt
So, the best bluetooth earphones would be:
Dali i-012 sound
Sony WH 1000 XM5 ergonomics
Bowers and Wilkins PX8 styling
Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra ANC
A dream bluetooth headphone?
I wonder which company can deliver the best attempt at this headphone.
Sony?
Jabra?
Senheiser?
What streaming service do you use to listen to your music on your phone?
qobuz
Thank you 👍🏾
Great sound but very big headphones i send them return
how is the clamp force vs px8/h95/bathys, respectively? thanks in advance
I sold my Bathys a while ago, can't remember clamp force
Obviously it all depends on the size of head that the force is on. I find that all the smaller sized ear cups padding have a firm to firm> force distribution. The Dali having the largest pad surface area on your head with much more generous padding, giving it more of a comfort firm & perfect fit clamp distribution over the others.
Similar clamp force to Bathys
What about break in time
Thinking about getting them, but I don't like the way they look.
If looks are important to you, there's so many other brands that have different styles that may suit
@@opaz. I understand they're different... But you know, sometimes style kinda pushes things over the top sometimes. But I got so many pairs of headphones I will get them almost pulled the trigger today.
last year I had a demo of the abyss 1266 phi tc. They are raved about but they weren't for me. impractical and uncomfortable regardless of their status. Honestly if the Dali look is not for you, don't buy them
Its better than than bathys and 5909 and solitare t?
@@GEFELICITEERD45 I got it now ,big but comfortable
How can you compare them to something similarly price with an amp\wired plannar etc..
easy!
If it's bluetooth, anc & TOTL is qualifies
I wonder how these compare to the bang and olufsen h95s.
I have the H95, the audio from the Dali is in a different class
The Dali sounds better 50 mm drivers butt are very big headphones looks very goofy on your head more headphone than head 😂
@@GEFELICITEERD45 The Bathys is already on the bulky side for commuting, the Dali IO 12 takes it another notch up in size. I'm not sure if I would want to use the IO12 for commuting
I agree with Opaz the Dali does sound better in most cases than the H95, not drastically to me, but better nonetheless. The H95 is bassier and more dynamic with a constant cinematic type sound. The Dali is just super spacious with excellent separation, clarity and tonality. I'd put the sound quality of the IO-12 above the H95 for everything but HipHop/Rap and maybe movies (depending on what I'm watching) just because the Dali can't match the H95's bass but that's pretty much it. Everything else as far as sound quality is concerned belongs to the Dali
Bye bye
I personally wouldn't pay a grand for headphones.
Even if they're not purchased and you're into headphones, audio or Tech, these are definitely worth a listen
Worth every penny
Um. Ok.
It looks old and too expensive. Not for me. I have focal bathys. Maybe over a couple of years than another headphone.
Looks old? WTF?
I just sent back my Focal Bathys that I'd bought 2 weeks back and ordered Dali iO 12 to compare the sound quality between the two. They're coming tomorrow. Was that a good move...?
Definitely