What Knowles Electronics does

Knowles Electronics, LLC is a U.S.-headquartered (Itasca, Illinois) precision electronic components manufacturer, publicly traded on the NYSE under ticker KN, that designs and supplies high-performance capacitors (ceramic, film, electrolytic, mica, supercapacitors), balanced armature speakers and receivers, electret and boom microphones, RF/microwave filters and components, and inductors. The company is organized into two reportable segments: MedTech and Specialty Audio, and Precision Devices, and operates three core subsidiaries — Knowles Hearing Health, Knowles Capacitors, and Knowles Logistics — serving OEM customers across four primary end markets: medtech, aerospace and defense, industrial, and electrification. Its technical differentiation is anchored in proprietary miniaturization capabilities (micro stamping, precision machining, micro molding, electromagnetic coil winding, and microelectronics assembly with feature sizes down to 0.05mm and tolerances of 0.005mm) that are critical for implantable medical devices and mission-critical defense and industrial applications.

The company generates revenue through direct B2B sales of components on a quote-based, per-customer, per-application pricing model, with long design-in and qualification cycles typical of medtech and aerospace/defense suppliers. Following the 2023 acquisition of Cornell Dubilier for $263 million and the 2024 divestiture of its consumer MEMS microphone business, Knowles has refocused its portfolio on higher-margin, mission-critical end markets. Q1 2026 revenue of $153 million was up 16% year-over-year, with MedTech and Specialty Audio contributing $68 million at a 53.5% gross margin and Precision Devices contributing $85 million at a 39.2% gross margin, and management raised full-year organic revenue growth guidance above the prior 4-6% range. The company holds an estimated 35-45% market share in the balanced armature IEM driver market and benefits from a 75-plus-year heritage in audio and micro-acoustic engineering, though it does not develop AI/ML software capabilities as part of its core offering.

Name

Knowles Electronics

Legal name

Knowles Electronics, LLC

Website

https://knowles.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Knowles Electronics (NYSE: KN) is a U.S.-headquartered precision components manufacturer supplying high-performance capacitors, balanced armature speakers, microphones, RF/microwave filters, and inductors to medtech, aerospace/defense, industrial, and electrification OEMs via a direct B2B design-in sales model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electronic Components

NAICS

Capacitor, Resistor, Coil, Transformer, and Other Inductor Manufacturing (334416), Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (3344), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Electronic Components, Nec (3679), Electronic Coils, Transformers & Other Inductors (3677)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive & Industrial-Grade IDMs (HDAHAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

RF, Microwave & Wireless ICs (HDAHAAAF), EMI/EMC & Filtering Components (Common-mode chokes, filters, shielding materials) (IMAGAJAN)

Keywords

• Capacitor components
• Balanced armature speakers
• MEMS microphones
• RF microwave filters
• Medical device components

Headquarters

HQ city

Itasca

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electronic Components Sales: Sale of high-performance electronic components including capacitors, balanced armature speakers/receivers, microphones, RF/microwave components, and inductors to OEM customers in medtech, aerospace/defense, industrial, and electrification markets. Revenue is generated through direct component sales, likely with long sales cycles typical of B2B industrial component suppliers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Knowles Electronics manufactures high-performance electronic components including multilayer ceramic, film, electrolytic, and mica capacitors; balanced armature speakers; MEMS, electret, and boom microphones; and RF/microwave filters and components. The company supplies these components to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in MedTech, Aerospace & Defense, Industrial, and Electrification end markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Balanced Armature Speakers

Quantifiable outcome

• Stock price rally of 141.79% over past year, 66.48% over three months
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• KUKAminorOthers · 15 May 2026KUKA supplied robotic co-packing technology to Knowles Logistics as part of automation investments to enhance efficiency, flexibility, and accuracy in UK logistics operations. The technology was customized by Granta. This represents a vendor relationship for operational automation rather than a strategic product partnership.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Qorvo: Qorvo designs and manufactures RF filters, amplifiers, and microwave components for defense, aerospace, and connectivity applications, directly comparable to Knowles' RF/Microwave product line.
• Sonion: Sonion manufactures balanced armature receivers, microphones, and micro-acoustic components for hearing aids and premium audio. It is the most direct competitor to Knowles' balanced armature and hearing health business.
• MACOM Technology Solutions: MACOM is a specialist in RF, microwave, and millimeterwave components for aerospace, defense, and industrial markets, providing direct comparability for Knowles' RF/Microwave and defense capacitor offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Sonova: Sonova is a global hearing aid OEM (Phonak, Unitron, Hansaton) that both purchases components like Knowles' balanced armature drivers and competes in adjacent micro-acoustic technologies, making it a vertically adjacent peer.
• TDK Corporation: TDK is a large electronic components manufacturer with broad portfolios in capacitors, inductors, sensors, and RF components, overlapping directly with Knowles' Precision Devices and audio components.
• Murata Manufacturing: Murata is a global leader in MLCC capacitors, inductors, and RF components serving industrial, automotive, and medtech markets — directly comparable to Knowles' Precision Devices portfolio.
• Vishay Intertechnology: Vishay manufactures a broad portfolio of discrete semiconductors and passive components including capacitors and inductors, directly comparable to Knowles' Precision Devices business.
• Yageo Corporation (KEMET): Yageo, following its acquisition of KEMET, is one of the world's largest passive component manufacturers, with overlapping capacitor product lines serving industrial, automotive, and medtech markets.

Regional players

• Starkey Hearing Technologies: Starkey is a major US-based hearing aid manufacturer that procures balanced armature components and competes in the broader hearing health ecosystem that Knowles' MedTech segment serves.
• WS Audiology: WS Audiology (Widex and Signia brands) is a leading global hearing aid OEM that purchases micro-acoustic and balanced armature components, representing a key customer-adjacent peer to Knowles' hearing health business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KnowlesCorp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/knowles-electronics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A2 records

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Knowles Electronics