Dyson OnTrac Review: The Headphone That Competes on Customization, Not Sound
Dyson's serious audio play, revisited in 2026. The 'dress it up' design strategy is sharper than the early reviews gave it credit for.
When the Dyson OnTrac first dropped, I'll admit I rolled my eyes — memories of the air-purifier headphones were still fresh. But after living with it for a few weeks in 2026, I've come around. This is a vacuum-cleaner brand actually playing to its strengths, and choosing not to fight Sony and Bose on raw sound quality is the right call. Hear me out.
What it is: a swappable over-ear
OnTrac is an over-ear ANC wireless headphone, and its defining trick is that the ear cups and cushions detach by hand — no tools, no fuss. Dyson sells a wide catalog of first-party colors and finishes. Picture an Apple Watch band strategy, but for headphones.
Sound: comfortably mid-tier, never embarrassing
Bottom line: it clears the bar for its price class without ever pushing past it. Compared with the Sony WH-1000XM6 or the Bose QC Ultra II, the OnTrac lags slightly on low-end depth and treble resolution. But the tuning is flat-leaning and easy on the ears for long sessions, so it never becomes fatiguing.
ANC is more than enough in real life. The low rumble of a subway car is roughly 80 percent gone. Human voices still leak through, but that's true of every flagship in this category.
Fit: heavier than you'd like
Here's the real weakness. At roughly 450g, it's nearly twice the weight of a WH-1000XM6 (about 250g). The headband padding is generous, but after three or four hours your neck notices. This is a sit-down-at-home or anchored-at-the-desk headphone, not a commute champion.
Where it actually wins: dress-up + app
The swappable ear cups sound like a gimmick until you live with it. Changing the color to match your mood or your outfit turns the headphone into a continuing source of small joy — something almost no other appliance-grade product offers. Ownership satisfaction stays high months in.
The MyDyson app is also surprisingly polished. You get the standard EQ presets, but also a hearing-personalization test and a noise-exposure visualizer that tracks your daily dB exposure. The "data-loving vacuum company" DNA shows up everywhere.
Battery is a non-issue
Rated 55 hours, real-world easily 40+. Charge it on weekends and forget about it the rest of the week.
Who should buy it
- People who genuinely enjoy matching gear to outfits and mood
- Buyers who like the idea of keeping one set for years and refreshing the consumables
- Anyone for whom "good enough ANC" is good enough
If sound quality or weight tops your list, Sony or Bose will leave you happier.
FAQ
Q. OnTrac or Sony WH-1000XM6? A. Sony for sound and weight; Dyson for ownership pleasure and customization. Pricing is roughly equivalent, so the tiebreaker is fit — try them in a store.
Q. How is call quality? A. Solid enough that no one on a remote meeting has complained. Wind handling is average.
Q. Wired mode? A. Yes, via 3.5mm. Works active or passive.
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