CHOICE verdict
Dyson is showing that it's serious about staking its claim in the home audio market with the release of the OnTrac headphones. They sound good, they have incredible battery life and they definitely make a visual statement, to say the least. Yet for all their technical achievements, the OnTracs don't sound all that exciting and they're missing some features you'd expect to see in headphones with a hefty price tag.
Price: $799
Contact: dyson.com.au
A bunch of Dyson vacuum cleaners have rolled through the CHOICE test labs over the years. But Dyson headphones? That's new.
Well, kind of. In 2023 Dyson released the Zone Absolute+ air purifying headphones which included a detachable air filter that came across as a bit of a novelty. But the new OnTrac over-ear headphones show that Dyson is serious about expanding into the consumer audio space.
These headphones make a pretty convincing case with their distinct design, excellent noise-cancellation and solid sound quality. However, at $799 you'd hope they'd stand out from the pack a little more and in many ways, they don't.
On this page:
- Are the Dyson OnTrac headphones comfortable?
- How long is the battery life on the Dyson OnTrac headphones?
- Do the Dyson OnTrac headphones sound good?
- Do the OnTrac headphones have active noise-cancellation?
- Can the headphones help protect your hearing?
- Cutting corners in a premium product
Are the Dyson OnTrac headphones comfortable?
Dyson has put a lot of work into making a big bold statement with a bright, industrial style that may be a tad garish for some, but is in keeping with the design of its other products (like stick vacs). While the style may be a drawcard for some, you'd hardly call these headphones subtle.
They're robust, snug and comfortable to wear and only feel a bit weighty, despite their size. Though they can slip a bit if you're regularly leaning forward – for example if you're gardening of crafting – they're pretty secure.
Customisation is also the name of the game, as Dyson is selling a range of different-coloured cushions and faceplates. These cost $79 and are easy to swap out.
The chunky cans are pretty uncomfortable to wear around your neck... they're too big and can push against the bottom of your jaw
However, the chunky cans are pretty uncomfortable to wear around your neck when you're not using them. Most over-ear headphones can easily slip down and rest on your shoulders, but the OnTracs are too big and can push against the bottom of your jaw.
The Bluetooth signal doesn't drop out or experience interference when you're in a crowded place with other devices present, which is great. But the headphones do support a physical connection via USB-C, so you can plug into an audio port if that's what you prefer.
The MyDyson app and other controls
The headphones are compatible with the existing MyDyson app. You'll need to install it on your smartphone if you want to tweak certain settings like the equaliser and active noise-cancellation (ANC). Aside from this, the features are pretty bare bones.
The headphones have built-in touch controls and physical buttons. There's a single, small joystick to toggle volume, skip forward/back, play/pause and activate the digital assistant on your smartphone (Google Assistant, Alexa etc.).
Touch controls can only switch between ANC modes. This requires a heavy double tap which translates to a loud, annoying thud in your ear. But it's also easy to accidentally adjust the ANC settings when you take the headphones on and off. This gets frustrating very quickly, especially since there's no way to customise or turn off these controls in the app.
How long is the battery life on the Dyson OnTrac headphones?
There's a very obvious opportunity for a Dyson-related pun here. Something along the lines of "unlike its vacuum cleaners, the battery life in Dyson's headphones doesn't suck". But we're not going to use that line. No, we're better than that.
Dyson's OnTrac headphones are comfortable despite the substantial size.
Though it's true, there's an incredible charge time crammed into the OnTracs. In a rather clever move, Dyson has built batteries right into the headband, which gives them enough space for a whopping 55 hours of battery life with active noise-cancellation (ANC) turned on.
That'll cover just about any long-haul flight in both directions and they'll last much, much longer with ANC turned off.
Do the Dyson OnTrac headphones sound good?
While the OnTracs stand out in terms of style, sound quality is a little more conservative. That's not to say they sound bad, they're actually quite good – very good in fact – but they don't quite deliver the emotional heft that really gets the blood pumping.
(Note: we used the 'flat' equaliser preset in the MyDyson app and a combination of Spotify and CD quality audio – FLAC – to assess sound quality).
On a technical level, the OnTrac headphones are very impressive. Audio is clear, crisp and balanced with enough stereo separation and breathing room to let every element of the mix shine through. Vocals, instruments, sound effects etc., never sound like they're fighting to be heard, even when they sit within similar audible frequencies.
Audio is clear, crisp and balanced with enough stereo separation and breathing room to let every element of the mix shine through
There's an overall richness as well which really suits orchestral elements like bold brass and soaring symphonic strings. Bass, meanwhile, is suitably restrained, laying down a warm, full feeling that supports the other instruments without taking over. That's not to say the low-end is a slouch. These headphones can bring the doof with ease, impact and even a bit of rumble
And where most consumer headphones are designed to perform best with popular genres such as pop, hip hop, dance and so on, Dyson's OnTrac give every genre an equal degree of respect. They don't struggle under the weight of harsh or complex, multi-layered recordings whether it's jazz, dream pop or even belting heavy metal.
The pads and cups are easy to swap out.
But for all their technical prowess, the OnTracs are quite flat and lacking the dynamics, excitement and personality that make a truly great pair of headphones. It's almost like nuance has been subdued to make way for detail and clarity.
Where Tracy Chapman's voice should be soaring over the guitar in 'Fast Car', it's somewhat restrained and sitting adjacent to the strings. Where the bleeps and bloops of Kraftwerk would normally dance around your cranium, they feel restricted to the left and right side of your head.
You won't be inspired to stand on your feet and mimic someone conducting The Nutcracker, because while the volume reaches its peak, the swell in your chest does not. In a way, Beck's heart wrenching exploration of his breakup in 'Lost Cause' just kind of sounds like a direct statement of fact.
For all their technical prowess, the OnTracs are quite flat and lacking the dynamics, excitement and personality that make a truly great pair of headphones
Dyson has taken a pretty even-keeled approach to sound that wants to appeal to everyone. So even though the OnTracs don't sound bad, they don't sound distinct. Somewhere along the way, these headphones lost their personality and the experience falls short of being emotionally expansive and completely immersive.
Issues with the equaliser
This is the other big letdown. Where brands like Apple offer at least 20 preset equalisers (EQ) that automatically adjust how things sound, Dyson has only provided three – Enhanced, Bass Boost and Flat. You just have to hope that one of these options appeals to your ears.
Batteries are housed in the headband and the cans use touch controls and a physical joystick.
There's no way to manually tweak bass, treble etc either, which is a feature you'd expect to see in headphones in this price range. Even some simple frequency adjustment tools, like sliders, would be great, but no. Limiting users to just three presets feels lazy.
Audio for movies and TV
The rather flat, technical approach doesn't do things like movies, TV shows and YouTube videos any favours. For example, the bank heist shootout in Heat lacks the intense punch of firearms echoing through downtown LA though the clarity is definitely there. The OnTracs get the job done without any noticeable issues but the cinematic vibe is absent.
Do the OnTrac headphones have active noise-cancellation?
Yes, and it's very good. Tucked around each can are four (for a total of eight) active noise-cancellation (ANC) microphones. It sounds like a lot, and it is, but rightly so because the results are excellent.
Full isolation completely cuts most environmental sounds, or reduces them to a very quiet, soft, dull rumble. Consistent noises like cars, the hum of a vacuum cleaner or the inside of a train carriage, are barely noticeable when you're playing music.
Even sudden, sharp and inconsistent noises like dogs barking, background conversation and the click-clack of a mechanical keyboard, are gently softened and barely distracting.
Full isolation mode completely cuts most environmental sounds, or reduces them to a very quiet, soft, dull rumble
Like the EQ, there are only three ANC settings. It's a bit of a letdown given the price tag, especially when it's not uncommon to see 10–20 steps of ANC in other brands. But this isn't as much of an issue as the restrictive EQ.
Do the Dyson OnTrac headphones have a microphone?
As well as the eight microphones for ANC, Dyson has included one more for making calls and issuing voice commands. Calls, online meetings and the like sound just fine when you're indoors without much environmental noise to deal with.
Outside, they do a reasonable job of alleviating traffic noise, wind and even inconsistent sounds like birds chirping away. Big gusts and noisy trucks do get distracting but there aren't many consumer-grade headphones that can handle those anyway.
Outside, they do a reasonable job of alleviating traffic noise, wind and even inconsistent sounds like birds chirping away
Active noise cancellation automatically turns off when you're in a call. It's a nice touch that gives you a sense of spatial awareness, as it saves you from inadvertently becoming the person that doesn't realise how loud they're talking on the train. General conversation sounds crisp and clear.
Can the headphones help protect your hearing?
The MyDyson app includes a 'Sound exposure' section which monitors your listening volume in real time. Rolling graphs record decibel data when you're using the headphones (as long as the app is installed on that device) so you can see when you're within, or exceeding, safe listening levels.
Tracking volume in real time using the MyDyson app.
Data is clear, concise and, most importantly, easy to understand at a glance. Being able to track volume levels over a period of days is useful, because prolonged exposure can slowly cause damage over time as well, even if you aren't constantly cranking the tunes.
The hearing health tool is a great addition to the app that's worth keeping an eye on (or ear, as it were).
Cutting corners in a premium product
If you're asking $800 for a pair of consumer grade headphones, it's not unreasonable for consumers to expect a fairly fleshed out experience. Yet for all the things that Dyson has done well, the OnTracs still come up short in a few areas.
The most glaring omission is the airline adaptor. Headphones that have a wired connectivity option usually include the two-pronged plane plug for free. Not so with Dyson. Instead, it's sold separately for $49.
The headphones do come with a slimline case included, but calling it a case is a bit generous. The clamshell design stays open at the top and bottom which does little to protect the headphones from wayward dust, grit, grime, fluids and so on.
The case doesn't provide much protection.
There are also a handful of higher quality Bluetooth codecs available, which do a better job of preserving sound quality as audio is beamed from your computer, smartphone etc to the headphones. The most common option is aptX, yet Dyson decided to go with LHDC which isn't as widely supported.
Now granted, these probably won't be deal breakers for the average consumer. But that price point is edging towards the audiophile market even though the feature set and sound quality just aren't there.
All that said, Dyson is on the right path. Something closer to a $550 price-point and a broad update to the EQ settings would make the OnTrac headphones a rather enticing prospect. Until then, they may struggle to find an audience.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
