It’s fair to say that few companies have disrupted more markets quite like Dyson. From the launch of the world’s first bagless cyclone vacuum cleaner, through to innovative fans and advanced hair stylers, the British engineering business has a reputation for innovative technology and some outré styling.
The next business Dyson intends disrupting is the wireless headphone market. That’s right. Dyson is looking to enter one of the most crowded and competitive sectors with its engineering know-how and the kind of eye-turning design that Dyson is known for.
Dyson claims its new OnTrac headphones offer the best-in-class active noise-cancellation thanks to technology that samples sounds 384,000 times per second and reduces unwanted noise by up to 40dB thanks to eight sound-sampling microphones. External sound is tracked and reported in real time via the MyDyson smartphone app.
As well as ANC, the new Dyson headphones will offer an enhanced sound coverage with a frequency range of 6Hz to 21kHz. The headphones will support SBC, AAC and LDAC audio codecs, but there’s no support for Quacomm’s Snapdragon Sound or the aptX Lossless family of codecs.
The OnTrac headphones have two built-in lithium-ion battery, each rated at 2,540mAh. A full charge takes a couple of hours and provides up to 55 hours of listening time with the ANC turned on. Dyson claims that should be enough for a couple of weeks’ use before topping up.
As you might expect from Dyson, the OnTrac headphones have unique Dyson styling and there’s more than 2,000 customizable color combinations by using interchangeable outer cap covers and ear cushions. Each ear cushion is made from ultra-soft microfiber material and high-grade foam that gives the OnTrac a comfortable fit as well as an enhanced acoustic seal.
Jake Dyson is the company’s chief engineer. He says: “Dyson’s audio engineering mission is to preserve the integrity of the artist’s sound wave, free from interference. 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 customization.”
The new OnTrac headphones use 40mm neodymium drivers which are fed by advanced audio signal processing. The headphones can reproduce frequencies as low as 6Hz and go as high as 21kHz. The sound has a deep sub-bass that Dyson claims you can feel. The speaker housing is tilted 13 degrees towards the listener’s ear for a more direct audio response.
With up to 55 hours of listening time from a single charge, Dyson’s OnTrac headphones should be good for a couple of weeks of listening even with ANC turned on. Two high-capacity lithium-ion cells suspended in the headband give a more even weight distribution. To toggle the ANC function on and off, users just need to double tap either ear cup.
These new headphones also have multi-pivot gimbal arms that reduce pressure on the listener’s ears. Soft micro-suede ear cushions provide an optimized clamping force for a consistent fit with a wide range of head sizes.
Dyson’s OnTrac headphones will be available in four different colorways, each with a unique and durable finish designed by Jake Dyson and his CMF team. Inspired by CNC manufacturing, the options include CNC Aluminium, Copper and Nickel.
OnTrac will also be available in a Ceramic Cinnabar version that has a painted finish with a ceramic-feel. In addition to the four colorways, users can customize their Dyson OnTracs by adding custom outer caps and ear cushions in a wide range of colors and finishes.
Pricing & Availability: The new Dyson OnTrac ANC wireless headphones will be available directly from Dyson.com and are priced at $499.99. Caps and cushions for customizing the headphones will also be available from Dyson.com. The outer caps are machined from high-grade aluminum with a range of ceramic or anodized finishes and colors. Each set is priced at $49.99.
Tech Specs:
- Frequency response: 6Hz – 21kHz.
- Codecs: SBC, AAC, LHDC.
- Total noise cancellation: Up to 40dB.
- Driver: 40mm Neodymium.
- Microphones: 8 ANC and 1 for voice.
- Battery type: 2x Lithium-ion 2,540mAh.
- Charge port: USB-C
- Runtime: Up to 55 hours with ANC on.
- Bluetooth: Version 5.0 LE.
- App: MyDyson.
- Bluetooth profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP.
- Cable: 3.5mm – USB-C in
- On-Product sensing: Real-time sound tracking, head detection, capacitive sensing.
