Sonarworks

What Sonarworks does

Sonarworks is a Latvia-based audio technology company founded in 2012 that builds machine-learning-driven sound calibration and personalization software. Its core technology, SoundID, corrects the frequency response of speakers and headphones to deliver flat reference sound for audio professionals and applies personalized hearing profiles — derived from A/B preference tests and head/ear HRTF scanning — for consumer audio. The product portfolio spans SoundID Reference (speaker and headphone calibration for mixing/mastering), SoundID VM PRO (room-cloning/virtual monitoring), SoundID VoiceAI (AI vocal transformation plugin for DAWs), SoundID Personalization (consumer mobile app), and SoundID Tools (Dolby Atmos personalization app developed with Dolby). SoundID is also embedded at the firmware level in Universal Audio Apollo interfaces and ADAM Audio speakers, and licensed via OEM/SDK to consumer-electronics manufacturers including 1MORE, Monoprice, and Drop/THX.

The business operates a multi-stream revenue model: perpetual software licenses (e.g., $99 headphone-only, $299 with microphone), freemium-with-paid-packs for VoiceAI, hardware sales (calibrated microphones, pre-calibrated headphones), and OEM technology licensing. Go-to-market combines product-led growth (21-day SoundID Reference trial, freemium VoiceAI, educational discounts up to 50%), a global network of 2,600+ authorized resellers across 60+ countries, and direct OEM/enterprise sales for technology licensing. Sonarworks reports its technology is used by close to 100 Grammy-winning creators and more than 300,000 studios worldwide, with a calibration library covering 500+ headphone models and multichannel support up to 9.1.6 Atmos. The company is privately held, venture-backed (cumulative disclosed funding ~$13.8M across rounds led by Almaz Capital, Karma Ventures, and others), and headquartered in Riga, Latvia, with approximately 51–100 employees.

Name

Sonarworks

Legal name

Sonarworks Inc.

Website

https://sonarworks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sonarworks is a Latvia-based audio technology company building SoundID ML-powered speaker/headphone calibration and personalization software for audio professionals and consumer-electronics OEMs, serving 300,000+ studios and licensing via 2,600+ resellers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audio Production Software

NAICS

Sound Recording Industries (5122), Other Sound Recording Industries (512290), Sound Recording Studios (512240), Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431)

SIC

Household Audio & Video Equipment (3651)

akta.pro primary industry

Immersive/Spatial Audio Production (Dolby Atmos, 5.1/7.1, Binaural) (MPAHAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

On-Device Speech & Audio AI (wake word, ASR, enhancement) (HDAAAJAF), Studio / Pro Monitoring Headphones & Reference Speakers (CRACANAK), Microphones, Headsets & Audio Input Devices (HDACAFAH), Speech Enhancement & Noise Suppression (AEC/NR) (HDAAAFAG)

Keywords

• Audio calibration software
• Headphone calibration
• AI vocal processing
• Sound personalization
• Studio reference tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Riga

HQ country

Latvia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses: Sonarworks sells software licenses for SoundID Reference (speaker and headphone calibration) and SoundID VoiceAI (AI vocal processing). Software is sold as perpetual licenses with optional upgrades, and educational discounts are available.
2. Hardware Sales: Sale of calibrated measurement microphones, individually calibrated headphones, and audio interfaces with embedded SoundID technology through the Sonarworks store.
3. Technology Licensing: Sonarworks licenses its SoundID technology to consumer electronics manufacturers (OEMs) for embedding in headphones, earbuds, tablets, and other audio devices. This includes access to the SoundID SDK for iOS and Android integration.
4. Freemium/Voice Packs: SoundID VoiceAI operates with a freemium model offering unlimited access to basic features, with premium voice packs and expansion packs (e.g., Korean Voices Expansion Pack) available for purchase.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sonarworks develops and sells SoundID audio calibration and personalization software, primarily SoundID Reference for speaker and headphone calibration, SoundID VoiceAI as an AI vocal transformation plugin, SoundID VM PRO for virtual room monitoring, and SoundID Personalization/Tools mobile apps for consumers. It also licenses its SoundID SDK to OEMs for embedding in consumer audio devices and offers calibrated measurement microphones and individually calibrated headphones as hardware accessories.

Product overview

Sonarworks offers a unified platform of audio calibration and personalization products. The core product, SoundID Reference, provides speaker and headphone calibration for professional studios. This is complemented by SoundID VM PRO for room cloning/virtual monitoring, SoundID VoiceAI for AI-powered vocal transformation, and SoundID Tools for Dolby Atmos personalization. For consumers, SoundID Personalization app delivers personalized sound profiles to end users. The SoundID SDK enables hardware manufacturers to license the technology for integration into consumer devices. The portfolio spans professional audio production tools, AI-powered creative plugins, and OEM licensing for consumer electronics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SoundID Reference: Industry-leading speaker and headphone calibration software for audio professionals.
• SoundID VM PRO
• SoundID VoiceAI
• SoundID
• SoundID Tools

Products and services

• SoundID Reference Industry-leading speaker and headphone calibration software that delivers accurate studio reference sound by calibrating speakers through measurement and headphones using pre-made profiles for over 500 headphone models, ensuring mixes translate consistently across playback systems. Sold as a perpetual license ($99 headphones-only, $299 full studio with microphone) with educational discounts.
• SoundID VM PRO Room cloning technology that creates realistic binaural simulations of calibrated studio environments on headphones, using personalized HRTF measurement to replicate speaker sound through headphones, allowing producers to take their reference environment anywhere. Sold as an add-on to SoundID Reference for professional audio creators.
• SoundID VoiceAI Studio-grade AI vocal transformation plugin for digital audio workstations that enables professional vocal transformation including voice changing, gender modification, emotional shifting, vocal cleanup, and real-time harmonization with over 50 voice presets. Operates on a freemium model with paid voice packs and expansion packs.
• SoundID Personalization App Mobile app for consumers that creates personalized sound profiles based on individual hearing preferences through A/B testing, optimizing audio output on headphones and devices for personalized listening. Available on iOS App Store and Google Play.
• SoundID Tools Mobile app developed with Dolby that enables personalized Dolby Atmos headphone monitoring for creators, using phone camera to capture head and ear geometry for HRTF-based personalized spatial audio profiles. Free to download and use on iOS App Store and Google Play.
• SoundID SDK Cloud-based software development kit for iOS and Android that enables hardware manufacturers to integrate Sonarworks' personalized sound technology into consumer audio products such as headphones, earbuds, tablets, and speakers. Sold via direct B2B technology licensing to OEMs including 1MORE, Monoprice, and Drop/THX.
• Individually Calibrated Headphones Pre-calibrated headphones sold through the Sonarworks online store, bundled with SoundID calibration profiles so creators can achieve accurate monitoring without separate configuration.
• Calibrated Measurement Microphones Calibrated measurement microphones sold separately or bundled with SoundID Reference Studio Edition, used to measure room and speaker frequency response for applying calibration curves.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trusted by close to 100 Grammy-winning creators and more than 300,000 studios worldwide
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration16 records

AI capability9 records

Feature5 records

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• iZotope: US-based audio software company producing RX (audio repair), Ozone (mastering), and Neutron plugins used by the same music producer and audio engineer segments as SoundID Reference. Closest competitor in the professional audio plugin DAW market.
• Dirac Research: Swedish audio optimization company providing digital room and headphone correction technology licensed to OEMs in automotive, consumer audio, and pro audio. Most direct competitor to Sonarworks in the audio calibration/personalization OEM licensing space.
• IK Multimedia: Italian audio software and hardware company offering ARC (Advanced Room Correction) system and AmpliTube/T-RackS plugins. Direct competitor in room and speaker calibration for studios, sharing the same pro-audio and home-studio customer base.
• Waves Audio: Israel-based audio plugin manufacturer widely used in professional and home studios. Overlaps with Sonarworks in DAW-integrated audio processing, though Waves focuses on effects/EQ/compression rather than calibration.

Broad incumbents

• Audyssey: Acquired by Masimo, Audyssey provides room/speaker calibration technology embedded in AV receivers and consumer audio products. Larger incumbent in the speaker calibration category with broader consumer audio reach.
• Sonos: US consumer audio company offering Trueplay room calibration technology for its speakers. Broad incumbent providing calibration as part of an integrated consumer audio product ecosystem rather than as a licensable technology.
• HARMAN International: Samsung-owned audio conglomerate offering audio solutions including ARENA calibration for automotive and consumer audio OEM partnerships. Comparable as a broad incumbent in audio OEM licensing and personalization.
• Universal Audio: US audio hardware/software company (UAD Apollo interfaces, UAD plugins) that is both a Sonarworks OEM partner (Apollo Monitor Correction) and a broader competitor in the pro-audio interface and plugin market.
• Apple (Personalized Spatial Audio): Apple's Personalized Spatial Audio on AirPods uses ear-scanning for individualized HRTF profiles, functionally competing with Sonarworks' consumer personalization. Massive incumbent with vertically integrated hardware/software distribution.

Emerging players

• Embody: US startup focused on spatial audio and HRTF-based personalization for headphones and AR/VR. Overlaps with Sonarworks' personalized audio roadmap and competes in on-device spatial audio for consumer OEMs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sonarworks
• Facebookfacebook.com/SoundIDCreators
• Instagraminstagram.com/sonarworks
• TikToktiktok.com/@sonarworks.official
• Xx.com/sonar_works

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors13 records

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 Sonarworks