Are The New Dyson Zone Headphones Worth The Hype?

The British brand’s noise-cancelling headphones has a whopping starting price of Rs 59,900

- Niraj Kakade

After a week with Dyson's new and intriguing set of headphones, we contemplate what makes them stand out from its competitors?

For a decade, I've been on the other side of the fence when it comes to Dyson products, lacking the hair to appreciate their hair curlers and dryers and also the disposable income to even consider their vacuum cleaners. But, earlier this month, the British brand launched its pair of headphones called the Dyson Zone with a rather steep starting price of Rs 59,900. After using them for a week, a more significant question arises: Why do they exist in the first place?

THE CONTEXT 

Let's dial the clock back to the late '70s when James Dyson, an engineer by profession, grew frustrated with the inefficiency of traditional vacuum cleaners. According to him, they tended to lose suction as soon as they became clogged with dirt and dust.

So, what did he do? Made his own vacuum cleaners, of course. But that didn't come without challenges. As per the company, James Dyson spent five years developing over 5,000 prototypes of a bagless vacuum cleaner. After numerous setbacks and challenges, the first Dyson-branded bagless vacuum cleaner was launched in 1993.

Since then, the company has established its name as one of the in home appliances, ranging from the aforementioned hair curlers and vacuum cleaners to something as cutting edge as its bladeless fans. Today, as part of Dyson's innovation-first philosophy, the Dyson Zone headphones stand as its latest and greatest premium offering. But will these headphones be remembered as the next stage of innovation in headphone technology or as part of the thousands of initial prototypes that James Dyson worked on which laid the foundation for something bigger?

THE FEEL