Wow, Dyson has ceased production of its Age of Ultron-inspired air-purifying headphones? That’s unexpected. Nobody could have anticipated they would be too eccentric to thrive.

Dyson is typically regarded as the frontrunner in categories such as cordless stick vacuums, hair dryers, and air-purifying fans. Occasionally, Dyson attempts to build on that expertise with new offerings in these domains… and sometimes stumbles. The Zone headphones merged Dyson’s air purification technology with over-ear noise-canceling headphones. The issue? The face mask attachment is simply too peculiar to don seriously. It appears most individuals with allergies would rather manage a few sniffles than wander around resembling a relative of General Grievous.

The magnetic visor can be detached, but at that stage, you might as well purchase standard headphones.

Curiously, Dyson didn’t develop the Zone headphones in response to Covid and mask requirements. They were introduced in 2022 following what is reported to be six years of development. The Zone’s mask isn’t intended to filter viruses; it primarily targets air pollutants and allergens.

The Zone was originally listed at $949. Although it saw discounts dropping it to as low as $260 in the past year, it seems consumers favor investing in more practical choices. They’ve been taken off Dyson’s website, with Woot being the primary retailer still offering them (besides platforms like eBay, where many are attempting to sell theirs).

Did the Zone headphones offer good audio quality? Yes, but it doesn’t hold weight when overshadowed by the Dyson OnTrac. These 2024 Dyson headphones present a more traditional look with exceptional sound quality and noise cancellation. With these and other popular and comfortable noise-canceling headphones available, the failure of the Zone was inevitable.

(I’m foreseeing that the next Dyson product to be discontinued will be the 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum, which also has a robotic appearance and is too expensive for its functionality.)