Bass gets backing: Bose acquires youth-favourite audio brand Skullcandy

Bose has acquired Skullcandy, the American lifestyle audio brand known for its bass-heavy headphones. The deal follows a partnership in which Bose has been working on the sound of Skullcandy’s earbuds and headphones, which are popular among youngsters.

Bose bought Skullcandy from a fund managed by Mill Road Capital Management, a private investment firm based in Connecticut. The financial and other terms were not disclosed.

Skullcandy will remain a separate brand within Bose’s Premium Consumer Audio business. It will continue to be based in Park City, Utah, where it was founded on a ski chairlift in 2003.

The two companies have worked together under Bose’s Sound by Bose licensing programme, under which Skullcandy designs the products and Bose works on the audio. The collaboration began with the Method 360 ANC earbuds in 2025 and was followed by the Crusher 1080 ANC headphones in July.

Lila Snyder, chief executive of Bose, said that Skullcandy gave the company access to buyers it did not reach. “Skullcandy gives us access to a customer base that we think we’re largely missing with the Bose brand,” she said.

Skullcandy’s roots in boardsports and its links with music, gaming and fitness communities would help Bose connect with consumers in areas where it has less presence. Snyder described Park City as the epicentre of board sports culture. “We want to make sure we’re right at the heart of it, as they always have been,” she said.

According to Wired, Skullcandy’s products cost less than those of Bose and the other Bose-owned brands. That lets Bose compete at both ends of the market.

Brian Garofalow, chief executive of Skullcandy, said: “We believe this is a win for Skullcandy and our fans.” He said joining Bose would bring more of its audio expertise and technology to Skullcandy products.

Bose said it plans to invest in Skullcandy’s growth. It will give the brand access to technology, resources, global distribution and commercial relationships. Snyder said being privately held gave Bose “the freedom to make bold, long-term investments in opportunities we believe in”.

This is not Bose’s first audio acquisition. In 2024, it acquired McIntosh Group, which owns the McIntosh Laboratory and Sonus Faber brands.