Dyson’s new headphones are, above all, an intriguing addition to a competitive wireless overear market, offering highend sound, active noisecancelling (ANC), noise monitoring and long battery life in the most unique design to come along in ages.
The one thing I can say with confidence is that they’re an interesting and eyecatching pair, but are they for you? That’s a harder question to answer. I’ve spent a week using them as my main noisecancelling headphones for the commute, while at the office and out and about to find out.
The key points of the new OnTrac headphones are that they’re an audiofirst product without the detachable air purifying mask that had niche appeal on the Dyson Zone, that they’re designed for highly effective passive and active noise control, that they have a 55hour battery life with ANC on, and that they have a customisable design with extra outer caps and cushions available to buy separately.
They also cost £449, so you’d better be sure they’re the right pick if you’re interested in them.
Dyson OnTrac headphones: At a glance
Dyson OnTrac headphones: Design
No matter which colour combination you pick, the Dyson OnTrac headphones have a headturning design. I test a lot of headphones and it’s rare for my colleagues to get so interested in most pairs I’m trialling. With these, though, I got many comments and could see people staring at me while I had them on.
They’re not subtle. They’re very big, quite “loud” and definitely eyecatching. I tend to prefer a subtler design like the Bose QuietComfort or Sonos Ace. Around the office, opinions are mixed. Some say these look stunning while others are less convinced. They are divisive, and overall it’s not a style for me.
However, the amount of customisation available will be a big selling point, as you can buy custom ear caps and cushions (sets cost £49). Dyson says there are “over 2,000 customisable colour combinations for outer caps and ear cushions,” so you could achieve a very unique and personal look. I tried this and was able to swap from the copper look of my review sample over to a green and orange style. It only takes mere seconds to twist off and switch out the cushions and outer caps of the headphones.
Dyson OnTrac headphones: Controls
When it comes to control, there’s a mix of buttons, touch controls and a joystick. The joystick is a highly intuitive way to control playback and volume, while the on/off button is appreciated (something that’s missing from Apple’s AirPods Max) and the touch controls can be imprecise and are not among my preferred ways to control headphones.
That’s true here too, where they require a very firm doubletap of either side to switch noise control modes. It can feel like you almost have to hit the headphones to get this to work. I’ve tried multiple pairs of headphones that have a more logical and memorable control system overall, and this might have worked better if Dyson hadn’t worried about touch inputs and instead added a reliable button for switching modes.
Dyson OnTrac headphones: Comfort
Are they comfortable? I’d say they’re a lot more comfortable than expected given that they weigh 451g. Most headphones are half that weight and it’s a pretty hefty size to pop on your head.
Dyson has done some clever distribution to make that weight less noticeable (by putting the batteries in the headband, for one) but I find I prefer a headband that adjusts smoothly, and this instead has positions you can click it to.
The soft microfibre ear pads feel nice and block out a lot of sound, but while these are comfortable, I don’t think they beat the Sonos Ace (the comfort champions), the Bose Ultras or the Sennheiser Momentum 4.
It’s worth noting that the sheer size is also a downside when it comes to travel, they’re not going to be easy to pack, they don’t fold to a small size and the unusual travel case takes up a lot of space without fully protecting the headphones.
Dyson OnTrac headphones: App and setup
There’s a lot about the Dyson OnTrac headphones that feels premium, whether that’s the materials in use or the overall unboxing experience. These are clearly a considered highend pair, and that extends to the MyDyson companion app too, which you use to set up and configure the headphones. It’s also where you access the noisemonitoring feature (more on that later).
While you can’t use the app without setting up a Dyson account and the initial software update took a lot longer than I expected, it all works well and I appreciated the simple walkthrough of the controls during the setup process.
Dyson OnTrac headphones: Sound quality
Once you’re listening properly, I’m certain you’ll be impressed by the capabilities of the angled 40mm speaker drivers, which are designed to direct sound right to your ears. That’s just one area where a lot of thought has gone into the audio performance.
Overall, the Dyson OnTrac headphones are excellent at conveying music with more detail than you’re used to, on a natural soundstage and with an impressive layering and separation of instruments within mixes. They deliver a rich and textured bass along with clear high notes in a sound signature that is balanced and enjoyable.
I was, of course, keen to compare them to highend rivals so I set them against a few competitors in the same price tier for some sidebyside sound quality testing. The extra detail and wider soundstage are evident when compared to the Bose flagship and the Sonos Ace, both of which it outperforms.
While I personally prefer the capabilities and the smooth sound signature of the Bowers & Wilkins PX8, that is a more expensive and luxurious pair overall and the Dyson may still be more precise and preferable to some audiophiles. I haven’t yet compared the Dyson to the top Sennheiser pair or the AirPods Max, but it’s still safe to say they’re excellent for musical enjoyment, and may only be beaten by much pricier pairs like the Focal Bathys (£699) and Mark Levinson 5909 (£749).
Dyson OnTrac headphones: Noisecancelling
This is where the Dyson OnTrac really impresses. I’ve tried a lot of noisecancelling headphones and some can really struggle to cancel out both high and low frequencies, doing a great job with the low rumbles of a train but struggling to keep out the noise of people talking or using cutlery at a coffee shop, for instance.
The Dyson pair doesn’t have this issue. They impress across the frequency range, using eight microphones to listen to and invert ambient noise 384,000 times a second. This means they respond well to changes in noise levels and will be great if you need focus and peace most of all. They’re very close to being on the same level as Bose QuietComfort Ultra cans, which are the class leaders, but I’d still gravitate to the Bose because they’re still marginally better to my ears, and they’re lighter, easier to travel with, and easier to control.
Within the app, you get noise monitoring to see the decibel levels of both the outside conditions and the volume of the audio from the inner microphones too. Together, these show you how much potentially dangerous noise the headphones are limiting and help you to keep the volume of your playlists in check. Overall, it’s important data that most headphone apps don’t present to you, making it both a unique and helpful addition.
Dyson OnTrac headphones: Battery life
I’ve found that a lot of headphone manufacturers like to talk about the highest potential battery life of products if you were to use them with the noisecancelling turned off, so you’ll see some talking about up to 60 hours or up to 80 hours, but that can often be with the mode that you’d be using all the time turned off. It’s much more accurate to talk about typical battery life with ANC on, which Dyson does, and its numbers are very impressive.
The OnTrac is designed to last for up to 55 hours with noisecancelling engaged, which compares to 24 hours on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, 30 hours on the Sonos Ace, 30 hours on the Sony WH1000XM5 and 20 hours on the AirPods Max. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 (up to 60 hours) still beats the Dyson, but it’s safe to say this new launch is one of the best picks in the category for battery longevity.
Good Housekeeping’s verdict on the Dyson OnTrac headphones
The Dyson OnTrac headphones aren’t a pair that I’d recommend for everyone because the design is too divisive. But, I can say with confidence that they make for a bold entry in the highend headphone market.
If the style works for you, they’re more comfortable than you’d expect given the size and weight, and they offer premium sound quality, toptier active noisecancellation and an impressive 55hour battery life.
The high price and bulky look will mean they’re not an ideal pick for many of us who prefer headphones to be more understated. For most, I’d sooner recommend more portable options like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Sonos Ace. But the added customisation options for the Dyson pair makes them distinctive, and they’re ideal if you’re buying them for someone who likes to stand out.
Dyson’s OnTrac
Dyson OnTrac headphones: Other products worth considering
Bowers & Wilkins PX8
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Simon Cocks is Hearst UK’s Technology Ecommerce Editor, overseeing tech shopping content and strategy across a range of titles including Good Housekeeping UK, Esquire UK, Digital Spy, Men’s Health UK and Women’s Health UK.
Simon specialises in testing the latest smart gadgets, home entertainment gear, headphones, speakers, portable chargers, radios, ebook readers and smartphones. He’s reviewed top tech products from brands including Google, Apple, Amazon, JBL and Bose.
A magazine journalism graduate from Kingston University in 2014, Simon also worked on the Discovery and Silkroad inflight magazines. He then gained experience writing about entertainment at SFX and Total Film. He also contributed reviews and interviews to TwitchFilm (later ScreenAnarchy), CultBox and Frame Rated.
He joined Good Housekeeping UK as the Editorial Assistant for Special Projects and was part of Good Housekeeping’s Consumer Affairs Team between 2014 and 2019. In this role, he conducted price comparison research, wrote detailed household and moneysaving advice guides and edited thousands of indepth reviews for the Good Housekeeping Institute.
He has focused on technology and gadgets since 2020, where he started by testing out power banks and instant cameras. He writes reviews, roundups, news articles and deals updates, and also covers top tech deals during sales like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
When not testing out the latest gizmos, you’ll find Simon either catching up with the newest releases at his local cinema or out shooting with his beloved compact camera.
You can follow Simon on Instagram at @simonrcocks, on Threads at @simonrcocks, and on Twitter/X at @simoncocks.
