Dyson Zone headphones purify the air you breathe while you enjoy your favorite tunes

Listening to soothing music or energetic beats can be more efficient when you feel comfortable that you are breathing clean air.

Dyson, a company that makes consumer electronics for sucking and blowing air, is probably the most well-known. Vacuum cleaners, hairdryers, bladeless fans, and air purifiers are all part of the company’s best-known products, but that doesn’t mean there’s little room for growth. None of these things can be used outside, especially while walking down city streets. Dyson’s latest product hits two poor birds with the proverbial stone, delivering the air purifying experience the brand is famous for in a pair of headphones that promise hi-fidelity audio in a visual design that fits alongside Dyson’s vacs and hair dryers.

Designer: Dyson

The Dyson Zone is an innovative product in many aspects. It is the company’s first stab at the growing wearables market, specifically the ill-named “hearables” that refer to headphones and earphones, especially those that connect to smartphones. The exact specs of Dyson’s first headphones are still undisclosed, but there are already a few key features it has mentioned that will have audiophiles curious about this new contender. Active noise cancellation, or ANC is a feature that is increasingly common in over-ear headphones. This alone gives Dyson Zone an advantage over other audio accessories. But that’s only the tip.

The Dyson Zone’s biggest selling point is its “visor”, which covers your nose and mouth, but not like traditional masks. This visor actually delivers fresh, clean air coming from the sides of the headphones, purified from the very air that surrounds you, regardless of its quality. It does more than regular masks. This visor actively purifies the air and filters out pollutants. Razer’s controversial Zephyr RGB mask is not far behind.

Dyson’s story on how the Zone went from concept to prototype to final design is also quite interesting. They even went as far as creating a specialized mannequin with artificial lungs so that they could monitor how effective the purifier is in cleaning the air around it. The company also took extra care in making sure that the visor is comfortable to wear, as discomfort and irritation are some of the biggest complaints mask wearers have had in the past two years.

“Air pollution is a global problem – it affects us everywhere we go,” says Chief Engineer Jake Dyson, and the Dyson Zone is the perfect solution for that. It delivers not only “a plume of fresh air without touching your face” but also “pure audio, anywhere.” And just like Dyson’s other products, it bears the company’s signature design language, a harmonious mix of shiny silver and solid color accents, making it a clear member of the Dyson family, even if it stands out as its only wearable, at least for now.