30 years of research to hear it all the time: the Dyson OnTrac headphones are born
Dyson OnTrac headphones are the company's first audio-focused in-ear noise-cancelling headphones. It is Dyson's first noise-canceling device to offer high-fidelity sound quality for audio playback only.
Last year, Dyson hinted at its ambitions to enter the audio space with the release of the gimmicky pneumatic purifier mask Zone headphones, but the company has now really stepped into the space with the launch of its first dedicated high-end noise-cancelling headphones, OnTrac.
30 years of research to hear it all the time: the Dyson OnTrac headphones are born
Dyson OnTrac in-ear headphones feature 40mm, 16 ohm neodymium speaker drivers with a frequency response range of 6Hz to 21kHz. This is wider than the nominal 20Hz-20kHz range of most headphones and is exactly the same as the Dyson Zone.
OnTrac also features an Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) system that uses eight microphones to sample external noise at a rate of 384,000 times per second. According to Dyson, it can block out up to 40dB of noise. This is more advanced than the Dyson Zone, but seems to have the same ANC configuration as the upgraded Zone Absolute+ that we haven't tested yet.
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The original Zone, which was released last year for $950 (and still sells for $700), wasn't impressed, it was bulky and expensive. Its air filter can help reduce harmful particles and unpleasant odors, but it has good sound and ANC performance, but it's not "worth the money."
30 years of research to hear it all the time: the Dyson OnTrac headphones are born
Since OnTrac has a less bulky design, the air filtration system is removed, and its noise-canceling system is more advanced, it looks more like a normal headphone.
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More customizable than any of the zones, OnTrac is available in four different finishes (CNC aluminum, black nickel, copper, and ceramic cinnabar) as well as replaceable ear cushions and ear cup covers. The ear cushions and ear cups each come in seven different colours, with Dyson saying a total of 2,000 different colour combinations are available. Additional ear cushions and ear cup covers cost $49.99 per set.
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30 years of research to hear it all the time: the Dyson OnTrac headphones are born
Even without an air filter, the OnTrac is still a Dyson product, so the price is not cheap. It retails for $499.99 directly on the Dyson website, which puts it on the same level as noise-cancelling headphone giants like Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Apple AirPods Max.
30 years of research to hear it all the time: the Dyson OnTrac headphones are born
Dyson needs to prove itself in the world of headphones, but it has established itself as a top brand for vacuum cleaners, fans, air filters and even styling devices, with its products winning Editors' Choice awards in every category. It's not always a success, though, and Dyson's robot vacuum cleaner hasn't impressed us yet. When testing OnTrac, we'll see how serious the company really is about the headphone business and whether it can justify its price as much as its cooling and cleaning products.
30 years of research to hear it all the time: the Dyson OnTrac headphones are born