Dyson's decision to move into the high-end audio space with its Zone and OnTrac headphones was a surprise initially. What do headphones and vacuum cleaners have in common anyway?
But Dyson is committed to the category, announcing a partnership with PORTER for a limited run of just 380 pairs of headphones as part of the collab.
The collaboration pairs Dyson's OnTrac headphones with a custom-designed PORTER shoulder bag, reflecting the fact that both companies are obsessed with quality, meticulous craftsmanship, and making products you'll actually want to keep for years.
PORTER, the Japanese bag brand from YOSHIDA & Co., is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. If you're not familiar with the brand, these are premium bags that are handcrafted by artisans in Japan with an attention to detail that borders on obsessive. Their motto is: "Heart and Soul into Every Stitch", which tells you everything you need to know about their approach.
What makes this collaboration special
The centrepiece of this collaboration is a custom shoulder bag that's been designed specifically to carry the OnTrac headphones.
It's not just a bag with a pocket for headphones, either. PORTER has created 77 intricately assembled parts, including a new headphone holder that sits on the outside of the bag, making your headphones easily accessible while keeping them secure.
The bag comes in a compact silhouette with a navy blue colourway, featuring PORTER's signature orange and khaki accents. According to Jake Dyson, Dyson's Chief Engineer, the colour scheme was inspired by current streetwear aesthetics and the OnTrac palette.
Each bag comes with what Dyson is calling an "OnTrac tech slice", which is a resin tag that encapsulates OnTrac components, materials and sketches. It's engraved with the unit's limited-edition number, which is a neat way to make each unit feel genuinely special rather than just slapping a number on the box.
The headphones themselves
If you're not familiar with the OnTrac headphones, they're Dyson's second crack at the premium headphone market after the Zone, which came with an air purifier attached (because, well, Dyson). The OnTrac drops the purifier and focuses purely on audio quality and noise cancellation.
For this PORTER edition, you're getting OnTrac headphones with CNC Black Nickel anodised caps that have been milled to an incredibly precise 0.8-1.6 micrometres. They feature a laser etching of PORTER's iconic tanuki (raccoon dog) mascot wearing OnTrac headphones.
The headphones themselves offer what Dyson claims is best-in-class noise cancellation, using eight microphones that sample external sound 384,000 times a second to cancel up to 40dB of unwanted noise. You're also getting up to 55 hours of battery life with ANC enabled, which should give you about two weeks of listening if you're using them for around three hours a day.
The sound quality specs are solid, offering 40 mm, 16-ohm neodymium drivers with a frequency response from 6 Hz to 21,000 Hz. That means you're getting deep sub-bass that you can actually feel, plus clear highs at the upper end of the frequency range.
Australian availability
Dyson hasn't specifically mentioned Australian pricing or availability for this limited edition in the press release, which is a shame. With only 380 units available globally, it's going to be competitive if they do make it to Australian shores.
The standard OnTrac headphones are available in Australia, though, with customisation options for caps and ear cushions in over 2,000 colour combinations. So if you miss out on the PORTER edition (and let's be honest, you will), you can still create something fairly unique with the standard model.
🛒 Where to buy Dyson
Available from these trusted retailers:
BTTR is independent, but we may earn money when you purchase through links on our site. This helps us cover costs and continue providing honest reviews. Find out why you should trust us.
