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

[VSG]

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.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Space Lynx]

Sony making bad moves as usual lately. I bought those audeze gaming planars in like 2017 or whenever they came out, ton of hype around it all, they were garbage in sound, ended up refunding them. audeze is overrated imo

 

[TheLostSwede]

That explains their new PS5 headsets.

 

[VSG]

Sony making bad moves as usual lately. I bought those audeze gaming planars in like 2017 or whenever they came out, ton of hype around it all, they were garbage in sound, ended up refunding them. audeze is overrated imo

Yeah but that's 6+ years ago. I heard the Audeze Maxwell this past weekend and it's so good.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

That explains their new PS5 headsets.

I was going to comment on your article yesterday they must be using Audeze as an OEM nah they just outright bought them instead.

Yeah but that's 6+ years ago. I heard the Audeze Maxwell this past weekend and it's so good.

Also their Kingston branded wired headset is fantastic in my opinion.

HyperX Cloud Orbit S Review: the best gets cheaper

The HyperX Cloud Orbit S brings the Audeze Mobius' design to a cheaper price. Does it cut the right things to reach that?

www.soundguys.com

 

[Assimilator]

Audeze nutz?

 

[Deleted member 229121]

What in the heck did Audeze have that Sony wanted badly enough to do this?
They've been making headphones and lots of other audio equipment for a very long time.

 

[Space Lynx]

I was going to comment on your article yesterday they must be using Audeze as an OEM nah they just outright bought them instead.



Also their Kingston branded wired headset is fantastic in my opinion.

HyperX Cloud Orbit S Review: the best gets cheaper

The HyperX Cloud Orbit S brings the Audeze Mobius' design to a cheaper price. Does it cut the right things to reach that?

www.soundguys.com

yeah the mobius is the one i refunded. overrated hype junk

 

[oxrufiioxo]

yeah the mobius is the one i refunded. overrated hype junk

I don't really care for Bluetooth gaming headsets also my biggest issue with the Mobius vs the Kingston version was the fit the mobius I just briefly tried though and I think the break in period for the pads is longer the 3d head tracking which both have is useless though Back in 2019 when they where released I literally bought every flagship gaming headset and they were by far the best although I did keep 3 different headsets and gifted the rest. Astro A50s where by far the worst. I'll be tempted to do it again in 2024 almost every headset has been refreshed but I like using them for 6-8 weeks to make a decision so usually outside of return windows.

Honestly it was pretty fun testing out 8 different sets.... Although I mostly use my Sony WH XM5 which don't sound better but are much more convenient and comfortable for long sessions.


The 4 I use the most actually

 

[dyonoctis]

yeah the mobius is the one i refunded. overrated hype junk

What I've learned about headphones is that "critically acclaimed" doesn't mean it will please everyone, there's people out there who don't like the HD650. I don't that there's a single headphone out there that will be a win for every taste

 

[oxrufiioxo]

What I've learned about headphones is that "critically acclaimed" doesn't mean it will please everyone, there's people out there who don't like the HD650. I don't that there's a single headphone out there that will be a win for every taste

In my experiences buying a headset is similar to buying a mattress they don't all work for everyone I have buddies that will only use Astro headsets while I hate them for gaming.

 

[evernessince]

yeah the mobius is the one i refunded. overrated hype junk

When I demoed the mobius they were indeed pretty cheap feeling, uncomfortable, and had a bit of an odd sound signature but the detail retrieval and sound quality in general was pretty great. Better than most headsets at that price point plus they were wireless and support LDAC.

They might not have been for you but I wouldn't write off a company based on one set of cans. Audeze is pretty well regarded in the headphone world and Sony must see see a lot of value in them to make a purchase.

In my experiences buying a headset is similar to buying a mattress they don't all work for everyone I have buddies that will only use Astro headsets while I hate them for gaming.

Astro headsets tend to emphasize sound positioning and bass to ensure users can track footsteps. They are very narrowly focused on a specific group of people for sure.

That said more neutral headsets will typically appeal to a larger group of people. Kind of like how online mattress companies heavily favor a medium firmness mattress as it will accommodate a majority of people.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

Astro headsets tend to emphasize sound positioning and bass to ensure users can track footsteps. They are very narrowly focused on a specific group of people for sure.

That said more neutral headsets will typically appeal to a larger group of people. Kind of like how online mattress companies heavily favor a medium firmness mattress as it will accommodate a majority of people.

That's probably why I like to switch between 4 for different usage scenarios. I like the Mic on the Logitech, I like that the battery never dies on the steel series and their general tuning, I like the bass and general Soundstage on the Kingston, and I like the ease of use general comfort of the sony also that it connects directly to my LG G2 with above average sound quality and amps outside voices so that I can easily hear my son while I'm watching videos, listening to music etc.

 

[trsttte]

What in the heck did Audeze have that Sony wanted badly enough to do this?

I don't think it has anything in particular, to me it looks like a move by Sony to expand that business area that can be pretty lucrative because gaming stuff has pretty sweet margins. What surprises me is the company that's buying Audeze being Sony Interactive Entertainment - the playstation side of the business - and not just regular Sony that is already a pretty big player in consumer and professional headphones

 

[enb141]

I don't think it has anything in particular, to me it looks like a move by Sony to expand that business area that can be pretty lucrative because gaming stuff has pretty sweet margins. What surprises me is the company that's buying Audeze being Sony Interactive Entertainment - the playstation side of the business - and not just regular Sony that is already a pretty big player in consumer and professional headphones

Yep, why they want a multi purpose (each version has its purpose/user) headphone business, if Audeze were making gaming headsets, makes sense, but they don't only offer gaming headsets, they also make music specific and studio headphones.

Their gaming headphones is probably the worse and cheaper of their line.

 

[ZoneDymo]

and the capitalist machine keeps roaring on, devouring everything in its path.

 

[evernessince]

and the capitalist machine keeps roaring on, devouring everything in its path.

Certainly further consolidation is not to the benefit of consumers. The more leverage mega-corps have, the less power consumers have.

 

[G777]

What in the heck did Audeze have that Sony wanted badly enough to do this?
They've been making headphones and lots of other audio equipment for a very long time.

Probably their planar magnetic drivers (and everything that pertains to them).

 

[trsttte]

Certainly further consolidation is not to the benefit of consumers. The more leverage mega-corps have, the less power consumers have.

Let me play devils advocate here, there's still a ton of companies doing headphones that cater to every different use and price range, giving Audeze the resources of Sony can improve the reach and affordability of higher quality headphones.

 

[cvaldes]

Sony's acquisition of Audeze is best for Sony shareholders. Industry consolidation is very rarely favorable for consumers. This is not exclusive to PC components or even consumer electronics. This is pretty much the case for any industry operating in a free market economy.

The best outcome would probably be some Audeze engineers fleeing to start another audio company.

Silicon Valley was built on Davids thinking they could do a better job than Goliathes. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if Audeze was formed similarly.

Hopefully Audeze employees made some money from this deal.

 

[evernessince]

Let me play devils advocate here, there's still a ton of companies doing headphones that cater to every different use and price range, giving Audeze the resources of Sony can improve the reach and affordability of higher quality headphones.

Devil's advocate is accurate here, given what kind of company Sony is and what they have done in the past.

You really are assuming best case scenario, which is extra-ordinarily unlikely. Sony could be buying them just to lock up their engineers much like what Apple does.

It's extremely unlikely that Audeze will get the resources of the entire company as well. People often assume that being bought by a big company means you can access all their resources but that's not how it works. At the end of the day Audeze becomes just another acquisition who's budget and choices are now decided by a mountain of corporate bureaucracy and who's choices will now be shaped based on what makes share-holders money.

Yes there are plenty of other companies in the space but that doesn't detract from fact that a company who has enormous leverage in the music space is now gaining a large chunk of a vertical industry of which they already own significant pieces in. That is without a doubt not good for the industry at large. At a time when we are seeing more and more markets with less and less competitors, Sony eating up a significant market player in Audeze does not assuage any fears that we are seeing further consolidation of power in the hands of the few.

 

[Chaitanya]

Less and less options for consumers.

 

[JustBenching]

yeah the mobius is the one i refunded. overrated hype junk

The mobius are in fact one of the best closed back headsets at their price point. There are some better out there for sure, but they are definitely not junk. Maybe you just don't like the metallic sound of planar magnetics.

 

[GreiverBlade]

oh, well i hope it will not impact Audeze "collab" ... like with Edifier and the Stax Spirit S3

or even worse ... the brand disapear and only Sony remain ...

The mobius are in fact one of the best closed back headsets at their price point. There are some better out there for sure, but they are definitely not junk. Maybe you just don't like the metallic sound of planar magnetics.

the Mobius was one i tested before going for Edifier's offering.

 

[Veseleil]

Expect bunch of cheap planars under Audeze brand soon enough. HiFiMan established a trend, and big boys want a piece of that cake. Also, a lot of cheap gaming headsets incoming. Higher end of both will include a heavy Sony brand taxes.