Is Etymotic Research Made in USA?
Last verified: April 2026 · Based on 5 verified products and public manufacturing evidence
Yes — Made in USA
Etymotic Research manufactures its products in the United States — specifically in Elk Grove Village, IL. Our verification team confirmed this through public manufacturing claims, factory records, and product listings.
Verification Confidence
Average confidence score across 5 verified products — scores ≥70% are shown on this site.
Manufacturing Details
- Made in
- Elk Grove Village, IL
- Headquarters
- Elk Grove Village, IL
- Location detail
- Specific city confirmed
- History
- Established brand (10–50 years)
- Founded
- 1983
Verification Evidence
Etymotic Research designs and manufactures high-fidelity earphones and hearing protection in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Founded 1983 by hearing researcher Mead Killion. ER4 and ER3 studio reference earphones and ER20/ER20XS high-fidelity earplugs are designed and engineered at the Elk Grove Village facility. Website confirms American design and engineering. Research-grade products backed by 40+ years of audiological science.
About Etymotic Research
Etymotic Research has engineered high-fidelity earphones and hearing protection in Elk Grove Village, Illinois since 1983, founded by hearing researcher Mead Killion with a mission to design hearing products using the same science that governs hearing health.
Heritage & History
Etymotic Research was founded in 1983 by Mead Killion, a hearing scientist and engineer who had spent his career studying how humans hear and how hearing loss occurs. Killion's insight was that the audio industry was solving the wrong problem — instead of making louder and punchier headphones, he wanted to make earphones that reproduced sound as accurately as the ear perceives it in a concert hall. The name 'Etymotic' comes from the Greek word for 'true to the ear.'
The ER4 studio reference earphone, introduced in 1991, became the reference standard for audio engineers, audiologists, and researchers who needed accurate, flat frequency response for critical listening. Its balanced armature driver design, borrowed from hearing aid technology, provided detail and accuracy that dynamic driver earphones could not match at any price. The ER20 and ER20XS high-fidelity earplugs represented the same philosophy applied to hearing protection — instead of dulling and distorting sound, they attenuate all frequencies equally so musicians and concert-goers could protect their hearing without losing the music's character.
Made in Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Etymotic's design and manufacturing facility in Elk Grove Village, Illinois represents four decades of accumulated expertise in hearing science applied to consumer and professional audio products. The ER4SR (Studio Reference) and ER4XR (Extended Response) earphones deliver the flat, accurate response that audio engineers use to mix recordings, with the deep insertion fit that blocks 35-42 dB of ambient noise for distraction-free critical listening.
The ER3SE (Studio Edition) and ER3XR provide the Etymotic sound signature at a more accessible price point, using a single balanced armature driver tuned to the same flat reference standard. For hearing protection, the ER20XS high-fidelity earplugs are the choice of professional musicians, sound engineers, and concert-goers who need -12 to -20 dB of protection without the muffled, distorted sound of foam plugs. Illinois-made, science-driven, and trusted by the hearing healthcare community for over 40 years.
American-Made Etymotic Research Products
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Etymotic Research made in the USA?
Yes. Etymotic Research is made in the United States, manufactured in Elk Grove Village, IL. Etymotic Research designs and manufactures high-fidelity earphones and hearing protection in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Founded 1983 by hearing researcher Mead Killion. ER4 and ER3 studio reference earphones and ER20/ER20XS high-fidelity earplugs are designed and engineered at the Elk Grove Village facility. Website confirms American design and engineering. Research-grade products backed by 40+ years of audiological science.
Where is Etymotic Research manufactured?
Etymotic Research manufactures its products in Elk Grove Village, IL. The company is headquartered in Elk Grove Village, IL.
Which Etymotic Research products are made in the USA?
We carry 5 verified American-made Etymotic Research products across Electronics. Every listing is linked directly to Amazon with verified manufacturing evidence.