Bose buys Skullcandy, the budget-friendly headphone brand

Bose announced on October 21 that it has bought Skullcandy. The two companies compete, but they had already teamed up. Skullcandy recently added Bose technology, including noise cancellation and head-tracking spatial audio, to its Crusher 1080 ANC headphones and Method 360 ANC earbuds.

What changed

Bose plans to keep Skullcandy as a separate brand. It will become part of Bose's premium consumer audio business. Skullcandy stays in Park City, Utah, where it was founded in 2003.

Bose is known with people who fly and travel for work. Skullcandy has distinct designs and ties to board sports athletes. Bose says that will help it connect with shoppers where it has less presence today, including people who do not rank noise cancellation first.

This is part of a pattern. Bose bought McIntosh and its subsidiary Sonus faber in 2024. This year it bought StreamUnlimited Engineering and Firelight Technologies, the maker of FMOD. CEO Lila Snyder said Bose is growing through partnerships and a wider set of brands.

What is not known

Bose did not share the price or other deal terms. It also has not said which new Skullcandy products are coming, or whether prices will change. For now, the main thing shoppers can expect is more Bose-style noise cancellation under the Skullcandy name.