USound and Gettop: A Strategic Alliance Reshaping the Future of Audio and Bio-Sensing
In September, Austrian audio technology company USound announced a strategic supply agreement with Gettop Acoustic, a major Chinese manufacturer of acoustic components. On the surface, it might look like another OEM partnership in the complex supply chain of consumer electronics. But for those paying closer attention to the convergence of miniaturized hardware, wearable health, and AI-enabled sensing, the move signals something larger: the maturing of MEMS audio technology and its transition from niche to mass-market adoption.
This agreement positions USound not just as a supplier of components, but as an innovator defining the next generation of how humans will hear, communicate, and even monitor their health.
From Austria to the World: What USound Brings to the Table
Founded in Austria, USound has built its reputation around MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) audio solutions. MEMS is a technology that enables microscopic mechanical components to be fabricated on semiconductor wafers, similar to how chips are made.
For decades, speakers were one of the few components in consumer electronics that resisted miniaturization. While processors shrank according to Moore’s Law, loudspeakers stayed bulky, constrained by moving diaphragms and physical drivers. MEMS has changed that equation.
USound’s MEMS speakers are smaller, lighter, and more power-efficient than conventional speakers. This makes them highly attractive for product designers building sleek and compact devices—from true wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds to augmented reality (AR) glasses.
But USound goes a step further: its MEMS devices are not only capable of delivering sound, but also of sensing acoustic signals from the human body. That means the same tiny speaker embedded in a wearable can double as a biosensor—tracking heart rate, respiratory signals, or other biometrics.
For the audio industry, this is more than incremental improvement. It’s a redefinition of what a speaker can do.
Dual Purpose: Audio Meets Health Tech
When asked about the future growth areas, USound emphasizes the AI-driven acoustic sensing side of its business. As the company explains, the real breakthrough is that one MEMS speaker can perform two roles simultaneously: playing sound and sensing the body.
This opens an entirely new market at the intersection of consumer electronics and healthcare. Imagine a pair of earbuds that doesn’t just play music or take calls, but also continuously monitors heart rate or detects breathing irregularities. Or smart hearing aids that dynamically adapt to both environmental noise and physiological signals.
Such convergence could redefine hearables as health platforms, in the same way that smartwatches evolved from simple fitness trackers to FDA-cleared medical devices. With global demand for wearables and digital health on the rise, USound is positioning itself in a rapidly expanding value chain.
Why Gettop? The Scale Equation
Technology innovation is only half the story. To cross the chasm from prototype to global adoption, supply reliability and scalability are essential. That is where Gettop Acoustic comes in.
Gettop is a recognized leader in acoustic component manufacturing, with significant expertise in scaling MEMS technologies to millions of units. By teaming up with Gettop, USound gains a trusted partner capable of producing high volumes of MEMS wafers to meet the accelerating demand in consumer and medical markets.
In strategic terms, the agreement represents a de-risking move for USound. The company secures guaranteed manufacturing capacity at scale, ensuring it can serve multinational customers in industries where supply chain reliability is as critical as technological innovation.
For Gettop, meanwhile, the deal expands its portfolio with cutting-edge MEMS audio solutions, complementing its established position in microphones and other acoustic components. It’s a symbiotic partnership where each side strengthens its market position.
Beyond Components: The ASIC Advantage
One of the less obvious but highly strategic aspects of the agreement is USound’s decision to supply not just MEMS wafers but also ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits).
For device makers, sourcing MEMS speakers is only part of the challenge. They also need the control electronics that drive them. By offering both as an integrated package, USound provides customers with a turnkey solution: a fully optimized system designed for best-in-class performance and efficiency.
This matters because integration reduces time-to-market and simplifies the supply chain. Instead of piecing together components from multiple suppliers, device manufacturers can buy a plug-and-play solution. That creates stickiness for USound in the value chain and increases switching costs for customers.
Strategically, it also positions USound not merely as a component vendor but as a system solution provider—a subtle but important shift in how value is captured in technology ecosystems.
Market Impact: Where MEMS Audio Will Matter Most
The combination of MEMS wafers and ASICs has implications across multiple industries:
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Consumer electronics: The obvious first frontier is in hearables, earbuds, and smart glasses. As devices shrink in size and battery efficiency becomes critical, MEMS-based solutions offer form factors and energy savings that traditional speakers cannot.
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Health tech: The dual role of MEMS as both audio and biosensing components enables next-generation medical devices and wellness wearables. Think continuous health monitoring without additional sensors.
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Industrial and IoT: Miniaturized, durable, and reliable audio systems are also relevant for smart machines, AR/VR platforms, and industrial wearables that depend on voice interaction and environmental sensing.
Each of these markets is large and growing. According to multiple industry forecasts, the global hearables market is expected to surpass $150 billion within this decade, while digital health wearables are projected to grow at double-digit CAGR. With its MEMS-plus-sensing platform, USound stands to tap into both.
What Comes Next
For USound, the focus now is on turning technological advantage and supply readiness into design wins with global consumer and health tech brands. If the company succeeds, MEMS speakers may become as ubiquitous in earbuds and glasses as MEMS microphones already are in smartphones.
The implications extend well beyond entertainment. As USound’s executives note, the same MEMS speaker that delivers sound can monitor a user’s heartbeat. The fusion of audio and health sensing could give rise to new product categories that blur the line between consumer gadgets and medical devices.
For Gettop, the partnership strengthens its portfolio in MEMS technologies and positions it as a key enabler of next-generation audio ecosystems. Together, the two companies are building a supply foundation that could reshape how billions of people experience and interact with sound.we hear, heal, and connect in the digital age.