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As much as I love headphones, I will be the first to admit that their designs are a bit boring. Even the best headphones lack a sense of fun, with single, all-over color profiles that at best are "discreet" and at worst "boring as hell."
So when the Dyson OnTrac offered a new, strange-looking design with customizable bits and pieces and some of the brightest colors this side of a circus clown in August last year, they immediately caught my eye.
Last year, reviews were mixed. We gave them 4 stars, but other outlets weren't quite so kind — with many giving them a sub-par rating. And yet, more than a year later, I keep coming back to them.
Learning to love their design
Dyson's headphones are weird. Dyson is a fan brand, not a headphone manufacturer, so there's already an inherent weirdness to them, but their strange shape, strange earcups, and strange headband padding easily make them the weirdest headphones I've ever tested.
For better or worse, the ear pads can be changed out as well for new colors, which also means you can change them out should the surface start to break up. You can buy them in metallic finishes for some class, or colorful pastel finishes for some more fun.
They're a pair of headphones which, at least externally, are more engaging visually ... And that has to count for something.
They're easy to click in place, and their finishes are top-notch for a quality feel. It makes the whole package not only feel more fun, but also more considered. Their interchangeability is a big plus for sustainability — if only the batteries were user replaceable as well.
The results are, admittedly, polarizing. But in my opinion, they're a pair of headphones which, at least externally, are more engaging visually. And that has to count for something, given how monochrome the rest of the audio world appears to be.
The performance can be...puzzling
Some reviewers weren't big fans of the Dyson OnTrac's sound out of the box — and I do agree with them. They are fairly dynamically flat, and their sound profile is pretty neutral. Bass heads won't like their bass presentation, but those who appreciate more detail might find them slightly fuzzy.
Now, in my eyes, that means they can never score that final point in a review — but they provide a surprising sonic canvas to work with for those willing to put some time in with an EQ.
With the right tweaks, I found them a whole lot more engaging.
There is one in the excellent Dyson app, although I tend to use the option built into my streaming app of choice, Roon ARC. From there, I can dial things in: That means a slight boost in the really low stuff, some rounding off of the mids, and slightly more high-end so that the detail can really be appreciated.
With the right tweaks, I found them a whole lot more engaging.
Excellent ANC — and some interesting readouts
It seems as though Dyson had a particular audience in mind with the OnTrac headphones — frequent flyers. They've got a case that can more easily fit into carry-on luggage, earpads that don't cause problems with a neck pillow, and ANC that blocks out about as much noise as you could reasonably expect.
On trips, I've been able to listen to my favorite streamers, listen to podcasts, and other spoken word content without being disturbed by the noise of the outside world. They're perfect if you want to settle down on a long flight and listen to an audiobook version of The Lord of the Rings. (I'm speaking from experience here.)
For folks who want even more control over their listening levels, there's the audio readouts inside the app that measure how loud the world is outside, and then showing you how much is being blocked out in graphs. It's like Dyson's air filters, only it's filtering out the sounds of the world to help your hearing stay healthy.
The app also shows you how loud you listen to your music, and whether you should turn it down (spoiler alert: You probably should). If nothing else, it's a cool way to visualize how the OnTrac are making your world just a little bit more tolerable.
Dyson delivered a solid product
As I look around at my house and see the other Dyson gadgets I own keep me cool and dry my hair, I realize there are two things that it's got right with everything it sells: design, and actually useful features that tell you more about the environment in which you live. It's these reasons I keep coming back to them.
Given their out-of-the-box sonic drawbacks and their weird, slightly uncomfortable headband, I can't say they're the perfect pair of headphones for absolutely everyone with $500 burning a hole in their pocket. Again, they're polarizing.
However, if you're looking for something fun, engaging, and with some really interesting insights into your on-the-go music listening habits, they're a compelling pair of headphones that I can't stop using — even one year after their initial release.
English (US) ·