Beyerdynamic (German headphone producer) bought by Chinese company
Beyerdynamic (German headphone producer) bought by Chinese company
The Chinese manufacturer Cosonic wants to buy the audio specialist Beyerdynamic. The business will then continue largely unchanged.
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Following the coronavirus crisis, sales had collapsed, making restructuring measures necessary.
How is that even possible? I get that their products aren't cheap and sales might suffer from macroeconomic factors, but I sure would have thought that lockdowns and work-from-home have fuelled their sales.
Looks like the shareholders wanted to cash out and are using covid-19 as an excuse. Perhaps there was some crazy mismanagement of the company too, because it's such a well respected brand.
There's another factor which hurts them but also makes them great. You only ever need to buy 1 pair. The build quality is phenomenal, I've had mine for 10 years and they look brand new.
If I had to buy another pair I would (well, not anymore I guess). But beyerdynamic headphones are in the 'buy it for life' category
I've had my pair of DT-100 since 1993. Still going strong, although very much the headphones of Theseus by now.
Swap some new pads, maybe a new cable, maybe a driver.
Still good.Physics doesn't change. Audio is still air moving.
And quite frankly, we perfected that 40 years ago (well, give or take).
Also, spare parts are still available for decades old models and they are built with easy repairability in mind.
I really hope this sale won't change the company too much, but I fear it will.
I modded my 880s to have removable cables , replaced the pads and the headband as they were getting a bit worn after a decade of daily driving them. I use 1990s as my daily driver these days but I like having options.
Seriously solid headphones, I'm not immediately writing them off because a Chinese company though, I've used FiiO stuff for 15 years and it's been solid, so fingers crossed.
A lot of their products are geared towards professionals like DJs and audio technicians.
If those cant tour their equipment doesnt wear down and they dont make the money to buy new equipment.
I think that there are two issues:
- Many people did indeed upgrade their home entertainment during the lockdowns. Bought new media players, headphones, TVs, home theatres and such stuff. But this stuff is now there. If you bought a new and expensive headphone in 2020, well, you still have it, it does work and you will not buy another one. Which is totally bad for a headphone company in 2025, because sales back in 2020 won't help
- After Covid we had the big inflation following the 2022 russian invasion. Energy became expensive. Heating, cars, rents, food, everything became more expensive and that is killing the "affordable luxury" market. If you now struggle with food prices and rent, you will not buy new luxury headphones.
I bought three pairs of expensive headphones in 2020 because I got a taste of nice headphones+lossless and couldn’t stop myself D:
Then another pair of earbuds with ANC a few years later because I had to start going into the office sometimes and sit near the most annoying mf ever.
I kinda wanna buy more. But I don’t neeeeed them.
I literally upgraded my wired headphones to some beyers thanks to the lockdown
They saw a big spike in sales and then it dropped down again and shareholders were like: where infinite growth?
Precisely