Dyson OnTrac, quality headphones with super autonomy and customisation
The second is better than the first. More than an omen, it is a certainty for Dyson headphones. After its debut in the audio sector with the Zone, the company founded by Sir James Dyson is trying again with OnTrac, and the result is clearly better. The first experiment was too daring, with the headphones featuring a visor for air purification. Although the design was conceived before the Covid-19 emergency and the use of masks to cover the nose and mouth, the Zone was too bulky, heavy and even a little embarrassing to sport, at least for the habits of Europeans.
A little heavy but they play longer than competitors
So Dyson focused exclusively on the audio part, launching a model that offers above-average listening quality. An objective achieved with OnTrac, which in terms of lines and specifications closely resembles Zone, differs in terms of customisation and autonomy. It still weighs more than its competitors (451 grams against the 312 grams of Sonos Ace), and it lacks the multipoint feature that allows the headphones to be connected to two or more devices, switching automatically from one to the other.
A shortcoming that will be filled in the future by Dyson, which, in this case, preferred to avoid adding factors that could have potentially compromised the audio performance.
When worn, the OnTrac doesn’t seem to weigh too much, as Dyson has placed two lithium-ion batteries on either side of the headband (2,540 mAh each), distributing the weight and guaranteeing comfort. Thanks also to the memory foam ear cushions, which wrap around the ear, minimising discomfort, all you need to do to reduce discomfort to zero is to manage the width of the headband well before enjoying the music.
This is another key point, because sessions can be very long. Dyson claims a battery life of up to 55 hours with active noise cancellation in action, allowing you to use the headphones for several days without worrying about charging, which takes just under 3 hours.
Acoustic performance, Dyson’s obsession
Made of aluminium and plastic, the OnTrac counts on 8 microphones, evenly distributed on each side (plus a ninth dedicated to calls), that analyse environmental noise 384,000 times per second to generate sound waves to cancel out what arrives from outside. The result is a reduction of up to 40 dB that excels in the isolation mode, allowing you to immerse yourself in sound and forget what is happening around you.
With optimal effectiveness even in very noisy environments. When walking on roads or in contexts where you need to maintain a minimum of contact with the outside world, you should choose transparency mode, which sometimes tends to intensify certain sounds. On the whole, however, the effect is very good and easy to manage, as switching from one mode to the other requires only a double tap on the right earcup.
Dyson OnTrac
Italian engineer Salvo La Bella, who works at Dyson’s headquarters in Malmesbury, explained how acoustic performance has been the team’s obsession during the development of the OnTrac. Dynamic 40-millimetre neodymium drivers reproduce frequencies from 6 Hz to 21 kHz, with a detailed sound characterised by powerful bass and audible highs. During the first few days of testing, jumping between different genres of music, the feedback was somewhat surprising, especially with the bass. Another interesting aspect is the speaker’s 13-degree tilt towards the ear to generate a more direct audio response.








There are only two physical buttons on the headphones, one on each side: on the left is the on/off button, and on the right is the one to adjust the track sequence and volume. To manage the device, there is the My Dyson app, which, in addition to software updates and the ability to purchase accessories, allows you to select ANC and one of three equalisation modes (Base Boost, Neutral and Enhanced). Useful are the listening analysis indications, with in-ear and external sound monitoring and warnings if the volume is too high and could damage hearing.
To each his coloured model
Other useful features are head detection, with music stopping when the headphones are taken off and restarting once they are put back on. Otherwise, it is better to switch the OnTrac off directly. Otherwise, they switch off automatically after 30 minutes, consuming some battery power. The sound level during calls is good, with almost no disturbance to the caller.
Available in four colours: Cooper, Black Nickel, Aluminium, and Ceramic Cinnabar, the OnTrac allows a wide range of customisation thanks to the interchangeability of the ear cushions and the outer part of the earcups. A mix with over 2,000 colour combinations that can also be good for outfit matching: a kit costs €49. In the box is the USB-C cable for charging, and it is a very well-designed case that holds the headphones and tapers down to zero volume when pulled out. Both the 3.5mm USB-jack cable and the airline adapter are missing, and that’s a shame.
The Dyson OnTrac are on sale for €499 (£449,99) and can be bought from August on the Dyson website and in the brand’s Demo Stores, while they will arrive in electronics shops later. The price is in line with Sonos Ace and Apple AirPods Max, clearly indicating the target audience Dyson is chasing.