Irvine’s Ultimate Ears Inc., a maker of custom ear monitors for musicians and sound engineers, is set to be bought by Switzerland’s Logitech International SA for $34 million.
The cash deal is expected to close this month.
Ultimate Ears, which was started in 1995, developed the first two-way, custom in-ear stage monitors for performing musicians.
Some 75% of today’s top touring rock musicians use its gear, the company said.
It also makes consumer earphones for digital music players, which start at around $40.
Custom in-ear devices can go for as much as $1,200.
The company has about 40 workers here.
Chief Executive Bob Allison, along with the Irvine workers, is set to stay onboard.
It’s unclear if any Logitech managers will come to Irvine.
For now, Ultimate Ears is keeping its brand name but will be referred to as “a Logitech company,” a spokeswoman said.
Ultimate Ears designs and manufactures its custom products locally. Consumer headphones are designed here but are made in Asia.
The privately held company doesn’t disclose revenue.
Logitech is the top maker of speakers and headphones for computers.
Its U.S. headquarters are in Fremont and it’s publicly traded on Nasdaq.
The company had a recent market value of about $5 billion.
