Dyson, the company best known for innovations in vacuums, fans, and air purifiers, pares down the ambitions of its first headphones, the Dyson Zone Wireless, with its second effort, the 2024 model, Dyson OnTrac. Not content to simply produce active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones, the company adds a flashy, customizable look that fits in alongside its full product line-up while removing the polarizing air filter 'visor' on its 2023 debut cans. So, is the follow-up pair of headphones a hit or a sophomore slump?
Our Verdict
The Dyson OnTrac are good for neutral sound. Their tuning leans towards a bit bassy for extra oomph and relatively flat in the midrange. Highs sound slightly less even, alternating between warm and somewhat piercing, but this depends on your taste. You can adjust the EQ with presets, but these are somewhat limited in what they alter. Unfortunately, the headphones can sound different depending on factors like whether you wear glasses. Like most closed-backs, their passive soundstage doesn't sound wide or open.
Long battery life.
Good build quality.
Multi-device pairing with two devices.
Wired playback requires an adapter at an added cost.
Limited EQ.
Ear pads don't fit all ears and can absorb oil.
The Dyson OnTrac are good for commuting and traveling. Their battery lasts an impressive 51 hours with ANC on to get you through several trips. Their soft ear pads feel comfortable, although if you have larger ears, they may not seal as effectively, and the weight of their nice build can feel a bit heavy on your crown over time. Their noise cancelling handles common airplane and street noise very well, though they don't cancel out very deep rumbling noises. Still, they support multi-device pairing if you want to swap from your laptop to your phone on a flight. That said, you'll need to purchase a separate In-Flight Adaptor for wired audio, and the ANC is disabled when you plug them in.
Long battery life.
Good build quality.
Multi-device pairing with two devices.
Stable design.
Wired playback requires an adapter at an added cost.
Fairly bulky and a bit heavy.
Ear pads don't fit all ears and can absorb oil.
The Dyson OnTrac are decent for sports and fitness, though they're not really designed for this purpose. They're bulky and hefty to wear and don't easily fit in a small gym bag. Their cloth-covered ear pads are absorbent, which can become unhygienic if you sweat. Still, for their size, they're stable enough to wear during upright movements, and they stay connected over a good distance if you leave your phone in the changing room.
Good build quality.
Stable design.
Fairly bulky and a bit heavy.
Ear pads don't fit all ears and can absorb oil.
The Dyson OnTrac are good for office use. They're comfortable with soft padding, although they can feel a bit heavy on the crown. Their battery can last a work week without a recharge. Your coworkers won't be disturbed by a ton of escaping audio, either. Their ANC and isolation blocks a decent amount of office racket, though they're not the best with super deep rumbles. Equipped with multi-device pairing, you can easily switch from your work PC to your phone at lunch.
Long battery life.
Good build quality.
Multi-device pairing with two devices.
Wired playback requires an adapter at an added cost.
Ear pads don't fit all ears and can absorb oil.
The Dyson OnTrac aren't the best for wireless gaming. Their latency is too high, so your video and audio won't stay in sync. They're also Bluetooth-only, so they can't connect to consoles.
The Dyson OnTrac aren't suitable for wired gaming because they're wireless headphones. You can purchase a separate In-Flight Adapter to make them wired.
The Dyson OnTrac are reasonable for phone calls. Their mic has a built-in noise suppressor, which works best for constant background noise rather than infrequent interruptions. The headphones have dedicated call controls, and their ANC and isolation help you hear the caller on the line better. While your voice sounds okay, it lacks a bit of body.
Long battery life.
Good build quality.
Ear pads don't fit all ears and can absorb oil.
Mic lacks a full sound.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Dyson OnTrac come in stock colors: 'CNC Copper,' 'CNC Black Nickel,' 'CNC Almunium,' and 'Ceramic Cinnabar.' Our unit is 'CNC Aluminium' (you can see our unit's label here), and we expect the other colors to perform similarly. However, because the other colorways use different materials for the housings, it's conceivable these may cause very minor deviations from our findings. You can also customize the outer 'ear caps' and ear pads on the Dyson web store.
If you come across another variant of these headphones, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Dyson OnTrac are a more conventional set of wireless noise cancelling headphones that are light and a bit smaller than the Dyson Zone Wireless. Their metal design competes with other premium cans like the Apple AirPods, and both have pared-back user settings, but the Apple headphones win in the ANC department. If you're more concerned about the option of wired playback and want a bit more control over the sound, the Focal Bathys Wireless are another high-end pick to consider if you're an audiophile.
Check out the best noise cancelling headphones, the best travel headphones, and simply, the best headphones.
The Dyson Zone Wireless and the Dyson OnTrac are similar headphones with almost the same headband design, unless you want the air filter 'visor' exclusive to the Zone. For most people, the OnTrac are more practical because they're slimmer with a longer battery life. The Zone are rather large and heavy but have a more protective case.
For most people, the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless are better than the Dyson OnTrac. The Sony headphones are lightweight and their ANC does a better job of blocking noise. The app offers more control over their sound profile and supports virtual surround sound, and you can use them wired or wirelessly. That said, the metal components of the Dyson are well-machined, and their ear pads feel more cushioned. If you dislike touch controls, the Dyson relies on a physical joystick for most functions except for listening modes. Their battery life outlasts the Sony's as well.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless are better noise cancelling headphones than the Dyson OnTrac. The Bose headphones offer better isolation performance and weigh less. Plus, their app offers a few extras like surround sound and a bit more control over the EQ compared to the Dyson. That said, the Dyson have a longer battery life and a flashier metal frame with softer ear pads.
Whether the Sonos Ace or the Dyson OnTrac are better depends on what you prioritize. The Sonos have a more powerful ANC feature, and their app includes surround sound. If you watch a lot of videos, the Sonos have greater connectivity options (wired playback and low-latency codecs) to decrease the chances of lip-sync mismatch. Plus, they can integrate with your existing Sonos home speaker setup. On the other hand, the Dyson have a longer battery life and intuitive controls with a good-quality build. You can buy an adaptor to use them wired, but it disables the ANC.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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