What SoundGuys does

SoundGuys is a consumer audio technology review publication headquartered in Vancouver, BC, Canada, operating with a team of approximately 7 employees under parent company Authority Media. The publication produces editorial reviews, news, buying guides, versus comparisons, and video content covering headphones, earbuds, speakers, gaming headsets, microphones, and music streaming services. Its core differentiation rests on a standardized lab testing methodology built around professional acoustic measurement equipment — notably the Bruel & Kjaer 5128 head simulator paired with SoundCheck software — and a proprietary Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS) scoring system derived from a machine learning model trained on real listener input. Over 1,300 products have reportedly been tested using these standardized processes, supported by 1,500+ square feet of dedicated lab space.

The publication monetizes through a two-stream revenue model: affiliate commissions (primarily via the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, where readers purchasing products through embedded retail links generate referral fees) and display advertising / sponsored content partnerships with audio manufacturers. Editorial recommendations are explicitly insulated from affiliate relationships per the publication's published ethics policy, though both revenue streams are disclosed. SoundGuys distributes content across its owned website, YouTube channel, email newsletter, social media (X, Instagram), and Google Discover feed, capturing top-of-funnel demand from consumers researching audio product purchases.

The audience is segmented horizontally across three persona types: general consumers seeking trustworthy purchasing guidance, audiophiles and enthusiasts requiring objective lab data, and tech-savvy buyers prioritizing technical specifications. No enterprise or B2B customer segment is served — all traffic and revenue derive from a long-tail of individual consumer readers. The business is privately held within the Authority Media conglomerate, with no disclosed external funding, headcount growth signals, or financial metrics in the available source data.

Name

SoundGuys

Website

https://soundguys.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SoundGuys is a Vancouver-based consumer audio review publication that uses proprietary lab testing methodology (B&K 5128 acoustic equipment and MDAQS scoring) to produce editorial reviews, buying guides, and video content for general consumers, audiophiles, and tech-savvy buyers researching headphones, earbuds, speakers, and related products, monetized via Amazon affiliate commissions and display advertising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Consumer Audio Media & Reviews

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Audio Production & Podcasting (BPAFAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Studio / Pro Monitoring Headphones & Reference Speakers (CRACANAK)

Keywords

• Audio product reviews
• Headphone testing
• Wireless earbuds reviews
• Consumer audio media
• Speaker reviews

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Affiliate Commissions: SoundGuys earns commissions when readers click 'Buy Now' or affiliate links and complete purchases. Links are generated independently of editorial content, and editorial recommendations are not influenced by affiliate partnerships. The company participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.
2. Display Advertising: The company partners with manufacturers on branded editorial content, social media content, targeted display campaigns, newsletter placements, sponsored articles, sponsored videos, and other sponsored content, with clear labeling of sponsored content.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SoundGuys is a consumer audio technology publication that produces lab-tested reviews, news, buying guides, versus comparisons, and deal alerts for headphones, earbuds, speakers, gaming headsets, microphones, and music streaming services. Editorial content is built on standardized objective testing using Bruel & Kjaer 5128 acoustic measurement equipment and the proprietary MDAQS scoring algorithm, monetized via affiliate commissions (Amazon Associates) and display advertising.

Product overview

SoundGuys is a consumer audio technology review platform organized into distinct content verticals: Reviews (covering wireless earbuds, wired earbuds, over-ear headphones, speakers, gaming headsets, and microphones), News (industry announcements and product launches), Features & Opinions (buying guides and expert analysis), Versus (product comparisons), Best Products (curated top picks across categories), Deals (price tracking and discount alerts), and a Testing Methodology section documenting their lab-based objective and subjective testing process. The platform uses proprietary testing including Bruel & Kjaer acoustic measurement equipment, MDAQS sound quality scoring, and standardized battery and microphone testing to provide data-driven recommendations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SoundGuys Reviews Comprehensive audio product reviews covering wireless earbuds, wired earbuds, over-ear headphones, speakers, gaming headsets, and microphones, combining objective lab testing with subjective analysis for general consumers and enthusiasts.
• SoundGuys News News coverage of audio industry developments, product launches, company updates, and market trends across consumer audio categories.
• SoundGuys Features & Opinions In-depth feature articles and opinion pieces providing buying guides, product comparisons, industry analysis, and expert commentary on audio topics.
• SoundGuys Versus Product comparison articles benchmarking competing audio products across categories such as earbuds, headphones, speakers, and gaming headsets.
• SoundGuys Best Products Curated best-of lists and buying guides across audio categories including wireless earbuds, headphones, Bluetooth speakers, gaming headsets, and budget options.
• SoundGuys Deals Curated deal listings for audio products including price tracking, discount alerts, and historically lowest price information.

Quantifiable outcome

• Testing over 1,300 products with standardized methodology
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• RTINGS.com: RTINGS.com is a direct peer that performs rigorous, lab-based objective testing of consumer electronics — particularly TVs and headphones — using standardized methodology and scoring systems, mirroring SoundGuys' B&K-based, scientifically verifiable approach to product reviews.
• Crutchfield: Crutchfield is a direct peer combining audio/consumer electronics retail with deep editorial content, buying guides, and comparison tools; while it sells products directly, its content strategy around headphones and speakers directly competes for the same research-stage consumer.
• What Hi-Fi?: What Hi-Fi? is an established direct peer in the audio review space, covering headphones, speakers, and hi-fi gear with star-rated reviews, buying guides, and awards — operating at a larger scale but with the same consumer audio review focus as SoundGuys.
• Headphonesty: Headphonesty is a direct peer specializing in headphone and earbud reviews with an audiophile-leaning audience, producing comparison content, frequency response measurements, and ranking articles that directly overlap with SoundGuys' core editorial verticals.

Emerging players

• MajorHiFi: MajorHiFi is an emerging peer focused on headphone and earbud reviews with measurement-based content, operating at a smaller scale than SoundGuys but competing directly in the same audio review niche with similar monetized product coverage.
• Head-Fi: Head-Fi is an emerging peer in the audio enthusiast niche, operating as a community-driven review and discussion forum with user-contributed impressions — overlapping SoundGuys' audiophile segment but with a crowdsourced rather than lab-based methodology.

Broad incumbents

• Wirecutter: Wirecutter (NYT) is a broad incumbent covering consumer electronics including headphones and speakers with rigorous testing methodology, monetized via affiliate links — competing with SoundGuys for both affiliate commissions and reader trust across overlapping audio categories.
• Tom's Guide: Tom's Guide is a broad incumbent tech publisher covering audio products alongside broader consumer electronics, with comparable buying guides and review formats that compete head-to-head with SoundGuys for product-research search queries.
• CNET: CNET is a broad incumbent tech publisher with substantial headphone and earbud review coverage, leveraging significantly greater brand recognition, video production resources, and SEO authority to compete for the same audio product research traffic.
• The Verge: The Verge is a broad incumbent tech media outlet whose audio and headphones coverage, plus large-scale video and editorial reach, competes for the same premium consumer reader and audio product launch news cycles as SoundGuys.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SoundGuys
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/soundguyscom

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 SoundGuys