Audio-Technica Celebrates 60th Anniversary

April 19, 2022

JAPANESE BRAND AUDIO-TECHNICA CELEBRATES 60TH ANNIVERSARY

Japanese transducer manufacturer, Audio-Technica, is celebrating 60 years since its founder, Hideo Matsushita, established the business, starting with his AT-1 cartridge.

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.

Audio-Technica Celebrates 60th Anniversary — Audio-Technica founder Hideo Matsushita

HIDEO MATSUSHITA

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.

AUDIO-TECHNICA

Alongside cartridges, Audio-Technica began producing headphones in 1974, and microphones in 1978. 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.

ANALOGUE LIVING

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.”