Audeze

What Audeze does

Audeze is a premium audio hardware manufacturer founded around 2008-2009 in Santa Ana, California, specializing in planar magnetic and electrostatic headphone technology. The company designs, engineers, and manufactures its products at a single Southern California facility that produces over 4 million drivers annually, including handcrafted wood rings and in-house carbon nanotube films for electrostatic drivers. Its proprietary technology stack centers on SLAM (Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator) acoustic technology, Fluxor magnet arrays, Uniforce diaphragms, and Fazor waveguides, with SLAM developed by CTO Dragoslav Colich.

The product portfolio spans three segments: Audiophile (LCD-5s, CRBN2, LCD-3, LCD-2, LCD-2 Classic; $799-$5,995), Professional Audio (MM-520, MM-100, LCD-X, LCD-XC, LCD-MX4, LCD-S20; $299-$2,995), and Gaming (Maxwell 2, LCD-GX; $329-$899). The company also sells the FILTER AI-powered Bluetooth speakerphone ($99-$249) and the ReSkin customizable earcup accessories ($39.99-$59.99). Customers include professional recording and mastering engineers, audiophile enthusiasts, and competitive gamers, with co-development partnerships with Grammy-winning engineers Manny Marroquin and artists such as Julian Lage.

Audeze generates revenue primarily through one-time hardware sales via direct-to-consumer e-commerce (audeze.com), a global authorized dealer network, and regional distributors across North America, Europe, Pacific Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East/Africa. Following its 2023 acquisition by Sony Interactive Entertainment, the company continues independent product development under the PlayStation umbrella while gaining access to console-ecosystem retail and platform integrations. Supplementary revenue includes subscription-style software (Audeze Hub, Reveal+ plugin) and recurring accessory sales. The company has earned 100+ industry awards, including TIME Best Inventions 2022 for FILTER.

Name

Audeze

Legal name

Audeze LLC

Website

https://www.audeze.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Audeze is a California-based premium audio hardware manufacturer producing planar magnetic and electrostatic headphones for audiophiles, professional recording engineers, and gamers, sold direct-to-consumer and through global dealers since its 2008 founding, and operating as a Sony Interactive Entertainment subsidiary since 2023.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Headphones & Audio Equipment

NAICS

Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (334310)

SIC

Household Audio & Video Equipment (3651), Retail-Radio, Tv & Consumer Electronics Stores (5731)

akta.pro primary industry

Wired Headphones & Earphones (CRACANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wireless Headphones (Over‑Ear & On‑Ear) (CRACANAB), Studio / Pro Monitoring Headphones & Reference Speakers (CRACANAK), Headphones & Personal Audio Retail (Earbuds, ANC, DACs) (CRACAEAG), Audio Accessories (Ear Tips, Cables, Stands, Cases, Transmitters) (CRACANAM)

Keywords

• Planar magnetic headphones
• Audiophile headphones
• Professional studio headphones
• Gaming headsets
• Electrostatic headphones

Headquarters

HQ city

California City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Headphone Sales: Audeze generates primary revenue through selling premium headphones across three categories: Audiophile (LCD-5s, LCD-3, LCD-2, LCD-2 Classic, CRBN2), Professional (MM-520, MM-100, LCD-X, LCD-XC, LCD-MX4, LCD-S20), and Gaming (Maxwell 2, LCD-GX). Products range from $299 to $5,995.
2. Accessories and Customization: Revenue from accessories including ReSkin customizable earcup covers ($39.99-$59.99), cables, earpads, cases, and other replacement parts. ReSkin program offers limited edition designs with collaboration releases.
3. Consumer Electronics: FILTER Bluetooth speakerphone and related software/app revenue from AI-powered conference speaker product.
4. Software: Audeze Hub software and Reveal+ plugin for personalized audio optimization. Bundles available with headphone purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Audeze designs, manufactures, and sells premium planar magnetic and electrostatic headphones for audiophile, professional audio (recording, mixing, mastering), and gaming use. Its product range spans entry-level professional headphones (MM-100 at $299) through flagship audiophile models (LCD-5s at $4,500 and CRBN2 at $5,995), plus the FILTER AI-powered conference speakerphone, gaming headsets (Maxwell 2, LCD-GX), ReSkin customizable earcup covers, and companion Audeze Hub / Reveal+ software.

Product overview

Audeze is a premium headphone manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of planar magnetic and electrostatic headphones across three main categories: Audiophile (LCD-5s, CRBN2, LCD-3, LCD-2, LCD-2 Classic), Professional Audio (MM-520, MM-100, LCD-X, LCD-XC, LCD-MX4, LCD-S20), and Gaming (Maxwell 2, LCD-GX). The company also produces the FILTER AI-powered speakerphone and ReSkin customization accessories. All products leverage Audeze's proprietary technologies including SLAM (Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator), Fluxor magnets, Uniforce diaphragms, and Fazor waveguides. The flagship LCD-5s represents the pinnacle of planar magnetic technology, while the CRBN2 showcases second-generation electrostatic innovation. The Maxwell 2 gaming headset brings audiophile-quality sound to gaming with advanced wireless connectivity and AI noise cancellation. Founded in California and owned by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Audeze manufactures over 4 million drivers per year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ReSkin: Customizable replaceable earcup cover system for Maxwell 2 gaming headset, featuring limited edition designs and collaborations
• FILTER
• HECATE

Products and services

• Maxwell 2 Wireless Gaming Headset Premium wireless gaming headset with 90mm planar magnetic drivers, SLAM bass enhancement, 80+ hour battery life, and AI-powered FILTER noise removal; available in PlayStation and Xbox versions with platform-specific spatial audio support.
• LCD-GX Audiophile Gaming Headset Open-back audiophile gaming headset with Fluxor magnets, Uniforce diaphragms, 106mm drivers, and a detachable boom microphone for gaming, monitoring, mixing, and editing.
• MM-520 Open-Back Professional Headphones Open-back professional headphones co-developed with Manny Marroquin featuring patent-pending SLAM acoustic technology, 90mm planar magnetic drivers, magnetic earpad attachment, and improved bass definition and midrange precision.
• MM-100 Professional Headphones Entry-level professional headphones with a lightweight magnesium and steel chassis, designed in collaboration with Manny Marroquin for production-grade accuracy and studio-trusted sound; 20Hz–25kHz frequency response.
• LCD-X Open-Back Professional Reference Headphones Audeze's best-selling professional reference headphone with open-back design, Uniforce diaphragms, and Fazor waveguides, valued by recording and mastering engineers for transparency, low distortion, and reliable mix translation; compatible with Reveal+ plugin.
• LCD-XC Closed-Back Professional Headphones Closed-back professional studio headphones sharing drivers with the LCD-X, designed for isolation during tracking and preventing microphone bleed in recording environments; compatible with Reveal+.
• LCD-MX4 Reference Headphones Audeze's most precise and efficient professional headphones, featuring a Double Fluxor magnet array achieving 1.5 Tesla flux density, a lightweight magnesium chassis, and 105dB sensitivity for long mixing sessions.
• LCD-S20 Closed-Back Professional Headphones Closed-back planar magnetic headphones with SLAM technology, acoustic dampening for passive noise reduction, magnetic earpad attachment, and dynamics tuned for tracking and recording applications.
• LCD-5s Flagship Planar Magnetic Headphones Audeze's flagship planar magnetic headphones featuring SLAM technology for enhanced bass authority, a nano-scale Parallel Uniforce diaphragm, carbon fiber and magnesium construction, and a 5Hz–50kHz frequency response.
• CRBN2 Electrostatic Headphones Second-generation electrostatic headphones with in-house carbon nanotube driver film and SLAM acoustic modulator, providing the most powerful bass of any electrostatic headphone with holographic spatial imaging; designed for audiophile use with 580-volt bias electrostatic amplifiers.
• LCD-3 Audiophile Headphones Flagship audiophile planar magnetic headphones with 110-ohm impedance, zebrawood rings, and a warm, musical sound with engaging midrange and extended high end.
• LCD-2 Audiophile Headphones Classic Audeze planar magnetic headphones featuring Fazor waveguides, tuned for warm tonal balance with deep, punchy bass and rich tonality; Padauk wood rings.
• LCD-2 Classic Audiophile Headphones The most affordable LCD-series headphone, delivering relaxed, full, spacious sound with an offset magnet array and glass-infused nylon rings for reduced weight.
• FILTER Bluetooth Speakerphone Portable Bluetooth conference speakerphone with AI-based noise reduction trained on 500,000+ samples, beamforming microphone array, and a planar magnetic speaker optimized for voice clarity across Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, Google Meet, Slack, FaceTime, Skype, and Discord.
• ReSkin Customizable Earcup Covers Customizable magnetic earcup cover system for the Maxwell 2 gaming headset featuring limited-edition designs and upcoming game-studio and artisan collaborations.
• Reveal+ Personal Sound Plugin AI-powered personal sound mapping software that creates customized hearing profiles for optimal audio playback across Audeze reference headphones, bundled with compatible headphone purchases.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4 million drivers manufactured annually at Southern California facility
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

AI capability4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Manny MarroquincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner18-time Grammy-winning producer/engineer Manny Marroquin collaborates with Audeze on the MM Series professional headphones. His studio expertise informs product design, tuning, and feature development for the MM-500, MM-520, and MM-100.
• Mix MagazineminorOthersIndustry publication recognizes LCD-X as trusted reference headphone for audio professionals.
• UCLA School of MedicineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudeze collaborated with UCLA School of Medicine researchers to develop headphones for MRI machines, leading to the carbon nanotube electrostatic driver technology used in CRBN products.
• Dolby (Dolby Atmos)coreTechnology or IntegrationMaxwell 2 supports Dolby Atmos spatial audio (Xbox version free license, Windows via Dolby Access app). PlayStation version supports Tempest 3D audio.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hifiman: Hifiman is a direct competitor in the premium planar magnetic headphone category, offering similarly priced audiophile and reference headphones (e.g., Sundara, Susvara) targeting the same high-end listening audience as Audeze's LCD and CRBN lines.
• Focal (Focal-Naim): Focal's Utopia, Stellia, and Clear Mg headphones target the same ultra-premium audiophile buyer as Audeze's LCD-5s and CRBN2, with comparable price points and reference-grade positioning.
• Beyerdynamic: Beyerdynamic's DT 900 Pro X, T1, and Amiron lines are benchmark professional/studio and audiophile headphones that compete with Audeze's MM-series and LCD-X family for the same professional engineer and audiophile customers.
• Dan Clark Audio: Dan Clark Audio (formerly MrSpeakers) is a specialist planar magnetic headphone maker whose Stealth, E3, and Corina models target the same TOTL audiophile segment as Audeze's LCD-5s and CRBN2, with strong overlap in enthusiast review channels.
• Shure: Shure's SRH and KSE lines (including the KSE1500 electrostatic) compete with Audeze's professional and audiophile offerings for the same studio engineer and audiophile customer base, with overlapping price tiers.
• Logitech G (ASTRO/Logitech): Logitech's ASTRO and PRO gaming headset lines are mainstream gaming competitors to Audeze's Maxwell 2 and LCD-GX, addressing the same gamer customer with a focus on console ecosystems including PlayStation — where Audeze also has privileged access via SIE ownership.

Broad incumbents

• Sennheiser: Sennheiser is a large incumbent audio company whose HD 600/650/800 series and IE/HD professional lines compete directly with Audeze in studio and audiophile headphones, though Sennheiser's portfolio extends across microphones, aviation, and broad consumer audio.
• Sony (parent and audio division): Sony owns Audeze (via SIE) and also markets premium headphones (MDR-Z1R, INZONE, WH-1000XM) that compete at various price tiers with Audeze products, while providing distribution, manufacturing scale, and brand backing.
• Bose: Bose is a broad incumbent in consumer audio (QuietComfort, 700, QC Ultra) that, while positioned more on mainstream wireless/ANC, competes with Audeze at adjacent consumer price points and through global retail distribution Audeze relies on.
• Apple: Apple's AirPods Max and spatial audio ecosystem compete with Audeze's premium consumer and gaming audio experiences at adjacent premium price points, while Apple's Beats and HomePod lines shape the broader smart-audio category Audeze would need to navigate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Audeze
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AudezeHQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/AudezeLLC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/audeze
• Instagraminstagram.com/audeze_official
• TikToktiktok.com/@audeze_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Audeze