Dyson OnTrac - Wireless ANC Headphones but, NOT LIKE THE OTHERS!

Dyson, renowned for its vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, and hairdryers, has now ventured into the high-res audio noise-cancelling headphone market. You might recall their first unique headphones resembling Bane's mask from Batman. Now, Dyson has introduced a new contender in the form of the Dyson OnTrac, blending their expertise in acoustics with innovative design, setting a new standard in the audio industry.

Those initial headphones were intriguing because Dyson integrated their air purification expertise, incorporating a small face mask into the design. While innovative, they weren't exactly aimed at the mass market, partly due to their high price point. Dyson seems aware of this, suggesting their first attempt was more about staking a claim in the audio world rather than appealing to a broad audience.

In my opinion, Dyson’s initial headphones were a statement to announce their entry into the audio market, showcasing their distinct approach. Now, in mid-2024, Dyson has introduced their second-generation headphones, the Dyson OnTrac, further emphasizing their commitment to bringing unique, innovative products to the market.

The Dyson OnTrac headphones retail for £449, placing them in the same price range as Sonos, Sony, and Bose. They are available in several colour options, including black nickel, ceramic cinnabar, CNC aluminium, and CNC copper. The set I have features the CNC aluminium in a silver and yellow combination, showcasing classic Dyson colours. This pricing and variety position Dyson OnTrac headphones among the high-end contenders in the audio market.

What's particularly intriguing about these headphones is that they come from a company not traditionally associated with audio. Dyson hasn't made pianos, speakers, or mixing desks, but they bring a wealth of knowledge in acoustics, especially in noise suppression.

That's an area where Dyson excels. You might be wondering, just how good is the noise cancelling?  Another crucial question is, given that these headphones come from a company not traditionally associated with audio like Sony, Bose, or Sonos, do they sound good? We'll delve into that as well.

We'll dive into that, but first, let’s take a guided tour of the design, highlighting what makes these headphones unique. Starting with the headband design and battery placement, most traditional noise-cancelling headphones have batteries inside the ear cups. However, Dyson's headphones place the batteries in the headband, not the ear cups.

The batteries are located in the headband, appearing like cushions but covered in soft Alcantara. There are two battery cells, one on each side. Dyson's weight distribution technique for these headphones is inspired by the horse and saddle design, a method that has been effective for centuries.

This design evenly disperses the weight across your head, with ample padding at the top of the headband for comfort. After testing, I've noticed that the battery cells create more contact with your head, which helps keep the headphones stable and secure.

When worn, these headphones stay securely in place, thanks to the battery cells creating additional contact with your head. This design enhances both fit and comfort. Remarkably, the headphones offer a 55-hour battery life, which is quite impressive.

Remarkably, that's 55 hours of battery life with ANC switched on, which is impressive. This extended battery life is a benefit of having the battery cells in the headband rather than the ear cups, allowing for larger batteries. Additionally, this design offers flexibility in the headband and prevents excessive pressure, enhancing comfort during wear.

I find these headphones very comfortable despite being slightly heavier than competitors. The weight gives them a premium feel without being cumbersome. The headband offers good adjustment options. Now, let's discuss the second unique feature.

One unique feature of these premium noise-cancelling headphones is the interchangeable back of the ear cups. Simply twist to unlock and remove them. There are seven different colours to choose from, allowing for customization. 

Here are six of the available colour options. In total, seven colours are listed on the official Dyson website, and third-party manufacturers are likely to offer additional choices. This allows you to truly customize the look of your headphones by swapping the back panels. Despite being interchangeable, these parts are well-built and do not feel cheap.

They're exceptionally well-built and cleverly designed, as is typical for Dyson products. Removing and reattaching them is simple, with a quick twist to lock them in place. To further enhance customization, you can also change the colour of the ear-cup padding.

Similar to the CNC-milled aluminium backs, the earcup paddings also twist off easily. You can mix and match different colours available on the Dyson website. Like the back panels, these paddings come in seven different colours, and third-party manufacturers may offer even more options. This level of customization allows you to personalize your headphones to suit your style.

The possible colour combinations for these headphones are in the thousands, a feature unique to Dyson's high-res audio noise-cancelling headphones. The ear cups are exceptionally soft and plush, large enough to fit comfortably around the ears while keeping the drivers clean and reducing echo. Another impressive design element is the case, which is thin and light, making it travel-friendly. Unlike bulky traditional cases, Dyson's case allows the headphones to be charged while stored, offering a convenient and practical solution for travellers.

At first glance, the case might look like a traditional one, but its thinness becomes apparent when turned sideways. It features a hard shell on the top and bottom, with canvas material on the sides. The headphones can lay flat and slot into the case easily. While it may not offer as much protection from crushing or debris as a traditional hard case, its lightweight and slim design is advantageous. Additionally, the open edges allow for charging while in the case, making it a practical alternative to bulkier options.

The Dyson headphones boast high-resolution audio capabilities, featuring ANC, SBC, and DHC for superior sound quality. Equipped with premium 40-millimeter neodymium drivers, they cover a frequency range from 6Hz to 21kHz, far surpassing the typical 20Hz to 20kHz range of standard headphones and earbuds. This means they can produce incredibly deep sub-bass frequencies that are felt rather than heard, delivering an exceptional audio experience.

These Dyson headphones extend up to 21kHz, exceeding most headphones in delivering high frequencies. This enhances audio clarity, precision, and spatial placement, especially in high-res tracks. Dyson's expertise shines through in the earcup design: the cavity is carefully calibrated for passive sound containment, aided by the materials used in the ear cups. Additionally, the drivers are angled toward the ears, directing sound straight to the eardrum and minimizing reverberation within the enclosure.

These Dyson headphones are exceptionally well-designed. The passive noise cancelling is impressive, even without ANC, using a traditional reverse-phase technique. Each earcup houses four mics (more than the typical three), measuring ambient noise 385,000 times per second, allowing for real-time adaptation. Dyson claims a 40dB reduction in surrounding noise, which is notable. Additionally, tech sensors pause playback when the headphones are removed and resume automatically. The onboard controls are thoughtfully designed for ease of use.

The Dyson headphones feature a multi-functional joystick for daily use, allowing you to adjust volume, skip tracks, and activate your device’s assistant by pressing and holding. A power button on the left earcup doubles as the Bluetooth pairing button and lets you switch between three preset EQs. Double-tapping the back of the earcups toggles between noise-cancelling and ambient modes. Additionally, the accompanying app provides straightforward controls for noise cancellation, with audio cues for mode changes, enhancing the user experience.

You can use the app to switch between modes and monitor the changes in real-time. If you want to save power, you can turn off noise cancellation entirely. Below the noise cancellation controls, you’ll find three equalizer modes: Enhanced Mode for a signature sound with bass boost, and a Neutral Flat Profile for a more balanced sound. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the noise cancellation, I’ll play some street noise on my computer right in front of me.

With noise cancelling off, you'll notice external sounds. When noise cancelling is activated, you'll see a significant reduction in ambient noise, typically about a ten-decibel difference. The dotted line represents the external sound, and it's impressive how much quieter it gets. When playing music, ambient noise is practically eliminated, making these headphones perfect for use on an airplane.

The headphones are extremely comfortable. Within the app, you'll find user instructions, shortcuts to purchase different colour accessories, support options, and a Discover page for behind-the-scenes content at Dyson.

Although my time testing these headphones has been brief, I have extensive experience with other noise-cancelling headphones. Here are my personal opinions on their sound quality and noise-cancelling capabilities.

For its price point, the sound quality of these headphones is impressive, even without testing the LDHC codec. They match my favourite headphones in audio performance. The passive noise cancelling is the best I've tested, and the active noise cancelling further enhances it, making it top-tier. Audiophiles will appreciate the sound quality, and bass enthusiasts will love the deep bass levels. These headphones exceed expectations, particularly given Dyson's newness in the consumer audio market. Their unique background and design make them stand out.

Dyson's unique approach to design and problem-solving makes these headphones truly stand out. They offer excellent sound quality, top-tier noise cancelling, and numerous customization options. Designed to help you make a statement, they come in a form factor that many will find familiar and appealing.

What are your thoughts on the Dyson OnTrac headphones? How do you feel about their design, customization options, and price point? Would you choose these over Bose, Sony, Sennheiser, and Sonos? Let me know your thoughts!