On trial: Dyson OnTrac Wireless Over Ear Headphones

As anyone who’s spent an hour searching for an earbud in the back of the sofa can tell you, classic over-ear headphones were long overdue a revival. They have been steadily gaining popularity in recent years, and OnTrac marks Dyson’s biggest push into that domain, with four colourways that also boast customisable outer caps and ear cushions.

What you’ll notice first is the design: these are a world away from the flimsy, plasticky headphones that you might have grown up with. They have a satisfying heft, from the cushioned headband to the metallic outer caps – I chose the Copper colourway, which felt sleek but pleasingly retro. They play wirelessly, running from the Bluetooth in your device, meaning no getting tangled in messy cables.

The true calling card, though, is their noise-canceling capability: they really are remarkable at shutting off the outside world. And because of their generous ear cushions, the effect feels more ambient than with bud-style earphones, which can sometimes feel as though you’ve put in a pair of earplugs. 

They’re intelligent, too: after spending a couple of minutes downloading the MyDyson app, I synced it with the earphones and was told when my music levels were too loud. If, like me, you tend to play music at foghorn volume levels, it’s a smart and useful touch to help you be more mindful.

The OnTrac speakers are also compatible with your mobile phone, and have a built-in microphone – meaning it’s easy to switch to taking a call while using them (and saves you from panicked jabbing at your phone screen to disconnect your bluetooth when someone calls you). 

And one particularly slick touch are the sensors placed within the earcups, meaning that the music pauses whenever you take them off, and restarts when you replace them. 

Charging is straightforward, with a cable that connects to one of the ear covers: Dyson claims they’ll last for up to 55 hours, and after a full day’s use mine showed no signs of flagging.

If you’re a lifelong earbuds user, it might seem daunting to wear over-ear phones again. Rest assured: these will make you wonder why you ever stopped using them. They’re far more comfortable, far less likely to slip from your head, and (I think) produced a far more satisfying sound. I’m already counting down the days until the next time I take a flight, as these will be the perfect partner.

★★★★★