Bose acquires Skullcandy to expand reach in consumer audio

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 23:32 · Archive

Bose has acquired Skullcandy, keeping it as a separate brand to reach wider audiences beyond its traditional premium audio market.

Bose has acquired Skullcandy, the audio equipment maker founded in 2003. Skullcandy will continue operating as a separate brand within Bose's consumer audio business and remain based in Park City, Utah, where it was founded. Bose did not disclose the purchase price.

The two companies have collaborated for several years, with Skullcandy releasing products featuring Bose audio technologies, including head-tracking spatial audio and active noise cancellation, in its Crusher 1080 ANC headphones and Method 360 ANC earbuds. Skullcandy's product designs and relationships with board sports athletes distinguish it from Bose's existing portfolio.

For Bose, the acquisition addresses a strategic gap. Bose is well established among premium audio consumers and frequent travellers, but Skullcandy offers inroads into sports, gaming, music and fitness markets where Bose has weaker presence. Bose CEO Lila Snyder said the company is 'expanding how we do that, not only through Bose products, but through technology partnerships and a growing portfolio of brands'. Skullcandy will benefit from access to Bose's technology and resources to support future growth and development.

This is Bose's third acquisition in recent years, following its 2024 purchases of McIntosh and Sonus faber, and its acquisition of StreamUnlimited Engineering and FMOD-maker Firelight Technologies this year.

How it is being reported

• Bose buys audio rival SkullcandyBose sees the company as a way to reach a wider audience.Engadget · 21 Oct, 23:19
• Bose acquires Skullcandy to help it reach a wider audienceBose announced today it has acquired Skullcandy. Although the two companies are competitors in the consumer audio space, Skullcandy recently partnered with its new owner to bring several of Bose's audio technologies - including its head-tracking spatial audio and excellent active noise cancellation (ANC) - to products like the Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC headphones and […]The Verge · 21 Oct, 21:15

In this story: Bose · Skullcandy · Lila Snyder · Park City · Utah · McIntosh · Sonus faber · Firelight Technologies

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