Two of personal audio’s most respected names enter a new chapter under familiar leadership
Fidelity Collective has acquired Westone Audio and Etymotic, bringing two of the most respected names in professional and enthusiast personal audio under new ownership.
The acquisition was completed on Friday, May 15, 2026, with both brands now operating under the leadership of Sam Roney, CEO, and Tal Kocen, COO.
The move marks a new chapter for Westone Audio and Etymotic, two brands with deep roots in in-ear audio, hearing protection, professional monitoring and precision listening. Together, they represent decades of innovation across products trusted by touring musicians, audio professionals, hearing specialists and music enthusiasts around the world.
Crucially, the leadership team brings direct familiarity and long-standing connection with both brands. Tal Kocen previously worked with Westone Audio and Etymotic, while Gary Boyer remaining on board as EVP further reinforces continuity as the brands enter this next chapter. Alongside this, CEO Sam Roney brings extensive experience across the audio industry through his involvement with multiple established audio brands including Dekoni Audio, Grell Audio and Dark Matter Audio Labs. Together, the leadership team brings first-hand understanding of the companies’ histories, product philosophies and long-standing customer bases.
Westone Audio has been part of the audio landscape since the 1950s. The brand played an important role in the development of custom in-ear monitors for musicians, with its background in hearing protection and acoustics helping shape products used on stage, in studios and by serious listeners. Westone Audio has long served professional musicians and performers who rely on comfort, isolation and dependable sound in demanding environments.
Etymotic, founded in 1983, is known for its research-led approach to hearing and sound. The brand helped define the category for high-isolation, precision in-ear listening, with products developed from a foundation in auditory research, diagnostics and hearing protection. Its ER4 series became a reference point for accurate in-ear sound, while its wider product range continues to serve musicians, professionals and listeners who value clarity and faithful sound reproduction. Etymotic’s hearing protection products also became widely recognised for solving one of the biggest frustrations with traditional earplugs by maintaining clarity and balance while simply reducing volume.
Under Fidelity Collective, both brands will continue to honour their heritage while investing in a new generation of products. The company’s focus will be on maintaining the distinct identities and core values that made Westone Audio and Etymotic trusted names, while bringing fresh energy, expanded R&D, renewed product development and long-term investment into both brands and their passionate user base.
Fidelity Collective says the goal is not to reinvent what made the brands successful, but to build on that foundation with fresh momentum, modern innovation and a renewed long-term vision across both professional and consumer audio categories.
“Westone Audio and Etymotic are brands with genuine history and credibility,” said Sam Roney, CEO of Fidelity Collective. “Tal and I share a vision of bringing startup-level energy to these epic legacy brands while fully respecting the heritage they’ve built over decades serving musicians, audio professionals and hearing protection users.”
“We are investing in R&D, product development, engineering and the long-term future of both companies. We see enormous opportunity in these brands and want to build on the incredible work that has already been done over many years. The goal is not to change what made Westone Audio and Etymotic special, but to bring fresh momentum, new ideas and renewed innovation to both brands moving forward.”
“We are investing in R&D, product development, engineering and the long-term future of both companies. We see enormous opportunity in these brands and want to build on the incredible work that has already been done over many years. The goal is not to change what made Westone Audio and Etymotic special, but to bring fresh momentum, new ideas and renewed innovation to both brands moving forward.”
“We see huge opportunity ahead and want to bring fresh momentum, investment and energy into both brands while staying true to what made them special in the first place.”
Tal Kocen, COO of Fidelity Collective, added: “For me, this is incredibly personal because these are brands I already know closely. There’s already a strong foundation here, and our role is to build on that with fresh ideas, modern product development and long-term commitment to the communities around both brands.”
The acquisition gives Fidelity Collective control of two highly complementary audio brands. Westone Audio brings a strong connection to professional musicians, custom in-ear monitors and performance-focused listening, while Etymotic brings deep technical credibility in accuracy, isolation, hearing protection and research-based audio design.
Fidelity Collective also confirmed plans to continue investing in staffing, engineering, product development and operational infrastructure as both brands move into this next phase, including the re-establishment of sales operations in Dallas and engineering and lab facilities in Chicago.
Both brands will continue to serve their existing audiences, including professional musicians, stage performers, engineers, hearing-conscious listeners and music enthusiasts, while expanding into new product categories and market opportunities.
Further product announcements from both Westone Audio and Etymotic are expected in the coming months.