The reputed leader in custom in-ear monitors for on-stage professional musicians and sound engineers, Ultimate Ears has over the last few years expanded its product line to include a range of in-ear consumer earphones for portable music enthusiasts, including users of iPhone, iPod and other MP3 players.

The acquisition is apparently subject to the customary closing conditions and is expected to close in August, although looking at the Ultimate Ears website, you wouldn't think they are waiting around for anything as the banner reads "Ultimate Ears-- A Logitech Company".

The acquisition of Ultimate Ears will allow Logitech to expand its portfolio of digital audio products, providing more options for portable music listening, according to reports.

Logitech already offers a line of digital music speaker systems for the home and on the go and is a leading worldwide provider of speakers and headphones for PCs. And the company recently introduced a portable wireless speaker product for listening to music stored on Bluetooth mobile phones.

"Ultimate Ears is a perfect fit for Logitech and our audio business," said Gerald P. Quindlen, Logitech president and chief executive officer. "Since its inception, Ultimate Ears has been driven by innovation, close ties to its customers, and the desire to enable an immersive audio experience?We look forward to using our worldwide distribution network and operational efficiencies to help more people discover this superior listening experience."  

According to reports, Ultimate Ears has a loyal following of touring musicians, sound engineers and mainstream music lovers, due to the sound quality and comfortable fit of the company's earphones. The company was founded in 1995 to address the sound-monitoring needs of on-stage rock musicians, developing the first high-performance two-way, custom in-ear stage monitors and currently employs some 40 people.