[imagesource: Dyson]

Have you ever popped on your headphones, taken a whiff, and thought the air around you was a little vuil?

I don’t want to pry, but I’m certain I’ve never wanted my headphones to have a built-in air purifier.

James Dyson has become a billionaire entrepreneur from his various inventions, most famously the bagless vacuum cleaner, and he founded the world-renowned eponymous company.

Except this latest invention comes via his son, Jake (below), who has come up with the new Dyson Zone air-purifying headphones.

In their review, The Telegraph can barely hide its contempt:

For decades, humanity has laboured in innocence, believing that face masks and headphones were distinct product categories. Dyson has seen through this false wall and brought them together.

Image: Matt Alexander

The result, or as far as we can judge by the publicity materials, is a kind of unholy futuristic head-brace, in silver and violet, the sort of thing a Transformer might wear if it couldn’t afford Invisalign. Two bulbous earphones are connected not only by the traditional over-the-head band, but by a visor which stretches from ear to ear.

Bane, the villain from The Dark Knight Rises, gets a mention, as do the creatures from Alien that lay eggs in their victims’ stomachs.

In order to carry out those purifying duties the headphones must be rather burly.

Each ear bulb has a motorised filtration system that sends five litres of air per second along the visor towards the wearer’s mouth.

If you happen to be a rapid talker, fear not,  as speed sensors in the system factor that in and adjust the airflow as needed.

Image: TheTelegraph

After roughly a year of use in Europe (and less in areas with greater air pollution), the filters will need to be changed.

The promo video below:

By now I can tell you’re chomping at the bit in desperation to get your hands on one of these.

Patience, please. The launch price and launch date have yet to be specified, but the general consensus is that the headphones will set you back at least £500 (around R9 500).

Can you really put a price on scaring off coworkers, commuters, and anybody else who may be tempted to talk to you while you have your Bane-face on? I think not.

For a list of other interesting features we pop in at CNET:

• Electrostatic filtration captures 99% of particle pollution as small as 0.1 micron, such as dust, pollen and bacteria
• Advanced ANC and a high performing neodymium electroacoustic system deliver rich, immersive audio that faithfully replicates audio as the artist or creator intended
• Potassium-enriched carbon filter captures city gasses like NO2, SO2 and O3
• Isolation mode: Highest level of active noise cancellation
• Conversation mode: Activates when you dip the visor –- automatically turns off the purification to conserve battery power and amplifies conversation

Never dip the visor.

Ah, the serenity.

I’ll probably wait until the Zone 2.0 headphones so they can iron out any kinks before I go full Bane.

[sources:telegraph&cnet]