Technology company Dyson has unveiled the OnTrac noise-cancelling headphones, the brand’s first-ever audio-only headphones.
Launched today, the OnTrac is designed to make an impact on the headphone market, similar to Dyson’s launch of the DC01 vacuum cleaner in 1993.
“At Dyson, we are driven by the opportunity to disrupt established categories,” Phil Douglas, chief industrial designer at Dyson, told Dezeen.
“The Dyson OnTrac is our first standalone headphone,” he continued. “So our main goal was to create a piece of technology that really serves its primary purpose well – to create a headphone that people want to listen to.”
Dyson has designed every part of the headphones to deliver the best possible sound quality while being comfortable for the wearer.
A thick headband housing dual lithium-ion batteries supports the over-ear earcups with thick padding, which are connected to gimbal arms with multiple pivot points.
“Take the ear cups for example. We have surprisingly large, padded ear cushions, wrapped in soft microfibers. These create an exceptionally comfortable and effective acoustic seal around the ear,” Douglas explains.
“The large ear cup tilts the speaker housing 13 degrees toward the ear, delivering an audio response you can really feel,” he continues.
“The headband is also particularly unique. The two high-capacity lithium-ion cells hang on either side of the head, inspired by the weight distribution of a horse saddle – to give you up to 55 hours of listening time without uncomfortable pressure points.”
Unlike most Dyson products, headphones are primarily used outdoors.
To emphasize this, the company wanted the OnTrac to follow the component-oriented design of its other products while being attractive and customizable.
“In typical Dyson style, the Dyson OnTrac design focuses on the component layout, creating an appealing visual balance while ensuring optimal acoustic performance,” said Douglas.
“The Dyson OnTrac is a particularly exciting launch for us because it’s one of the first times you’ve seen Dyson technology outdoors, being worn,” he added.
“In this way it can be seen as more than a functional piece of technology, but as an extension of self-expression.”
The ear cushions and caps of the headphones are removable and available in different colours and finishes. According to the brand, there are 2,000 possible colour combinations.
“Personalization was also a key design consideration, of course,” Douglas said. “Each cap and pillow combination is designed to look great, feel great in your hand, and wear great.”
Dyson hopes the headphones will combine acoustic quality, comfort and aesthetics.
“With headphones, comfort and acoustics go hand in hand,” says Douglas.
“Our ultimate goal was to produce headphones that not only offer superior sound quality, but also instill a sense of pride in owning them. This reflects our commitment to design excellence and the user experience,” he continued.
“That’s why we developed a variety of finishes in high-quality aluminum that convey a sense of craftsmanship, durability, and a premium feel. The CNC aluminum, copper, and nickel finishes are inspired by the CNC manufacturing process, while the ceramic cinnabar variant has a tactile, ceramic-like, painted finish.”
The development of the headphones follows the launch of the Dyson Zone two years ago, which combined an air filter with headphones.
“The first step in our journey from aeroacoustics to audio was taken two years ago with the launch of the Dyson Zone air purifying headphones,” explains Douglas.
“By designing a product with two super-fast motors in each ear cup, we had to develop a highly effective active noise cancellation system.”
Dyson, founded by inventor James Dyson, is known as the inventor of the bagless vacuum cleaner and has created modern versions of hair dryers, air purifiers and bladeless fans. The company recently revealed that it is developing home robots.
Photos courtesy of Dyson.