Nahimic
Nahimic (A-Volute) is a French audio software company founded in 2004 that licenses HRTF-based 3D sound technology to PC gaming OEMs — including MSI, ASUS, Dell, and Lenovo Legion — for pre-installation on tens of millions of devices, serving gamers and mainstream media consumers via Windows and Mac.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersLes Hauts-saint-jean, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Nahimic does
Nahimic (legally A-Volute SAS) is a private French audio software company headquartered in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France, founded in 2004 by Tuyen Pham and Ambroise Recht. Its core product is a proprietary 3D audio engine based on Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) signal processing that virtualizes multi-channel surround sound on standard stereo devices, supporting consumer gaming (Nahimic 3) and a broader Solutions portfolio covering computers, motherboards, headsets, speakers, VR, mobile, and business audio. The company maintains a proprietary database of thousands of audio devices that are analyzed and individually tuned to mitigate distortion during rendering, and it employs acoustic PhDs in a dedicated LAB for custom R&D.
Nahimic's primary go-to-market is OEM licensing: its software is embedded pre-installed on gaming hardware from MSI, ASUS, Dell, Gigabyte, EVGA, ASRock, Lenovo Legion, Haier, AORUS, Thunderobot, and Machenike, reaching tens of millions of devices and 12M+ end users. A secondary channel is direct-to-consumer software distribution via the Microsoft Store (Windows) and the Mac App (launched 2018). Revenue is generated predominantly through per-device licensing royalties from OEMs, with usage cited across personal computers, motherboards, headsets, and peripherals. Custom Projects through the LAB represent an additional co-development revenue path.
The company is founder-led and privately held, with no disclosed institutional control transactions. It has raised two disclosed funding rounds (~$1.86M from Paris Angels Capital in 2015; ~$2.23M from Nord France Amorcage and Paris Business Angels in 2017) and received recognition including Deloitte Technology Fast 50/500 (2017, 2011), the MSI Best Partner Award (2017), and the Oseo Worldwide Tech Leader Award (2009). Operations span three geographies: France (HQ and R&D), Taiwan (sales and customer support), and Singapore (engineering development).
Nahimic firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Nahimic
- Legal name
- A-VOLUTE
- Website
- https://nahimic.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Nahimic (A-Volute) is a French audio software company founded in 2004 that licenses HRTF-based 3D sound technology to PC gaming OEMs — including MSI, ASUS, Dell, and Lenovo Legion — for pre-installation on tens of millions of devices, serving gamers and mainstream media consumers via Windows and Mac.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Nahimic industry classification
Industry- Product category
- 3D Audio Software
- NAICS
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (3343)
- SIC
- Household Audio & Video Equipment (3651)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Gaming Headsets & Audio Accessories (HDACANAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Creator Tools & Production (Overlays, Alerts, Encoding, Editing, Audio) (MPAFAEAC)
Keywords
Where Nahimic is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Les Hauts-saint-jean
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Nahimic business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- OEM Licensing: Nahimic licenses its audio technology to OEM hardware manufacturers who pre-install the software on their products. Major partners include MSI (laptops, motherboards, desktops), ASUS, Dell, Gigabyte, EVGA, ASRock, Lenovo Legion, Haier, AORUS, Thunderobot, and Machenike. Revenue is generated through licensing agreements with these hardware partners, with the software embedded in tens of millions of products worldwide.
- Direct Consumer Software Sales: Nahimic offers its software directly to consumers via the Microsoft Store (Nahimic 3). Users can download and install the software on their computers. The software is positioned as a premium audio enhancement solution for gamers and media consumers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | OEM/B2B Licensing - Quote-based enterprise pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Nahimic product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Nahimic develops and licenses 3D audio software built on proprietary HRTF (Head-Related Transfer Function) signal-processing technology. Its core revenue engine is OEM licensing, where Nahimic's audio stack is pre-installed on partner PCs, motherboards, headsets, VR devices, and speakers from leading gaming and consumer-electronics manufacturers. A secondary consumer channel distributes Nahimic 3, Nahimic 2+, and the Nahimic App for Mac directly to end-users via the Microsoft Store.
Product overview
Nahimic is a consumer and enterprise audio technology company offering two main product lines: Nahimic for Gamers (consumer downloadable software) and Nahimic Solutions (OEM integration for hardware manufacturers). The core product is the Nahimic 3D Sound Technology engine, which uses HRTF (Head-Related Transfer Function) to recreate spatial audio on stereo devices. Nahimic 3 and Nahimic 2+ represent the consumer gaming software versions with features including Surround Sound, Sound Tracker (visual radar), Volume Stabilizer, Voice Stabilizer, and Night Mode. The Solutions portfolio includes OEM integrations for Computers, Motherboards, Headsets & Headphones, Virtual Reality, Speakers, Mobile, Business applications, and Custom Projects via the company's acoustic LAB. The technology powers tens of millions of products from partner brands including MSI, ASUS, Dell, Gigabyte, EVGA, and ASRock.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Nahimic 3
Quantifiable outcome
- 3D sound reduces pilot reaction time to incoming threats by half in fighter aircraft simulators (military application)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Nahimic
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Nahimic technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability3 records
Feature8 records
Nahimic partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and historic.
- MSIcoreMSI is Nahimic's flagship OEM partner, integrating Nahimic audio software into their Gaming Series laptops, desktops, and motherboards since 2015. Nahimic has been embedded in MSI gaming products for nearly a decade, with millions of MSI products featuring Nahimic technology. MSI won the Nahimic Best Partner Award in 2017.
- ASUScoreASUS integrates Nahimic audio technology in their gaming products. ASUS is listed among Nahimic's major OEM partners featuring their audio software.
- DellcoreDell Gaming products feature Nahimic audio solutions. Dell is a significant OEM partner providing Nahimic access to enterprise and consumer gaming markets.
- GigabytecoreGigabyte integrates Nahimic audio in their gaming motherboards and PCs. Gigabyte is a long-standing OEM partner since at least 2014.
- EVGAcoreEVGA features Nahimic audio in their gaming products. EVGA is listed as a Nahimic partner for gaming audio integration.
- ASRockcoreASRock integrates Nahimic audio technology in their motherboards. ASRock is listed among Nahimic's OEM partners.
- HaierminorHaier incorporates Nahimic audio solutions in their products, expanding Nahimic's reach into the broader consumer electronics market beyond gaming.
- Lenovo LegioncoreLenovo Legion gaming laptops and desktops feature Nahimic audio software. Lenovo is a significant partner providing access to the gaming PC market.
- AORUScoreAORUS gaming products (Gigabyte's premium gaming brand) integrate Nahimic audio technology for immersive gaming experiences.
- ThunderobotminorThunderobot gaming laptops incorporate Nahimic audio solutions, providing access to the Chinese gaming laptop market.
- MachenikeminorMachenike gaming laptops feature Nahimic audio, expanding Nahimic's presence in the Chinese gaming hardware market.
- Thales AvionicshistoricThales Avionics, a worldwide leader in military aircraft avionics systems, tested Nahimic technology in 2006 for integration of 3D sound alarms in fighter aircraft simulators. This was an early validation of Nahimic's military-grade audio technology.
- Alicia Project ConsortiumhistoricIn 2009, Nahimic was integrated into the Alicia project (www.alicia-project.eu) defining the future of helicopters and European aircrafts. Nahimic technology was used to bring awareness to pilots using precise 3D sound alarms to avoid collisions.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Nahimic competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- DTS (Xperi): Xperi's DTS:X Ultra and DTS Sound Unbound are direct spatial-audio competitors pre-installed on Windows and licensed into gaming headsets and laptops, directly overlapping with Nahimic's OEM and Microsoft Store GTM motions.
- Dolby Laboratories: Dolby offers Dolby Atmos for PCs/gaming and headphones, competing head-to-head with Nahimic's HRTF-based 3D audio in the same OEM and gaming headset channels (e.g., Razer, Xbox). They are the dominant incumbent in spatial audio with vastly greater brand and R&D resources.
Emerging players
- Turtle Beach: Turtle Beach integrates proprietary surround-sound and audio-processing software (e.g., Superhuman Hearing, Windows Sonic compatibility layers) into its gaming headsets, offering a vertically-integrated alternative that competes for the same OEM audio-engine slot on partner PCs and headsets.
- Razer (THX Spatial): Razer bundles THX Spatial Audio across its laptops, headsets, and Synapse software — competing with Nahimic in the gaming hardware OEM channel (where MSI/ASUS also ship Razer-adjacent products) and pushing its own audio engine as a default rather than Nahimic.
- SteelSeries (Sonar): SteelSeries' Sonar audio engine delivers parametric EQ, spatial audio, and noise cancellation bundled with SteelSeries headsets — competing both as an OEM audio partner (similar to Nahimic) and increasingly as a cross-platform PC audio suite that overlaps with Nahimic's consumer offering.
- HyperX (NGENUITY): HyperX develops proprietary DSP and surround-sound processing for its gaming headsets (e.g., HyperX Spatial Audio via NGENUITY) — a vertical-integrated competitor that pressures third-party audio engines like Nahimic inside the same OEM ecosystem.
Direct peers
- Dirac Research: Swedish audio optimization company offering HRTF-based spatial audio, headphone/speaker virtualization, and room correction that it licenses to OEMs across PC, mobile, automotive, and VR — mirroring Nahimic's HRTF technology stack and B2B licensing business model.
- Bongiovi Acoustics: Bongiovi licenses audio-processing IP (including spatial and dynamic equalization) directly into consumer electronics, gaming hardware, and automotive — the same embedded-software-for-OEMs model that Nahimic uses with MSI, ASUS, and Dell.
- Creative Labs (Sound Blaster): Creative's Sound Blaster software suite provides virtualized surround sound, voice cleanup, and gaming audio enhancements on PC — historically the dominant PC gaming audio software brand and a direct substitute for Nahimic 3 on the Microsoft Store.
- THX Ltd. THX Spatial Audio is licensed into gaming headsets (Razer, HyperX) and laptops, providing positional audio for games and entertainment — a near-identical offering to Nahimic across both B2B/OEM and direct-to-consumer channels.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Nahimic social profiles
Digital presenceNahimic compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Nahimic financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nahimic leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Nahimic funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nahimic M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Nahimic
What does Nahimic do?
Nahimic develops and licenses 3D audio software built on proprietary HRTF (Head-Related Transfer Function) signal-processing technology. Its core revenue engine is OEM licensing, where Nahimic's audio stack is pre-installed on partner PCs, motherboards, headsets, VR devices, and speakers from leading gaming and consumer-electronics manufacturers. A secondary consumer channel distributes Nahimic 3, Nahimic 2+, and the Nahimic App for Mac directly to end-users via the Microsoft Store.
Is Nahimic a public or private company?
Nahimic is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Nahimic founded?
Nahimic was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Nahimic based?
Nahimic is headquartered in Les Hauts-saint-jean, France, in the Europe region.
How does Nahimic make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. OEM Licensing is the primary driver. The others are direct Consumer Software Sales.
Who are Nahimic's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are DTS (Xperi) and Dolby Laboratories. Emerging players are Turtle Beach, Razer (THX Spatial), SteelSeries (Sonar) and HyperX (NGENUITY). Direct peers are Dirac Research, Bongiovi Acoustics, Creative Labs (Sound Blaster) and THX Ltd..
Does Nahimic have an API?
No public API is recorded for Nahimic.
What industry is Nahimic in?
Nahimic's product category is 3D Audio Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDACANAF, Gaming Headsets & Audio Accessories, with a secondary code of MPAFAEAC, Creator Tools & Production (Overlays, Alerts, Encoding, Editing, Audio). Its NAICS code is 3343 and its SIC code is 3651.