Note: This review was first published on 23 July 2024. The article has been updated with the headphones availability.
Image: Dyson
Well, colour (pun intended) me surprised! Dyson suddenly launched a new pair of noise-cancelling headphones last week that nobody saw coming.
Dubbed the Dyson OnTrac, it’s a follow-up to the dystopian Dyson Zone that was launched in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Zone unfortunately had a pretty muddled reception, thanks in part to its bizarre and meme-worthy air purifying mask attachment (watch our impressions of it here). I thought the high-tech company that focused on its customers’ “well-being’ would retreat from the audio category then, but again, surprise!
It’s also not cheap, unsurprisingly. Priced at S$699, that puts the Dyson OnTrac squarely in the realm of premium headphones.
The TL;DR version:
The Dyson OnTrac is a great pair of noise-cancelling headphones with equally great battery life, with a fun personalisation element not seen before in other headphones.
Note: The Dyson OnTrac will be available for Singapore customers in September 2024 for S$699.
So, there are a couple of things that set the OnTrac apart from its divisive predecessor. Gone is the air purifying mask attachment, so for all intents and purposes there’s no mistaking that the new Dyson headphone is first and foremost an audio product.
Freestyle customisations
This is arguably Dyson's most "fun" gadget yet.
At a glance the OnTrac bears all of the hallmarks of a Dyson product, following the industrial design DNA that we see in the tech company’s range of home and beauty products – such as its hair care and floorcare products. Like the Dyson Zone, the OnTrac is crafted out of machined aluminium and there’s an impeccable quality to the finish especially when held in your hands. It’s not too farfetched to say that the OnTrac headphones is quite possibly one of the best I’ve seen in terms of aesthetics.
Dyson will launch cushions and ear cups in seven colours as stand-alone accessories. Image: Dyson
Then there’s arguably its most unique selling point: personalisation. The OnTrac not only comes in four different colours that will be available at Dyson’s stores and retail partners – CNC Aluminium, CNC Copper, Ceramic Cinnabar (my review unit) and CNC Black Nickel. Dyson is also making additional ear caps and cushions for customisable purposes available at launch too. You can check out my TikTok video below for an idea of the level of personalisation you can achieve when you start to mix and match. There are a lot of combinations and as you would expect of Dyson, the OnTrac’s built is premium and lush and the accompanying caps and cushions accessories – whatever the colours – look absolutely great in person.
My review unit is the "Ceramic Cinnabar" model but as you can see, I have already switched out the ear cups to "Ceramic Blue" ones.
Some users might find this gimmicky and understandably so. But I love how it makes the OnTrac “fun” and stands out from a sea of black, white, and grey premium headphones in the market. Only Apple’s AirPods Max, with its removable ear cushions comes close.
Week-long experience
The left and right cushions on the headband are where the batteries are located.
The Dyson OnTrac may be replacing the Zone but there is one key similarity between both headphones. Like the latter, the OnTrac’s batteries are built inside the left and right cushions of the headband with the top cushion the only part that’s in contact with the top of your head – the left and right cushions never do. Dyson says this design allows weight to be evenly distributed across the headband. There’s certainly some merit to that, as the OnTrac is one of the very few headphones that I can wear for hours on end comfortably. My AirPods Max on the other hand, could only afford me a couple hours of usage before causing pressure on my head and ears – leading to discomfort.
Even the battery is impressive. I’ve used the OnTrac for almost a week now, with daily use of around 7-8 hours, and only needed to recharge it just as I sat down to write and publish this review. That’s pretty impressive, and Dyson’s claims of up to 55 hours of playback with ANC switched on is quite close.
The Dyson OnTrac can detect when it is removed from your head, automatically pausing your music, and then resume when put back on.
Replacing the ear cups and cushions is simple and fuss-free.
For active noise cancellation, the Dyson OnTrac uses eight microphones that sample external sounds 384,000 times per second to optimise the ANC quality. I can’t say if they are better than some of the leading ANC headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM5, but what I can say is that the OnTrac’s ANC is quite remarkable in that it not only drowns out most external noises and chatters on my MRT train rides effectively, but also does not create a sense of pressure on the ears. The Dyson OnTrac could be the most comfortable pair of ANC headphones for me yet.
The orange button on the left is the on/off button, while the orange joystick on the right allows you to play, pause, skip or increase/decrease volume. You can even hold it down to give it voice commands.
There are also two beam-forming mics for voice calls, and they work as they should – conversations were clear and crips when I tried it with WhatsApp and Zoom calls with my iPhone. The headphones’ larger ear cushions also help offer a greater element of passive isolation too. Tapping on the touch-sensitive cups allows you to switch between ANC and Transparency modes too (again, just like the AirPods Max).
Sound wise, the OnTrac headphones deliver a well-balanced audio experience, thanks to their 40mm neodymium drivers that provide excellent bass. This bass gives a meaty but controlled kick in Third Eye Blind’s “I Want You”, ensuring that it doesn't overwhelm the rest of the tones. Consequently, higher frequencies from acoustic guitars, cymbals, and strings sound crystal-clear. For instance, Foo Fighters’ “Walking After You (X-Files version)” was reproduced with rich, warm bass, powerful kick drum hits, and bright, defined cymbals and vocals.
Final thoughts
The Dyson OnTrac headphone is pricey, but there's no doubt about its great ANC and sound quality. Image: Dyson
There’s really a lot to like about the Dyson OnTrac – it’s got great battery life, is comfortable to wear and the ANC and sound quality are spot on. But it’s not perfect and there are a few things that could be improved and add to the user’s quality of life.
The Dyson OnTrac comes with a really well-thought pouch that isn't bulky and yet provides sufficient protection for the headphone.
Firstly, I hope Dyson will add replaceable ear cushions that are made of PU leather. The current ones are made of high-grade foam and micro-suede, and while comfortable, can warm our ears quickly in our tropical climate. It’s also worth pointing out that the OnTrac is pretty large, and not being able to fold them feels like Dyson missed a great opportunity to one-up its competitors. Although it must be said that Dyson made a very clever pouch for it, which is way better than Apple’s own meme-worthy ‘bra’ pouch for the AirPods Max.
So here's what I think: Dyson has not only crafted a premium ANC headphone that excels in both sound and comfort, but also achieved a perfect balance, making it “fun” without veering into gimmickry. The OnTrac can transform from high-end to “street” style based on how you customise it. However, S$699 is a considerable investment, and there are equally capable (if not superior) ANC headphones available at a lower price, such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. Yet, the Dyson OnTrac stands out by making a bold fashion statement, backed by great performance.
Note: The Dyson OnTrac headphones is now available in Singapore for S$699 at the Dyson Store and VivoCity Dyson Demo store. Additional Ear Cushions will be sold for S$69 a pair. Ear Caps will be released at a later date.
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