If your main concern for a pair of headphones is how well they filter air, Dyson’s OnTrac aren’t for you. In fact, the new over-ear headphones don’t filter air at all. That, if nothing else, marks a key departure from their spiritual predecessors, The areawhich have both fascinated and baffled the tech world with their combination of music playback and particle filtration.
The device was, in its own way, a logical extension of Dyson’s existing product offering, as a direct line could be drawn back to its home air filtration systems. For all the nuance that was thrown at the Zone, no one could argue that the product didn’t stand out – at the very least – from a sea of similar over-ear headphones.
“Dyson’s mission in audio engineering is to preserve the integrity of the artist’s sound wave, without interference,” said lead engineer Jacob Dyson, for whom the Zone seemed like a personal project. “We also wanted to create a headphone that people would enjoy, that they would be proud of. With over 30 years of experience in aeroacoustics, we understand the physics of sound.”
Given the years and money that went into creating the Zone, it makes sense that Dyson decided to dedicate their research and development work to a more standard headphone. After all, the Zone offered excellent audio quality, but it’s unlikely that many would have spent the $700 just to use it as a headphone, given the number of excellent choices available on the market.
OnTrac is cheaper, but at $500 it’s still very expensive compared to high-end offerings from Bose ($429), Sony ($399), Apple ($449), and even recent entrant Sonos ($449). Those last two in particular aren’t known for their low prices.
As for what you can get for $500, the 40mm OnTrac drivers range in frequency from 6 to 21,000 hertz, paired with active noise cancellation that can cancel out up to 40 dB of sound. Battery life, meanwhile, is rated at an impressive 55 hours with ANC enabled, which, if true, would be best-in-class and would allow you to take a few round-the-world flights.
The OnTracs retain a large, industrial design, in keeping with Dyson’s other offerings. They come in a variety of metallic finishes and different colors for the ear tips and ear cushions; these cost an additional $50.
