What do they look like and what do they sound like? The Dyson brand has unveiled the latest headphones in its portfolio. Dyson OnTrac™ are for those who appreciate high quality and pay attention to every note of their favourite songs. I eagerly tested how worn on my ears they capture the alternative sounds in Björk’s productions and how they perform in other situations. Why Björk? Because I like her work, and the compositions she created are so expansive that only the best equipment can convey what the artist wanted to achieve.
Let’s start with the substance, though. The Dyson OnTrac™ headphones have been designed to allow you to easily change their appearance. The headphones are available in four basic colour options. They were designed by Jake Dyson and the brand’s design team. They have created versions that feature aluminium, copper and nickel treatments. There is also a variant with a ceramic finish. The manufacturer has supplied interchangeable caps and cushions to create more than 2,000 different combinations. The exterior overlays are available in satin titanium, ceramic blue, ceramic crimson, khaki, polished black nickel, polished copper and polished aluminium. The metallic overlays shimmer in the light, while the matt ones will appeal to fans of total minimalism (I’m on the latter team!).
The cushions are made of soft microfibre and high-quality foam. The earcups are available in powder pink, yellow chrome, Prussian blue and ruby crimson, among other colours. Wearing the headphones does not cause discomfort. I can confirm this after spending three hours on the train. They also offer great soundproofing, so I was able to ‘disconnect’ from noisy fellow passengers and focus on my computer work.
The wearing comfort is a credit to the designers and engineers. They moved the batteries to the armband. In this way, they balanced the centre of gravity and distributed the weight evenly throughout the design. The two batteries are small and light, weighing only 30 grams each, but provide more than 50 hours of listening. When discharged, they need only 10 minutes of charging to play sound for 2.5 hours.
The high quality of the sound heard is due in part to active noise cancellation. The headphones use eight microphones to monitor the sound outside. Combined with robust materials and a carefully designed geometry, they suppress up to 40 dB of noise. I use this feature when I need to focus on a task. The strong reduction of ambient sounds makes it easier to stay focused and the pleasant playlist creatively fuels. I have also appreciated this when listening to songs by the aforementioned Icelandic singer or when watching films.
The mission of sound engineering at Dyson is to maintain the integrity of the sound wave, free from distortion. We also wanted to create a set of headphones that users would value, get excited about and be proud of. With over 30 years of experience in the field of aeroacoustics, we have mastered the physics of sound. Through noise reduction in our anechoic chambers and the work of experienced engineers, we have used and extended our knowledge of sound to develop the Dyson OnTrac™ headphones. Our first audio-only, in-ear headphones deliver best-in-class active noise cancellation (ANC), exceptional sound quality and all-day comfort through unique materials, design and personalisation, says Jake Dyson, chief engineer.
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I will skip over technical issues such as neodymium transducers, the audio signal processing mechanism or the reproduced frequency range. You can find out about them by visiting the manufacturer’s website. The headphones reproduce both high and low tones very well. The sound can be taken care of using the MyDyson™ app. It gives you access to the equalizer function and allows you to change it quickly. With just a tap of your finger, you can boost the bass, change to a crisp or neutral mode.
The MyDyson™ app offers more possibilities. It allows you to track the sound in real time, monitor in-ear volume and external volume. The graph displayed in the app allows you to check whether the sound level is safe for your health.
The manufacturer is to be commended for the clarity of the sound during conversations. I was able to move around the flat without restraint and my interlocutor heard a clear voice. The headphones are equipped with two microphones that pick up the voice and relay it. The head detection function is also a strength of the device. When I took the headphones off, the music immediately stopped. Similarly, putting them back on caused the songs to continue playing. Equipping the right earphone with a joystick allows you to intuitively switch songs and change the volume. Such a physical button gives a sense of control.
Finally, here’s something else that captivated me. The Dyson OnTrac™ headphones are packaged in a dark grey case. It is very minimalist and thoughtfully designed. The case takes the form of a small box, the walls of which are connected by a rubber band. This is a clever solution, because when you take the headphones out, the thickness of the case shrinks to only about 2 cm. This saves a lot of space in your rucksack.
The headphones can be ordered from www.dyson.pl at a price of £2,299. I was asked to prepare this review by Dyson, but did not interfere with the published content.
source: press materials, editorial
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