A few days ago, I tested Bose’s new QuietComfort Ultra headphones and loved the overall audio experience and build quality.
While Bose is an American audio brand, it got me thinking about where Bose makes its speakers.
It led me down a big rabbit hole, and I turned my research into this short article.
Quick Answer
Bose makes its speakers in different countries like the USA, Mexico, Malaysia, China, Thailand, and Vietnam. Bose owns a few manufacturing plants, while others are OEM and ODM manufacturers in countries like China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
Bose has closed a few of its manufacturing plants to focus on lean and cost-effective manufacturing. Thus, its plants in Malaysia and Mexico are managed by Flex, a world-renowned electronic manufacturing brand.
On the other hand, Bose has OEM manufacturers in countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and China. OEM manufacturers only make Bose speakers and audio products based on Bose’s design.
Quick History about Bose
Bose is a popular and premium audio brand started in 1964 in Massachusetts by Amar Bose.
During the initial years, Bose gained popularity through its quirky-designed speakers like the Bose 2201 and the Bose 901.
The company is popularly known for its premium home speakers and headphones. The company has gained immense popularity through its range of noise-cancelling headphones.
Where are Bose Speakers Manufactured?
Bose has several manufacturing plants around the world. Bose operates some of these plants, while others are third-party manufacturing plants that manufacture and assemble Bose products.
Bose has manufacturing plants in the USA, Mexico, and Malaysia. On the other hand, Bose has numerous OEM manufacturers in China, Thailand & Vietnam who make speakers and audio products as per Bose’s specifications & design.
Manufacturing Location of Bose
United States
- Framingham, Massachusetts – Bose headquarters and its primary manufacturing plant is in Framingham, Massachusetts.
- Westborough, Massachusetts – Just a few miles from Framingham is another Bose manufacturing plant in Westborough. Apart from manufacturing, it also acts as an assembly center for Bose speakers.
Mexico
- Tijuana – Right at the USA and Mexico border is Bose’s major manufacturing plant in Mexico. The proximity is so close that the Bose Shipping & Distribution center is in the USA, and the distance between the manufacturing plant and the distribution center is just 4.3 miles.
- San Luis Río Colorado – Bose has another major manufacturing plant in San Luis Río Colorado. However, in 2016, Flex took over this manufacturing plant, which now manufactures Bose products.
Malaysia
- Batu Kawan – Batu Kawan has the biggest Bose manufacturing plant & distribution hub in Asia. It primarily covers the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions.
China
- Shenzhen – Shenzhen is a manufacturing hub for major electronic companies around the world. Bose has several EMS, ODM, and OEM manufacturers in Shenzhen, China.
Bose also has several OEM manufacturers in Thailand and Vietnam. However, their information isn’t public yet.
How to Check Bose Speakers Manufacturing Location
Bose doesn’t openly disclose in which factory their speakers or other audio products are manufactured.
However, by law, in most countries, they must include the country where their speakers are made.
Hence, when buying new Bose speakers, check the box thoroughly to find the manufacturing country.
You’ll find this information on a label mostly stuck on the bottom of the speaker’s box.
The label has crucial information like bar code, serial number, and country of manufacture.
The label also has the importer’s name if the speakers are imported from other countries.
FAQs
Does Bose manufacture its speakers in the US?
Yes, Bose still manufactures its products in the US. It has a manufacturing plant in Framingham and Westborough, Massachusetts.
Does the country of manufacturing affect Bose speakers’ sound quality?
No, even though the products are made in other countries, they are manufactured according to Bose’s designs, specifications, and materials. Also, it has strict quality control. So, any speaker or product that doesn’t match Bose’s quality is rejected at the factory level.
Is Bose an American company?
Yes, Bose is an American company founded by Indian-origin Amar Bose, headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts.
Conclusion
I hope this article helped to answer your query about where Bose makes its speakers.
Bose is one of the few American companies that are still manufacturing its products in the USA. However, most of its products are manufactured in Asian countries and shipped wherever required.
If you have questions or have something more to add to the above information, please don’t hesitate to leave it in the comments section below.