Dyson OnTrac Review

A year ago, Dyson introduced a unique and baffling product: the Dyson OnTrac Headphones Combo Wearable Air Purifier. Despite testing and reviewing it, I still consider it one of the most perplexing gadgets I’ve ever come across. It was essentially a failed experiment in combining headphones with an air purifier. However, a year later, Dyson has returned with a more straightforward offering—a pair of high-end, active noise-canceling headphones. These headphones retail at $500, a significant investment, but they don’t come with the absurdity of an air purifier attached. So, how do they stack up, especially when compared to the likes of Apple’s AirPods Max? Let’s break it down.

A Rival to the AirPods Max

At first glance, the Dyson headphones might seem to be competing with Apple’s AirPods Max. Both fall into the category of premium, noise-canceling over-ear headphones, but Dyson seems to have made some deliberate decisions to one-up Apple in every possible way.

While the AirPods Max has been around for over four years, with little to no updates (still using a lightning port and offering a hefty design), Dyson has made a clear effort to offer a modern, competitive alternative. In fact, Dyson’s headphones are priced at $500, which is $50 cheaper than the AirPods Max. Dyson also includes replaceable ear cups for $50 each, which undercuts Apple’s pricing even further.

The Dyson headphones have an impressive 55-hour battery life, more than doubling the 20 hours offered by the AirPods Max. Plus, they work seamlessly on both iPhone and Android devices, and they come with a real off button—a small but crucial detail that Apple’s AirPods Max lacks.

Build Quality and Design

One of the first things you’ll notice about the Dyson headphones is their weight. They are even heavier than Apple’s AirPods Max, coming in at 451 grams. While this might seem alarming, Dyson has done a good job of distributing the weight across your head, making them more comfortable than their sheer weight would suggest. They’re still heavy, but they’re not uncomfortable for extended listening sessions.

The build quality is impressive, with a metal construction throughout. The ear cups, hinges, and headband are all made from durable metal, with only the top cushion being soft to the touch. Interestingly, while the left and right ear cushions look the same, only the right one is soft—the left one houses the batteries. This design choice shifts the weight upward from the ears, contributing to a balanced, if somewhat heavy, overall feel.

Interchangeable Parts

One of the most unique features of the Dyson headphones is their interchangeability. The ear cushions and back plates can be easily swapped out for different colors and finishes. With a simple quarter twist and unlock mechanism, you can replace these parts to suit your style. However, Dyson doesn’t include multiple color options in the box, and each additional set of ear cups or back plates costs $50. It’s a clever upsell, allowing users to mix and match colors, though it could be seen as a gimmick.

The materials for the back plates come in different finishes, with options ranging from shiny metallic aluminum to matte-colored versions. While it might seem frivolous, Dyson has clearly put effort into the design, making sure the lock-and-twist mechanism is secure but easy to operate.

Physical Controls

The Dyson headphones feature a joystick-like control on the right ear cup, which handles most of the physical functions. It’s intuitive and easy to use, allowing you to play or pause music, adjust volume, skip tracks, and even find the control without looking. The only other physical control is a double tap on the left ear cup to toggle between noise cancellation and transparency modes.

Unfortunately, the noise cancellation control is finicky. It doesn’t always work on the first try, likely due to a sensor issue. This is a minor annoyance but something Dyson could improve with future updates.

Case and Portability

While the Dyson headphones can fold flat, they don’t fold as compactly as some other high-end models. Dyson includes a basic carrying case—two flat silicon boards connected by elastic bands. The case has one small pocket for cables, but it’s not the most convenient solution for travel. Still, it’s functional, and if you’re not concerned about portability, the headphones are easy enough to store.

Smart Features

These headphones also feature on-head detection, so they automatically play music when you put them on and pause when you take them off—an expected feature for high-end headphones. Additionally, they support multi-point connectivity, meaning you can pair them to both your iPhone and Pixel at the same time.

The Dyson app is a handy addition, letting you customize settings and check on various modes. One neat feature shows a real-time graph comparing the outside noise level to the sound inside the headphones, particularly useful when noise cancellation is active. While not a game-changing feature, it’s a nice touch.

Sound Quality

As a non-audiophile who has tested plenty of headphones, I can confidently say that the Dyson headphones sound solid but not exceptional. When compared to the AirPods Max, they fall short in several key areas. In nearly every genre, the AirPods Max outperforms the Dyson headphones by a noticeable margin (10-25%).

That being said, Dyson’s headphones offer three sound modes in their app: neutral, enhanced, and bass boost. The neutral mode offers a surprisingly balanced and honest sound, while the enhanced mode provides a more dynamic listening experience with deep bass and clear mids and highs. The bass boost, however, sounds rather poor, though it may appeal to those who prioritize heavy bass.

The soundstage in the Dyson headphones is relatively shallow, with the ear cups nearly touching your ears. This limits the sense of openness and instrument separation that audiophiles typically crave. While they sound good for casual listening, they can’t compete with premium models from Sony, Bose, or Apple in terms of sound quality.

Noise Cancellation

The noise cancellation is decent, though not as powerful as what you’d get from Sony, Bose, or even Apple. The Dyson headphones are equipped with eight microphones to detect and cancel out ambient noise, but they don’t perform quite as well as their competitors. That being said, they’re still effective at cutting down on white noise and general distractions.

Transparency mode is also present, but it’s not as crisp as on some other models. Still, it works well enough for those who need to stay aware of their surroundings while using the headphones.

Dyson OnTrac Battery Life

One of the standout features of the Dyson headphones is their battery life. The 55-hour battery life with active noise cancellation on is impressive, especially for a pair of headphones this heavy. I’ve used these headphones extensively for over a week without needing to charge them. This kind of battery performance is world-class, and it’s one of the key advantages Dyson has over its competitors.

Article Summary

At the end of the day, Dyson’s new headphones are a solid alternative to the AirPods Max, especially if you value customization, design, and battery life. They’re built well, with clever features like replaceable ear cups and back plates. The sound quality and noise cancellation are decent, though not groundbreaking, and they may not be the best option for audiophiles. Dyson has produced a pair of headphones that are far from ridiculous, but they’re also not revolutionary. If you’re looking for something different from Apple and want a solid, well-built pair of headphones, the Dyson headphones might be worth considering. But if you’re after the best possible sound or noise cancellation, you might want to look elsewhere.

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