M+E Connections

Dolby Debuts ‘Dimension’ Wireless Headphones

Dolby unveiled what it called “the first wireless headphones perfected for home entertainment,” saying Nov. 14 that the $599 Dolby Dimension is available now exclusively at Dolby.com, but will also be made available starting Dec. 1 at select b8ta stores.

The headphones feature Dolby LifeMix, a “proprietary new technology central to the Dolby Dimension experience,” the company said in a news release. The technology “allows consumers to control how much they hear of their surroundings — from a perfect blend of their entertainment and life around them (Transparency) to shutting out the world (Active Noise Cancellation),” it said.

Dolby didn’t say why it opted to introduce the technology in its own branded headphones instead of turning to one of its many existing manufacturer partners that already use Dolby technology in headphones, receivers and other audio products. The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

However, the move wasn’t completely unprecedented because Dolby has been fielding its own Dolby Conference Phone for the conference/meeting room market in one of its newest business initiatives.

In the Dimension announcement, Dolby pointed out that it was “building on its heritage as an innovator in entertainment technology,” saying it was “introducing a new way to experience shows, movies, and music.”

The company added: “Streaming services have fundamentally changed the way consumers watch and listen to their entertainment. There is more premium content available than ever before and consumers are accessing it at all times, across multiple devices. With Dolby Dimension, consumers can be fully immersed with cinematic sound, while staying connected to their important everyday life moments, all while binge watching their favorite hit series” on services including Netflix, iTunes or Amazon Prime Video.

“Dolby’s true north is uniting the art and science of entertainment, elevating the creators’ ability to tell their stories and enabling consumers to be immersed in spectacular experiences,” Dolby CEO and president Kevin Yeaman, said in the announcement. He added: “Today we continue that journey with the introduction of Dolby Dimension.”

Dolby Dimension “eliminates the days of ‘volume rodeos’ consumers often have in turning the volume up and down so as not to disturb others, and the days of ‘read watching’ with subtitles because the volume is so low consumers can’t hear dialogue,” the company said, adding: “There is no need to watch with one ear cup off or go to a separate room because they want to watch something different from their partner or roommate. Instead, consumers can fully immerse themselves in entertainment whenever they want.”

In addition to LifeMix, Dimsension also features: cinematic sound that Dolby said will make users “feel more immersed in their shows, movies, and music than ever before”; one-touch switching allowing the user to “seamlessly switch between screens with ease” by tapping one of three source buttons on the right earcup to instantly change source devices, whether it’s a Bluetooth-enabled TV, computer, tablet or phone; “premium materials, fit and finish”; and intuitive touch controls that enables users to toggle LifeMix, hit play or pause, adjust volume, go forward or back, activate Siri or Google Assistant, and take calls — “all without having to pick up a remote or their source device.”

Dimension’s custom-designed 40mm acoustic drivers, an advanced microphone array and “proprietary signal processing help consumers immerse themselves in their shows like never before — all while allowing them to stay present where it matters most,” Dolby said.

An accompanying Dolby Dimension app is available for free on iOS and Android platforms, allowing users to adjust key features and manage paired devices, Dolby also said. The included power base keeps Dimsension charged while not in use and “easily accessible for the next binge session,” it said.

For more information about Dolby Dimension, click here.

To see a video of Dolby Dimension, click here.