I remember that during the pandemic, the vacuum cleaner brand I had at home launched a pair of headphones that came with a built-in air purifier. Straight out of a Call of Duty Battlepass, the Dyson Zone resembled something in between Bane’s mask from the Dark Knight and Immortan Joe’s breathing apparatus from Mad Max. The fact that this device exists gave us a glimpse of the sign of the times during the pandemic years, where devices that measured air quality and air purifying gadgets were in top demand. And oh, the headphones were pretty good.
Fast forward to 2025, we’re back to a new normal – more “normal” than “new” I would say and Dyson, probably sitting on the R&D of the Zone, decided to just remove the purifier in favor of the headphones. I mean, it makes perfect sense as a lot of money has been put into this all-in-one pandemic device, and now it can properly transition and reposition as a true device for audiophiles. Presenting the Dyson Ontrac.
From the packaging alone, I knew this wasn’t your typical gadget. It screams “intricately Dyson” complete with a dessicant pack in the cable box (bonus: a Dyson branded fast-charge compatible USB cable), and a two-tier case for the actual headphone. The case itself is less practical than it is cool, as it forgoes typical zipper hard cases for an exterior cardboard case and a collapsible plastic case with stretchable fabric to hold both ends together. The second cardboard shell might be overkill, as I would have preferred a carrying case with a strap or handle, but this is a really minor issue that has absolutely no weight on the product itself.
A Dyson on your head
The Dyson Ontrac is on the heavier side of headphones, I would say more closely to the feel of a Steelseries Arctis 9. Though the weight is noticeable, it’s not inconvenient. There are people – like me – who prefer a hefty headphone so that we know it’s on our heads. I believe the reason for this is the huge batteries located on the upper left and right sides of the band – I thought these were cushions at first. Because of this design, the Ontrac presents itself as a great travel headphone with a rated 55 hours of playback time. If you’re a frequent traveler on long haul flights, this device will last the return trip on a single charge.
The Ontrac cans are also on the bigger side with the micro fiber cushions being rather comfortable on long listens. With my huge ears, the cushions don’t completely envelop my ears because they’re quite fluffy (I have no better way to describe it) and they don’t create a full seal that can cause long-term discomfort and heat buildup when listening for extended periods of time.
Speaking of the cans and cushions, these are user replaceable, which means you can buy new cushions in case they wear out. The outer aluminum covering of the cans depress a button when touched, allowing you to change settings on the fly without touching the app. Of note, the ear cup cover itself isn’t touch enabled, but it does depress a sensor on the headphone to enable noise cancelling mode, which means that sometimes you may have to tap it quite hard, a feature I dislike. I wish there was a separate button on the headphones to change this function, instead of on the cans as leaning your hand on the headphone cup may accidentally change settings.
That being said, the Ontrac sounds superb. The funny thing is that Dyson advertises the Ontrac to be able to pick up sounds well beyond the hearing capabilities of human beings. The average human being can hear between 20 to 20,000Hz of pitch, from the lowest bass to the highest screeches. Not every human being is capable of this, which means that if you are a true audiophile, Dyson is able to play frequencies between 6Hz to 21,000Hz, way beyond what the average human being can comprehend. If you’re a bat you probably will appreciate this more. Jokes aside, this really shows Dyson’s commitment to what I would like to believe to be the start of a full audio product line.
There’s an app for that
Like most tech products today, even headsets have apps. The Dyson Ontrac pairs via Bluetooth 5.0 which is decent for its offering. There is no 2.4GHz option via USB Tx so these headphones are considered “classic” music accessories as well as a fashion statement. The My Dyson app is essentially an upselling opportunity, allowing you to make accessory purchases for the Ontrac. The app allows you to fine tune equalizer settings for neutral, bass boost, and enhanced sounds as well as adjusting noise control (noise cancelling features). There is a hearing health feature that locks audio to stay below 80db for sensitive ears, and an auto detect feature that stops audio when you remove the headphones.
Who is this for?
The Dyson Ontrac may be overpriced for the average audiophile. At P32,900 there are so many other great options for listeners. However, the Ontrac fills a rather interesting niche of having an enormous 55 hour battery life and swears by this with its ultra-comfortable micro foam cushions. It also has that edgy branding of not being your typical Beats or JBL headphones so that may appeal to your vagabond lifestyle.
In the Philippines, the Dyson Ontrac sells for P32,900 with the USB cable and slimline case. Additional accessories such as the ear cups and micro foam will be available this September 2025 at the Dyson stores in SM Mall of Asia, One Bonifacio, Rustan’s Ayala Center Cebu, Podium, and Greenbelt 5.
