Dyson OnTrac Headphones Ditch the Air Purifier to Double Down on Design and Sound Quality

The Dyson OnTrac are great for those who want to stand out. (From: Dyson)
The Dyson OnTrac are great for those who want to stand out. (From: Dyson)

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The OnTrac headphones mean business, but Dyson still has a trick up its sleeve.

Dyson, the innovative home appliance giant, is taking another stab at the audio market with its latest offering: the Dyson OnTrac headphones. Only this time, they’re leaving behind the gimmicks and focusing on what really matters: sound quality and design.

Gone is the built-in air purifier that raised eyebrows in their previous Dyson Zone headphones. Instead, Dyson is going head-on with features that could challenge giants in the premium wireless headphones market.

Dyson OnTrac Features

Dyson OnTrac come with customizable designs to match each users' style. (From: Dyson)
Dyson OnTrac come with customizable designs to match each users’ style. (From: Dyson)

One of the many things that make the OnTrac headphones stand out is their design customization options.

Imagine having over 2,000 color combinations at your fingertips.

You start with four base colors: CNC Aluminium, CNC Copper, Ceramic Cinnabar, and CNC Black Nickel. Then, you can mix and match interchangeable outer caps and ear cushions to your hearts content.

A look inside the Dyson OnTrac ear cups. (From: Dyson)
A look inside the Dyson OnTrac ear cups. (From: Dyson)

But let’s talk about what really matters: the sound.

Dyson’s not pulling any punches here. They’ve equipped the OnTrac with 40mm neodymium drivers, which gives a broad frequency range of 6Hz to 21kHz. Meaning, you can expect to get everything from earth-shaking bass to crystal-clear highs.

Dyson’s engineers have also tilted the speaker housing 13 degrees towards the ear. This slight tilt makes sure the sound goes straight into your ear canal, which might make it clearer and less distorted.

To complement the superior sound quality, Dyson has also packed the OnTrac with smart features.

There are the usual features, like head detection for auto-pausing and a multifunction button for playback control. But they’ve also added two beam-forming mics for clear calls, so you won’t have to say things twice during phone conversations.

The MyDyson app that goes with the headphones makes them even better. Here, you can get the typical EQ presets and software updates that should help future-proof your investment.

What makes this unique, however, is that it also includes a real-time volume monitoring feature. With this, you can be sure to keep your ears and hearing safe even for long listening sessions.

MyDyson app lets you access more features to improve your overall experience. (From: Dyson)
MyDyson app lets you access more features to improve your overall experience. (From: Dyson)

When it comes to blocking out noise, the OnTrac are as good as (or maybe even better than) the big names in the industry.

Dyson’s gone all out here, with eight microphones sampling external noise 384,000 times per second. That’s not just a big number for marketing – it translates to up to 40dB of noise reduction. That’s a lot (if it holds up in real-world use).

A quick double-tap on either ear cup turns noise cancelling on or off, letting you control what you hear around you.

The ANC don’t drain the batteries too much, either. For those long listening sessions, the OnTrac can last up to 55 hours with noise cancelling turned on.

In comparison, Apple’s AirPods Max offers 20 hours, Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones provide 24 hours, and Sony’s WH-100XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones last 30 hours.
How the Dyson OnTrac headphones look like when worn. (From: Dyson)
How the Dyson OnTrac headphones look like when worn. (From: Dyson)

Comfort hasn’t been overlooked either. In fact, the OnTrac has earned comfort certification from US Ergonomics, thanks to their soft micro-suede ear cushion and multi-pivot gimbal arms that alleviate ear pressure.

And, the thoughtful placement of components, including the batteries in the headband, also helps make them feel balanced so you can wear them comfortably for hours.

Technical specifications

  • Form factor: Wireless over-ear headphones
  • Driver: 40mm Neodymium
  • Frequency response: 6Hz – 21kHz
  • Impedance: 16 ohms
  • Battery life: Up to 55 hours with ANC enabled
  • Charging time: Approximately 3 hours for a full charge
  • Noise cancellation: Up to 40dB reduction
  • Microphones: 8 for ANC, dual beam-forming for calls
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth (version not specified)
  • Companion app: MyDyson app for iOS and Android
  • Weight: Not specified

Where to Buy

The Dyson OnTrac headphones will be available on Dyson’s official website starting on August 1, with a price tag of $499.99. Customers can choose from four base colors, with additional customizable caps priced at $49.99 each.

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