For several months, there have been persistent rumors regarding issues at AURALiC, a prominent producer of high-end network streamers. A significant indicator of these troubles was the unexplained vanishing of the AURALiC community forum in mid-September 2025. This incident occurred without any clarification from the company. The forum was an essential venue for CEO Xuanqian Wang to engage directly with customers, offering technical assistance and disseminating product details.
In early 2025, the founder of the company, Wang, resigned from his leadership role, a decision that already sparked pessimistic expectations. As per online reports, Wang, who had represented AURALiC since its inception in 2009, declared his departure “to pursue other projects and sports car racing,” although he maintained his ownership stake in the company. The timing of Wang’s exit was particularly unfortunate, considering the increasing challenges faced by the company. His active participation in customer support and product development had been fundamental to AURALiC’s standing in the audiophile community.
Earlier this year, AURALiC halted all shipments to the US, attributing the move to “US government tariff policies.” This action effectively shut the company off from what is likely a crucial segment of the global high-end audio market and reportedly led to a significant drop in overall sales. Numerous AURALiC distributors have been experiencing challenges in acquiring new supplies from the company for quite some time now.
AURALiC has announced that it will refrain from making any official comments about its current financial status. Nevertheless, various sources indicate that AURALiC has communicated to its partners: “The company will cease operations due to a drastic drop in sales. This year, sales have plummeted by 80% as a result of the tariff conflict, heightened competition from lower-priced streaming products, and the difficult global economic climate.” Additionally, there are rumors that AURALiC’s intellectual property is available for purchase at a price of $2 million.
AURALiC’s difficulties mirror the wider issues confronting manufacturers of specialized audio gear. A mix of trade conflicts, supply chain interruptions, and heightened competition from both established audio firms and technology behemoths has tightened the industry’s profit margins.
It is disheartening to witness the industry losing yet another brand that has steadily gained popularity and evolved its products over the years. The ideal scenario would involve a buyer stepping in to purchase the intellectual property, enabling the brand’s technologies to continue existing in other products.
