SMS Audio

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American headphones manufacturer

title: "SMS Audio" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["50-cent", "companies-based-in-palm-beach-county,-florida", "consumer-electronics-brands", "audio-equipment-manufacturers-of-the-united-states", "headphones-manufacturers"] description: "American headphones manufacturer" topic_path: "engineering" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_Audio" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American headphones manufacturer ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]

FieldValue
nameSMS Audio
logoSMSAudio LG.gif
logo_size280px
typePrivate
foundationAugust 2011
locationDelray Beach, Florida
key_peopleCurtis Jackson, CEO
Brian Nohe, President
homepage
::

| name = SMS Audio | logo = SMSAudio LG.gif | logo_size = 280px | type = Private | foundation = August 2011 | location = Delray Beach, Florida | key_people = Curtis Jackson, CEO Brian Nohe, President | homepage = SMS Audio is an American consumer electronics company that primarily manufactures and markets headphones. The company was founded by 50 Cent in 2011 and acquired Kono Audio that same year.

History

SMS Audio was founded in 2011 by rapper and entrepreneur Curtis Jackson, also known as 50 Cent. SMS stands for "Studio Mastered Sound". Jackson acquired KonoAudio that August for an undisclosed amount in order to rebrand it using his name. KonoAudio's President, Brian Nohe, who founded KonoAudio in 2007, became President of SMS Audio. 50 Cent and former KonoAudio President Brian Nohe designed SMS Audio's first line of headphones in late 2011 and early 2012. In January 2012, DJ Pauly D announced via Twitter that he was partnering with SMS Audio and 50 Cent to develop a new line of headphones. Music artist Timbaland became an investor in SMS Audio in January 2013, which was followed by investments from NBA player Carmelo Anthony in December 2013. In 2016 the SMS audio website was taken down and operations were suspended. As of 2022, their products can be purchased on the G-Unit brands website.

Products

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/SYNC_by_50_headphones.jpg" caption="SYNC by 50 headphones with a wireless connector"] ::

In October 2012 the "STREET by 50" line of in-ear, over-ear and on-ear headphones were introduced.{{cite news | last = Steele | first =Billy | title = SMS Audio outs an on-ear option for its Street by 50 headphones, ships October 7th for $180 | publisher =Engadget | date =October 2, 2012 | url =https://www.engadget.com/2012/10/02/sms-audio-street-by-50-on-ear-headphones/ | accessdate =October 15, 2012 }}{{cite news | last =Casteel | first =Jay | title =Pre-orders kick off for SMS Audio Street by 50 wired DJ Pro Performance headphones | publisher =Baller Status | date =October 2, 2012 | url =http://www.ballerstatus.com/2012/10/02/ear-on-wired-headphones-added-50-cents-sms-audio-collection/ | accessdate =October 15, 2012 | archive-date =October 7, 2012 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121007221407/http://www.ballerstatus.com/2012/10/02/ear-on-wired-headphones-added-50-cents-sms-audio-collection/ | url-status =dead | last =Wakelin | first =Nicole | title =SMS Audio by 50 Cent: Earbuds and Earphones | publisher =WIRED | date =July 23, 2012 | url =http://archive.wired.com/geekmom/2012/07/50-cent-earbuds-earphones/ | accessdate =February 12, 2015 }}

In late 2013, a STREET by 50 ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) version was introduced, which was followed by a wireless, portable speaker called SYNC by 50 Portable that November. In January 2014, an Audio Sport lineup of headphones were released in collaboration with professional basketball player Carmelo Anthony and a Star Wars themed set of headphones were introduced in partnership with Lucasfilm.

In August 2014, SMS Audio announced the BioSport In-Ear wired earbuds that have "embedded biometric sensors that collect fitness data, including heart rate, without the need for regular charges." SMS Audio is collaborating with Intel for the project.

According to the company website, it also sells SMS Audio-branded apparel and accessories.

Sponsorships

In December 2011, Curtis Jackson announced that a portion of each headphone sold domestically on the SMS Audio website would be donated to the Feeding America initiative.{{cite news | last = Laird | first = James | title = IFA 2012: ITProPortal interviews SMS Audio CEO 50 Cent | publisher =ITProPortal | date =September 4, 2012 | url =http://www.itproportal.com/2012/09/04/ifa-2012-itproportal-interviews-sms-audio-ceo-50-cent/ | accessdate =October 15, 2012 }}{{cite news | last =Fitzgerald | first =Trent | title =50 Cent to Feed America with SMS Audio Headphones | publisher =PopCrush | date =December 16, 2011 | url =http://popcrush.com/50-cent-feed-america-sms-audio-headphones/ | accessdate =September 18, 2012 }}

In 2013, SMS Audio had a sponsorship deal with Israeli basketball club Maccabi Tel Aviv. In February 2014, the company became one of the sponsors of the NASCAR racing team, Swan Racing, which features the SMS Audio logo on its racing cars and on the jackets of some of its racers.

References

References

  1. Spencer, Gail. (June 3, 2012). "In the (health) club with new workout headphones from 50 Cent". The Examiner.
  2. Sakr, Shariff. (August 31, 2012). "50 Cent talks up two new headphones in his SMS Audio line (video)". Engadget.
  3. Novellino, Teresa. (September 14, 2011). "Where Did You Get Those Headphones?". UpStart Business Journal.
  4. Novellino, Teresa. (August 27, 2012). "50 Cent is "Mr. Jackson" in the boardroom". UpStart Business Journal.
  5. Johnston, Lisa. (September 8, 2011). "50 Cent's SMS Audio Acquires KoNoAudio". Twice.
  6. Hawkins, Lee. (December 7, 2011). "50 Cent on his evolution as rapper and businessman". Wall Street Journal.
  7. Jiminez, Sierra. (December 8, 2011). "What 50 Cent sees in headphones". Fortune.
  8. Harling, Danielle. (August 31, 2011). "50 Cent's Electronics Company SMS Audio Acquires KonoAudio". HipHopDX.
  9. (30 October 2012). "50 Cent's SMS Audio Announces New DJ Pauly D and MXD50 Headphone Brands". TechPowerUp.
  10. Ciccone, Alice. (January 11, 2012). "Snooki, DJ Pauly D From 'Jersey Shore' Announce Headphone Deals".
  11. HipHopDX. (January 3, 2013). "Timbaland Joins 50 Cent & SMS Audio As Investor Partner". HipHopDX.
  12. Kyles, Yohance. (September 25, 2014). "Carmelo Anthony Launches Headphone Contest With New Ad For 50 Cent's SMS Audio (VIDEO)".
  13. SMS Audio. (December 9, 2013). "NBA Star Carmelo "Melo" Anthony Joins 50 Cent's SMS Audio™ as Investor/Partner". Business Wire.
  14. Johnston, Lisa. (2016-08-16). "50 Cent's SMS Audio No Longer Operating".
  15. "SMS Audio/KidzSafe".
  16. Gideon, Tim. "SMS Audio by 50 review". PC Magazine.
  17. Sanders, Shawn. (October 10, 2013). "SMS Street by 50 ANC Review". Gadget Review.
  18. Waniasa, Ryan. (September 13, 2013). "SMS Street by 50 ANC Review".
  19. Kersey, Ian. (November 16, 2013). "Review: SMS Audio SYNC by 50 Portable Wireless Speaker". Intomobile.
  20. Harling, Danielle. (January 8, 2014). "50 Cent's SMS Audio to Release Carmelo Anthony & "Star Wars"". HipHopDX.
  21. Morris, Chris. (January 8, 2015). "50 Cent partners with Intel to create smart earbuds". The New York Post.
  22. Lowensohn, Josh. (August 14, 2014). "50 Cent's SMS Audio is making earphones that listen to your heart". The Verge.
  23. Gibbs, Samuel. (August 15, 2014). "Intel teams up with 50 Cent to launch heart-beat monitoring earphones". The Guardian.
  24. "Accessories". SMS Audio.
  25. https://maccabi.co.il/News.asp?id=4094&lang=en#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20world's%20leading,and%20meeting%20the%20Israeli%20audience.
  26. (February 4, 2014). "SMS Audio to sponsor Swan Racing". Associated Press.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

50-centcompanies-based-in-palm-beach-county,-floridaconsumer-electronics-brandsaudio-equipment-manufacturers-of-the-united-statesheadphones-manufacturers