Inspired by the depth of emotion he witnessed at vinyl listening sessions organised during his tenure at the Bridgestone Museum of Arts in Tokyo, Hideo Matsushita was determined to enable more people to experience the warmth of analogue listening. In a small Shinjuku apartment on 17th April 1962, he established Audio-Technica and began developing cartridges. His first two products, the AT-1 and AT-3, achieved success and enabled Hideo to expand his business. He opened a larger headquarters in Machida, where the company still operates today.
Now 60 years since Hideo created his first cartridge, Audio-Technica is marking the occasion by reaffirming its commitment to analogue. Focusing on a human-centred approach to the process of generating sound, the company sees analogue as an enjoyment and appreciation for audio that doesn’t alter despite technological change.
Alongside cartridges, Audio-Technica began producing headphones in 1974, and microphones in 1978, beginning every process with a transducer and aiming to deliver a pure, natural sound. At the core of every product is the art of analogue, as a delicate vibration is transformed into sound – both in the listening and recording processes.
Kazuo Matsushita, son of Hideo, became president in 1993 and the business continued to expand, opening offices throughout the world, and developing iconic products such as the modern VM series of cartridges, the ATH-M50x headphones and the AT2020 microphone.
The brand celebrates its 60th anniversary with a series of events across the world on the theme of analogue living. Speaking about the occasion, President Kazuo Matsushita said: “It is an honour to provide a quality audio experience to millions of people throughout the world. What begins as a simple vibration; a subtle movement, results in an emotional connection – whether that be when listening deeply to an album or sharing your voice with the world.”