If your top priority in buying a pair of headphones is how well they purify the air, Dyson’s latest OnTrac headphones might not be the right pick for you. Unlike, Dyson’s other headphones, the new headphones do not filter air.
This marks a key change in their spiritual predecessors, the Zone, which both fascinated and baffled the tech world with their combination of music play/particulate filtration. That device was, in its own peculiar way, a logical extension of Dyson’s existing product offerings, as a direct line could claim that the product didn’t, at the very, least, failed to stand apart in the much-crowded over-ear headphones.
Also Read: Apple Introduces A Black HomePod Mini Smart Speaker
Dyson Brings OnTrac Headphones At A Cheaper Price
“Dyson’s audio engineering mission is to preserve the integrity of the artist’s sound wave, free from interference,” said Chief Engineer Jacob Dyson, for whom the Zone appeared to be a pet project. “We also wanted to create a set of headphones that people would cherish, be excited by, and be proud of. With over 30 years of experience in aeroacoustics, we’ve mastered sound physics.”
Considering the years and capital put into the Zone’s creation, there seems to be logic in the company’s decision to turn its R&D work into a more standard set of headphones. After all, the Zone did offer excellent audio quality, but it’s unlikely many shelled out the $700 solely to use them as headphones with so many good alternatives on the market.
OnTrac comes at a cheaper price, though at $500, it’s still a huge premium over the top-end headphones from Bose ($429), Sony ($399), Apple ($449), and even the new entries like Sonon ($449).
Also Read: Google Is Planning To Acquire A Cloud Cybersecurity Startup
Dyson OnTrac Headphones Specifications
Speaking of what $500 will get you, the OnTrac comes packed with 40mm speaker drivers that range in frequency from 6 to 21,000 hertz, backed with active noise cancelation that can negate up to 40dB of sound.
Battery life, meanwhile, is listed at an impressive 55 hours with ANC turned on -- which would be best in class and would get users through a couple of around-the-world plane flights.
The latest Dyson headphones come with a large, industrial design in keeping with the company’s other offerings. They are available in a variety of different metal finishes and colorways for the ear caps and pads; those run another $50.
Also Read: Samsung To Launch Its First XR Headset In 2025
Meta Working On Headphones With Camera Powered By AI
Coming up with new tech in a much-crowded market seems like a big challenge, but now and then, a spawning fleet of products with new capabilities emerges. At least that has been the case in the last few years.
AI has been among those watershed moments, and now everyone wants a piece of it. Social media giant Meta seems to be jumping on the bandwagon with new wearables that will be powered by AI. A new report suggests the company has a new headphone in the works, which will come fitted with cameras and onboard AI.