Did Cosonic Just Change the Headphone Game by Buying Beyerdynamic for €122 Million?

The headphone world just got a jolt. Beyerdynamic—the century-old, family-owned German audio brand known for studio legends like the DT 770 and professional audio staples—has been acquired by Chinese OEM giant Cosonic for €122 million ($141 million USD).

While others rushed the headline, we held out for confirmation directly from Beyerdynamic, and the details are just starting to come into focus. With Beyerdynamic posting a healthy profit last quarter, the news caught many off guard, especially given Cosonic’s relatively low public profile outside of industry circles.

This marks yet another major shift in the premium headphone market, following a wave of industry consolidation. Late last year Bose acquired McIntosh Group and Harman is now in the process of acquiring Sound United. A few years back, Sony acquired Audeze and Sonova acquired Sennheiser’s consumer division. So with such large companies jockeying for position, that raises big questions about what comes next for Beyer loyalists and the future shape of the portable audio landscape.

While no one at either company was willing to go on the record, we were able to gather enough off-the-record confirmations—along with a noticeable lack of denials—to feel confident the news was legitimate. Our belief was further backed by locating and translating original Chinese documents tied to the deal, which align closely with the leaked information. Notably, the June 5th date that first circulated matches the timeline referenced in Cosonic’s internal paperwork, lending further weight to the document’s authenticity and the accuracy of the report.

Cosonic Intelligent Technologies might not ring a bell for most consumers, but odds are you’ve encountered their work—especially if you’ve used budget wireless earbuds, wireless headphones, smartwatches, or even smart glasses in the past few years.

While we’re not permitted to name specific clients due to NDAs, we can confirm that some of the brands they work with are far from small. Cosonic may not have the name recognition of legacy audio companies, but behind the scenes, their technology powers a surprising number of mainstream consumer electronics.

Unlike Beyerdynamic, Cosonic doesn’t have a century-old legacy. Instead, they’ve made their mark through rapid expansion and strategic acquisitions since being established in 2013 by parent company Jiahe Intelligent Technology. Much of what we uncovered about Cosonic’s operations and growth strategy comes from public filings made by Jiahe, which is a publicly traded company in China.

Why Cosonic Bought Beyerdynamic—and What Happens Next

Our take on the Cosonic acquisition of Beyerdynamic? This wasn’t a desperate sale from a struggling company—it was a high-stakes play that Cosonic made too good to refuse. The €122 million ($141M) price tag represents nearly 15x Beyerdynamic’s 2024 net profit, a valuation that most industry analysts agree is unusually aggressive for the current headphone and pro audio market. It’s likely this was an unsolicited offer, not the result of Beyerdynamic shopping for buyers.

What does Cosonic get out of this? Instant credibility in the premium audio space. Beyerdynamic isn’t just another headphone brand—it’s a legacy name with a century of heritage in professional microphones, studio gear, and audiophile products. For Cosonic, it’s a fast-track to diversify beyond commodity electronics and claim a serious foothold in premium segments like conferencing, studio monitors, and high-end home audio. It also opens a gateway to stronger retail and distribution networks across Europe and North America—something Cosonic could never build as quickly on its own.

There’s understandable anxiety about what happens next. The comparisons to AKG’s acquisition by Samsung—and its eventual dismantling in Austria—are already flying. So far, there’s been no official word on what Cosonic plans to do with Beyerdynamic’s employees or its manufacturing base in Germany. And let’s be honest: vague corporate statements about “global synergies” and “shared visions” don’t reassure anyone.

Still, we’re trying to stay cautiously optimistic. Not every acquisition ends in disaster. Sennheiser’s recent move under Sonova, for example, has thus far looked like a growth play that’s kept the brand’s identity intact while expanding its capabilities. Could Cosonic take the same path with Beyerdynamic? It’s possible—especially if they’re smart enough to know that buying a legacy name means preserving the DNA that made it worth acquiring in the first place.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on what happens next. Because whether this marks the end of Beyerdynamic as an independent audio icon—or the beginning of a new era with deeper R&D pockets and faster product cycles—this is a turning point not just for the brand, but for the broader audio industry.

For more information: cosonic.cc | global.beyerdynamic.com

Related Reading:

• Bose Acquires McIntosh & Sonus Faber (2025)
• Samsung’s HARMAN To Acquire Sound United From Masimo For $350M: Denon, Marantz, Bowers & Wilkins Find New Home (2025)
• Sony’s Acquisition Of Audeze Makes Perfect Sense (2023)
• CORSAIR Acquires DROP (2023)
• Sonova Buys Sennheiser Consumer Business for €200 Million (2021)