Audio gear prices are climbing, but for how long?

The trade war between the United States and foreign countries like China are no longer a theoretical threat to the prices of sound equipment – those prices are the highest exist here. Bose Trends Digital Trends has told Monday, May 12, and will collide at the price of its leading headphones at Headcomfort Ultra from $ 429 to $ 449, while the elegant Soundlink Home Bluetooth will increase from $ 219 to $ 229.

Bose may be the best known voice brand so far to announce the price increased prices for its retail customers in the United States, but it is far from the only mark. Onkyo told me that the new powered loudspeakers, which first appeared in CES 2025, are up by $ 50: GX-30ARC is now $ 349 per pair (previously $ 299), and the youngest GX-10DB is now 249 dollars per pair (before that, it was $ 199).

We do not want to raise prices, but the current context of the tariff requires this.

Logitech, the parent company “Logitech”, says it has declared “a set of targeted increases in prices on selected products in the United States”, with an average of about 10 % over the affected devices. He pointed out that some prices are still unchanged.

Every company I heard from an apology tone. “We do not want to raise prices, but the current context of the tariff requires this,” Logitete said.

Boss said: “We are doing our best to reduce the impact of global trade dynamics on our products,” we will keep an increase in prices to a minimum and avoid one solution that suits everyone. “

In some cases, new products have reached higher prices than expected. When Soundcore released the latest wireless earphones, freedom 5, at $ 130, it had to increase the price of the most able freedom to prevent buyers from ignoring Liberty 5 (LIBERTY 4 Pro was also $ 130, but it is now $ 150).

A limited runway

Currently, some brands stick to their current prices. Jonathan Levin, CEO of Audio Audio, CEO of Boutique Audio Master & Dynamic, has no current plans to increase prices on her family from excellent wireless headphones.

Levin feels that companies should resist the desire to panic. Pointing to the current tariff by 145 % on Chinese goods that cannot be tolerated, it hopes that “cold heads will prevail”.

There are some signs that the administration is ready to decline – at least a little. On May 9, president Trump admitted that the tariff should be less, and promoted an average of 80 % in a social media post, according to CNN.

However, 80 % is very high to avoid price changes, and Levin admitted that he had only enough variable inventory to continue until mid -June, and at this stage he may be forced to reconsider the prices of masters and dynamics.

I contacted Apple, Sennheiser, Klipsch and Sony to get their reactions, but none of them wanted by the time when this story was published. From what I can see yet, they have kept the prices as it is. However, early leaks indicate that Sony will impose up to $ 50 for the WH-1000XM6, which has not yet been released, a step that may be affected by the tariff, given that the leaked images are very similar to $ 400.

Unintended consequences

The threat of high prices may increase the pans in the short -term purchase. Levin noticed a significant increase in e -commerce activity in recent weeks, which is suspected partially driven by people who want to avoid paying more. Those who may have been on the fence around the purchase now take diving.

For some companies, an increase in purchase can provide some money that affects the need to pay the tariffs as its products strike American entry ports.

For others, the economic situation created a lot of uncertainty and pressure. In addition to creating and selling its own brand products, Master & Dynamic cooperates with other companies – sometimes publicly, and sometimes in a hidden position. Levin said that one of these projects was suspended and could not determine when it might resume.

In a rare reflection of preferential pricing, American customs duties made it less expensive to buy these high -tech elements in Canada.

When Soundcore sent her Canadian prices to Liberty 5, I had to check that there was no typo. At a price of $ 140, you can buy Liberty 5, with an equivalent of $ 101 in the north of the border.

Buy now or wait a long time?

Prices rise. This is clear. But what are the products that will be affected and how difficult they are. The purchase is now a logical response, but there may be another reason to avoid waiting and vision. For some products, even a much lower tariff environment will remain unpredictable.

Companies can convert excess stock to other markets while reducing the manufacture of new stock. A few brands have the size needed to rotate it and then revolve around the factory production quickly enough to return again with more inventory when the conditions improve. Once these products are left, physical and virtual shelves, they can pass some time before their return.