Sonova announces sale of Sennheiser headphone division

The “Consumer Hearing” division of Sennheiser is being sold again. This business includes both headphones and soundbars under the Sennheiser brand and is currently owned by the Swiss company Sonova. Below are the full details regarding the decision to sell the audiophile headphone lineup by the manufacturer of hearing aids and cochlear implants.

Why did Sonova decide to sell Sennheiser’s headphone business?

In order to invest more in its core business of hearing care–related products, Sonova stated on its website that it will sell the Consumer Hearing business with the objective of “consistently aligning its resources with innovation priorities.” The Swiss company’s new strategy is to reallocate investments by concentrating resources on activities related to hearing aids and cochlear implants.

Sonova’s current CEO, Eric Bernard, stated:

“We are directing our design toward more lifestyle-oriented solutions and healthy aging, transforming and expanding our professional care network, acting in a more targeted manner at the country level, and improving both customer service and our operational processes. In doing so, we will continue to generate profitable growth above the market average and create sustainable value. The implementation is supported by our culture of entrepreneurship and innovation.”

Is there any company interested in acquiring Sennheiser’s headphone business?

No. At present, the only publicly available information is that Sonova has announced the sale of Sennheiser’s Consumer Hearing division. The official Sennheiser Consumer Hearing account posted the following statement on Reddit:

“Hello everyone, Sennheiser’s consumer headphones business has been a part of Sonova since 2022. Today Sonova announced they intend to divest the business and will focus on Hearing Care. This separation also aligns well with our strategic focus, as we develop products across key categories such as audiophile and premium headphones, as well as in-home audio. Our next step is to find the right new owner. Whilst we do that our day to day does not change: we’ll continue to develop and support our products as planned, and warranties and customer service remain unchanged. We’ll do our best to provide as much transparency as possible throughout this process and we thank you for your patience and understanding.”

When was Sennheiser’s consumer audio business first sold?

As previously reported in an article published on the Oficina da Net website, Sennheiser sold its consumer audio business to Sonova in late May 2021. Between 2018 and 2025, Arnd Kaldowski served as CEO of the Swiss hearing care manufacturer, and coincidentally, there was a leadership transition at the end of last year.

In September 2025, it was announced that Eric Bernard had officially assumed the role of CEO of Sonova. Bernard’s vision is likely different from that of Kaldowski, and new strategies for the company’s growth were subsequently developed and announced in the statement published on March 23, 2026, on the company’s website.

Possible signs of decline in Sennheiser’s consumer headphone lineup

There are some indicators that may be considered warning signs regarding the decline of Sennheiser’s consumer headphone lineup. One of the most notable is the departure of the chief engineer responsible for the creation of several of the brand’s legendary headphones.

The departure of Axel Grell from Sennheiser

It can be argued that Sennheiser’s consumer headphone division began to decline around 2018, when engineer Axel Grell left the company after 27 years. Grell was responsible for the development of iconic models such as the Sennheiser HD 600, HD 650, HD 800, and the Sennheiser Orpheus (HE 90).

Undoubtedly, his departure represented a significant loss for Sennheiser and its headphone division; however, this was only the beginning. A few years later, the company’s headset segment would undergo a structural separation.

The separation of Sennheiser’s headset segment: the rise and “end” of EPOS

In 2020, as reported on the Oficina da Net website, Sennheiser’s gaming and office headset division was separated and began operating under the name “EPOS.” Prior to this separation, the development of headset products (headphones with microphones) began in 2003 through a partnership between Sennheiser and the Danish company Demant, which operates in the hearing care sector.

After the headset division became EPOS, Demant remained responsible for the business. However, in August 2023, the discontinuation of the gaming headset line was announced in order to focus exclusively on office headsets. In its statement, Demant said:

“Today, Demant announces the decision to gradually wind down its Gaming business and sharpen the focus of its Communications segment on its core business of Enterprise Solutions, which will continue to operate under the EPOS brand. The decision follows a review of the future growth potential and competitiveness of the Gaming business and follows a period of weaker-than-expected results due to weak market conditions and a lack of scale and critical mass.”

According to the LinkedIn profile of engineer Jermo Köhnke, he worked at EPOS between 2018 and 2019. One year later, in 2020, he was promoted to Premium Headphone Product Manager, working on wireless headphone projects priced below €200.

Köhnke’s last position at Sennheiser was Audiophile Product Manager, a role he held between 2020 and 2022. He subsequently worked at Sonova until 2024, when he left the company. He is currently working at grell UG, a company founded by Axel Grell in January 2023 to develop his own headphones.

What is Sennheiser’s Consumer line?

Sennheiser’s “Consumer” line refers to the company’s business of headphones and soundbars developed for general consumers. This segment includes products such as the “MOMENTUM” Bluetooth headphones, as well as over-ear models like the HD 560S, HD 600, HD 650, and HD 800S, and in-ear models such as the IE 600 and IE 900.

What are “consumer” products?

Consumer products are designed for personal use, typically in home environments. They differ from professional or industrial products, which are engineered to meet priorities such as high resistance to physical impact, temperature variations, and humidity.

Are there Sennheiser headphones that are not part of the consumer business?

Yes. There are Sennheiser headphones that do not belong to the consumer product segment. Below are some examples from Sennheiser’s professional audio lineup:

• Sennheiser HD 25
• Sennheiser HD 200 PRO
• Sennheiser HD 490 PRO
• Sennheiser IE 100 PRO
• Sennheiser HD 280 PRO
• Sennheiser HD 300 PRO
• Sennheiser HD 400 PRO
• Sennheiser IE 500 PRO