The takeover hands over everything from patents to debt, and possibly its identity.
For nearly a hundred years, Beyerdynamic has stayed independent and family-owned. But that changed on June 5, 2025, when it signed a €122 million (US$140 million) deal to be acquired by Cosonic International, a Singapore firm backed by a Chinese parent company.
This agreement hands over nearly everything, including ownership, control, and even the company’s debts.
Let’s break down the takeover below.
Who Will Own Beyerdynamic?
Cosonic is mostly known as a behind-the-scenes manufacturer. It builds headphones and other electronics for well-known brands. These include Philips, JBL, Beats, Honor, Huawei, 1More, and Soundcore.
In 2024, about 77% of Cosonic’s revenue (around US$343 million) came from headphones alone.
However, this company is fully owned by Jiahe Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., a Chinese electronics company listed in Shenzhen. In short, the real owner behind this buyout is Jiahe, with Cosonic acting as the holding company.
With this change, Beyerdynamic moves from a century of family ownership to full control by an international manufacturing group.
The purchase price starts at €122 million (around US$140 million), but that figure will be adjusted depending on the company’s financials when the deal closes. This includes changes in debt, cash on hand, and working capital.
Regulators in China still need to approve the cross-border investment. But since no antitrust or national security filings are required in Germany or the United States, the process could move faster than usual.
What Cosonic Gets and Wants
As part of the agreement, Cosonic will acquire three things:
- 93.63% of the limited partnership interests in Beyerdynamic GmbH & Co. KG (BD KG)
- 100% of the equity in its general partner, BEYER DYNAMIC Verwaltungs-GmbH (BD GmbH)
- All shareholder loans owed by BD KG, which totaled around €14 million (around US$16 million) as of June 2025
This also includes the takeover of Beyerdynamic’s four subsidiaries:
- Beyer Dynamic Inc. (USA)
- Beyerdynamic (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
- Beyerdynamic (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
- Beyerdynamic India Private Ltd., which is currently dormant and will have its remaining 0.01% stake transferred to Cosonic at no extra cost.
Once the deal is finalized, Beyerdynamic will be fully folded into Cosonic’s operations.
With this, Cosonic hopes to do more things on its own, like:
- Start selling directly to consumers
- Boost profit margins
- Use Beyerdynamic’s existing sales channels in Europe, the U.S., and China
- Strengthen its own tech with Beyerdynamic’s innovations, like Tesla magnetic drivers and high-fidelity wireless systems
Some of the tech Cosonic is interested in includes Tesla magnetic drivers, which are known for their powerful magnets and clear sound. They’re also looking at Beyerdynamic’s wireless systems, which are designed for high-quality audio.
Investor and Fan Concerns
Not everyone sees the sale as a good move. Investors and longtime fans have mixed feelings, and the reactions online show it.
Investor worries
Some investors think the deal is overpriced. Cosonic is valuing Beyerdynamic at about 14 times its 2024 net profit. That’s higher than usual for audio companies, especially one in a niche market.
Also, right now, Cosonic doesn’t sell much directly to customers. Building that kind of business takes time, money, and a different skill set. So, they’re unsure whether Cosonic can successfully shift from making products for other brands to running its own global brand.
There’s also the question of how smoothly the two companies will work together. Cultural differences, regulatory delays, and business model clashes could make the transition harder than expected.
Audiophile community reactions
For many audiophiles, the news came as a shock. Beyerdynamic has been around for a century, and its headphones like the DT880 and T1 are known for their comfort, durable build, and reliable sound quality.
Some fans are afraid the brand will lose what made it special.
Online, a few users are already calling the deal a sign that Beyerdynamic has been “Chi-Fi’d,” which is a term used when a respected brand gets bought by a Chinese company and is seen as losing quality or identity. People worry that future products might cut corners or feel more generic.
For instance, they point to what happened with AKG after it was bought by Samsung, or to brands like Blaupunkt and Philips, which shifted toward lower-end gear after similar takeovers. So, some fear Beyerdynamic could go the same way.
Still, not all feedback is negative.
A few fans say this might help Beyerdynamic modernize, especially if its engineering team stays in place. Others believe Cosonic has the resources to make Beyerdynamic stronger, as long as they treat it like a premium brand and keep production quality high.
Lastly, there’s also some cautious optimism.
The thing is, Cosonic already has large-scale experience making wireless earbuds and headphones. Some users think Beyerdynamic could end up as a high-end name in the Chinese market, using its German research and design while expanding into new sales channels.