Sony Is Buying Audeze But Doesn’t Plan To Make Them Exclusive

A day after revealing everything there is to know about the PlayStation Portal and the PS5 earbuds and headphones, Sony just announced that they are planning to buy cult headphone company Audeze.

Audeze was founded in 2009 by Alexander Rosson (who also heads Rosson Audio) and Sankar Thiagasamudram, who is still CEO of the company.

Since then, the company has made a name for itself for high-end headphones for gamers and audio producers,  as well as became a household standard for audiophiles.

With such a resume, it’s easy to see why Sony is buying Audeze.

“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. 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,” wrote Sony in the announcement.

The only question is when the acquisition will happen and how much will Audeze cost. Sony says the terms of the deal are confidential but perhaps that news will get out later.

As for the headphones themselves, a common question from gamers is “Why are Audeze so expensive?”

With price tags around $1000, Audeze are some of the most expensive headphones around.  Still, the Audeze Maxwell are some of the best PS5 headphones around and their price tag is only around $300 – expensive but not regular Audeze-expensive. For example, the Audeze LCD-4z pictured above are some of the most desired headphones ever but their price tag is almost $4000.

Why the high price?

The short answer to that question is “because they’re worth it” but there’s a lot more to it than that. 

Audeze is one of the most respected companies making products for audiophiles and their commitment to making quality products is reflected in where they make those products.

Are Audeze headphones made in the USA? 

The good news is that, unlike most consumer goods and gadgets in particular, Audeze headphones are made in the USA, which means their quality standards are as high as can be. Hopefully Sony will keep production in the US but will help the company scale in such a way that Audeze headphones will be cheaper. 

Fortunately, Sony has said they have no plans to make Audeze a PlayStation-exclusive brand. Also read: 7+ Of The Best Retro Headphones That Are Actually Worth Your Money