From a Brooklyn building owned by the Grado family since 1918, Grado Labs has made headphones and phono cartridges since 1953. Founded by Audio Hall of Famer Joseph Grado, the family-owned American company is known for inventing the moving-coil stereo cartridge and developing the first true high-end dynamic headphone. Wired headphones are still assembled in Brooklyn, where a third generation of Grados is learning the business.
beyerdynamicFor a century, beyerdynamic has made headphones, headsets and microphones, with much of its work still developed and handcrafted at its Heilbronn, Germany headquarters. More than 400 employees support a tradition rooted in professional recording, where products such as the DT 770 PRO became familiar tools for studios and creators. The company also carries that German production heritage into high-end listening, gaming and live-audio applications.FARMINGDALE, NY
beyerdynamicFor a century, beyerdynamic has made headphones, headsets and microphones, with much of its design and production still carried out by hand at the company’s headquarters in Heilbronn, Germany. More than 400 employees support a range that runs from the studio’s familiar DT 770 PRO to microphones whose natural sound and robust construction have made them fixtures on stages and in recording rooms. The company’s distinctive approach combines ongoing audio innovation with repairable, replaceable components on many professional products.FARMINGDALE, NY
AcousticSheep LLCFrom a kitchen-table invention by Erie husband-and-wife founders Wei-Shin Lai, MD, and Jason Wolfe, AcousticSheep makes comfortable headphones built into headbands for sleeping and exercise. Founded in 2007, the company manufactures and sells its SleepPhones and RunPhones brands from Erie, where Lai and Wolfe still own and run the business with a 30-person team serving customers around the world. Its patented designs have earned multiple Consumer Electronics Show Innovation Awards, including for SleepPhones Wireless and RunPhones Wireless.ERIE, PA
Bache AudioBache Audio is a small Brooklyn company that handcrafts high-fidelity speakers and single-ended amplifiers, an effort that began when founder Greg Belman built audio equipment for his own listening. Its designs favor wide-band drivers, quasi-coaxial alignment, and straightforward circuitry, while custom finishes and made-to-order builds let listeners tailor speakers to their rooms. A Brooklyn listening room offers customers the chance to hear the speakers before buying.BROOKLYN, NY