On the Gadgeteer scale of 1 to 10, a traditional electric fan probably wouldn’t rate much higher than a 1. But the Dyson Cool Desk Fan (model AM06) earns a significantly higher score because of one obvious fact – it doesn’t have any blades. At least none that you can see.
Note: Images can be clicked to view a larger size.
The Dyson Cool desk fan comes in 3 colors: iron/blue, black/nickel and white/silver. I was sent the black/nickel version to review. The fan arrives in 3 pieces which includes the base, the loop amplifier and remote.
The motor and fan is actually housed inside the base.
The loop is positioned on the top of the base and then twisted until it locks securely in place. Once assembled, the fan stands 20 inches tall and 12 inches wide, with a 5.75 inch wide base.
The entire housing is made of plastic which has a soft slightly rubberized coating.
The angle of the fan can be adjusted by tilting the top section of the base forward or backward.
The Dyson fan is operated with the included IR remote control. The remote allows you to power the fan on and off, adjust the speed, toggle oscillation on/off and adjust the sleep timer function. The sleep timer can be set to automatically turn off the fan in as little as 15 minutes or as long as 9 hours.
When it’s not being used, the remote can “stick” to the top of the loop via built in magnets.
This has been my first experience with a Dyson fan. I remember when they were first announced about 5 years ago. I was very curious how they actually worked. How can a fan without blades produce a gust of air?
The secret is in the base and the loop amplifier. The base draws in air and sends it into the loop, which has a channel that allows the multiplied air to escape. The result is a smooth, non-choppy breeze that is very quiet at the lower settings of 1-4 and loud but not too loud even at the max power setting of 10. Of course it depends on the room size as far as the sound goes.
As far as power, I could stand 12 feet from the fan and still feel the air flow even at a lower setting of 4.
Here’s a quick video I put together showing the fan in action…
Regarding the video, it shows the digital display blinking. This is just an effect from the camera that was capturing the video. You don’t actually see it blinking like that in real life.
With a price tag of almost $300, the Dyson AM06 fan is obviously not going to be at the top of everyone’s home appliance shopping list. But for those of you fortunate enough to have the money to spend on products for your home that are not only functional, unique and attractive, the Dyson fan is definitely a fan that will keep you cool. Literally and figuratively.
Product Information
| Price: | $299.99 |
| Manufacturer: | Dyson |
| Pros: |
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I wish, I wish, I wish I could justify the $300 price tag.
I agree with you, Sandee! Also, at 20″ high and 12″ wide, it’s fairly big for a desk fan, at least for my desk which is crowded with all manner of goods. I was looking for a smaller personal fan on my desk that wouldn’t take up much room.
Still, it’s a beautiful fan and would probably cool my computer room quite readily. Maybe those price tags will be dropping soon!
This is what I don’t understand. They want $300 for injection molded plastic, $2 of electronics and a AC motor.
but I can get
http://www.walmart.com/ip/23206506?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=41833582510&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=19880599990&veh=sem
for $260 which contains a much larger motor, Much more injection molded plastic, a compressor, condenser, electronics and whatever Freon alternative is in use this week.
I just do not understand it. Those Dyson fans are nothing more than status symbols. They should be in the $39 range.
@Andrew I’m assuming that a portable AC unit like the one you linked to would be louder than a fan and would use more power. It’s also not as portable and requires floor space. I wonder if it also requires any maintenance.
Some people like uniquely designed products such as the Dyson and are willing to pay a premium for them. I can find a $20 box fan at Walmart that can move as much or more air than the Dyson. But if someone put both items in front of me and asked me to choose one, I’d pick the Dyson just because it flips my gadget lovin trigger. 🙂
@Andrew,
I don’t understand the smartphone hype, the Nokia 3310 is a very good phone and way cheaper than these iPhone 5s and Samsung S5.
@Julie This is true. I guess I have a hard time with paying for aesthetics. I’m all about function and economy.
With Dyson you are also paying for a fair amount of R&D to develop the products in the first place.
But yeah, I always remember the Consumer Reports review of the Dyson fans – They agreed it was probably twice as good as the competition, but it cost more than twice as much.