Making good things like microphones in the USA is hard, making great gadgets in California has become REALLY hard. Insurance cost and taxes are very high and account for why some products are SO expensive. Here at High on Technology we wish the new owners of Royer Labs well with their new company and venture.
On March 19, 2026, Royer Labs (known for its high-end ribbon microphones like the R-121) announced its acquisition by Sounds Great Holdings, LLC, a new private equity firm founded by a trio of investors and entrepreneurs.
This is Sounds Great Holdings' first acquisition. The deal is described as a move for growth and potential global expansion, while keeping Royer Labs' operations in Burbank, California, and preserving its signature sound quality and craftsmanship. The brand will continue as-is, with plans for more product development and sales reach.
The news has been widely reported in pro audio outlets (Mix, AudioXpress, etc.) and confirmed on Royer Labs' own social channels. Prior to this, Royer Labs operated independently since its founding in 1998.
Sounds Great Holdings, LLC is a newly formed private equity firm (launched in early 2026) that focuses on investing in and acquiring high-quality, iconic brands in the professional audio industry.
Key Details:
Founders/Principals:
- Joe Covey (serving as CEO of Royer Labs post-acquisition)
- Matthew Davidge
- Adam Pelzman
All three have significant prior experience in acquiring, operating, and scaling businesses.
WHAT ABOUT MOJAVE MICROPHONES?
David Royer still has a significant interest and active involvement in Mojave Audio. Here's the current situation (as of March 2026): David Royer is a co-founder of Mojave Audio (officially co-founded in 2005 with Dusty Wakeman). He originally started building custom microphones under the Mojave name in his garage in the 1980s/1990s, well before Royer Labs was formally launched for ribbon mics. He remains the primary microphone designer for Mojave. Almost every Mojave model (MA-200, MA-37, MA-1000, MA-D, MA-C, etc.) is designed by David Royer. He also oversees testing, product development, repairs, and quality control. Mojave Audio is still independently owned and operated separately from Royer Labs. The recent sale of Royer Labs to Sounds Great Holdings does not include Mojave, and there has been no change in David's role or ownership stake there. Day-to-day business leadership is handled by Dusty Wakeman (President) and Colin Liebich, but David continues to be deeply involved on the technical/creative side. Recent interviews and product announcements (including new models in 2025–2026) still highlight him as the key designer and "unassuming genius" behind the brand. In short: While he no longer owns or runs Royer Labs (that was sold), David Royer is still very much tied to Mojave Audio as co-founder, chief designer, and a key figure in the company. Mojave continues to be his "condenser-focused brand" and operates as usual.
Originally published March 25, 2026
