Sound Sensors Market Size and Share
Sound Sensors Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The acoustic sensors market size is valued at USD 1.23 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 1.65 billion by 2030, reflecting a 6.08% CAGR. Miniaturized MEMS designs, on-device AI, and edge connectivity are broadening acoustic sensor use from audio capture to predictive maintenance, environmental compliance, and voice-first human–machine interaction. Consumer electronics still anchor volume growth, but industrial, automotive, and infrastructure deployments are scaling as manufacturers and cities pursue continuous condition monitoring. Regulatory noise-monitoring mandates in North America and Europe, combined with large-scale electronics production in Asia-Pacific, shape divergent regional demand patterns. Supply chain risks for piezoelectric materials and fragmented MEMS ASIC patents encourage vertical integration as firms look to secure technology ownership and cost control. Strategic acquisitions that blend sensing and edge AI point to a future in which acoustic data is processed locally for faster decision making.
Key Report Takeaways
- By sensor type, MEMS microphones held 42% of acoustic sensors market share in 2024, while acoustic emission sensors are projected to expand at an 8.9% CAGR to 2030.
- By end-user industry, consumer electronics led with 55% revenue share in 2024; industrial predictive maintenance is advancing at a 7.3% CAGR through 2030.
- By frequency range, the audible band accounted for a 70% share of the acoustic sensors market size in 2024, whereas ultrasound applications are set to grow at an 8% CAGR to 2030.
- By application, voice recognition represented 13.21% of 2024 revenues, while telecommunications infrastructure is the fastest-growing segment at an 8.5% CAGR.
- By geography, North America commanded 31% of 2024 revenues; Asia-Pacific exhibits the highest regional CAGR at 7.8% through 2030.
- Syntiant’s December 2024 purchase of Knowles’ Consumer MEMS Microphones division signals rising consolidation as vendors fuse sensing hardware with low-power AI processing.
Global Sound Sensors Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
DRIVER | (~) % IMPACT ON CAGR FORECAST | GEOGRAPHIC RELEVANCE | IMPACT TIMELINE |
---|---|---|---|
Proliferation of voice-first interfaces in consumer IoT and automotive cockpits | +1.2% | Global with focus on North America and APAC | Medium term (2–4 years) |
Rising deployment of acoustic emission sensors for predictive maintenance in Industry 4.0 hubs | +0.9% | APAC core; spill-over to North America and EU | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Expanding offshore wind and subsea infrastructure projects elevating hydrophone demand | +0.6% | Europe and North America coastal regions | Medium term (2–4 years) |
Mandatory urban noise-monitoring regulations across North America | +0.8% | North America, expanding to EU cities | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
Integration of acoustic biometrics in mobile payments | +0.7% | Global, early uptake in North America and APAC | Medium term (2–4 years) |
Miniaturization advances in bulk acoustic wave chips for true wireless stereo earbuds | +1.1% | Global consumer markets | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
Proliferation of Voice-First Interfaces in Consumer IoT and Automotive Cockpits Boosting MEMS Microphone Demand
Software-defined vehicles now embed multiple MEMS microphones that enable emergency-sirens detection, cabin-noise cancellation, and driver-health sensing. Qorvo has shipped more than 20 million force-sensing units for contextual vehicle controls. Knowles’ port-less vibration sensor further improves durability in harsh automotive cabins.[1]Knowles Electronics, “Auto Acoustic Revolution Context Awareness Through Vibration Sensing,” knowles.com These advances shift value from reactive audio pickup to proactive environmental awareness.
Rising Deployment of Acoustic Emission Sensors for Predictive Maintenance in Industry 4.0 Manufacturing Hubs in Asia
Manufacturers in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia increasingly install acoustic emission arrays that detect early-stage bearing faults faster than traditional vibration methods. Machine-learning models trained on sound patterns reduce unplanned downtime and deliver rapid ROI, supporting a regional market CAGR of 7.3%.
Expanding Offshore Wind and Sub-Sea Infrastructure Projects Elevating Hydrophone Procurement in Europe
Europe’s offshore wind build-out requires continuous acoustic monitoring for marine-life protection. Campaigns such as TGS’s Morro Bay study rely on hydrophones to log wind, wave, and current data.[2]TGS, “TGS Set for Offshore Wind Measurement Campaign in Morro Bay Off California,” marinetechnologynews.com New full-ocean-depth devices from PMEL extend measurement range yet face calibration challenges that raise system cost.
Mandatory Urban Noise-Monitoring Regulations Across North America Stimulating Environmental Installations
Federal rules under 40 CFR 205 and updated state highway requirements obligate cities to deploy calibrated acoustic networks.[3]Environmental Protection Agency, “40 CFR Part 205—Transportation Equipment Noise Emission Controls,” ecfr.gov Los Angeles mandates continuous decibel logging on construction sites, driving procurement of networked sensors.
Restraints Impact Analysis
RESTRAINTS | (~) % IMPACT ON CAGR FORECAST | GEOGRAPHIC RELEVANCE | IMPACT TIMELINE |
---|---|---|---|
Competition from optical and radar sensing in autonomous vehicles | –0.8% | Global automotive markets, esp. North America and EU | Medium term (2–4 years) |
High calibration drift of piezoelectric hydrophones in deep water | –0.4% | Europe and North America offshore markets | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Intellectual-property fragmentation around MEMS ASICs | –0.6% | Global; strongest impact on APAC makers | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
Supply-chain volatility of lithium-niobate and other piezo materials | –0.7% | Global, acute in APAC fabrication hubs | Medium term (2–4 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
Competition from Optical and Radar-Based Sensing in Autonomous Vehicles Curtailing Acoustic Share
4D mmWave radar offers superior object detection in rain and fog, trimming demand for long-range acoustic sensors. Automakers now fuse LiDAR, radar, and cameras for robust perception. While acoustic devices retain roles in siren detection and cabin monitoring, radar’s all-weather reliability limits their scope.
High Calibration Drift of Piezoelectric Hydrophones in Deep-Water Applications Increasing Total Cost of Ownership
Pressure and temperature shifts induce drift that requires frequent recalibration, inflating long-term project costs. Flow noise on autonomous gliders further degrades detection accuracy. Strict quality guidelines now mandate auxiliary data logging and regular laboratory verification.
Segment Analysis
By Sensor Type: MEMS Dominance Drives Consumer Integration
MEMS microphones captured 42% of 2024 revenues, driven by smartphones, smart speakers, and true wireless earbuds, solidifying their role as the volume anchor of the acoustic sensors market. Acoustic emission devices, though smaller in absolute value, lead growth at an 8.9% CAGR as factories deploy predictive maintenance systems. Piezoelectric and dynamic microphones remain vital for harsh or specialist environments where MEMS cannot yet match durability or fidelity. Surface and bulk acoustic wave filters gain traction in 5G base stations, with exceptional-point SAW prototypes reaching 2 ppm gas-detection limits. onsemi reported shipments of 200 million ultrasonic units in 2023, underscoring rising demand in automotive parking and occupant-sensing systems.
Growing diversity in sensor architectures shapes a competitive environment in which niche performance needs trump one-size-fits-all solutions. Manufacturers able to tailor sensitivity, bandwidth, and power draw secure defensible positions as end users prioritize fit-for-purpose designs. Acoustic sensors industry participants thus invest heavily in application-specific MEMS ASICs to lock in differentiation.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By End-User Industry: Consumer Electronics Leadership Faces Industrial Challenge
Consumer electronics accounted for 55% of 2024 demand, anchored by smartphones and smart speakers. Yet factory automation and asset-health monitoring are accelerating at a 7.3% CAGR as Industry 4.0 adoption spreads. Telecommunications infrastructure integrates BAW and SAW filters to meet 5G radio performance targets, while automotive applications broaden from hands-free calling to occupant-state sensing and road-noise cancellation. Healthcare shows promise in non-invasive diagnostics and patient-monitoring devices that rely on wide-band ultrasonic transducers. Environmental agencies continue to procure networked monitors as cities enforce tighter noise regulations.
As consumer margins compress, suppliers pivot toward industrial contracts with longer lifecycles and standardized qualification requirements. Bosch Sensortec’s pledge that 90% of its 2030 shipments will embed AI illustrates how vendors seek to raise value capture beyond raw hardware.
By Frequency Range: Audible Dominance Challenged by Ultrasound Growth
The audible band retained 70% share in 2024, underpinning voice assistants and media recording. Ultrasound above 20 kHz, however, is growing at 8% CAGR as gesture control, battery state estimation, and medical imaging demand non-contact sensing. Multi-band MEMS concepts inspired by the Ormia ochracea fly permit single-chip coverage of multiple frequency zones, enhancing design flexibility. Research into 2D material SAW layers promises higher selectivity for gas and bio-sensing applications.
Infrasound remains a specialist niche for seismic and large-structure monitoring. Overall, bandwidth requirements now stem from use-case specificity rather than physical limitations, compelling vendors to offer modular product lines that span audible to ultrasonic regimes.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Application: Voice Recognition Foundation Supports Infrastructure Expansion
Voice recognition represented 13.21% of 2024 revenue and underpins the smart-device ecosystem. Telecommunications infrastructure shows the fastest ascent at an 8.5% CAGR as 5G rollouts demand advanced RF filtering. Predictive maintenance solutions leverage high-frequency acoustic emission data to forecast bearing wear, while environmental monitoring stations track urban decibel levels for regulatory compliance. Shot-detection networks exemplify security uses, with systems deployed in more than 170 US cities.
Healthcare, proximity sensing, and leak-detection applications add incremental revenue streams. Together these domains illustrate the versatility of acoustic signals, which can convey rich mechanical, biological, or environmental information using low-power transducers.
Geography Analysis
North America led the acoustic sensors market with a 31% revenue share in 2024. Federal noise standards for transportation equipment and state highway projects compel widespread sensor deployments, while US and Canadian automotive sectors integrate multi-microphone arrays for cabin-safety functions. Offshore wind and deep-sea research further support hydrophone demand on both coasts.
Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region at a 7.8% CAGR to 2030. China’s national push for self-sufficiency in semiconductors fosters domestic MEMS capacity; Japan’s TDK plans to double automotive sensor output by mid-2025 to meet 10% annual demand growth. India’s rising smartphone production amplifies microphone volumes. Regional cost advantages and large installed bases give APAC vendors scale economies that pressure global pricing but also encourage design innovation.
Europe maintains steady expansion. Offshore wind projects in the North and Baltic Seas require sophisticated hydrophone arrays, while Germany’s premium-automotive firms specify high-performance cabin-monitoring sensors. European regulators’ strict noise-pollution directives keep municipal monitoring budgets stable. However, supply chain exposure to imported piezo materials and competitive pressure from Asian producers temper regional growth.

Competitive Landscape
The acoustic sensors market remains moderately fragmented. Top semiconductor houses—Infineon, STMicroelectronics, Bosch, and TDK—leverage wafer-level scale and established automotive channels. Niche companies such as Brüel and Kjær, Sonardyne, and Ocean Sonics target hydroacoustic and research segments that demand specialized know-how. The December 2024 acquisition of Knowles’ microphone unit by Syntiant for USD 150 million brings edge-AI expertise into mainstream MEMS production, highlighting a convergence trend in which sensor hardware and neural processing merge on the same die.
Infineon’s new SURF business division pools sensor and RF resources to pursue a USD 20 billion pipeline by 2027. White-space opportunities persist in deep-water hydrophones, where only a handful of suppliers can meet calibration and pressure-resistance requirements. Intellectual-property fragmentation around MEMS ASICs, however, continues to raise licensing costs for emerging manufacturers, reinforcing consolidation momentum.
Strategic initiatives center on vertical integration, AI-enabled feature sets, and application-specific packaging that improves environmental robustness. As vendors race to combine hardware, firmware, and data-analytics stacks, competitive differentiation increasingly hinges on total solution performance rather than transducer specifications alone.
Sound Sensors Industry Leaders
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Honeywell International Inc.
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Omron Corporation
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Hunan Rika Electronic Tech Co. Ltd
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Rockwell Automation Inc
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Siemens AG
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

Recent Industry Developments
- January 2025: Syntiant and Seltech entered a global collaboration to accelerate AI-enabled acoustic solutions for IoT, consumer, and industrial customers.
- January 2025: Infineon formed the SURF business unit to target more than USD 20 billion in sensor and RF opportunities by 2027.
- December 2024: Syntiant closed its USD 150 million acquisition of Knowles’ Consumer MEMS Microphones division.
- October 2024: KPS Capital Partners agreed to acquire Catalyst Acoustics Group, owner of IAC Acoustics and Kinetics Noise Control.
Global Sound Sensors Market Report Scope
A sound sensor is a component/module that converts sound into a physical quantity to be measured into a signal that can be displayed, read, stored, or used to control some other amount. Sound sensors can be used to measure sound levels over a wide range of frequencies. They find applications in detecting weak signals, broadband signals, pipeline leaks, and tracking sound sources. Sound sensors also find underwater applications and can be used in the air to detect acoustic emissions and ultrasonic sounds.
The sound sensors market is segmented by end-user industry (consumer electronics, telecommunications, industrial, defense, healthcare, and other end-user industries) and geography (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World). The market sizes and forecasts are in terms of value (USD) for all the above segments.
By Sensor Type | MEMS Microphones | ||
Piezoelectric Microphones | |||
Dynamic / Moving-Coil Microphones | |||
Hydrophones | |||
Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Sensors | |||
Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) Sensors | |||
Ultrasonic Airborne Sensors | |||
Acoustic Emission Sensors | |||
Other Sensor Types | |||
By Frequency Range | Infrasound (greater than 20 Hz) | ||
Audible (20 Hz – 20 kHz) | |||
Ultrasound (Less than 20 kHz) | |||
By End-User Industry | Consumer Electronics | ||
Telecommunications Infrastructure | |||
Industrial (Predictive Maintenance, Process Control) | |||
Automotive and Transportation | |||
Defense and Security | |||
Healthcare and Medical Devices | |||
Environmental Monitoring | |||
Other End-users | |||
By Application | Voice Recognition and Speech Processing | ||
Noise Cancellation and Audio Enhancement | |||
Predictive Maintenance and Condition Monitoring | |||
Environmental and Noise Monitoring | |||
Security and Surveillance | |||
Medical Diagnostics and Healthcare | |||
Quality Control and Process Monitoring | |||
Proximity Detection and Gesture Recognition | |||
Leak Detection and Safety Monitoring | |||
Other Applications | |||
By Geography | North America | United States | |
Canada | |||
Mexico | |||
Europe | United Kingdom | ||
Germany | |||
France | |||
Italy | |||
Rest of Europe | |||
Asia-Pacific | China | ||
Japan | |||
India | |||
South Korea | |||
Rest of Asia-Pacific | |||
Middle East | Israel | ||
Saudi Arabia | |||
United Arab Emirates | |||
Turkey | |||
Rest of Middle East | |||
Africa | South Africa | ||
Egypt | |||
Rest of Africa | |||
South America | Brazil | ||
Argentina | |||
Rest of South America |
MEMS Microphones |
Piezoelectric Microphones |
Dynamic / Moving-Coil Microphones |
Hydrophones |
Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Sensors |
Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) Sensors |
Ultrasonic Airborne Sensors |
Acoustic Emission Sensors |
Other Sensor Types |
Infrasound (greater than 20 Hz) |
Audible (20 Hz – 20 kHz) |
Ultrasound (Less than 20 kHz) |
Consumer Electronics |
Telecommunications Infrastructure |
Industrial (Predictive Maintenance, Process Control) |
Automotive and Transportation |
Defense and Security |
Healthcare and Medical Devices |
Environmental Monitoring |
Other End-users |
Voice Recognition and Speech Processing |
Noise Cancellation and Audio Enhancement |
Predictive Maintenance and Condition Monitoring |
Environmental and Noise Monitoring |
Security and Surveillance |
Medical Diagnostics and Healthcare |
Quality Control and Process Monitoring |
Proximity Detection and Gesture Recognition |
Leak Detection and Safety Monitoring |
Other Applications |
North America | United States |
Canada | |
Mexico | |
Europe | United Kingdom |
Germany | |
France | |
Italy | |
Rest of Europe | |
Asia-Pacific | China |
Japan | |
India | |
South Korea | |
Rest of Asia-Pacific | |
Middle East | Israel |
Saudi Arabia | |
United Arab Emirates | |
Turkey | |
Rest of Middle East | |
Africa | South Africa |
Egypt | |
Rest of Africa | |
South America | Brazil |
Argentina | |
Rest of South America |
Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the current value of the acoustic sensors market?
The acoustic sensors market size stands at USD 1.23 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 1.65 billion by 2030.
Which sensor type generates the most revenue?
MEMS microphones lead with a 42% share of 2024 revenues, driven by smartphones, smart speakers, and true wireless earbuds.
Which application segment is growing the fastest?
Telecommunications infrastructure tops growth tables with an 8.5% CAGR as 5G networks deploy advanced RF filters.
Why is Asia-Pacific the fastest-growing region?
Scale-up of electronics manufacturing, rapid Industry 4.0 adoption, and government sensor-industry incentives drive a 7.8% CAGR to 2030.
What are the main restraints on market growth?
Competition from radar and optical sensors in vehicles, calibration drift in deep-water hydrophones, fragmented MEMS ASIC patents, and piezo-material supply volatility collectively shave up to 2.5 percentage points from potential CAGR.
How are companies addressing supply-chain risks?
Vendors pursue vertical integration, diversify piezoelectric material sources, and acquire complementary edge-AI assets to secure supply and move up the value chain.