When it comes to headphone brands, companies like Apple, Bose, and Sony might spring to mind.
But these tech giants face new competition from Dyson, which has made its move into the world of audio with the launch of its very first pair of headphones.
The Dyson OnTrac have a number of impressive features, including 55 hours of battery life on a single charge, and best-in-class noise cancellation.
However, with a hefty £449.99 price tag, they’re certainly not cheap.
So, are the new headphones worth splashing out on? MailOnline’s Shivali Best tested them out – and was pleasantly surprised.
The Dyson OnTrac have a number of impressive features, including 55 hours of battery life on a single charge, and best-in-class noise cancellation. However, with a hefty £449.99 price tag, they’re certainly not cheap. So, are the new headphones worth splashing out on? MailOnline’s Shivali Best tested them out – and was pleasantly surprised
The Dyson OnTrac were first announced last month, and are described by Dyson as ‘headphones, remastered’
The Dyson OnTrac were first announced last month, and are described by Dyson as ‘headphones, remastered’.
Ahead of their official release in the UK today, Dyson sent a pair over to the MailOnline office for me to test.
The headphones come in four colourways – aluminium, copper, cinnabar, and black nickel – with additional options for custom outer caps and cushions in various colours and finishes.
I opted for the copper pair – and it’s safe to say they’re not exactly subtle.
This finish is unique, with the most similar option from a rival that I can think of being Apple’s pink AirPods Max, which are more muted and subtle.
The copper is shiny and really catches the light – great if you want to stand out, but could also make you a bit of a target for thieves.
I opted for the copper pair – and it’s safe to say they’re not exactly subtle. This finish is unique, with the most similar option from a rival that I can think of being Apple’s pink AirPods Max, which are more muted and subtle
Weighing in at a hefty 451g, the headphones are noticeably heavier than other over-ear headphones I’ve worn
Upon putting on the headphones, I was immediately struck by how heavy they are.
Weighing in at a hefty 451g, the headphones are noticeably heavier than other over-ear headphones I’ve worn.
For example, Apple’s AirPods Max weigh 385g, while the Beats Studio Pro are just 260g.
If you usually only wear your headphones for short periods of time, this likely won’t be a huge issue.
However, if, like me, you tend to wear your headphones for hours at a time, they could start to hurt the top of your head.
What’s more, even when you’re not wearing them they’re pretty heavy to lug around, and aren’t the kind of thing you could just pop in your bag without thinking twice about.
Despite their weight, the cushions on the ears are soft and comfortable, so at least your ears will be ok, even if the top of your head is aching!
The headphones were fairly straightforward to set up.
A leaflet in the box prompted me to download the MyDyson app on my smartphone, from where I could quickly pair my headphones and begin using them.
Where these headphones really come into their own is the audio quality. Whether it was a podcast, a deep drum and bass track, or simply during a call, the sound quality was undeniably incredible, while the noise cancellation also lives up to its ‘best-in-class’ reputation
The headphones come in four colourways – aluminium, copper, cinnabar, and black nickel – with additional options for custom outer caps and cushions in various colours and finishes
Where these headphones really come into their own is the audio quality.
Whether it was a podcast, a deep drum and bass track, or simply during a call, the sound quality was undeniably incredible, while the noise cancellation also lives up to its ‘best-in-class’ reputation.
With a double tap on the side of the earcup, I was easily able to toggle between the two noise cancellation modes – Isolation Mode and Transparency Mode.
In Isolation Mode – the maximum level of noise cancellation – the noise coming from the busy office around me was immediately blocked out, making my music the only noise in my ears.
Meanwhile, when a colleague popped over to my desk, a second double tap on the earcup moved me straight over to Transparency Mode, bringing the environment around me back into focus.
If you already use noise cancelling headphones, this might sound familiar.
However, with noise cancelled a whopping 384,000 times every second, it’s safe to say that you’ve probably not experienced anything like the Dyson OnTrac!
Another major selling point is the battery life, with 55 hours of listening time on a single charge.
Over my one week of testing I only had to charge the headphones once – despite having active noise cancellation activated.
For comparison, Apple’s AirPods Max and Beats Studio Pro only have 20 hours of battery life when activate noise cancellation is used.
Overall, the Dyson OnTrac can easily compete with the headphones from the likes of Apple, Sony and Bose in terms of sound quality and battery life.
However, where I think Dyson might struggle is with the design of the headphones.
They’re simply too heavy to be practical, and the finishes will likely prove too gaudy for most users who prefer subtle designs.
When – or I should say, if – Dyson releases more discreet in-ear headphones, I’ll consider making the move!