I Tested Dyson's Pricey Flagship Headphones And They're Better Than I Expected

2 days ago

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The Dyson OnTrac headphones are a awesome action for group pinch an out-of-the-box individual style. They're disposable to acquisition for $499.
Impressive sound, capable noise-canceling, and innovative creation choices specify nan OnTrac headphones.
Dyson could walk much clip refining these headphones' beingness controls, arsenic they tin beryllium finicky and unreliable.

Who says nan aforesaid institution that made your vacuum cleaner and hairdryer can't make your headphones? I'm unsure if anyone has ever said that, but Dyson decidedly didn't.

That's correct -- nan institution responsible for nan AirWrap and high-end aerial purifiers precocious released nan OnTrac, a brace of headphones poised to compete pinch nan dense hitters successful nan premium headphones market.

Also: The champion headphones you tin buy

The OnTrac headphones win Dyson's other, much unorthodox foray into nan user audio industry. Last year, nan institution released a brace of headphones pinch an air-purifying mouthpiece attached. The Dyson Zone headphones whitethorn person been excessively weird for astir group to deterioration successful public, but nan OnTrac headphones are nan company's effort to entreaty to much consumers pinch a brace of accepted headphones.

Dyson OnTrac headphones successful a woman's hand

The OnTrac surely person immoderate quirks that only Dyson could merge into specified a elemental product, and I spent a week and a half testing them to spot if their novelty was worthy nan $500 value tag. Keep reference to find out.

Headphone manufacturers cognize that to make a scatter successful specified a saturated market, they must springiness america thing fresh, and Dyson decided to put each of its innovative eggs successful nan creation basket. The OnTrac's unconventional creation is nan astir compelling point astir them. Their ocular elements are arsenic existent to Dyson's creation concepts arsenic each different Dyson product, truthful they look exactly how you'd expect them to.

Also: Sonos Ace review: These $449 headphones are truthful adjacent (yet truthful far) from perfect

The OnTrac's circular, microfiber receptor cups are oversized, nan assemblage is aluminum for an elevated look and feel, and a multifunction joystick serves arsenic nan bid halfway for way play, pause, and skips.

Dyson says its halfway creation mantra is that each merchandise "should consciousness for illustration utilizing a portion of engineering, not an appliance." The OnTrac travel this philosophy: their creation elements and functionality consciousness for illustration nan sum of engineered parts, not for illustration a brace of headphones.

Dyson Ontrac headphones connected a woody table

You tin besides region nan OnTrac's outer caps and receptor cushions for enhanced customization. Dyson offers 7 different colors to alteration really your headphones look, from agleam Oyster Pink and muted Prussian Blue to shiny CNC Copper and matte Ceramic Khaki.

Also: The champion noise-canceling headphones

Despite their obtrusive look, nan OnTrac headphones are very comfortable and breathable. The receptor cups' interior is very deep, allowing ample room for your ears. The extent allows for an fantabulous seal betwixt your ears and nan extracurricular world, and nan microfiber cushions alteration power buildup.

You whitethorn not expect these headphones to magnitude to overmuch beyond their looks, but nan OnTrac headphones sound phenomenal. They person a lukewarm sound profile, salient bass response, and awesome instrumental clarity.

When I listened to Justin Timberlake's Tunnel Vision, the instrumentals' intricacies were clear, and nan bass had a punch and listen that you could consciousness heavy successful your ears. However, if you for illustration crystal-clear vocals, these headphones whitethorn not beryllium suitable for you.

The OnTrac's noise-canceling properties are arsenic impressive. When I wore them to my section java shop, they heavy muffled nan chatter and biology sound astir me. The noise-canceling is connected par pinch headphones for illustration nan Sonos Ace and Sony XM5 over-ear headphones but not arsenic beardown arsenic Apple's AirPods Max aliases Bose's QuietComfort Ultra.

Dyson's companion app is your hub for OnTrac's package customization. It's wherever you tin find audio modes, EQ settings, and artillery information. The MyDyson app besides offers sound vulnerability insights to thief you understand your receptor health. You tin spot really large your headphones and outer situation are successful decibels and real-time to guarantee you're not causing excessively overmuch harm to your ears.

Also: What is EQ and why is it an important facet successful improving sound?

I often utilized nan MyDyson app because I recovered OnTrac's controls finicky and counterintuitive. The mini joystick is aesthetically pleasing, but sometimes I triggered nan incorrect bid erstwhile I fiddled pinch it. You tin pat nan extracurricular of nan near receptor cup to toggle betwixt noise-canceling and transparency modes, but I had to springiness my caput a firm, open-handed smack to activate it.

Dyson's out-of-the-box creation choices don't extremity pinch nan headphones; nan carrying lawsuit is unique, too. The Slimline lawsuit is much for illustration a sleeve for storing headphones, and its level of protection and functionality is arsenic questionable arsenic Apple's headphone "case."

ZDNET's buying advice

Dyson's OnTrac headphones beryllium that invention is still imaginable contempt nan saturation successful nan headphones market.

If you for illustration your headphones to enactment arsenic a manner connection and a speech piece, nan OnTrac are nan astir unique-looking cans you tin find. However, if functionality is astatine nan apical of your headphones checklist, nan OnTrac will miss nan mark. Should Dyson refine immoderate of nan tactile controls, it'll solidify its spot arsenic a beardown competitor successful nan user audio market.

If you want premium headphones pinch intuitive beingness controls, awesome sound, and immense comfortableness but a simple, nondescript design, see nan Sonos Ace. If you want a cheaper premium action pinch precocious functionality and awesome noise-canceling, see nan Sony WH-1000XM5.