The new Dyson OnTrac headphones are the latest must-have fashion accessory

If we’re being honest, the audio market is saturated with amazing noise-cancelling headphones, so when Dyson invited us to experience the latest Dyson OnTrac, we were skeptical about what they could offer that would differentiate themselves from the competition. Then we remembered that James Dyson and his team are well-known for overengineering, from their insanely small V9 digital motors for the Dyson Supersonic to hair clips (yes, hair clips).

Before we knew it, we were whisked off to the Dyson Acoustics Lab, which we can only describe as being so quiet, you can hear your thoughts. On the engineering front, the Acoustics Lab was created to accurately measure sound readings and was first established to measure the noise levels that came from their vacuum cleaners, air multipliers, and hair dryers. It played a different role when developing OnTrac, as it was able to measure its noise-cancellation prowess. A mannequin with microphones embedded where the ears are is able to accurately measure the amount of noise that the OnTrac is able to block out—both passive attenuation (where the ear cushions block out noise physically) and active noise cancellation (where eight built-in microphones within the headphones analyse the ambient noise 384,000 times per second and produce the opposite reversed sound waves to neutralise surrounding noise).

But noise-cancellation capabilities make up just half the equation for a good pair of headphones. What about the sound quality? The whole idea is to deliver crisp and clear audio, exactly as the musician intended, through its 40mm, 16-ohm neodymium speaker drivers that cover an impressive frequency range from 6 Hertz to 21,000 Hertz.

Weighing precisely 451 grams, the Dyson OnTrac is surprisingly comfortable to wear. The cushions on the band feel like memory foam and have been certified by US Ergonomics for all-day wear. The ear cushions, crafted from ultra-soft microfiber and high-grade foam, offer a superior acoustic seal while relieving ear pressure. Multi-pivot gimbal arms ensure a perfect fit for various head shapes and sizes, providing a snug yet comfortable experience—and that’s coming from someone with an unusually small head.

Then comes the exciting part.

What truly sets the Dyson OnTrac™ apart is its customisation potential. Available in four elegant colourways–CNC Aluminium, Copper, Nickel, and Ceramic Cinnabar–these headphones can be as discreet or loud as you want them.

Besides the base colourways for the headphones, there are a total of seven colourways each for the ear cushions and outer caps, giving you over 2,000 colour permutations that can be tailored to match any outfit. During our hands-on time with the OnTrac, we went from favouring the very understated CNC Black Nickel, a gunmetal finish band with matching ear cushions and outer cap, to what we called “absolute chaos” with mismatched caps and cushions that Piet Mondrian would be proud of.

The Dyson OnTrac also comes with a host of intelligent features. Capacitive sensors pause the audio when the earcups are removed and resume playback when they are replaced. An intuitive joystick provides easy control over play, pause, skip, and voice commands. Dual beam-forming microphones ensure crystal-clear call quality by isolating the user’s voice from background noise. Additionally, real-time sound tracking, managed through the MyDyson App, continuously monitors audio levels, offering live feedback on potentially harmful volumes. Through the app, users are also able to choose between three custom EQ modes: Bass Boost, Neutral, and Enhanced.

The Dyson OnTrac headphones will be officially launched in Singapore between September and October, at a retail price of $699.

This article was originally published in Harper’s Bazaar Singapore.