In an industry dominated by international brands and scepticism toward Indian manufacturing, Hemal Bhatt, Founder & CEO of N-LABS (Hemona Electroacoustics Pvt Ltd), is rewriting the rules. Hemal has built India’s largest pro audio amplifier manufacturer in just four years. With over 1 lakh happy customers and a commanding 50% market share in the professional power amplifier segment, his journey reflects both ambition and deep industry understanding rooted in decades of family legacy.
The N-LABS story begins in the late 1980s when Hemal’s father established a rental company in the pro audio space. Young Hemal joined the family business in 2007, gaining invaluable hands-on experience. “We were a rental company first, and through that experience, we faced numerous challenges with different brands and products available in India. That learning curve inspired us to develop better solutions,” Hemal recalls.
The entrepreneurial journey took its first major step in 2012 with BRB, a Brazilian speaker brand that the company began importing. At just 17 years old, Hemal formed HVC for the speaker trading business. The pivotal moment came in 2019 with the founding of N-LABS, driven by a core mission: providing exceptional after-sales service in amplifiers. By 2021, when the company committed fully to Indian manufacturing, Hemona Electroacoustics Private Limited was formed as the parent entity.
Manufacturing Excellence
Today, N-LABS stands as India’s largest manufacturer of professional power amplifiers, producing thousands of units for the wholesale and pro audio markets. All product designs are developed entirely in-house by Hemal and his team. The commitment to indigenous development extends to hardware components, with even transistors manufactured as OEM materials branded with the N-LABS logo.
Currently, 60% of components are sourced from India and 40% imported. The imported portion includes specialized components like ICs, n-channel MOSFETs not yet manufactured in India, and Dante chips from Hong Kong. “We try to source maximum components locally, but realistically, it will take India another 10 years to achieve 100% indigenous manufacturing capability,” Hemal acknowledges.
Despite being registered under the Startup India program, N-LABS has charted its growth path without government financial support, as Production Linked Incentive schemes don’t align with the specialized nature of professional audio equipment.
Service as Strategy
What truly differentiates N-LABS isn’t just competitive pricing, it’s an obsessive focus on after-sales service. The company achieves a remarkable 25-30 minute repair time per product at any service center, making it the fastest in the industry. When an amplifier from 2022 comes in for repair, N-LABS ensures it sounds identical to what customers buy in 2025 through pre-upgrades during service.
Hemal draws a stark contrast with international brands. “Consider an amplifier from a company based in the USA, manufactured in China, sourcing components from different vendors. Indian importers either replace the entire board or struggle because they don’t have access to component-level repair.” At N-LABS, complete control over design and manufacturing enables component-level knowledge, allowing optimization to 99% efficiency.
Coming from a rental background, Hemal intimately understands customer challenges. “Our goal isn’t to earn money from customers, especially rental companies. Our scope is to provide excellent service and reduce their maintenance costs. That’s the entire philosophy behind N-LABS.”
All amplifiers come with 2-year, 3-year, or 5-year warranties covering both manufacturing defects and user errors. Post-warranty, customers receive 50% subsidies on spare parts. Last year, N-LABS charged only 10-11 customers for service. The company maintains the highest number of service centers for pro audio repair in India, with a customer in Bangalore able to send a product by bus and receive it back repaired within 30 minutes the same day.
Overcoming Scepticism
When N-LABS entered the market in 2019, scepticism ran deep. Competitors actively worked to undermine the brand, even threatening dealers not to stock N-LABS products. But exceptional products and service paid off. In 2021, N-LABS established complete manufacturing capability in India within just one year.
The growth numbers are compelling: from 2021-22 to 2022-23, N-LABS achieved 100% growth, followed by 100% year-on-year growth for the next two years. More remarkably, N-LABS has achieved 100% customer retention every person who buys N-LABS once returns for more.
The distribution network has expanded to over 400 dealers across India. The core team comprises over 18 people, with overall headcount exceeding 50, plus another 75-80 in manufacturing, supported by logistics teams and multiple warehouses nationwide.
Expanding Horizons
N-LABS is now making strategic moves into the installation segment, having formally launched its dedicated installation product range about a year ago. The company is developing EASE files and simulation tools that allow consultants and integrators to predict audio performance accurately, with releases already available and more coming soon.
“We’re not pitching for business overnight—this is a long-term play. Within one or two years, I believe we’ll see major adoption because everyone is looking for an Indian alternative with excellent service capabilities,” Hemal explains.
The company is also pioneering IP-based installation systems in India. N-LABS will launch IP-enabled evacuation systems at ISE Spain for emergency services, installations, and classrooms. Looking further ahead, the company plans to bring Dante AV to India. “Just as there’s Voice over IP, there will be Video over IP in the next five years,” Hemal predicts.
The Dante Advantage
One of N-LABS’ most significant technical differentiators lies in its Dante implementation. All products are Dante certified, but N-LABS has engineered a unique approach: audio and network control run on a single network. Each amplifier comes with a 1G port, eliminating the need for dual networks—a significant advantage for integrators.
While India remains crucial, Hemal is setting his sights on international expansion with offshore offices already established. N-LABS will make its international debut at ISE Spain in 2026, followed by the NAMM Show in the USA and InfoComm Asia, positioning itself as a viable alternative to Chinese manufacturers in global markets.
Strategic Roadmap
Hemal has structured N-LABS’ growth into three distinct phases. Phase one, launched in 2021, aimed to capture the pro audio market within three years successfully achieved.
Phase two, which commenced in 2025, focuses on expanding the installation product range and developing products to global standards for export. Phase three, targeted for 2027 onwards, will center on software-based solutions where audio and video operate seamlessly on a single network, with Dante AV manufactured entirely in India.
N-LABS currently operates an experience center in Vapi where industry professionals can visit the factory and explore the complete product range, with phase 2 manufacturing expansion underway. For training, the company is taking a phased approach—initial sessions for existing customers, followed by dealer training and YouTube content for open access learning.
Looking Ahead
As N-LABS continues its remarkable journey, the company remains grounded in the principles that sparked its initial success: indigenous innovation, obsessive service focus, and deep understanding of customer needs. “The Indian professional audio industry is ready for indigenous innovation. We’ve proven that with the right focus on R&D, service, and understanding customer needs, Indian manufacturers can not only compete but lead,” Hemal reflects.
N-LABS isn’t just building amplifiers; it’s building an ecosystem where Indian audio professionals have access to world-class equipment with unmatched local support. With international expansion on the horizon, cutting-edge IP and Dante AV solutions in development, and a track record of 100% year-on-year growth, Hemal Bhatt and his team are proving that ‘Made in India’ can mean ‘Best in Class’—and they’re just getting started.
