Dyson OnTracis is known in Pakistan primarily as a manufacturer of vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, lamps, and hair dryers. The Singaporean company’s portfolio has recently also included headphones. In July, the company introduced an updated full-size Dyson OnTrac headset; today, the headphones have gone on sale. Let’s figure out what features the new headphones have and decide whether it’s worth thinking about buying them right now.
| Category | Characteristics |
| Type | Full size |
| Speaker diameter | 40 mm |
| Connection | Bluetooth 5.3, cable |
| Compatibility | Bluetooth devices |
| Equipment | Headphones, case, USB Type-C cable |
| Battery | Operating time – up to 55 hours |
| Dimensions and weight | 200×108×210 mm, 450 g |
Design and equipment
The new Dyson OnTrac inherits the main features of its predecessor, the Dyson Zone, and its appearance is similar. However, the new model does not have an air-purifying mask, and the cups do not look as massive.
Dyson OnTrac has four color options: blue/copper, black/grey, yellow/black, and black/orange. The first three are made of aluminum, while the latest, brightest version has a ceramic headband.
The earcups and hinges are also made of metal, adding both style and weight. Their almost half-kilo weight makes them uncomfortable for long-term use, and some music lovers will find them quite heavy.
The soft headband is divided into three almost equal parts fixed on a steel bow. This is done for design reasons and to distribute weight more evenly over the surface. The batteries are located in the left and right parts.
The bowls are connected to metal pivoting rods, making the Dyson OnTrac easy to fold, unfold, and store in its particular case.
The ear pads are exceptionally soft. They are made of special foam and covered with eco-suede, which provides good sound insulation and durability. Eco-suede does not absorb moisture, repels dirt, and does not deform. With careful use, the ear pads will last for many years.
The headphones come with a USB Type-C cable for charging and a branded OnTrac case. The latter is made of thick silicone and divided into two halves, allowing you to transport the headphones conveniently.
The highlight of the model is the comprehensive customization options for the case. Users can play with the color of the ear pads and outer cup covers, which are easily detached. For example, you can choose orange ear pads and blue cups. To begin with, removable elements in seven colors will be available for sale. In total, the company promises more than two thousand color combinations.
Sound quality and noise reduction
Inside the bowls are 40mm neodymium speakers. Dyson OnTrac reproduces sound waves with high clarity and accuracy thanks to improved audio signal processing. The device operates in the frequency range of 6-21,000 Hz. According to reviews, it reproduces deep bass and high-frequency sound waves qualitatively.
Another exciting feature is the 13° angle of the speakers towards your ear, which makes the sound more voluminous.
At the same time, it cannot be said that Dyson OnTrac reproduces sound perfectly. The first users note that the headphones lag behind AirPods Max in sound quality (the main competitors of this model in terms of design). Dyson OnTrac is also inferior to models from other manufacturers – Bose QuietComfort and Sony WH1000-XM5. However, the difference will be noticeable only to sophisticated music lovers; most owners will not notice the difference.
Thanks to eight built-in microphones, active noise cancellation technology isolates external noise, allowing you to reduce the noise level to 40 dB. However, experts say that headphones cannot be called the best on the market even with this parameter. Many competitors (Apple, Sony, and Bose) have better noise cancellation.
Functional Capabilities
The device supports the most common codecs: AAC, LDAC, and SBC. It also works with the less popular LDHC codec. However, there is a nuance: LDHC is incompatible with all gadgets (for example, it is unsuitable for Apple and Samsung smartphones).
There is an automatic pause function when the user takes off the headphones. Special sensors located inside the cups are responsible for this.
Volume tracking protects your hearing. The app will notify you if you listen to loud music for too long.
Autonomy and charging
What sets the Dyson OnTrac apart is its battery life. The headset can last up to 55 hours on a full charge with active noise cancellation turned on. In this regard, the headphones far outpace their competitors (Apple—20 hours, Bose—24 hours, Sony—30 hours). After 30 minutes of inactivity, the headphones turn off automatically to save the battery. They charge quickly: 10 minutes of charging is enough for 2.5 hours of listening to music.
Connection and control
The headphones can be connected to devices wirelessly using Bluetooth 5.3 technology. A wired connection is also available, but only via a USB Type-C connector—there is no 3.5 mm mini-jack. It is worth considering that the included cable is only suitable for charging, and you must buy a separate one to connect to other devices.
The official MyDyson app controls the headphones. It can be installed on iOS and Android. There, you can switch between three equalizer modes: “neutral,” “bass boost,” and “enhanced.”
Experts especially praise the control joystick on the side edge of one of the bowls. Do you want to adjust the volume, change the track, or pause playback? The joystick will help with all this—it instantly responds to commands and reacts pleasantly to the user’s movements.
The gesture control doesn’t work well. Tapping the cups is supposed to change noise-canceling modes, but Dyson OnTrac doesn’t always respond immediately to these gestures.
To take or not to take?
Pros
- Clean, rich sound with an even balance
- Customizable design
- Convenient design
- High-quality noise reduction
- Excellent autonomy
Cons
- The sound lacks dynamism and refinement
- The ear pads get very hot
- The kit does not include a cable for a wired connection
The new wireless headphones from Dyson turned out to be quite interesting. There are many things that users should like about them: outstanding battery life, high-quality noise cancellation, attractive design, and unique customization options. But even with all these nice features, the price of the new product will seem relatively high.
As a result, Dyson OnTrac will be constantly compared with competitors, and it cannot be said that this headset will win in all respects. Although OnTrac will undoubtedly replace one of the most popular gadgets on the market – this is the magic of the Dyson brand, whose products inevitably become favorites. The device is unlikely to appeal to people with exceptional musical ears and attention to sound quality, but it is ideal for users who put design first. In this area, Dyson OnTrac gives odds to all competitors.
