Dyson OnTrac headphones review: Back on track

All too often, the conversation around headphones comes down to a handful of familiar brands. Sony, Bose and Sennheiser. Given that (and with Jabra set to call time on its tenure in the land of headphones and earbuds), it's always nice to see more brands entering the mix. You need only take a look at the Sonos Ace earlier this year for an example of what a fresh entrant can offer.

Now, Dyson is back in the saddle. Technically, the brand made its first set of headphones back in 2022. However, like a lot of pandemic-era tech, the less said about that the better. By comparison, the Dyson OnTrac feel like the brand's first true set of wireless headphones and while there's definitely room to grow, there's also plenty to like.

More than anything else, these headphones feel like a confident gamble that's it better to play to your strengths than try to beat the competition at their own game.

In Australia, the Dyson OnTrac come with a recommended retail price of $799. That's pretty pricey for a set of consumer grade headphones, even those with noise-cancelling. It's on par with the likes of the Sonos Ace and a little cheaper than the Apple AirPods Max, but that's not saying much.

Fortunately,  you can always save by shopping around. Check out the table below for a round-up of deals for the Dyson OnTrac headphones.

After taking its first awkward steps into the world of over-ear audio with 2022's Zone, Dyson's OnTrac headphones can't help but feel much more confident. The company has ditched the novelty of a set of headphones with built-in air purification tech for something with sturdier fundamentals, colorful looks and a more modular design.

In other words, what's here looks of a kind with Dyson's other gadgets but a far cry from the blueprint laid out by the pandemic-grade Dyson Zone. The headband opts for three smaller pads rather an a single one that wraps around the top of your skull.

The earcups are also a little larger than you might be used to. The OnTrac is built around a pair of 40mm neodymium drivers, which are then backed up by a noise-cancellation setup that incorporates eight microphones in total.

The downside of all this hardware is that the OnTrac can get a little snug or sweaty over longer sessions. However, that isn't to say that they aren't comfortable. It's clear that Dyson spent a lot of time testing these, because while they are not as lightweight as some of the competition, the sensation of snugness that comes with wearing the OnTrac is so appealing that I found myself drawn to them in spite of those shortcomings.

The Dyson OnTrac also echo one of the best design choices made by the Sonos Ace by putting their chips for physical rather than touch controls. The bottom of the left earcup is host to a button that plays double duty for both power and Bluetooth pairing.

Then, on the opposite end of the headband, you've got a cool little joystick input. This controller is not quite as elegant as the media key that Sonos use but it's pretty close. You nudge it upwards and downwards to control volume, sideways to skip or rewind and inwards to pause and play. It's super easy to use, even if it's not always the easiest to find with your hands.

While that elegant user experience is a definite highlight, the Dyson OnTrac is much defined more by its material qualities than the Sonos Ace is. The earcups are shiny and stainless, the padding on the headband is more generous and plush and every component in between screams premium.

What's more, that flair isn't one size fits all. Dyson (and participating retailers) are  selling a variety of vibrant outer caps and ear cushions, allowing you to customise and make the headphones your own. Variety is the name of the game here, with four different colour options (Aluminium, Copper, Ceramic Mandarin and Black Nickel) on offer.

From the ashes of the Zone, Dyson hasn't just built a better set of headphones but one that shines on fronts where its competition is complacent.

If you care more about battery life than sound quality, the fact that the Dyson OnTrac offer up to 55 hours of playback on a single charge is likely going to be music to your ears. That's almost double what a lot of the competition can do, and a sum that does help offset both the steep price and more subtle differences in sound quality and noise-cancelling you're in for here.

To be clear, the Dyson OnTrac deliver respectable results when it comes to fidelity and noise-cancelling. At the same time, I can't say that they managed to win out over heavyweights like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or newcomers like the Sonos Ace. On top of that, there's no support for Spatial Audio or Hi Res content.

Even so, music, podcasts and audiobooks sounded more pretty good when listened to through the Dyson OnTrac. Subject to our usual testing playlist, the headphones turned out pretty decent results across the board. It delivered the vibrant multi-layered bass in Carly Rae Jepsen's "I Didn't Come Here To Dance" and Childish Gambino's "3005" but failed to navigated the nuances of the cacophonous "Swerve City" by Deftones and "The Funeral Portrait" by Opeth.

Obvious as it sounds, if fidelity is your number one concern, Dyson might not be the perfect headphone brand for you. Still, they'll get you pretty close.

As for the microphone quality on the Dyson OnTrac, it's a bit of a mixed bag. These headphones definitely sound better than a lot of other over-ear noise cans I've tested, especially cheaper ones. That said, I can't say I found the level of quality on offer to be where I expected. For how much you're paying, I had my sights set a little higher.

Much like the sound profile though, I suspect it'll be fine for most. If that sentiment worries you, be sure to click the button below to listen for yourself.