Westone Laboratories

What Westone Laboratories does

Westone Laboratories, founded in 1959 and headquartered at 2260 Executive Circle, Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a privately-held manufacturer of custom hearing healthcare and in-ear audio products. The company has produced over 60 million earmolds and 25 million earpieces across its 65+ year history, serving audiologists and hearing professionals, U.S. military and aerospace customers, industrial and occupational safety buyers, and recreational consumers. Its portfolio spans custom-fit hearing protection (DefendEar), universal-fit hearing protection with acoustic filter technology (TRU), a catalog of custom earmold styles for hearing instruments, hearing aid batteries, tinnitus management (Tinearity G1), and pediatric hearing protection (Em's 4 Kids). The ACCES Communication System, co-developed with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory under a CRADA, is supplied to Air Force pilots and ground crews via GSA Schedule contracting.

The company's underlying technology combines proprietary materials (W-1 silicone, AquaNot water-resistant compound, Slick-Sil AM anti-microbial coating), custom ear-impression-based manufacturing, CENS digital signal processing in the DefendEar electronic line, and critically tuned acoustic filter technology in the TRU universal-fit line. Products integrate with receivers from Oticon, Phonak, Widex, Siemens, Rexton, and Resound, and with Plantronics and Telex communications headsets, giving Westone broad hearing-instrument ecosystem compatibility. Reported performance benchmarks include NRR 30 dB protection and 86 dB output for the DefendEar Shooter, NRR 27 dB / average 39 dB attenuation for AquaNot swim plugs, and NRR 24-27 dB for DefendEar Sleep, with over 100 color combinations available on custom earmolds.

Westone operates a hybrid go-to-market. Direct-to-consumer e-commerce on westone.com handles TRU universal-fit SKUs, batteries, and accessories priced from $3.51 to roughly $200. A professional B2B channel serves 4,500+ registered audiologist and hearing professional accounts with volume-based pricing on earmolds, DefendEar electronics, and batteries; the DefendEar DigitalX modules range from $629.26 to $929.68. Military sales run through GSA Schedule contracts covering the ACCES system, ear impressions supplies, and SEIT training services. The company also offers SEIT (Shell Ear Impression Technique) training courses as a service revenue stream for military and commercial audiences. Westone is led by President Terry Conrad, and no parent company, institutional investor, or M&A activity is disclosed.

Name

Westone Laboratories

Legal name

Westone Laboratories Inc.

Website

https://www.westone.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Westone Laboratories is a 65+ year Colorado Springs-based manufacturer of custom hearing healthcare and in-ear audio products, serving audiologists, military, industrial, and consumer markets with proprietary hearing protection, earmolds, and the ACCES military communication system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hearing Protection Equipment

SIC

Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047), Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Hearing Enhancement / Assistive Listening Audio Devices (CRACANAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports & Fitness Audio (Open‑Ear, Bone Conduction, Neckband) (CRACANAD), Audio Accessories (Ear Tips, Cables, Stands, Cases, Transmitters) (CRACANAM)

Keywords

• Custom hearing protection
• Custom earpieces
• Hearing healthcare products
• Military communication systems
• Audiology supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Colorado Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hearing Protection Products: Direct-to-consumer and B2B sales of hearing protection products including custom earmolds, electronic hearing protection (DefendEar Digital), universal fit products (TRU line), and hearing aid accessories.
2. Military Communications Systems: Sale of ACCES Communication Systems to U.S. military through GSA contracting. Includes custom communication earplugs with hearing protection.
3. Professional Training Services: SEIT (Shell Ear Impression Technique) training courses instructing audiologists and professionals on proper ear impression techniques for custom earpiece production.
4. Hearing Aid Batteries: Sale of hearing aid batteries in sizes 10, 13, 312, 675, and 675 Implant. Volume-based pricing for professional accounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Westone Laboratories manufactures and sells custom and universal fit hearing protection products, including custom earmolds, electronic/digital hearing protectors (DefendEar), military communication earplug systems (ACCES), and accessories such as hearing aid batteries. With 65+ years of experience producing over 60 million earmolds, the company serves audiologists, military/defense, industrial workers, and recreational consumers through professional B2B channels and direct-to-consumer e-commerce.

Product overview

Westone Laboratories is a hearing protection and audiology products company with 65+ years of experience, having produced over 60 million earmolds. The company offers a multi-product portfolio organized around two main sub-brands: DefendEar (electronic/digital and passive hearing protection) and TRU (universal fit hearing protection). The ACCES Communication System serves the military segment with U.S. Air Force co-developed communication earplugs. Beyond consumer products, Westone provides custom earpieces for hearing instruments (Styles 1-13), compatible with major hearing aid manufacturers (Oticon, Phonak, Widex, Siemens, Rexton, Resound), as well as specialty earpieces for swimming, motorsports, and IEM adapters for headphones. Accessories include hearing aid batteries and training services (SEIT classes).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DefendEar: Digital hearing protection brand featuring CENS digital technology for superior noise attenuation and situational awareness. Products include DefendEar Digital, DefendEar Shooter, DefendEar Sleep, DefendEar Max, and DefendEar Convertible.
• TRU
• ACCES
• Westone Style Guide

Products and services

• ACCES Communication System Attenuating Custom Communications Earpiece System co-developed with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. Provides hearing protection and communication capabilities for military pilots and ground crews, featuring custom fit design and GSA contracting availability.
• DefendEar Shooter

Quantifiable outcome

• NRR 30 dB hearing protection with DefendEar Shooter
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• U.S. Air Force Research LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestone partnered with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to research, design, build and test communications earplugs with the goal of improving hearing protection and communications for military pilots and ground crews. This partnership produced the ACCES (Attenuating Custom Communications Earpiece System).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Phonak (Sonova): Phonak is a major hearing aid manufacturer whose receivers are compatible with Westone's custom RIC earpieces. The two companies are partnered at the product level but compete indirectly for the audiology channel's earmold and custom-fit business.
• Loop Earplugs: Loop is a fast-growing DTC hearing protection brand offering stylish universal-fit earplugs for concerts, sleep, and noise sensitivity. It competes with Westone's TRU line in the consumer channel with a much more retail-oriented go-to-market.
• Bose (Hearables / Sleep): Bose has expanded into hearables and consumer sleep products (SleepBuds, noise-masking devices). It overlaps with Westone's TRU Sleep and consumer wellness direction, though Bose operates at significantly larger scale in consumer audio.

Broad incumbents

• Honeywell (Howard Leight): Honeywell's Howard Leight brand is a leading global hearing protection manufacturer offering both passive and electronic earmuffs/earplugs. It competes directly with Westone's DefendEar and TRU product lines in industrial, occupational, and recreational segments.
• 3M (Personal Safety Division): 3M is one of the three named major players in the global hearing protection market alongside Westone. It offers a broad portfolio of E-A-R, Peltor, and LiteCom hearing protection and communication devices across industrial, military, and consumer segments, competing with Westone's DefendEar, ACCES, and TRU lines.

Direct peers

• E.A.R. Inc. (Aearo Technologies): E.A.R. Inc. is named alongside Westone and 3M as one of the three major hearing protection equipment innovators. It offers a range of custom and universal-fit hearing protection products competing across Westone's industrial, military, and recreational segments.
• Sensaphonics: Sensaphonics makes custom in-ear monitors and hearing protection for musicians, audio engineers, and touring professionals. It overlaps with Westone's musician/concert custom earmold business and its hearing healthcare channel.
• Etymotic Research: Etymotic Research designs and manufactures high-fidelity hearing protection earplugs (ER-9, ER-15, ER-25) used by musicians and audiophiles. Westone explicitly integrates Etymotic's filter technology into its Style 49 earpiece, and the two compete for musician and concert-goer customers.
• ACS Custom (Advanced Communication Solutions): ACS Custom manufactures custom-molded hearing protection and in-ear monitors for military, motorsport, and professional users. It is a direct competitor to Westone's ACCES military line and its racing/motorsport custom earpieces.
• Elacin Hearing Protection: Elacin is a Dutch manufacturer of custom-molded hearing protection earplugs for industrial, music, and shooting applications. It competes head-to-head with Westone's custom DefendEar line on attenuation, comfort, and audiologist/professional distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WestoneAudio
• Facebookfacebook.com/westoneaudio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/westone-laboratories

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Westone Laboratories