It's been a fascinating year for premium , with two new brands entering the fray. Dyson and Sonos have both flung their hats into this uber-competitive ring, but while both products have received a three-star review from us, the details aren't that simple. In fact, despite both being wireless, over-ear noise-cancelling models, the and the are two very different headphones in design and in use, and with very different USPs.
One has bold, colourful customisation options with a huge battery life; the other is minimal and subtle with a TV Swap feature for compatible soundbars in its ecosystem. Both these headphones' strengths and weaknesses are in completely different areas. Putting sound quality to one side (that's a whole different conversation), it's the practical, functionality and usability issues that have come under scrutiny in both reviews.
It's these areas in which both models needed to be near-perfect – or more well thought out and seamless – to not just square up against some of the best in the business, but to be truly worth the high asking price attached to these premium wireless cans. The Sonos Ace cost £449 / $449 / AU$699. The Dyson OnTrac cost £450 / $500 / AU$799.
That's an awful lot of money for a pair of wireless headphones, and not a lot of room for error. So why aren't they getting the basics right? That Dyson and Sonos have even decided to get into headphones is a brave endeavour, but starting at the premium end comes with punishingly high expectation.