Dyson's new headphones ditch the air purifier

By Alex Choros

Last updated 18 July 2024

Dyson is taking another crack at the high-end headphone market with its OnTrac over-ear cans. While the core design isn't dissimilar to the Dyson Zone, the new model abandons the controversial air-purifying mask for a more conventional product.

Noise cancellation is a core part of the pitch. Dyson says the feature is "best in class", and that its 30-plus years of experience in aeroacoustics have allowed it to "master sound physics". Noise is cancelled up to 384,000 times per second, and the headphones can reportedly reduce noise by up to 40dB.

The other point of difference is customisation. Customers can pick from different colours for the outer caps and ear cushions, resulting in over 2,000 different possible combinations. Four colourways will be available at launch, and Dyson will then sell other ear caps and cushions as optional accessories. Australian pricing for these has yet to be confirmed.

In terms of battery, Dyson says the OnTracs will last up to 55 hours per charge with noise cancelling on. A ten-minute charge will give the headphones up to 2.5 hours of playback, while half-an-hour will give up to 9.5 hours.

One other factor worth considering is weight: the OnTracs weigh in at 451g, making them even heavier than the 385g AirPods Max. In our testing, we thought the AirPods Max could be too heavy for some.

The OnTracs will be available through Dyson from August 28, retailing for $799. That's a little more expensive than rivals like the Sonos Ace, but more affordable than the AirPods Max and Dyson's own previous headphones.

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