Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs

What Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs does

Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs is a Minneapolis-based consumer products company that designs, markets, and sells reusable earplugs engineered to reduce decibel exposure without sacrificing sound clarity. The company's core product uses acoustic filters housed in a clear low-profile sound tube, delivering approximately 22 dB of frequency-balanced attenuation (15 NRR) — a technical contrast to foam earplugs, which muffle bass and treble unevenly, and to custom audiologist earplugs, which retail above $200. The product line consists of two earplug SKUs ($28.95 with a plastic pocket case; $34.95 sale price with an aluminum keychain case), plus standalone accessories (aluminum case $9.95, neck cord $3.50). Each purchase includes a donation to the Hear the World Foundation, a Sonova-founded charitable initiative for pediatric hearing healthcare.\n\nVibes operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce on discovervibes.com with B2B placement at House of Blues venues (under Live Nation Entertainment), across 14 Danny Wimmer Presents festivals in 13 US cities, and at regional events including the Snowta NYE festival in Minneapolis. Revenue is one-time transactional with no subscription model, and the company is privately held, bootstrapped, and founder-led by Jackson Mann since its 2015–2016 founding. Brand awareness has been driven primarily by earned media, including a 2017 appearance on ABC's Shark Tank and coverage in Forbes, Billboard, NPR, Wired, AdWeek, and other major outlets.\n\nThe addressable customer base is horizontal and fragmented, spanning concertgoers, group-fitness attendees, musicians, motorcyclists, occupational users (trucking, dental, factory), and individuals with autism or sensory processing disorders — each backed by testimonial evidence of repeat purchase or word-of-mouth. Distribution is concentrated in the US, with no documented international retail footprint despite the global e-commerce shipping promise on the website.

Name

Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs

Legal name

Vibes

Website

https://discovervibes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs is a Minneapolis-based consumer products company that designs and sells reusable acoustic-filter earplugs preserving sound clarity while reducing decibel exposure, distributed direct-to-consumer online and through live-music venue and festival partnerships including House of Blues and Danny Wimmer Presents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hearing Protection Consumer Earplugs

akta.pro primary industry

Hearing Enhancement / Assistive Listening Audio Devices (CRACANAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Headphones & Personal Audio Retail (Earbuds, ANC, DACs) (CRACAEAG), Audio Accessories (Ear Tips, Cables, Stands, Cases, Transmitters) (CRACANAM)

Keywords

• Hearing protection earplugs
• High fidelity earplugs
• Concert earplugs
• Reusable noise reduction
• Acoustic filter earplugs

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Earplug Product Sales: One-time purchase of Hi-Fidelity Earplugs and accessories. Products include earplugs with pocket case ($28.95), earplugs with aluminum case ($34.95 sale / $44.95 original), aluminum keychain case ($9.95), and attachable neck cord ($3.50).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs designs, manufactures, and sells reusable high-fidelity earplugs that use acoustic filter technology to reduce approximately 22 dB of sound (15 NRR) across frequencies while preserving sound clarity. The product is sold direct-to-consumer and through venue/festival channels primarily for use at concerts, fitness classes, motorcycling, workplaces, and by individuals with sensory sensitivities.

Product overview

Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs offers a focused portfolio of reusable, hi-fidelity earplugs designed for live music and loud environments. The core products include earplugs with acoustic filters that reduce approximately 22 dB of sound (15 NRR) across frequencies while maintaining sound clarity—unlike standard foam earplugs that muffle sound. Each pair includes three interchangeable ear tip sizes (small, medium, large) for a comfortable fit. The product line comprises two earplug configurations: one with a plastic pocket case and one with a premium aluminum keychain case. Accessories include an aluminum keychain carrying case and an attachable neck cord for convenient portability. The company also partners with the Hear the World Foundation, donating a portion of each purchase to hearing healthcare projects for children in need.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs with Plastic Pocket Case Reusable hi-fidelity earplugs with acoustic filters that lower approximately 22 dB of sound (15 NRR) across frequencies while preserving sound clarity. Each pair includes three interchangeable ear tip sizes (small, medium, large) and a pocket-sized hard plastic case; targeted at concertgoers, musicians, fitness class attendees, motorcyclists, and individuals with noise sensitivity.
• Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs with Aluminum Keychain Case Reusable hi-fidelity earplugs identical in acoustic performance to the standard pair (approximately 22 dB / 15 NRR reduction), bundled with three interchangeable ear tip sizes and a premium aluminum keychain carrying case for portable use.
• Aluminum Keychain Carrying Case Durable aluminum carrying case with keychain attachment designed to store and transport Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs; sold as a standalone accessory.
• Attachable Neck Cord Lightweight neck cord that clips onto Vibes earplugs so users can wear them around the neck between uses, providing convenience and reduced risk of loss.

Quantifiable outcome

• Provides approximately 22 dB sound reduction across frequencies (15 NRR)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• TC Presents / Snowta NYEminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 December 2016Partnership with fellow Minneapolis-based TC Presents for the inaugural Snowta NYE indoor music festival. Vibes were made available on-site at the festival, held at the Minneapolis Convention Center on December 31, 2016. The festival featured multiple music stages, virtual reality demonstrations, skateboarding, and carnival rides.
• House of Blues (Live Nation Entertainment)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 December 2016House of Blues, a national chain of concert venues owned by Live Nation Entertainment, makes Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs available for sale on-site at all locations and through their online gear shop. This initiative promotes awareness of live entertainment-related hearing loss, with a World Health Organization report estimating 440 million people worldwide are at risk.
• Danny Wimmer PresentsmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 September 2016Partnership with the largest independent music festival producer in the United States, operating 14 annual festivals in 13 US cities. DWP aims to give back to music fans by providing hearing protection products at festivals. Vibes are offered to VIP ticketholders and sold at festival retail areas. The partnership launched at Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, KY.
• Hear the World FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2016Vibes partners with the Hear the World Foundation (founded by Sonova, a leading hearing solutions manufacturer based in Switzerland) to donate part of revenues to hearing healthcare projects for children in need worldwide. Each pair of Vibes purchased includes a contribution to the foundation. The foundation has supported over 70 projects on 5 continents, with a special focus on children with hearing loss. Ambassadors include Plácido Domingo, Annie Lennox, Sting, and Joss Stone.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Minuendo: Norway-based emerging player offering adjustable hi-fidelity earplugs for musicians and concertgoers. Comparable acoustic filter concept with a distinct adjustable form factor.
• Decibullz: Emerging player offering custom-molded earplugs with thermo-fit tips. Competes for the same hearing-protection-conscious consumer but emphasizes custom fit rather than off-the-shelf acoustic filtering.
• Flare Audio: UK-based emerging player in hi-fidelity earplugs and hearing protection. Overlaps with Vibes in live music and sleep protection use cases.

Direct peers

• Loop Earplugs: Closest direct peer in hi-fidelity earplugs for concerts and festivals. Targets the same concertgoer/lifestyle audience with a broader product line, fashion-forward positioning, and significant venture funding — representing both the comparable playbook and the primary competitive threat.
• Eargasm: Direct peer selling hi-fidelity earplugs for concerts, musicians, and motorcyclists using similar acoustic filter technology. Closely comparable product, price point, and target customer to Vibes.
• EarPeace: Direct peer offering reusable hi-fidelity earplugs with interchangeable tips for concerts, festivals, and musicians. Same core product category, use cases, and DTC distribution approach as Vibes.
• Etymotic Research: Established category pioneer in hi-fidelity earplugs (ER-20 series), serving musicians and concertgoers. Offers a more clinical/professional-grade alternative at higher price points, defining the category Vibes competes in.

Broad incumbents

• Howard Leight (Honeywell): Broad incumbent owned by Honeywell, dominating occupational hearing protection with foam earplugs. Directly overlaps Vibes' workplace/occupational use case but lacks the hi-fidelity consumer positioning.
• Bose: Broad incumbent in consumer audio with active entry into the hearing health category (Bose SoundControl hearing aids, sleep earbuds). Represents a large-scale competitive threat if Bose expands into hi-fi earplugs.
• 3M (E-A-R / Peltor): Broad incumbent in occupational hearing protection (E-A-R foam plugs, Peltor earmuffs). Serves the workplace/industrial customer base that overlaps with Vibes' occupational segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/discovervibes
• Instagraminstagram.com/discovervibes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vibes-llc

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 Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs