Bose announced on Wednesday that it has acquired Skullcandy, the lifestyle audio brand known for bass-heavy headphones and bold designs. All three reports confirm that Skullcandy will operate as a separate brand within Bose's premium consumer audio business and remain headquartered in Park City, Utah, where it was founded. Bose did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.
The acquisition builds on an existing partnership. Skullcandy has released several products under Bose's "Sound by Bose" licensing program, including the Method 360 ANC earbuds and the Crusher 1080 ANC headphones, which feature Bose's active noise cancellation and head-tracking spatial audio. Bose CEO Lila Snyder said the company wants to reach consumers it currently misses, pointing to Skullcandy's connections in board sports, gaming, and music.
The sources agree on the strategic rationale but add different context. WIRED notes that Skullcandy's CEO previously admitted the company was not "the greatest at the engineering part of innovation," suggesting Bose's technology could provide a boost. The Verge adds that Bose has made several other acquisitions recently, including McIntosh, StreamUnlimited, and Firelight Technologies, and has launched its own record label. Engadget frames the deal as giving Bose a "Beats-like" path to a younger, more varied audience, though it also notes Bose's premium image is not known for being trendy.