Dyson Announces OnTrac, Its Debut Audio-Only Headphones

Dyson has announced its first-ever set of audio-only headphones, OnTrac, a follow up to its hybrid headphones-meets-air-purifier product from 2023, the Dyson Zone, that drew comparisons to Bane and featured in our best headphones round-up earlier this year. With a singular focus on sound this time, the brand has built on its audio debut and delivered improved battery life, noise-cancelling and newly introduced customisation options, putting the new OnTrac headphones on par with the best flagship devices available from other brands.

Amongst the new product’s many attributes, Dyson is touting the OnTrac’s active noise-cancelling (ANC) as “best-in-class” and the headphones feature eight onboard microphones that sample external sound around the user at an astonishing rate of 384,000 times per second. This is then processed by a new, custom-built ANC algorithm that works together with the headphones’ carefully considered design, construction and material choice to “cancel up to 40dB of unwanted noise.” And, with the MyDyson app (iOS / Android), users are able measure and record the levels of noise they’re exposed to, helping to promote healthy listening habits as well as track noise overexposure.

It’s also worth noting the battery life on the OnTrac as Dyson has stated that users can expect 55 hours of playback with ANC switched on, an impressive figure that’s pipped to the post only by the 60 hours of Cambridge Audio’s new Melomania P100 headphones (Dyson hasn’t revealed the total battery life without ANC being used, but it would be safe to assume that it’s considerably more). Like the Dyson Zone before it, the OnTrac cleverly places the batteries in the headband – one on either side – unlike most wireless headphones that have the battery in the earcup. This has resulted in the OnTrac having quite a slim side profile, one that makes up for any perceived bulk up top.

However, perhaps the stand out feature on Dyson’s new headphones is one that seems so obvious a choice, but one that none of the brands you’d consider as having competitive products have offered: colour customisable caps and ear cushions. Available to buy separately, Dyson is offering various options for users to change the outer caps and ear cushions on their OnTrac to suit their style, claiming there are over 2,000 possible colour combinations for people to pick from. These are completely user swappable and are easy to remove and replace without any special tools needed,

With the release of the Dyson OnTrac, the brand best known for its vacuums has doubled down in its pursuit of delivering audio excellence in a market that’s never been as crowded, hoping to pick away at the customer bases of the likes of Apple, Sony and Bose whose headphones are consistently found in bestsellers lists. If you’ve ever found yourself asking “why is Dyson making headphones?”, consider the fact that Dyson has spent the past three decades mastering sound as part of its development of products – in particular, learning to fine tune acoustics and to lessen the level of unwanted noise, like the roars of vacuums or hums of hairdryers – and it starts to make sense.

Dyson’s OnTrac wireless headphones are launching soon and will be priced at £449, with replacement caps and ear cushion starting at £49. Sign-up now at Dyson’s website to be notified of the launch.