Design

Dyson AM05

The overall appearance of these fans lend credence to their description as ‘tower fans’. Both the AM05 and AM09 are similarly designed with an attractive and eye-catching look: the heating/cooling section of the fan sits atop a sturdy cylindrical base, giving the impression of a tower. The upper part of the fan that is devoted to heating or cooling lacks the usual blade and grills synonymous with regular fans and instead features an oblong hoop known in Dyson-speak as the ‘air loop’.

The major difference in the design style of these two Dyson fan heaters can be found in their base. The base of the AM05 features several buttons comprising power, speed, oscillation and temperature controls. All these controls can also be found in the included remote control unit. When the AM09 was released, it was pretty obvious that Dyson had decided for a cleaner and less cluttered look. The base of the Am09 is void of any button apart from the on/off power button. Rather, all its control buttons and functions can only be accessed via the accompanying remote control unit.

Size and Weight

Both fan heaters have equal dimensions in terms of size and weight. They have the same height, weight and base diameter.

Bladeless Technology

Most fans are designed with blades to facilitate the movement and direction of the surrounding air in order to achieve their cooling or heating functions. Not so for the Dyson fans. These fans are truly one of a kind, as they dispense with the traditional blade design and rather, incorporate a bladeless technology technically referred to as Dyson Air Multiplier Technology. This technology ensures a more powerful and consistent airflow, as there are no blades to interrupt the smooth flow of air from the device. The Dyson Air Multiplier technology draws in the surrounding air, then multiplies and amplifies it when the fan is in cooling mode. When used for heating purposes, the Dyson Air Multiplier Technology enables the heated air to be projected to considerable distances.

Colors

Both fan heaters can be purchased in different color finishes. For the AM05, you can either go with any of these four options: brown and iron, blue and iron, nickel and black, or a white and silver finish. The AM09 comes in three color finishes: blue and iron, nickel and black or white and silver. For each finish mentioned, the first color is the one used for the upper part of the fan, while the second color is used for the lower part and base. For example, the blue and iron finish for either fans means that the upper part of the fan heater is colored blue while the lower part and base have an iron finish.

Heater Design

The fans’ ability to function as heaters can be attributed to dual ceramic plates that heat the air as it is projected into the room. These plate themselves are fireproof and this eliminates the possibility of a fire accident. The heat produced by the plates is not capable of burning dust, therefore, users do not have to fear about any burning smell when these Dyson fans are used as heaters.

Temperature Control and Thermostat Feature

When used as a heater, the temperature of these fans can be controlled and adjusted via the temperature control button.  The range of the temperature setting is from 33° F to 99° F.

To maintain the selected temperature, both fans are equipped with an internal thermostat described by the manufacturer as ‘intelligent’. This is because once a particular temperature setting has been selected by the user, and the room has been heated to that desired temperature, the heater switches itself off automatically. The thermostat then ensures that at specific time intervals, the heater would switch itself on and off to constantly maintain that particular temperature selected. Also, if the thermostat detects a drop in the temperature, it switches the heater back on, and once the temperature is back to the desired level, it turns the heater off again. Through this, energy is conserved and the uncomfortable experience of inadequate heating or overheating is eliminated or reduced to the barest minimum.

Remote Control Unit

The AM05 and AM09 are equipped with a remote control unit that gives users the opportunity to control their fans from any position in the room. One perk of both remote control units is the fact that all possible functions and operations of the fans can be invoked using the remote units alone without any need to approach the fans themselves. This is because the remote control units feature control buttons for all the available functions the fan heaters can provide.

As explained in the Design section, the AM09 has virtually no buttons on the fan itself apart from the power switch; all buttons are on its remote control unit. This of course makes for a more stylish and classic appearance when compared to the AM05 whose surface is littered with the same buttons that are on the remote control. However, as several users pointed out, the remote control units are actually very small and can be easily misplaced. In such a situation, users of the AM09 would be left floundering as they would be unable to operate their fans. The AM05 design makes it possible for users who have misplaced their remotes to still comfortably control their fans by virtue of the buttons on the fan’s surface.

Click here to get more details on the Dyson AM05

Click here to get more details on the Dyson AM09

To prevent or minimize the occurrence of users misplacing their remote control units, the units are designed with a slight curve in the middle. This curve is magnetic and as such, the remotes can be attached to the top of the fan heater when not in use instead of being left lying around and easily misplaced.

Several customers praised the range of the remote control units. However, most users claimed that the remote had to be pointed towards the front of the base of the fan for it to actually work.

Speed Controls

Both fan heaters are designed with 10 speed or airflow settings. For the AM09, these settings can be accessed and adjusted via the remote control unit alone. On the other hand, the speed of the AM05 can be adjusted using the designated button on the fan itself or through the remote control unit.

Jet Focus Technology

The Jet Focus technology can only be found on the Dyson AM09 fan heater. It basically consists of two airflow modes: focused and diffused. These modes provides users with the ability to choose the desired direction and range of the projected air. In the focused mode, air is passed through a tiny aperture and directed towards a ramp. This ramp serves to focus and redirect the jet of air towards a particular direction. In the diffused mode, another jet of air is released from the back aperture of the fan heater in addition to the jet of air in the focused mode. The two jets meet at a point and are directed over a ramp positioned at an angle of 45 degrees. The result is a wider stream of air that encompasses a larger area than that gotten in the focused mode.

If you’re coming in from the scorching sun or from the cold outdoors and want a blast of cold or warm air directed towards you, then the focused mode provides exactly what you need. If you want the whole room cooled or heated rather than just a particular spot or person, the diffused mode should be selected instead.

Oscillation and Tilt Features

Though the Dyson AM05 lacks the Jet Focus feature, users can still use the regular oscillation control of the fan heaters to direct the flow of air around the room. This oscillation feature is found in almost all Dyson tower fans, and the AM09 is no exception.

The Dyson fans can also be tilted to direct airflow towards a desired direction. This is possible because they are capable of pivoting about their center of gravity and staying put without clamping.

There is a notable difference between the oscillation and tilt features. While the oscillation feature is motorized and can be invoked from the remote control (for both AM05 and AM09) or the fan heater itself (only the AM05), the tilt feature can only be accomplished by the owner manually adjusting the fan’s position and orientation. Tilting the fans involve holding the base while carefully pushing the air loop either forward or backward. These Dyson fan heaters can only be tilted forward (upward) or backward (downward) and not sideways.

Sleep Timer Feature

Using the accompanying remote control unit, owners of the AM09 can access its sleep timer feature. The fan heater provides users with the option of setting desired time intervals ranging from 15 minutes to several hours. Once this time interval is set and the fan heater is not in use for that specified amount of time, it is designed to automatically turn off by itself. This helps to conserve energy.

It should be noted that the sleep timer feature cannot be found on the Dyson AM05.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The absence of grilles combined with the bladeless designs of these Dyson fans make them very easy to clean and maintain. Using a piece of cloth or rag, the fans can be cleaned within minutes. There is also an element of safety in the design of these fans, ensuring accidents do not occur during the cleaning process. If while cleaning, the fans are accidentally tipped over, they immediately stop working till they are righted. This is because the motors are designed to automatically cut out once the fans tip over. Also, the fact that there are no visible heating elements in the design of the fans coupled with the lack of blades make the AM05 and AM09 safe appliances for household use.

Noise Level

According to a vast majority of users, the AM05 and AM09 are relatively quiet at low and medium speed settings. When set to their highest speeds, the fans are quite noisy. However, the general consensus among consumers is that the Dyson AM09 is generally quieter than the AM05 regardless of the speed setting.

Warranty

Both Dyson fan heaters come with a warranty period of 2 years.

Pros and Cons of the Dyson AM05

Pros

• Attractive and aesthetic design
• Easy to operate
• Conserves energy
• Cleaning is easy and stress-free
• Poses no safety hazard
• Can be completely controlled from the fan heater itself and the remote control unit
• Distributes heat uniformly

Cons

• Noisier than the AM09
• Lacks the sleep timer feature
• No Jet Focus control

Pros and Cons of the Dyson AM09

Pros

• Has a more stylish and uncluttered design
• Very easy and safe to use
• Easy to clean
• Energy-efficient
• Generally quiet when compared to the AM05
• Distributes heat uniformly

Cons

• Almost all its functions can be found on only the remote control unit (what if you lose it)