HEAD acoustics
HEAD acoustics GmbH is a privately held German firm that designs hardware and software for sound, vibration, and audio-quality measurement, serving automotive NVH, telecom certification, and industrial acoustic-engineering customers worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersHerzogenrath, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What HEAD acoustics does
HEAD acoustics GmbH is a privately held German engineering company founded in 1986 and headquartered in Herzogenrath, that builds integrated hardware and software systems for sound, vibration, and acoustic-quality measurement. The portfolio centers on the ArtemiS SUITE analysis platform, the ACQUA audio-quality analysis suite, proprietary artificial head and binaural recording devices, NVH simulation tools, sound-source localization systems, and the playSeries and PreSense Drive playback and in-cabin simulation lines. Its technology is grounded in psychoacoustic measurement methods (sharpness, loudness, roughness) and perception-based 3PASS simulation, with hardware front-ends such as SQuadriga III and SQobold providing the data acquisition layer. The firm serves enterprise customers primarily in automotive NVH and telecommunications (3GPP IVAS, Bluetooth LE Audio, Apple CarPlay certification), with secondary applications in environment, industrial machinery, and rail/water/air transportation, and maintains owned subsidiaries in France, Japan, and China with global sales-partner coverage.
HEAD acoustics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HEAD acoustics
- Legal name
- HEAD acoustics GmbH
- Website
- https://head-acoustics.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- HEAD acoustics GmbH is a privately held German firm that designs hardware and software for sound, vibration, and audio-quality measurement, serving automotive NVH, telecom certification, and industrial acoustic-engineering customers worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HEAD acoustics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Acoustic Test and Measurement Systems
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pro Audio Equipment (Mics, Interfaces, Mixers, Studio Monitors) (MPAIAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Microphones, Headsets & Audio Input Devices (HDACAFAH)
Keywords
Where HEAD acoustics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Herzogenrath
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
HEAD acoustics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Products: Sale of proprietary acoustic measurement hardware including data acquisition systems, artificial head recording devices, binaural microphone kits, and sound source localization equipment.
- Software Licenses and Subscriptions: Software products including ArtemiS SUITE and ACQUA offered as licenses with regular version updates and releases.
- Engineering Services: Technical consulting and engineering support services for challenging development projects, providing practical support and expertise.
- Training Services: Online and face-to-face training programs covering acoustic measurement, analysis techniques, and software operation.
- Calibration and Maintenance Services: Service offerings for equipment calibration and maintenance to ensure measurement accuracy and equipment longevity.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
HEAD acoustics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HEAD acoustics develops and sells acoustic measurement hardware (data acquisition systems, artificial heads, binaural recording kits, soundseat, sound source localization equipment) and analysis software (ArtemiS SUITE, ACQUA, SQala, NVH simulation, PreSense Drive) for sound and vibration analysis, speech and audio quality testing, and perception-based acoustic simulation. The company also provides engineering consulting, training, and calibration services to automotive manufacturers, telecom equipment makers, and industrial clients.
Product overview
HEAD acoustics offers an integrated portfolio of acoustic analysis solutions comprising hardware platforms (data acquisition systems, artificial heads, binaural recording equipment, soundseat) and software products (ArtemiS SUITE analysis platform, ACQUA audio quality analysis, SQala jury testing, NVH simulation, sound source localization). The product ecosystem is unified around perception-based acoustic measurement and analysis, supporting applications in automotive, telecommunications, consumer electronics, and industrial sectors. The ArtemiS SUITE serves as the core analysis platform, complemented by specialized solutions like PreSense Drive for vehicle interior simulation and HEAD Visor for acoustic imaging.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ArtemiS SUITE: Analysis software product line for sound and vibration analysis
- ACQUA
- playSeries
- PreSense Drive
- BMK (Binaural Microphone Kit)
Products and services
- ArtemiS SUITE Comprehensive acoustic analysis software platform for sound and vibration measurement, analysis, and reporting across multiple application domains.
- ACQUA Advanced audio quality analysis software for evaluating speech quality, communication systems, and audio device performance.
- Data Acquisition Systems Hardware platforms for acquiring acoustic and vibration data, including front-ends like SQuadriga III and SQobold.
- Artificial Head and Binaural Recording Systems Head and torso simulators with binaural microphones for realistic recording of sound as perceived by human ears.
- BMK (Binaural Microphone Kit) First helmet-integrated binaural microphone kit for motorcycle applications, enabling realistic binaural recording while riding.
- NVH Simulation Noise, Vibration, and Harshness simulation solutions for automotive and industrial applications.
- playSeries Playback and Noise Simulation Audio playback and noise simulation systems including the playSeries for realistic sound reproduction and environment simulation.
- SQala Jury Testing Software Jury testing software platform for subjective audio quality assessment and listener testing.
- Sound Source Localization (HEAD Visor) Acoustic camera systems including HEAD Visor for identifying and visualizing sources of noise and vibration.
- PreSense Drive Interactive simulation system for sounds in vehicle interiors, integrated with the HEAD acoustics soundseat and 3PASS.
- 3GPP IVAS Test Solutions (Release 18) Standard-compliant test solutions for 3GPP Immersive Voice and Audio Services (IVAS) as defined in Release 18.
- Bluetooth LE Audio Testing Solution Bluetooth LE audio testing solution for next-generation Bluetooth audio devices.
- Engineering Services Professional engineering consulting services providing practical support for challenging acoustic testing, analysis, and development projects.
- Training Services Online and face-to-face training programs covering acoustic measurement, analysis techniques, and software operation.
- Calibration and Maintenance Services Calibration and maintenance services ensuring measurement accuracy and equipment longevity for acoustic measurement products.
Companies that use HEAD acoustics
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
HEAD acoustics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature8 records
HEAD acoustics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- 3GPPcoreActive participation in 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) standards development. The company develops standard-compliant test solutions for 3GPP IVAS (Immersive Voice and Audio Services) Release 18, enabling certification and compliance testing for telecom equipment manufacturers.
- ApplecoreHEAD acoustics offers Apple CarPlay Masterclass training, indicating specialized integration and testing solutions for CarPlay audio quality assessment.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
HEAD acoustics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- National Instruments (NI): NI is a broad test and measurement incumbent whose modular data acquisition and PXI platforms can be configured for acoustic and vibration testing, representing adjacent competition across the test stack.
- Keysight Technologies: Keysight is a large test and measurement incumbent with telecom-focused audio and wireless test solutions (including Bluetooth audio), competing with HEAD acoustics in telecom audio quality certification.
- Rohde & Schwarz: Rohde & Schwarz provides telecom and audio test systems, including mobile network testing and audio quality measurement, overlapping with HEAD acoustics' telecommunications segment offerings.
- Siemens (LMS International): Siemens' Simcenter LMS (formerly LMS International) provides NVH simulation and test solutions for automotive, directly competing with HEAD acoustics' NVH Simulation portfolio.
Direct peers
- Brüel & Kjær (HBK): HBK is the most direct competitor in acoustic and vibration measurement, offering microphones, data acquisition, and analysis software across automotive NVH, environmental noise, and audio testing - directly overlapping HEAD acoustics' core product categories.
- gfai tech: gfai tech manufactures acoustic camera and sound source localization systems, directly competing with HEAD acoustics' HEAD Visor and sound source localization product lines for industrial and research acoustic imaging.
- Audio Precision: Audio Precision specializes in audio test and measurement instruments (analyzers, interfaces) used for electroacoustic device certification, overlapping with HEAD acoustics' ACQUA and telecommunications audio quality testing portfolio.
- Polytec: Polytec is a leading provider of laser vibrometry and vibration measurement systems, competing in NVH, structural acoustics, and industrial noise applications - a direct peer in vibration-focused measurement.
Others
- Signalion (now part of Keysight): Signalion's wireless protocol test tools (now under Keysight) cover LTE/5G test, an ecosystem adjacency to HEAD acoustics' 3GPP IVAS and Bluetooth audio testing positioning.
Emerging players
- Dewetron: Dewetron manufactures modular data acquisition systems used in power, automotive, and acoustic test setups, an emerging competitor in the acquisition hardware tier where HEAD acoustics sells SQuadriga/SQobold.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HEAD acoustics social profiles
Digital presenceHEAD acoustics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HEAD acoustics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
HEAD acoustics subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
HEAD acoustics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HEAD acoustics 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 HEAD acoustics
What does HEAD acoustics do?
HEAD acoustics develops and sells acoustic measurement hardware (data acquisition systems, artificial heads, binaural recording kits, soundseat, sound source localization equipment) and analysis software (ArtemiS SUITE, ACQUA, SQala, NVH simulation, PreSense Drive) for sound and vibration analysis, speech and audio quality testing, and perception-based acoustic simulation. The company also provides engineering consulting, training, and calibration services to automotive manufacturers, telecom equipment makers, and industrial clients.
Is HEAD acoustics a public or private company?
HEAD acoustics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was HEAD acoustics founded?
HEAD acoustics was founded in 1986. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is HEAD acoustics based?
HEAD acoustics is headquartered in Herzogenrath, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does HEAD acoustics make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Hardware Products are the primary driver. The others are software Licenses and Subscriptions, engineering Services, training Services and calibration and Maintenance Services.
Who are HEAD acoustics's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are National Instruments (NI), Keysight Technologies, Rohde & Schwarz and Siemens (LMS International). Direct peers are Brüel & Kjær (HBK), gfai tech, Audio Precision and Polytec. Signalion (now part of Keysight) is listed as an others. Dewetron is listed as an emerging player.
Does HEAD acoustics have an API?
No public API is recorded for HEAD acoustics.
What industry is HEAD acoustics in?
HEAD acoustics's product category is Acoustic Test and Measurement Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAJAB, Pro Audio Equipment (Mics, Interfaces, Mixers, Studio Monitors), with a secondary code of HDACAFAH, Microphones, Headsets & Audio Input Devices. Its NAICS code is 3345 and its SIC code is 3823.