Bose Corporation is an American manufacturing company specializing in audio equipment. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose in Framingham, Massachusetts, the company is known for its home audio systems, speakers, noise-canceling headphones, professional audio products, and vehicle sound systems. Amar Bose, then a graduate student at MIT, was inspired to start the company after being disappointed with the performance of a stereo system he purchased in 1956. This led him to research the importance of reverberant sound and psychoacoustics in perceived audio quality. Bose's mission became "Better Sound Through Research," which remains the company slogan.
Lila Snyder has been the CEO of Bose Corporation since September 2020. Bose is primarily owned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), to which Amar Bose donated the majority of non-voting shares in 2011. This arrangement allows MIT to receive cash dividends to support its research and education mission, while ensuring the company's independence. In 2023, Bose's global revenue was approximately $3 billion. Bose holds a 2.9% market share in the U.S. audio and video equipment manufacturing industry and ranks as the third-largest brand in the U.S. headphone market, with approximately 12.5% of consumers having experience with their headphones.
Recent news includes the launch of the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) in October 2025. Bose is focused on consumer, automotive, and collaboration solutions. The company divested its Bose Professional business to Transom Capital. Bose offers a diverse range of products, including home theater systems, portable Bluetooth speakers (marketed as "SoundLink"), stereo speakers, computer speakers, smart home devices, and soundbars. The QuietComfort series, including the QuietComfort 25 headphones and ProFlight aviation headset, are among its notable products.
