Thursday, August 24th 2023

Sony Interactive Entertainment to Acquire Audeze, a Leader in Audio Technology and Developer of Award-winning Headphones for Gaming

Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC ("SIE") announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Audeze, a leading audio technology brand and pioneer of high-end gaming headphones. The acquisition will strengthen SIE's efforts to continue innovating when it comes to the audio experience of PlayStation games. Audeze will continue to operate independently and develop multi-platform products, while benefiting from being a part of the PlayStation ecosystem.

Based in Santa Ana, Calif., Audeze develops award-winning headphones for the professional audio, audiophile, and gaming markets. These headphones use Audeze's patented technologies and unique planar magnetic drivers to deliver an outstanding sound experience for consumers as well as recording professionals, including sound engineers at many game development studios. Audeze designs and manufactures its planar magnetic drivers and professional headphones in its California facility.
"Audeze is a premier brand for headphones, and this acquisition highlights Sony Interactive's focus on innovation and providing the best audio experience to PlayStation players," said Hideaki Nishino, Senior Vice President, Platform Experience at Sony Interactive Entertainment. "We're excited to bring Audeze's expertise into the PlayStation ecosystem, building on the great strides we've made with PlayStation 5's Tempest 3D AudioTech and the Pulse 3D wireless headset."

"Sony Interactive provides Audeze with a unique opportunity to scale our business, as we continue with our mission to deliver best-in-class headphones to recording professionals, audiophiles, and gamers," said Sankar Thiagasamudram, CEO at Audeze. "We're also looking forward to contributing to Sony Interactive's efforts to take PlayStation audio experiences to the next level."

Terms of this transaction, including the acquisition cost, are not disclosed due to contractual commitments.
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32 Comments on Sony Interactive Entertainment to Acquire Audeze, a Leader in Audio Technology and Developer of Award-winning Headphones for Gaming

#26
JustBenching
enb141Actually high end Sony Headphones are not so expensive in comparison with god tier headphones from hi fi headphone companies like Audeze and HiFiman, even Yamaha.

Sony's Flagship MDR-Z1R sells for about $1500, HiFi man susvara sells for $6000, Audeze flagship LCD-5 sells for 5,000.00, Yamaha's flagship YH-5000SE sells for $5000.00.
What if I told you susvara ain't their flagship. Shangri la is the high end and cost something like 50k$ :roll:

Im happily using my aryas currently, anything above 2k$ is an obscene amount of money for headphones
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#27
Veseleil
enb141Actually high end Sony Headphones are not so expensive in comparison with god tier headphones from hi fi headphone companies like Audeze and HiFiman, even Yamaha.

Sony's Flagship MDR-Z1R sells for about $1500, HiFi man susvara sells for $6000, Audeze flagship LCD-5 sells for 5,000.00, Yamaha's flagship YH-5000SE sells for $5000.00.
Because Sony doesn't have the planar horse to join the race. I'm sure they did this to get their hands on a planar tech, and solely for that purpose. It's not like they are beginners in the audio field. They figured it's much simpler, or one may say cheaper, than to develop from a scratch. Time will tell anyway.
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#28
enb141
fevgatosWhat if I told you susvara ain't their flagship. Shangri la is the high end and cost something like 50k$ :roll:

Im happily using my aryas currently, anything above 2k$ is an obscene amount of money for headphones
I was talking about planar, those obscene priced headphones are electrostatics, in which Sennheiser HE1 cost more than Shangri-La.

$2000, that's still insane, anything more than $1500 is insane :)
VeseleilBecause Sony doesn't have the planar horse to join the race. I'm sure they did this to get their hands on a planar tech, and solely for that purpose. It's not like they are beginners in the audio field. They figured it's much simpler, or one may say cheaper, than to develop from a scratch. Time will tell anyway.
Yes they do now, at least on PlayStation headphones and earbuds, the ones announced a few days ago use planar tech.
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#29
ToTTenTranz
So this pretty much confirms the Pulse Elite were co-developed with Audeze. There's not a whole lot of companies with the know how to do planar magnetic headsets.
If the Pulse Elite are close to the Maxwell in sound fidelity and soundstage, we're getting a massive price/performance winner.

This is quite the breadth of fresh air after the InZone series were kind of a letdown.
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#30
noel_fs
audeze is not quite the leader lol
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