Dyson Adds $500 OnTrac Headphones to Its Lineup

We saw a hint of audio ambitions from Dyson last year with the gimmicky Zone headphones-slash-air-purifying-mask, but the company is really stepping into the space with the OnTrac, its first dedicated high-end noise-cancelling headphones.

The Dyson OnTrac over-ear headphones feature 40mm, 16-ohm neodymium speaker drivers with a frequency range of 6Hz to 21kHz. That's wider than most headphones' 20Hz-20kHz stated ranges and identical to the Dyson Zone's.

The OnTrac also has an active noise cancellation (ANC) system that uses eight microphones that sample outside noise 384,000 times per second. According to Dyson, it can block out up to 40dB of noise. That's more advanced than the Dyson Zone, but appears to be the same ANC configuration as the upgraded Zone Absolute+, which we have not tested.

We weren't very impressed with the original Zone, which launched at $950 and is now available for a still-steep $700. Its air filter helps reduce both harmful particles and unpleasant smells, but it's heavy and expensive. Its sound and ANC performance are both good, but not "$950 good." The OnTrac might fix those issues with a less clunky design since it doesn't need to accommodate an air filter system, and its noise cancellation system is more advanced.

The OnTrac is more customizable than either Zone, with four different finishes (CNC aluminum, black nickel, copper, and ceramic cinnabar) and swappable earpads and earcup caps. The earpads and caps each come in seven different colors, which adds up to 2,000 different color combinations, Dyson says. The additional pads and caps are $49.99 per set.

Recommended by Our Editors

The Best Headphones for 2024

The Best Audiophile Headphones for 2024

Dyson Airwrap vs. Shark FlexStyle: Which Multi-Styler Beats a Trip to the Salon?

Even without an air filter, the OnTrac is still a Dyson product, so it's not cheap. It retails for $499.99 direct from Dyson's website, putting it in line with noise-cancelling heavy hitters like the Editors' Choice Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and the Apple AirPods Max.

Dyson has a lot to prove in the headphone space, but it's established itself as a top name in vacuums, fans, air filters, and even styling equipment, with products that have earned Editors' Choice awards in each category. It doesn't always hit it out of the park, though; Dyson has yet to impress us with its robot vacuums. We'll have to see just how serious the company is with headphones when we test the OnTrac, and if it can justify the price as well as it has for Dyson cooling and cleaning products.

About Will Greenwald

Lead Analyst, Consumer Electronics

I’ve been PCMag’s home entertainment expert for over 10 years, covering both TVs and everything you might want to connect to them. I’ve reviewed more than a thousand different consumer electronics products including headphones, speakers, TVs, and every major game system and VR headset of the last decade. I’m an ISF-certified TV calibrator and a THX-certified home theater professional, and I’m here to help you understand 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and even 8K (and to reassure you that you don’t need to worry about 8K at all for at least a few more years).

Read Will's full bio

Read the latest from Will Greenwald

• Apple Watch Wish List: 6 Big Things We Want From the Series 10
• Google TV Streamer Replaces Chromecast in Media Hub Lineup
• Amazon Echo Spot Returns as an Alexa-Powered Smart Alarm Clock
• Nintendo Switch 2: Everything You Need to Know
• Google Teased AR Glasses at I/O, and I've Already (Sort of) Used Them
• More from Will Greenwald