Most Exhaustive Report

This market research report on the US earphones and headphones market covers market sizing and forecast, market share, industry trends, growth drivers, and vendor analysis. The market study includes insights on segmentation by product types (wired, wireless, and truly wireless), by end-user types (entertainment, fitness and gym, and gaming), feature types (smart and non-smart), types (in-ear, on-ear, and over-ear), and distribution channels (hypermarkets and supermarkets, multi-branded stores, exclusive stores, online, and others).

US Earphones and Headphones Market: Overview

The US market landscape witnessed a major change after the introduction of true wireless earphones by Bragi in 2015

Changing consumer preferences, growing advancements in headphone features, and increasing scope of wireless headphones have are not confined only to sound quality but also have focused on heightened the sense of identity among users. There is also significant demand for specialized, high-end, better sound quality wireless headphones, which are catered by specialized companies such as Apple, Bose, Sony, and Sennheiser.

A significant trend observed worldwide is the introduction of true wireless earphones, which was introduced by Bragi in 2015. With a keen eye on the changing market landscape, vendors such as JBL, Apple, and Harman, a Samsung subsidiary, launched wireless earbuds, which incorporate several smart features in their earphones. The US earphones and headphones market is expected to cross $9 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR more than 12% during the forecast period.

US Earphones and Headphones Market: Dynamics

The emergence of IoT is expected to have a profound impact on product designs, development, manufacturing, marketing, sales, and aftersales services

The US durable consumer industry market is witnessing the growing penetration of IoT. Several brands are exploring means to use IoT to streamline manufacturing and SPM processes to deliver more personalized customer experience. Globally, vendors are increasing spending on IoT to provide proactive customer services. The emergence of innovative technology in the US earphones and headphones market is having a profound impact on the product design, development, manufacturing, marketing, sales, aftersales. One of the most critical aspects of incorporating IoT into true wireless headphones is enhanced product usage mapping, which can provide insights about prospects and potential of products and services to the consumers.

US Earphones and Headphones Market: Segmentation

This market research report includes a detailed segmentation of the market by technology, end users, features, types, and distribution channel.

US Earphones and Headphones Market: Technology

Waverly labs is working on speech translation true wireless headphones

The US earphones and headphones market by technology can be classified into wired, wireless, and truly wireless. Wireless earphones have witnessed tremendous growth and captured more than one-third of the earphones market in the US. Hassle free usage, high-quality sound, enhanced aesthetic appeal, and integration with home entertainment systems are driving the sale of wireless headphones.

Wired earphones were leading segment till 2015; however, mobility emerged a major challenge for them. Also, the relatively low aesthetic appeal of wired headphones is the main reason for their decline in the US earphones and headphones market.

Truly wireless earbuds are the fastest growing segment in the US earphones and headphones market. True wireless headphones in the coming years will provide real-time solutions for language translations. Waverly labs is currently working on such a model, pilot, which is being positioned as speech translation true wireless headphones.

US Earphones and Headphones Market: End-users

Vendors are focusing on introducing high-quality wireless headphones that are compatible with advanced Bluetooth technology and smart wearables

Entertainment, sports and fitness, and gaming sectors are the prominent end-users of earbuds. In terms of revenue, the entertainment sector dominates more than one-third of the market. A significant number of consumers are also using sports headphones during fitness and gaming activities. Vendors are focusing on introducing high-quality headphones that are compatible with advanced Bluetooth devices. These devices are high in demand among music enthusiasts. Headphones manufacturers are also collaborating with several music artists to launch special edition headphones.

The sports and fitness segment is grabbing vendors’ attention to manufacture new-age wearables such as smartwatches and pendants, mobile applications, and rings, which are continuously used to monitor and track the user’s vital biometrics.

Also, avid gamers are shifting toward wireless gaming headphones to overcome the challenges of audio dropouts, short battery life, unwanted audio artifacts, and sound muddiness in wired headphones.

US Earphones and Headphones Market: Features

Smart earphones are loaded with advanced features such as gesture recognition, biometric monitoring, and voice controls

The US earphones and headphones market by features can be categorized into smart and non-smart. Smart headphones connect the smartphone and other smart devices using wire-free technologies such as Bluetooth, NFS, and IR. They have evolved from offering a style quotient to resolving real-time challenges. These headphones are loaded with modern, advanced features such as virtual assistants, gesture recognition, biometric monitoring, voice controls, and language translation. The rising adoption of wireless headphones is driving the US earphones and headphones market, including wired and wireless headphones.

US Earphones and Headphones Market: Types

Recent advancements in headphones technology have increased demand for on-ear earphones

Recent technological advancements in on-ear headphones have increased demand and improved the quality of on-ear headphones. The US earphones and headphones market is also witnessing an increase in the number of vendors that have added new on-ear headphone models to their portfolio.

In-ear (wired, wireless, truly wireless), on-ear (wired and wireless), over-ear (wired and wireless)headphones are the major products. The in-ear earbuds segment has the largest market share due to the growing demand for feature-rich truly wireless headphones, and the segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 13% during 2018–2024.

US Earphones and Headphones Market: Distribution Channels

Online stores are expected to emerge as the largest selling platform for headphones during the forecast period

Hypermarkets and supermarkets, multi-branded stores, exclusive shops, and online stores are the major distribution channels in the US earphones and headphones market. Online stores are expected to be the largest distribution channel due to the growing internet penetration, increasing smartphone users base, and growing online shopping trend. Amazon is one of the leading online retailers in the US market. Exclusive stores are also gaining momentum, and they are likely to drive the sale during the forecast period.

Key Vendor Analysis

With the regular technological advancements, the US earphones and headphones market is likely to witness the implementation of IoT in headphones, the availability of real-time language translation features, and the integration of smartphones with hearing aids. Currently, earbuds are not used only as a consumer good, but they are also becoming fashion accessories. The prominent vendors in US earphones and headphones market are actively involved in strategic acquisitions and mergers, which are expected to make profitable results during the forecast period.

Leading Vendors in US Earphones and Headphones Market:

• Apple
  • Business Overview
  • Key Strengths
  • Key Strategies
  • Key Opportunities
• Bose
• Samsung
• Sony
• Sennheiser
• Skullcandy
• LG Electronics

Other prominent vendors are Alphabet, Amkett, Asus, Audio-Technic, Avanc, Bang and Olufsen, Beyerdynamic, Brag, Crazybab, Creative Technology, Denon, Earin, Grado Labs, House of Marley, Huawei, Jabra, Jaybird, Jay, JVC Kenwood, Logitech, Meizu, Monster, Motorola, Mymanu, Nuheara, Panasonic, Parrot, Philip, Pioneer, Rowkin, Sentry Industries, Shure, SOL Republic, Toshiba, Turtle Beach, Urbanears, Waverly Labs, Westone Laboratories, Mpow, Ailihen, Kensington, Arbily Tech, Dibidog, Letscom, Koss, Goang-Fann Co Ltd and Xiaomi.

Key Market Insights

• Offers market sizing and growth prospects of the US earphones and headphones market for the forecast period 2019–2024
• Provides comprehensive insights on the latest industry trends, market forecast, and growth drivers in the US earphones and headphones market
• Includes a detailed analysis of market growth drivers, challenges, and investment opportunities
• Delivers a complete overview of market segments and the regional outlook of US earphones and headphones market
• Offers an exhaustive summary of the vendor landscape, competitive analysis, and key market strategies to gain a competitive advantage in the US earphones and headphones market