Royer Labs
Royer Labs is a Burbank, California-based manufacturer of hand-made professional ribbon microphones (R-series and SF-series), serving recording studios, live sound engineers, and orchestral clients through a global authorized dealer network, now operating as a subsidiary of Sounds Great Holdings.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersBurbank, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Royer Labs does
Royer Labs is a Burbank, California-based manufacturer of ribbon microphones founded in 1998. The company designs and hand-builds professional ribbon microphones in the USA, anchored by its flagship R-series (R-10, R-12, R-121, R-122, R-122V, including discontinued Live variants) and SF-series stereo ribbon microphones (SF-2, SF-12, SF-24, SF-24V). Its technology stack centers on patented ribbon transducer designs — notably the Offset Ribbon Element that provides differentiated tonal characteristics on the back side of the microphone — plus patented accessories (Sling-Shock shock mount, PS-101 pop filter manufactured by Stedman Corporation) and the dBooster line of in-line signal boosters. Royer pioneered the world's first phantom-powered ribbon microphone (R-122) and received the Technical Grammy Award in 2013 for bringing ribbon microphones back into mainstream recording.\n\nThe business sells premium hardware primarily through a global authorized dealer network (USA, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, UK), with direct accessory sales via the website merch store and factory-direct re-ribbon repair services priced between $135 and $295 per unit depending on model. Its core customers are professional recording studios, live sound engineers, and orchestral/jazz recording applications; the company has been used by marquee artists and engineers including Hans Zimmer, Quincy Jones, Al Schmitt, Steve Albini, and institutions such as Capitol Studios, Sony Scoring Stage, and the San Diego Symphony. In March 2026, Royer Labs was acquired by Sounds Great Holdings, LLC, a newly formed pro audio investment vehicle, which installed new leadership (CEO Joe Covey, President Dave Hetrick) and immediately acquired Undertone Audio in April 2026 as part of a stated multi-brand roll-up strategy.
Royer Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Royer Labs
- Legal name
- Royer Labs
- Website
- https://royerlabs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Royer Labs is a Burbank, California-based manufacturer of hand-made professional ribbon microphones (R-series and SF-series), serving recording studios, live sound engineers, and orchestral clients through a global authorized dealer network, now operating as a subsidiary of Sounds Great Holdings.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Royer Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Audio Equipment
- NAICS
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (334310), Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pro Audio Equipment (Mics, Interfaces, Mixers, Studio Monitors) (MPAIAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Audio Accessories & Consumables (Cables, Stands, Cases, Strings, Picks, Heads) (MPAIAJAF), Microphones, Headsets & Audio Input Devices (HDACAFAH)
Keywords
Where Royer Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burbank
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Royer Labs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Microphone Sales: Royer Labs generates revenue primarily from selling premium ribbon microphones including the R-series (R-121, R-122, R-122V) and SF-series stereo microphones (SF-12, SF-24). These are high-end professional recording equipment products sold through dealers worldwide.
- Accessories and Parts: Sales of accessories including shock mounts (Sling-Shock), pop filters (PS-101), microphone clips, cables, and replacement ribbon elements for re-ribboning services.
- Re-Ribbon Service: Factory authorized repair service for replacing worn ribbon elements in Royer microphones. Pricing ranges from $135 to $295 depending on model, with rush service available for $50.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | R-10 Re-Ribbon Service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | R-101 Re-Ribbon Service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | R-121 Re-Ribbon Service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | R-122 Series Re-Ribbon Service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | SF-1/SF-2 Re-Ribbon Service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | SF-12/SF-24 Series Re-Ribbon Service |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | R-10 Microphone Retail |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Royer Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Royer Labs designs, manufactures, and sells hand-made ribbon microphones for professional recording studios, live sound reinforcement, and project studios. The product portfolio centers on R-series single-element ribbon microphones (R-121, R-122, R-122V, R-10, R-12) and SF-series stereo ribbon microphones (SF-12, SF-2, SF-24, SF-24V), supplemented by dBooster in-line signal boosters and accessories such as the patented Sling-Shock shock mount and PS-101 pop filter. The company also offers factory-authorized re-ribbon repair and servicing for its microphones.
Product overview
Royer Labs is a hand-made ribbon microphone manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of professional audio recording equipment. The product line centers on the R-series ribbon microphones (R-121, R-122, R-122V, R-10, R-12) and SF-series stereo ribbon microphones (SF-12, SF-24, SF-24V, SF-2), complemented by the dBooster line of in-line signal boosters. Accessories include the patented Sling-Shock shock mount, AxeMount clips, PS-101 Pop Filter, and FlexBar positioning tool. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Burbank, California, every Royer microphone is hand-crafted in the USA. The company received the Technical Grammy Award in 2013 for bringing ribbon microphones into mainstream recording. In April 2026, Royer Labs acquired Undertone Audio to expand its professional recording equipment portfolio.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- dBooster: In-line signal booster/preamp for ribbon microphones, including dBooster and dBooster2 models.
Products and services
- R-121 Ribbon Microphone The flagship Royer ribbon microphone, introduced in 1998, recognized as the modern ribbon mic that reintroduced ribbon microphones to engineers worldwide. Used widely in professional studios for electric guitar, brass, and drum overhead recording.
- R-122 MKII Ribbon Microphone The MKII iteration of the world's first phantom-powered ribbon microphone (R-122), making ribbon technology compatible with standard phantom-powered preamps. Targeted at professional recording studios.
- R-122V Tube Ribbon Microphone TEC Award-winning tube ribbon microphone combining ribbon transducer technology with vacuum tube electronics for high-end professional recording studios and film scoring applications.
- R-10 Ribbon Microphone Studio and live ribbon microphone positioned as a more affordable alternative to the flagship R-121, retailing at $495 for project studios and independent musicians.
- R-12 Ribbon Microphone Current R-series ribbon microphone in Royer's product lineup, designed for professional recording applications.
- SF-12 Stereo Ribbon Microphone Stereo ribbon microphone launched shortly after the R-121 in 1998, designed for orchestral, ensemble, and stereo recording applications with natural off-axis response.
- SF-2 Active Stereo Ribbon Microphone Active stereo ribbon microphone, successor to the SF-1, providing higher output levels for professional stereo recording applications.
- SF-24 Active Stereo Ribbon Microphone Stereo ribbon microphone with active electronics for enhanced output, designed for professional stereo recording of ensembles and orchestras.
- SF-24V Tube Stereo Ribbon Microphone TEC Award-winning tube-powered stereo ribbon microphone for high-end professional stereo recording, combining stereo ribbon elements with vacuum tube electronics.
- dBooster In-Line Signal Booster In-line signal booster and preamp for ribbon microphones, marketed as the industry's cleanest in-line preamp for studio use and driving long cable runs on live stages.
- dBooster2 In-Line Signal Booster Second-generation in-line signal booster with enhanced features, serving the same purpose as the dBooster for ribbon microphones in studio and live applications.
- Sling-Shock Shock Mount Patented shock mount that reimagines traditional shock mount design by eliminating conventional elastic band mounting systems, used to isolate ribbon microphones from vibrations.
- PS-101 Pop Filter Patented pop screen with expanded metal screen and angled louvers designed to prevent plosive P-popping, manufactured for Royer Labs by Stedman Corporation.
- AxeMount Dual Microphone Clip Dual microphone clip designed for mounting microphones, particularly suited for stereo or paired microphone setups.
- FlexBar Microphone Positioning Accessory
Quantifiable outcome
- Reintroduced ribbon microphones to mainstream recording worldwide since 1998
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Royer Labs
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Royer Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Royer Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Undertone AudiocoreRoyer Labs acquired Undertone Audio, a manufacturer of high-end recording equipment known for its UnFairchild compressor and premium audio products. Founded by Eric Valentine and Larry Jasper, Undertone Audio will operate from Royer Labs' Burbank headquarters. Royer plans to leverage its global distribution network to expand Undertone's international presence while continuing product development. This marks Sounds Great Holdings' second acquisition in two months.
- Stedman CorporationminorStedman Corporation manufactures the PS-101 pop screen exclusively for Royer Labs. The patented expanded metal screen technology is a key differentiator, with Royer warning customers about Chinese counterfeit imitations that lack the patented angled louver design.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Royer Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Neumann: Neumann (a Sennheiser brand) is the dominant premium studio microphone manufacturer. While primarily condenser-based, it competes with Royer for the same high-end recording studio and film scoring customers at Capitol Studios and similar facilities.
- Shure: Shure is a broad pro audio incumbent with a wide microphone portfolio spanning live and studio applications. It competes with Royer's Live Series ribbon microphones for live sound and stage customers.
- Audio-Technica: Audio-Technica is a major broad-line microphone manufacturer serving studio, broadcast, and live markets. It competes with Royer across price tiers and is the leading choice in project and home studios where Royer also targets the R-10.
- Sennheiser: Sennheiser is a global pro audio incumbent offering studio, broadcast, and live microphones. Its broad portfolio overlaps with Royer's premium and live product categories, particularly at high-end recording studios.
- Beyerdynamic: Beyerdynamic is a broad pro audio and consumer audio manufacturer with ribbon microphones in its portfolio (M-Series). It is comparable to Royer as a premium, German-engineered pro audio brand with global distribution.
Emerging players
- Mojave Audio: Mojave Audio is a boutique US pro audio microphone maker specializing in large-diaphragm and ribbon designs. It overlaps with Royer on premium studio recording customers and ribbon category expertise.
- Golden Age Project: Golden Age Project offers vintage-inspired, affordable ribbon and condenser microphones aimed at project studios. It competes on price-point against Royer's entry-level R-10 and on ribbon category overlap.
- Cascade Microphones: Cascade Microphones is a smaller US ribbon microphone maker offering more affordable ribbon options. It targets overlapping project-studio and home-recording customers with similar figure-8 ribbon designs.
Direct peers
- Coles Electroacoustics: Coles is a UK-based heritage manufacturer of ribbon microphones (the famous 4038) for broadcast and studio use. It is the most established direct competitor to Royer in the professional ribbon microphone niche.
- AEA (Audio Engineering Associates): AEA is a direct ribbon microphone specialist offering RCA-style ribbon mics for studio recording. Like Royer, AEA is a boutique US manufacturer focused exclusively on ribbon technology and competes for the same premium studio accounts.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Royer Labs social profiles
Digital presenceRoyer Labs compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Royer Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Royer Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Royer Labs subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Royer Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Royer Labs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Royer Labs
What does Royer Labs do?
Royer Labs designs, manufactures, and sells hand-made ribbon microphones for professional recording studios, live sound reinforcement, and project studios. The product portfolio centers on R-series single-element ribbon microphones (R-121, R-122, R-122V, R-10, R-12) and SF-series stereo ribbon microphones (SF-12, SF-2, SF-24, SF-24V), supplemented by dBooster in-line signal boosters and accessories such as the patented Sling-Shock shock mount and PS-101 pop filter. The company also offers factory-authorized re-ribbon repair and servicing for its microphones.
Is Royer Labs a public or private company?
Royer Labs is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Royer Labs founded?
Royer Labs was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Royer Labs based?
Royer Labs is headquartered in Burbank, United States, in the North America region.
How does Royer Labs make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Microphone Sales are the primary driver. The others are accessories and Parts and re-Ribbon Service.
Who are Royer Labs's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Neumann, Shure, Audio-Technica, Sennheiser and Beyerdynamic. Emerging players are Mojave Audio, Golden Age Project and Cascade Microphones. Direct peers are Coles Electroacoustics and AEA (Audio Engineering Associates).
Does Royer Labs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Royer Labs.
What industry is Royer Labs in?
Royer Labs's product category is Professional Audio Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAJAB, Pro Audio Equipment (Mics, Interfaces, Mixers, Studio Monitors), with a secondary code of MPAIAJAF, Audio Accessories & Consumables (Cables, Stands, Cases, Strings, Picks, Heads). Its NAICS code is 334310.