#INTERVIEW: In Conversation with Alex Woodfield: Introducing Dyson OnTrac for a World-Class Sound Experience

Alex Woodfield, Audio Engineer, Dyson

In today’s tech-driven world, where sound quality can make or break our listening experience, Dyson has made yet another revolutionary leap with the launch of the Dyson OnTrac™ Headphones. Best known for its cutting edge innovations in vacuum cleaners, hair dryers, and air purifiers, Dyson has now ventured into the audio industry with its latest innovation, available for purchase in the UAE and KSA. Featuring best-in-class noise cancellation, these headphones offer up to 55 hours of immersive listening. L’Officiel Arabia explores Dyson's journey from household appliances to high-fidelity sound with Alex Woodfield, Audio Engineer at Dyson, who shares insights into the meticulous process and cutting-edge technology that make the Dyson OnTrac™ headphones a true marvel of engineering.

Delna Mistry: Dyson has earned a reputation for pushing boundaries in engineering. Tell us more about your culture of innovation, and how did this manifest in the design of the new Dyson OnTrac headphones?

Alex Woodfield: One thing about Dyson is that we are committed to learning, growing and perfecting, with problem-solving and a curiosity-driven mindset at the core of everything we do. When we launched the Dyson Zone last year, we entered the audio wearable space for the first time, and we received a lot of consumer feedback, which helped us to learn, innovate and make the Dyson OnTrac™ even better.

Our engineers leveraged our company’s expertise in acoustics and noise control to create headphones that offer an immersive, high-fidelity audio experience while maintaining the precision and attention to detail we are known for. From the materials used to the design of the earcups, everything was engineered to enhance sound clarity and deliver exceptional noise isolation and listening experience.

Dyson is known for its expertise in sound management. How has this shaped the development of the Dyson OnTrac™ headphones and its advanced noise-cancelling technology?

Over the years, we’ve perfected the art of managing sound – whether that’s reducing the noise of a vacuum cleaner’s motor or optimising airflow through our purifiers to operate quietly yet effectively. This understanding of acoustics directly influenced the development of our headphones, allowing us to achieve superior noise cancellation that blocks out unwanted external noise while preserving the purity of the audio experience.

The Dyson OnTrac™ features a custom active noise cancellation (ANC) algorithm, which uses eight microphones, sampling external sound 384,000 times a second. This combines with superior materials and carefully designed internal geometry to cancel up to 40 dB of unwanted noise.

And how does this enhance the listening experience?

Loud sounds are very effective at masking quieter sounds. Even in the most heavily compressed pop music, there are a lot of parts of the music that we will not be able to hear if we are listening in a noisy environment. We live in a world that is becoming increasingly noisy. The class-leading ANC on the Dyson OnTrac™ reduce this external noise so that you can hear every detail, just as the artist intended.

According to you, what makes the Dyson OnTrac headphones stand out from other headphones available in the market today?

Our Dyson OnTrac™ headphones stand out in the market due to a combination of cutting-edge features, designed to elevate the user experience beyond traditional expectations.

These include best-in-class noise cancellation with an enhanced sound range with frequency range of 6 Hz to 21 kHz, revealing hidden details in your audio. From deep sub-bass to sparkling high-end brilliance, the Dyson OnTrac™ headphones deliver a rich and dynamic sound experience, ensuring every note is heard as intended.

In addition, extended battery life of up to 55 hours of listening time on a single charge offers up to two weeks of use without needing to recharge. This allows you to enjoy continuous, uninterrupted audio, whether at home, work or on the go. Meanwhile, design customisation with interchangeable caps and cushions for a personal touch not only enhances the aesthetic but also provides superior comfort, making the headphones stylish and comfortable for long listening sessions.

What are the key elements you incorporate to ensure that the headphones remain comfortable for long-term use?

Naturally, the high-density foam ear cushions, which are wrapped in incredibly soft microfibre, provide a comfortable and high-performing acoustic seal. However, one of the main challenges was ensuring that the headphones housed all the advanced technology—like best-in-class noise cancellation and enhanced sound range— while balancing its weight. Packing powerful components into a compact design without making the headphones too heavy was a delicate balance to achieve. In particular, the two energy-dense lithium-ion battery cells, which provide up to 55 hours of listening time, are suspended on either side of the headband to balance the weight distribution over the head, without any pinch points.

Dyson is loved globally for reinventing and stylizing everyday products. How do you balance innovation without making the product too complicated for use?

Balancing innovation with proper user-experience is a key part of our design philosophy. This begins with understanding the customer’s needs and pain points. While we’re focused on developing groundbreaking technology, we ensure that the user experience remains intuitive. For example, the interface, controls and interactions of our products are designed to be simple and instinctive, even if the underlying technology is complex. You can see this with the simple, tactile joystick controls of the Dyson OnTrac™ for example.