Sony Acquiring Audeze!
Aug 24, 2023 at 12:34 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 54

Bostonears

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Interesting development. Emphasis will be on gaming headphones. Is this good news or bad news?

Press release: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230824336695/en/

Sony Interactive Entertainment to Acquire Audeze, a Leader in Audio Technology and Developer of Award-winning Headphones for Gaming
Acquisition bolsters SIE’s continued focus on innovation in the PlayStation audio experience and brings Audeze into the PlayStation ecosystem

August 24, 2023 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (“SIE”) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Audeze, a leading audio technology brand and pioneer of high-end gaming headphones. The acquisition will strengthen SIE’s efforts to continue innovating when it comes to the audio experience of PlayStation games. Audeze will continue to operate independently and develop multi-platform products, while benefiting from being a part of the PlayStation ecosystem.

Based in Santa Ana, Calif., Audeze develops award-winning headphones for the professional audio, audiophile, and gaming markets. These headphones use Audeze’s patented technologies and unique planar magnetic drivers to deliver an outstanding sound experience for consumers as well as recording professionals, including sound engineers at many game development studios. Audeze designs and manufactures its planar magnetic drivers and professional headphones in its California facility.

“Audeze is a premier brand for headphones, and this acquisition highlights Sony Interactive’s focus on innovation and providing the best audio experience to PlayStation players,” said Hideaki Nishino, Senior Vice President, Platform Experience at Sony Interactive Entertainment. “We’re excited to bring Audeze’s expertise into the PlayStation ecosystem, building on the great strides we’ve made with PlayStation 5’s Tempest 3D AudioTech and the Pulse 3D wireless headset.”

“Sony Interactive provides Audeze with a unique opportunity to scale our business, as we continue with our mission to deliver best-in-class headphones to recording professionals, audiophiles, and gamers,” said Sankar Thiagasamudram, CEO at Audeze. “We’re also looking forward to contributing to Sony Interactive’s efforts to take PlayStation audio experiences to the next level.”

Terms of this transaction, including the acquisition cost, are not disclosed due to contractual commitments.

About Sony Interactive Entertainment
Sony Interactive Entertainment pushes the boundaries of entertainment and innovation, starting from the launch of the original PlayStation in Japan in 1994. Today, we continue to deliver innovative and thrilling experiences to a global audience through our PlayStation line of products and services that include generation-defining hardware, pioneering network services, and award-winning games. Headquartered in San Mateo, California, with global functions in California, London, and Tokyo, and game development studios around the world as part of PlayStation Studios, we believe that the power of play is borderless. Sony Interactive Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation. For more information about our company, please visit SonyInteractive.com. For more information about PlayStation products, please visit PlayStation.com.
About Audeze
Audeze LLC is the California-based high-end audio manufacturer delivering the most accurate sound reproduction available today. Audeze products, engineered with the latest innovations in materials science and technology, are built with precision craftsmanship. Audeze's commitment to research, development, and uncompromised audio is reflected in every facet of their leading-edge products. This has earned Audeze the distinction of being the world's best-reviewed headphone brand.
 
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Aug 24, 2023 at 12:41 PM Post #2 of 54
Congrats @Audeze
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https://www.head-fi.org/threads/norcal-8-8-09-meet-impressions.438953/page-4#post-5917918
 
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Aug 24, 2023 at 12:48 PM Post #3 of 54
Whoa!! Didn’t see this one coming!

Sony’s next flagship headphone should be VERY INTERESTING…. :beyersmile:
 
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Aug 24, 2023 at 12:54 PM Post #4 of 54
Sony makes audiophile products but the gaming division bought Audeze... Assuming Audeze has some autonomy after the acquisition, I wonder how Sony's electronics division feels about competing with the gaming division...
 
Aug 24, 2023 at 12:58 PM Post #5 of 54
Whoa, big deal. Sony have been making some incursions in to "gamer gear" with monitors and stuff recently IIRC. In this press release it sounds like Audeze will continue to remain its own entityv (hopefully in US) to some extent, so that's encouraging (though agree it would be cool to see some tech exchange between Sony headphones dept and Audeze).

Not a great fan of big companies constantly buying-out their competition (especially seemingly self sustaining smaller businesses), but as something of a Sony fanboy I should not be surprised if Audeze headphones suddently improve in my esteem by like %20 :p
 
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Aug 24, 2023 at 1:00 PM Post #6 of 54
Better supply chain for Audeze and I wonder if there will be both a Maxwell series gaming headset that is Sony branded as well as Audeze gaming IEMs that are Sony branded given that has seemed like a missed opportunity for Audeze.
 
Aug 24, 2023 at 1:56 PM Post #13 of 54
Aug 24, 2023 at 2:27 PM Post #14 of 54
Sony's main area of focus is the gaming sector.

I'm hopeful this deal won't affect the quality and support that Audeze are known for as Sony are the pioneers of "Planned Obsolescence" - They want electronic products to fail so you'll buy more in 3 years - exactly one day after the warranty expires.....
 
Aug 24, 2023 at 2:38 PM Post #15 of 54
Holy moly!
 

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