Dyson OnTrac headphones review: Robust headphones with a customizable look

The first Dyson The Zone (4/10, WIRED review), with its headphones and attachable air filters for cynical techno-futurists, was so silly and stupid that it was hard to take the company seriously. To be honest, Dyson’s vacuums and hair care products are very good, but many of their other products are poor, design-heavy gimmicks that quickly faded behind media hype. Sure, you could see a few “fanless” Dyson air movers and purifiers in upscale places after they were first released, but they never caught on as widely as the shiny plastic vacuums.

That said, I didn’t have high expectations for the new $499 Dyson OnTrac headphones. With everyone competing at the height of the noise-canceling headphone market, from established brands like Apple, Sony, and Bose to upstarts like Sonos, it was hard to imagine Dyson making a product that could compete with anything other than an extruded-plastic style. But after using a review unit for a few weeks, I think these are some of the best headphones on the market.

These are visually customizable over-ear headphones that offer great sound quality, impressive noise reduction, and a 55-hour battery life. Surprisingly, I like just about everything about this product.

To flatter

The new OnTrac headphones come in a big, impressive box, but the hard case that’s included to protect them when not in use leaves a lot to be desired. Like the case that comes with the AirPods Max (8/10, WIRED Recommended), the case that comes with the Dyson headphones is a slip-in design with holes in the bottom and top of the case that allow dust and other dirt to get in when you toss it in your bag. It does little to protect the headphones from bumps and scratches, and you’ll be in trouble if you drop all that stuff on them.

The headphones themselves look a bit like a Dyson vacuum cleaner: maximalist and plastic, and available in a variety of color options. The unit I reviewed was a flashy metallic copper color with navy blue accents, and you had the option to swap out the ear pads and ear cup caps for a different color. Given the price, I actually like the fact that they’re so easily replaceable, meaning you can replace them as they wear out.

Unlike more recent competitors like the Sonos Ace (8/10, WIRED Recommended), the earbuds are big and bulky, not sleek and lightweight—weighing in at 451 grams compared to the Ace’s 311 grams and the AirPods Max’s 385 grams. That said, the comfortable, padded headband and thick fabric ear pads create a tight seal around your ears, provide good passive noise isolation, and don’t feel heavy on your head.

Bells and whistles

When you want to turn the headphones on, you press a small physical button on the bottom of the right earcup until you hear a buzz and a small light flashes, indicating they’re in pairing mode. From there, you can control the headphones with a joystick on the right earcup (another homage to Apple’s AirPods Max) or touch the left earcup with your hand to switch between transparency and noise cancellation. This combination of touch and physical controls is perhaps the only annoying thing about the OnTrac. I often found myself accidentally touching the earcup and turning off the ANC while working in the yard. I wish there was a separate button on either side rather than controlling it by touch.