I secretly tried Dyson’s new headphones featuring a huge battery Apple can’t compete with – but they don’t come cheap
DYSON has taken the wrappers off a brand new product not related to cleaning, fans or hair styling.
The British tech firm is tuning into the audio scene with a set of funky headphones that users can customise.
If you’re having deja-vu and think Dyson has been here before, you’re not wrong entirely.
Last year, the company released a wacky air purifier headphone device that not only allows you to listen to music but also filters air.
This time around, Dyson has dropped the mask and focused entirely on the sound (though the first Dyson Zone hasn’t been discontinued).
The Sun got an early taster of the new headphones, called OnTrac, at a secret unveiling recently. Here are our initial thoughts…
Dyson OnTrac headphones
The first thing you notice about the Dyson OnTrac is the slick design in true Dyson style.
It’s a slight evolution from last year’s Dyson Zone headphones but more refined (and obviously slimmer).
There are four launch colours: CNC Aluminium, CNC Copper, Ceramic Cinnabar, CNC Black Nickel.
But the really quirky thing about them is you can customise the caps and cushions with alternative colours – though you’ll have to pay extra for these.
I personally like the CNC Copper with Ultra Blue cushions but you can get really bold with colours like yellow and pink if you want to.
When holding the headset, I instantly thought they were quite lightweight and they sat on my head really comfortably too as a result.
The cushions are made from a “high-grade foam” and use “multi-pivot gimbal arms relieve ear pressure”, according to Dyson.
They do feel very cosy after a five minute trial but we’ll need to do a full review to see if they stay comfortable for much longer runs.
As for the sound, Dyson went to length explaining how engineers have put its existing noise reducing technology in vacuum cleaners and other products to use in headphones.
It features a custom Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) algorithm with eight microphones to tune out unwanted external sounds.
My initial thoughts were that it does a good job on the noise cancelling front – I didn’t have to crank up the audio loud to keep sounds out, however, I did try them in a quiet room and relied on clicking my fingers right by my ear, so this too will need more thorough testing to know for sure.
With over 30 years of experience in aeroacoustics, we’ve mastered sound physics
James Dyson
While I haven’t been able to push the battery to its limits, Dyson claims OnTrac can last up to 55 hours on a single charge with active noise cancelling on.
That’s more than double what Apple says the AirPods Max can last at up to 20 hours.
Dyson cleverly achieves this by putting two battery cells in the headband area, which also helps to even the weight out.
However, there is one area the Dyson OnTrac and AirPods Max do align more closely, and that’s on price.
Dyson OnTrac headphones: Price
The gadget will set you back £449.99 / $499.99 which will be a sticking point for many no matter how good it is.
“Dyson’s audio engineering mission is to preserve the integrity of the artist’s sound wave, free from interference,” said Jake Dyson, Chief Engineer.
“We also wanted to create a set of headphones that people would cherish, be excited by, and be proud of. With over 30 years of experience in aeroacoustics, we’ve mastered sound physics.
“By reducing noise through in-house anechoic chambers and expert engineers, we’ve applied and further expanded our audio knowledge to develop the Dyson OnTrac headphones.
“Our first over-ear audio only headphones deliver best-in-class ANC, exceptional sound quality, and all-day comfort through unique materials, design and customisation.”
The Dyson OnTrac headphones are available to buy from Dyson’s website on August 1.
Dyson OnTrac headphones - key details
- Battery lasts up to 55 hours on a single charge
- Noise cancelled 384,000 times per second, reducing up to 40dB
- 8 microphones for active noise cancelling
- Over 2,000 customisable colour combinations for outer caps and ear cushions
- Head Detect: Capacitive sensors detect when earcups are removed from the ears, signalling to pause your audio
- Intuitive Joystick: Easily play, pause, skip, fast forward, and rewind tracks, or hold down for voice commands
- Real-time sound tracking: Continuously monitors in-ear and external volume, and indicates potentially harmful levels through live reports in the MyDyson App