[Dalmonegrig]

In wired mode, do you think it would be good to invest in a portable dac amp?

At the familiarization stage, I would not do this.
Dali iO-12 via USB and Bluetooth connection is capable of reproducing high-quality sound.

 

[streetbeat]

That's understandable. You're welcome to PM it if you wish, I promise not to share it with the world In any case, I'm not sure a voice synthesis approach would work well given the dynamics of the mics on the headphones and the headphones on the head. Unless of course you happen to have a dummy head setup.

Well, though it's less ideal than own voice recording, but I find that playing an audiobook from a smartphone placing it right next to my mouth -- while sound processed -- should give you an idea at least in comparison Following samples are taken with same settings (normal, calm conversation volume) in two scenarios: silent room and quite loud (sorry, I have no dB measurement tools) office noise played in background by a speaker.

Dali iO-12
Clean - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/f3zx...lean.ogg?rlkey=2qvm045cppaehwqu4f69v5fh4&dl=0
Dirty - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/cjfe...irty.ogg?rlkey=oh2i7vtkfmmb9msx8k291d8mk&dl=0

Mark Levinson 5909
Clean - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zxi2...lean.ogg?rlkey=hx4grmxcb7yjyqxx8hauhys8e&dl=0
Dirty - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yy40...irty.ogg?rlkey=23laaz0qg21bq7vl9h0fmcdui&dl=0

Do you feel the mic isn't really suitable for day-to-day work calls sitting at a desk?

Also curious about mic quality

As you can hear, in good conditions iO-12 do well, but once they come across the noise - there's a noticeable drop in voice capturing quality, it just starts to sound distant and muffled. Next is you to determine what your regular working day conditions are

P.S. Things are better with real voice (it's full bodied), but again, I'm afraid in noisy conditions not so much for Dali.
P.P.S. To add more context... I've conducted similar tests for Sennheiser Momentum 3 and 4, Bose QC Ultra, and Bowers & Wilkins Px8. All these, except Px8, are noticeably better in noisy conditions, while Px8 are slightly better.

 

[aaronjensen]

Well, though it's less ideal than own voice recording, but I find that playing an audiobook from a smartphone placing it right next to my mouth -- while sound processed -- should give you an idea at least in comparison Following samples are taken with same settings (normal, calm conversation volume) in two scenarios: silent room and quite loud (sorry, I have no dB measurement tools) office noise played in background by a speaker.

Dali iO-12
Clean - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/f3zx...lean.ogg?rlkey=2qvm045cppaehwqu4f69v5fh4&dl=0
Dirty - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/cjfe...irty.ogg?rlkey=oh2i7vtkfmmb9msx8k291d8mk&dl=0

Mark Levinson 5909
Clean - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zxi2...lean.ogg?rlkey=hx4grmxcb7yjyqxx8hauhys8e&dl=0
Dirty - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yy40...irty.ogg?rlkey=23laaz0qg21bq7vl9h0fmcdui&dl=0



As you can hear, in good conditions iO-12 do well, but once they come across the noise - there's a noticeable drop in voice capturing quality, it just starts to sound distant and muffled. Next is you to determine what your regular working day conditions are

P.S. Things are better with real voice (it's full bodied), but again, I'm afraid in noisy conditions not so much for Dali.

Much appreciated, thank you. Typically I'm not in a noisy environment. I'm thinking I may hold on to my Bose QC35 II for some situations if I like the Dali.

 

[streetbeat]

Much appreciated, thank you. Typically I'm not in a noisy environment. I'm thinking I may hold on to my Bose QC35 II for some situations if I like the Dali.

You're welcome. Yes, sounds like a plan then!

 

[Rockin_Zombie]

I have done a couple of calls with io12 at noisy train stations in windy conditions. Quality is fine, no complaints from the other side. One important thing to remember : io12 switches to transparency mode automatically when you are on a call. I am perfectly fine with that, but you will hear some outside noises when on call. The receiver does not hear them which is the most important bit. Also because of this implementation (and also cuz of the angle of the pads I assume), there is little to no wind noise when on a call.

Compared to xm5, the call quality is worse, but not a dealbreaker.

 

[musingclouds]

Do we know what DAC is used in the Dalis?

 

[Halimj7]

I have to apologize here. I have been so busy traveling for work lately that I simply did not have the time or the financial bandwith to invest in a pair of DALI IO-12, nor did DALI come back to my request for a review sample .. So this explains why I haven't been able to chime in with my experiences yet. (@Brintkiks Will it still be possible to somehow get a review sample? I am currently traveling so frequently that I have the ideal testing ground )

(As a sidenote, my Solitaire T are currently having the time of their life as they are currently spending 8-10 hours a day hanging around my neck for the purpose of meetings, flights etc )

Anyone have frequency graphs for IO-12 and/or Solitaire T?

 

[Rockin_Zombie]

If anyone is looking for a smaller more portable case, the pro case from Amazon fits the io12 perfectly.

ProCase Headphone Case for Sony Beats Philips Bose JBL Maxell Panasonic, Audio Technica and More, Travel Carrying Bag with 2 Earpad Covers for Over Ear Headphones –Black https://a.co/d/c8RdRl8

 

[angelom]

If anyone is looking for a smaller more portable case, the pro case from Amazon fits the io12 perfectly.

ProCase Headphone Case for Sony Beats Philips Bose JBL Maxell Panasonic, Audio Technica and More, Travel Carrying Bag with 2 Earpad Covers for Over Ear Headphones –Black https://a.co/d/c8RdRl8

Looking at the measurements of the case that you recommend, I'm not sure is really more portable than the Dali case.

ProCase: 23cm x 19cm x 10cm

Dali case: 23cm x 23 cm x 6.5cm

 

[musingclouds]

Looking at the measurements of the case that you recommend, I'm not sure is really more portable than the Dali case.

ProCase: 23cm x 19cm x 10cm

Dali case: 23cm x 23 cm x 6.5cm

Does the Dali case have a hook attachment you can use to attach to a bag via a carabiner?

 

[hutzelmeier]

In wired mode, do you think it would be good to invest in a portable dac amp? Also curious about mic quality

Using an external DAC with the IO-12 switched on makes little sense, because the IO-12 DSP will again digitalize the signal and convert it back to analog using its own DAC. Thus the only way to hear an external DAC is to go completely passive, i.e. to use an analog cable connection and switch off the IO-12. If I use my dac amp (Burson Conductor V2) in that way, the IO-12 sounds fine, but not as good as when switched on and the internal DSP and DAC working; for example I think the bass is somewhat reduced. It is great that we can use the IO-12 like normal passive headphones, but it seems to me that it was optimized for using its own DSP. I guess this is why Dali writes in their user manual: "Of all the IO-12 headphones connection modes, USB is likely to provide the best sound quality. This is because a USB connection avoids the extra digital signal processing and potential for transmission errors of wireless connection."

 

[Rockin_Zombie]

Looking at the measurements of the case that you recommend, I'm not sure is really more portable than the Dali case.

ProCase: 23cm x 19cm x 10cm

Dali case: 23cm x 23 cm x 6.5cm

The shape makes a big difference.

 

[angelom]

Does the Dali case have a hook attachment you can use to attach to a bag via a carabiner?

No.

The shape makes a big difference.

The 10cm height (that is NOT showing in your photo) is a strong reason, for me personally, not considering buying the ProCase. I prefer 6.5cm height than 10cm height. This difference in a backpack is important for me.

 

[Rockin_Zombie]

Ah I see, I guess it depends on your backpack. I carried the Dali case yesterday and couldn't fit anything else in that pocket, it was snug. With the pro case I'm being able to fit other thing easily and the backpack isn't snug anymore. I have a Dell laptop backpack.

 

[angelom]

Ah I see, I guess it depends on your backpack. I carried the Dali case yesterday and couldn't fit anything else in that pocket, it was snug. With the pro case I'm being able to fit other thing easily and the backpack isn't snug anymore. I have a Dell laptop backpack.

I have a Samsonite backpack that having a special separate compartment for a laptop. In this backpack I carry my 2021 16" MacBook Pro and others things when I'm travelling by plane. Usually I travel with Ryanair, Easyjet or BA -- Ryanair is more common in recent trips and you have more restrictions about size and weight for your cabin luggage, and they have a special 'metal thing' so you can putting there and checking if size is ok (all 3 aspects of this), and with the ProCase I know that my backpack is becoming more thick and don't fitting correctly in this 'mental thing' (in my last 2 trips with the Dali case is just reaching the depth limit!) and, consequently, forcing me paying extra for this.

If the ProCase is good for your necessities, great! Is not good for me.