DYSON COOL TECHNOLOGY
Dyson Cool AM08
CONCLUSION 65 engineers, $80 million in R&D and 400 patents later and you’ve got the world’s most advanced fan…if you can afford it.
When Dyson first introduced bladeless fans with Air Multiplier technology, they instantly became a cult phenomenon. No matter they were 10 times the price of a regular fan, they were ‘magical’ and safe for kids.
Dyson Cool is the updated range of Air Multiplier fans. Outwardly, they look the same, feature the same Air Multiplier technology and are just as powerful as the originals. What’s different are engineering improvements under the hood to increase overall energy efficiency and lower noise levels.
These include a Helmholtz cavity below the impeller to absorb motor noise (Ed: you can read more about this in our Learn section this issue). They also feature re-engineered airflow paths along with some clever tweaking of the fan’s loop design and airflow aperture to reduce turbulence and friction, which means less energy needed to produce the same amount of flow.
Now, the effectiveness of these improvements varies between models. The smaller AM06 desk fan for example boasts up to 40% power savings and is 75% quieter than its predecessor, the AM01. The AM08 pedestal fan on the other hand, is only about 15% more energy efficient and 35% quieter than the AM03.
We compared the AM08 with an off-the-shelf supermarket bladed stand fan and found that the Dyson operated whisper quiet at speed settings up to 5 (maximum 10); it got progressively louder beyond that and at full speed, much louder than our stand fan at medium. On average, the AM08 needed to be set to a speed of 7 to get a comparable strength to the bladed fan.
Now, Dyson fans do not product a buffeting wind like a regular bladed fan. Instead, air flows like a continuous breeze. In a month with the Dyson, the AM08 worked best in an already cool room that just needed air circulated. It didn’t work too well when I was already uncomfortably hot and needed to cool down fast. This was most evident during the recent humid heat wave; standing in front of the AM08 at full blast just wasn’t the same as standing in front of a regular fan. Also, because air is pushed out along the loop, you get a donut effect. This is something that requires getting used to when it comes to positioning and directing.
The Dyson Cool AM08 is a better Dyson fan, there’s no arguing that. However, unlike a regular fan, not everyone will need or appreciate the Dyson. If the $799 price tag too prohibitive, the smaller AM06 desk fan goes for just $399.