When Dyson announces a top-secret new product, you pay attention. So when Mashable was invited to preview and test a mysterious new product from Dyson a few weeks ago, I was really excited. And on July 18, the British brand officially unveiled the new product to the world: the Dyson onTrac headphones with active noise cancellation, which are set to launch in July 2024.
On July 18, I also received my own pair of onTrac headphones to test and review. Check back for Mashable’s full, in-depth review of these noise-canceling headphones. very I’m looking forward to seeing how they compare to our favorite headphones, especially other flagship noise-canceling headphones.
So what do we know and what do we like about these headphones so far?
Dyson onTrac headphones in copper color.
Credits: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable
Dyson tests headphone market
Dyson certainly has some competition in the premium audio space. The elite headphone category already includes the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Sony WH-1000XM5, and Apple AirPods Max (an AirPods Max 2 could also arrive in fall 2024). And that’s not to mention $1,600 wired studio-style headphones from Focal and Sennheiser.
Dyson had already released the futuristic (and slightly dystopian) Dyson Zone noise-cancelling and air-purifying headphones. We’ll give Dyson a pass on those headphones, which came out in the wake of Covid-19 when we were all a little late. Thankfully, the onTrac headphones are a fresh start – and they’re coming with a significant price cut. As such, they mark Dyson’s first major foray into consumer audio.
As a Dyson fan, I wouldn’t tell anyone to buy the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum
Everything we know about the Dyson onTrac headset
When can you get your hands (and ears) on these headphones? We don’t have an exact launch date, but we’re expecting a late July release. As soon as pre-orders are available, we’ll update this page. The onTrac headphones will retail for $499.99 on Dyson’s online store.
The earbuds will connect to a MyDyson app, where EQ presets will be available. Customization will be limited, but there will be presets for bass- and treble-heavy listening. Touch controls on the underside of the earbuds let you control the earbuds. One of the controls is a mini joystick, which can be used to play, pause, skip, fast-forward, rewind, and activate voice commands.
Dyson onTrac Headphones: Features to Know
These headphones have unique features including a ridiculous Battery life. We’re still testing the battery and sound quality, but Dyson promises these headphones will deliver 55 hours of battery life. with Active noise reduction enabled. Enough to give other headphones an inferiority complex.
Speed of Light Mashable
To achieve this, Dyson did what it does best: it made improvements to a universal design. At first glance, you’ll notice that the headphones have three ear cushions on the headband, as is usually the case. However, while the top cushion is made of plush foam, the side pieces aren’t ear cushions at all: they’re extra batteries.
The Dyson onTrac headphones have two built-in batteries.
Credits: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable
In terms of audio, Dyson uses 40mm neodymium drivers with a range of -6Hz to 21kHz, allowing you to appreciate the details in the lowest bass and highest treble. And for noise cancellation, Dyson uses eight microphones that sample the environment 384,000 times per second. In total, the headphones offer up to 40dB of noise reduction. The Sony XM5s, our current top pick for noise cancellation, also have eight internal mics for ANC.
Finally, with microfiber and foam ear cups and a headband designed to fit all head sizes, they also promise comfort. In a perfect world, they’d offer the comfort of the Bose QuietComfort range with the audio quality of Sony — but we’re yet to render our verdict.
Interchangeable ear plates
Our tech has become part of our personal style. Your phone case, phone mount, headphones and in-ear headphones can all influence the impression you make as you move through the world. For listeners who like to show off their personal style, Dyson has added a pop of colour and personality to these headphones.
Some of the accessories available for onTrac headphones.
Credits: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable
Close-up showing details of the Dyson onTrac headphones earcups.
Credit: Some of the accessories available for onTrac headphones.
The ear plates are made from CNC-machined aluminum (some also have a ceramic matte finish) and can be swapped out. The ear pads can be swapped out, and the top band comes in several different colors, allowing you to really personalize your headphones. Of course, you’ll need to purchase additional accessories to change the color. The headphones will be available in four colorways at launch (copper, aluminum, cinnabar, and black nickel), with more colors available at Dyson and other retailers.
A Dyson representative told us that they hope to offer more color choices in the future. Dyson says that between all the accessories, over 2,000 unique color combinations are already possible.
onTrac headset with earpiece plates removed.
Credits: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable
The headphones have 2,000 possible color combinations.
Credits: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable
How do they sound?
Unfortunately you will have to wait for our full review.
When I test headphones, I like to listen to particular songs by Radiohead and Florence & the Machine (“National Anthem” and “Between Two Lungs,” if you’re curious about this millennial’s musical tastes). My first listening sessions were impressive, as was the noise cancellation. That said, I’ll reserve judgment until I’ve had a few weeks to listen and compare.
I have a spoiler alert for my next review: the noise cancellation seems top-notch so far. I love throwing on noise-canceling headphones and earbuds to drown out street noise, my partner’s work calls, or the sound of Under the bridge on the TV in the other room. Those headphones instantly plunged me into a cone of silence.
I’m trying out the new Dyson noise-canceling headphones, coming soon.
Credits: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable
When I first saw the new Dyson onTrac headphones, I immediately spotted one feature that I didn’t like. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of products that include the brand name in prominent text. That’s true for my clothes, and it’s true for my tech. If these headphones didn’t have “Dyson” written in bold across the headband, I would have liked the design a lot more. We’ll see if I can get used to that detail as I test them out more.
In the meantime, you can head over to Dyson’s website to test out these headphones for yourself. And if you’re a die-hard Dyson fan who isn’t afraid to represent the brand (aside from Apple, it’s hard to think of a tech brand with a bigger following), you can sign up for updates on Dyson’s website.