When Dyson unveiled its first headphones last year, STEREO GUIDE was among the first magazines to hear them. As an enthusiastic Dyson user, I was particularly interested in the over-ear. However, the unconventional combination of headphones and air purifier left me deeply divided in the end: The ambitious extension made the Zone heavy, bulky and caused fan noise directly at the ear. The bold design also drove the price up to lofty heights. My conclusion of the review culminated in the thought: “Perhaps Dyson should overcome its pride of invention and bring out a Pure Audio version as a clone of the Zone without Purifier at a competitive price. The brilliant Brits could be sure of an enthusiastic following here too.” That was obviously prophetic: Dyson has just presented the OnTrac – a purist over-ear without a purifier.
It would have been particularly exciting for me to be one of the first reviewers to try out the OnTrac again. Finally, it marks the company’s first pure hi-fi headphones designed exclusively for audio. These innovative headphones not only promise first-class Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), but also an immersive listening experience with an impressive battery life of up to 55 hours. Unfortunately, there was a last-minute postponement, which ultimately made it impossible for me to review the product I had anticipated a year ago.
Focus on individualization and comfort
With over 2,000 possible color combinations thanks to interchangeable end caps and ear pads, the Dyson OnTrac clearly stands out from the competition. The ear pads are made of ultra-soft microfiber and high-quality foam, which ensures excellent wearing comfort and acoustic sealing. Multiple pivoting gimbal arms and a battery positioned in the headband ensure balanced weight distribution.
Innovative technology for an optimal listening experience
Jake Dyson, Chief Engineer, emphasizes the company’s many years of experience in aeroacoustics: “Our goal was to develop a headphone that preserves the artist’s full sound while offering the highest level of comfort. With over 30 years of experience in sound physics, we have created the Dyson OnTrac, which combines premium active noise cancellation, exceptional sound quality and all-day comfort.”
Outstanding noise suppression
The Dyson OnTrac has a special algorithm for active noise suppression that works with eight microphones and captures ambient noise 384,000 times per second. Unwanted noise should be reduced by up to 40 dB. High-quality materials and the sophisticated geometry of the headphones also contribute to optimum noise suppression.
Improved sound quality
The 40 mm neodymium speaker drivers with 16 ohms and advanced audio signal processing are designed to reproduce the music faithfully. The frequency range from 6 Hertz to 21,000 Hertz stands for deep bass and clear high tones. The speaker housing is tilted 13 degrees towards the ear for more direct audio reproduction.
Long battery life and user-friendly operation
With a battery life of up to 55 hours, even with active noise cancellation, the Dyson OnTrac offers impressive performance. The two lithium-ion batteries are integrated into the headband to ensure even weight distribution. The ANC function is switched on and off by simply double-tapping one of the two ear cups.
Ergonomic design and high-quality materials
The Dyson OnTrac has been developed for all-day comfort and is certified by US Ergonomics, among others. High-quality foam padding and the pivoting gimbal arms reduce pressure on the ears, while the positioning of the battery in the headband distributes the weight evenly. The soft micro-suede ear pads and optimized clamping force ensure a comfortable fit for different head sizes.
Customization and premium design
The Dyson OnTrac is available in four color variants: yellow/aluminum, midnight blue/copper, black/nickel and black/cinnabar. These variants feature unique, durable coatings developed by Jake Dyson and the Color, Materials & Finish (CMF) team. End caps and ear pads are also available in various colors and designs.
Availability and price
The Dyson OnTracTM will be available from August 1 directly at dyson.de, in Dyson Demo Stores and from selected retailers for 499 euros (RRP). If the new over-ear sounds at least as good as the Zone, then it is clearly more competitive from a hi-fi fan’s point of view than the shrill gadget that suffered from over-engineering.
Brief summary of the Dyson OnTrac
My esteemed colleague Christian Möller, who, like me, does reviews for AUDIO / stereoplay magazine, has already given an initial assessment that gives reason to expect a lot from the detailed review: “The sound of the Dyson OnTrac is largely balanced, without exaggerated bass, but still crisp and lively. However, I found the maximum level a little too low. I particularly liked the operation with the joystick, which was already available on the Zone model. A new feature is switching between ANC and transparency mode using an acceleration sensor: a double tap anywhere on the headphones, including on the headband, switches reliably. This function is already legendary!”
