When Dyson launched the Zone in 2023-a hybrid air purifier and headphone with a mask-like front-it divided consumers. Despite groundbreaking tech, its futuristic look clashed with post-pandemic sensibilities. The product was discontinued.
Jake Dyson, chief engineer and son of founder Sir James Dyson, admitted the format failed to resonate. "People didn't adapt fast enough," he said. But the R&D wasn't wasted.
From the Zone’s noise-cancellation breakthroughs came the 2024 Dyson OnTrac: premium audio-only headphones designed to rival Sennheiser, Bowers & Wilkins, and Bose.
Engineered with real metal and machined aluminium, the OnTrac delivers high-fidelity sound via 40mm neodymium drivers and a custom ANC algorithm sampling noise 384,000 times per second. It cancels up to 40dB of ambient sound and offers a 55-hour battery life.
With a 13-degree speaker tilt, microfibre ear cushions, and weight-balanced headband, comfort is prioritized. Four base colors and over 2,000 customization options let users personalize their look.
A collaboration with Japanese brand Porter followed-limited to 380 sets-pairing OnTrac headphones in black nickel with a navy-orange shoulder bag featuring an exclusive headphone holder.
"We wanted to make them beautiful and make people proud to wear them," Jake said. The message is clear: Dyson remains committed to bold, design-led innovation.