So, when considering the results of this month’s dealer survey, what are we to make of this market segment? The gap between those who report that sales are up, when compared to 2022, and those who claim that the trend is downwards is only separated by a few (4.3) percentage points, with the “majority” (41.7%) feeling that business is level with last year’s metrics.
Ok, that clears up… not much, really.
How about those detailed comments on trends in this realm? Well, while the response to this poll was fairly robust (over 400 participants), relatively few opted to provide more than a one- or two-word comment about the state of the market. Some felt end-users were finally embracing higher-end, top-tier product, a few – like David St. John of Glendora, California’s Music & Arts – observe that “sales have strengthened over the past year. This is a wide-open market that almost anyone can use” (thanks for the headline, David), while still others reported that margins are low and sales have been trending downwards.
Consensus? Not exactly.
There was some agreement from retailers: over-ear cans seem to be clear favorites and a small handful of brands account for the majority of units moved.
Looking Back on 2025: A Year of Controlled Chaos (Emphasis on “Controlled”)