Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica Corporation (株式会社オーディオテクニカ) (stylized as audio-technica) is a Japanese company that designs and manufactures professional microphones, headphones, turntables, phonographic magnetic cartridges, and other audio equipment.

Company history

Audio-Technica was established in 1962 in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, Japan, by Hideo Matsushita as a phonograph cartridge manufacturer. Its first products were the AT-1 and the higher-end AT-3 MM stereo phono cartridges. Business rapidly developed, with the company starting to deliver cartridges to domestic audio manufacturers, and Audio-Technica expanded into other fields. The headquarters and factory moved to the current address in Naruse, Machida,[1] Tokyo in 1965.[2] In 1966, a test record entitled Moving Pulse (AT-6601) was released to help prove Audio-Technica's quality. In 1967, the company made a technological advance, releasing the AT-35X as the first ‘VM’ type stereo cartridge. This design increased growth in global exports, and the paten was extended across Switzerland, Canada, the UK, US, and West Germany.[1] In 1969, the company began exporting phono cartridges worldwide and launched the first microcassette recorders.[3]

In 1972, Audio-Technica established its US arm in Fairlawn, Ohio, and started shipping VM phono cartridges to European manufacturers. In 1974, the company developed its first headphones, the AT-700 series, which launched the same year.[3] In 1977, celebrating its 15-year anniversary, Audio-Technica released second-generation models of dynamic headphones in the ATH-3, ATH-4, and ATH-5. That same year, the company developed and released the dual moving-coil MC-type AT-34 stereo cartridge. The AT-800 series of microphones were introduced in 1978, moving Audio-Technica into the commercial microphones market,[1] and in the same year, the UK establishment in Leeds began operation.[2]

In the 1980s, with the growth in digital music formats threatening its core business of phonograph cartridges,[1] Audio-Technica began a period of diversification. Employee suggestions were solicited, with sushi machines among the ideas selected for further development.

In 1984, Audio-Technica introduced the ASM50 Nigirikko, a nigiri-forming appliance for home kitchens, which incorporated a turn-table like mechanism to deposit the nigiri onto.[4] The market success of this product led the company to develop a range of sushi machinery for commercial and industrial use.[5] Audio-Technica remains one of the largest manufacturers of sushi machines globally today, with products marketed under the brand AUTEC.[5][4]

In 1981, a moving-coil cartridge that used diamond, specifically the AT1000 featuring a diamond cantilever, was introduced. That same year, the now long-selling AT33E was released.[1]

In 1986, the company developed RCA cables with high-purity copper produced from the continuous metal casting process, "Pure Copper Ohno Continuous Casting" (PCOCC), invented and developed between 1982 and 1985 by Atsumi Ohno.[6] In the same year, the company launched the AT33ML/OCC phono cartridge, the first made with PCOCC materials.[2] In 1987, the AT-OC9 was released. This is the original cartridge model from which today’s fourth-generation AT-OC9X series evolved.[1] In 1988, another Audio-Technica subsidiary was founded in Taiwan.[2]

In 1990s, Audio-Technica introduced several large-diaphragm condenser microphones for studio use: the AT4033 cardioid microphone in 1991,[2] the AT4050 multi-pattern in 1995,[7] and the AT4060 vacuum tube cardioid microphone in 1998.[8] The AT895, a DSP-controlled five-element microphone array providing adaptive directional audio acquisition, was introduced in 1999.[2] In 1996, the Southeast Asian establishment began operation in Singapore.[2]

In 1993, founder Hideo Matsushita took the position of Audio-Technica’s chairman. His son, Kazuo Matsushita, became the company's president.[1]

From 2006 to 2007, Audio-Technica released its first earbuds and noise-cancelling headphones.[1]

In 2008, the company celebrated its 20th anniversary of supplying microphones for US Presidential Debates, which it had been doing since 1998,[9] and continues to do into the 21st century.[10][11]

Since 2012, Audio-Technica has been releasing limited-edition headphones, debuting 11 limited-edition models between 2012 and 2023.[12] For their 50th anniversary, the company celebrated at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2012, debuting five limited-edition products: the ATH-W3000ANV over-ear headphone, ATH-PRO700MK2ANV DJ headphones, the AT150ANV moving-coil phono cartridge, and the AT-TI15ANV solid titanium headshell.[13][14]

In 2013, the company's founder, Hideo Matsushita, passed away on March 5, 2013. He was 93 years old.[1]

At the IFA Berlin Show in 2014, Audio-Technica launched five new pairs of headphones, three of which were sport orientated, and a new USB turntable, the LP120USBC, which allowed users to convert vinyl records into digital music files for playback on computers, phones, and tablets.[15] Also in 2014, the company remastered its M-Series line of professional monitor headphones with four next-generation M-Series headphones: ATH-M20x, ATH-M30x, ATH-M40x, and ATH-M50x.[16]

At the CES in 2017, the company released over 15 new headphones ranging from high-res to wireless and both. This included the Sound Reality series, which consisted of in-ears, over-ears, and over-ear wireless headphones (ATH-CKR100iS, ATH-CKR90iS, ATH-CKR70iS, ATH-DSR9BT, ATH-DSR7BT, and ATH-SR9).[17] Also in 2017, Audio-Technica partnered with Audient to release the AT2035-Studio "Essential Studio Kit", which was a microphone, interface, and headphone bundle.[18]

At CES 2019, Audio-Technica unveiled seven new turntables, which included the AT-LPW series featuring dark walnut or teak wood finishes, an updated AT-LP120 series still "aimed at DJs", and four new additions to the AT-LP60 series.[19] At NAMM 2019, the company offered new mic bundles geared toward drummers and vocalists (PRO-DRUM4, PRO-DRUM7, ATM-DRUM4, and ATM-DRUM7).[20] At IFA 2019, the company introduced its ATH-CKS5TW and ATH-CK3TW truly wireless in-ear headphones.[21]

The company would released the ATH-CK3TW in 2020, which featured Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and a compact design, to fairly positive reviews.[22][23] That same year, Swedish speaker manufacturer Audio Pro Business joined Audio-Technica’s portfolio of distributed brands in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, and Spain.[24]

In 2021, Audio-Technica continued to expand its product line, releasing the AT-BHA100 balanced headphone amplifier, the AT-DAC100 digital to analog converter,[25] and the "affordable" AT2040 hypercardioid dynamic podcast microphone for podcasts, voice-overs, video conferencing.[26][27] Also in 2021, Audio-Technica served as sponsor of the Relix Studio, the live streaming facility run by Relix magazine.[28]

In March 2022, Audio-Technica Canada announces a multi-year agreement with the JUNO Awards to serve as the “Official Pro Audio Partner” for the program.[29] In November 2022, for its 60th Anniversary, the company announce the AT-LP2022 manual belt-drive turntable, a limited-edition record player featuring a 30 mm thick, high-density clear acrylic chassis.[30][31] That year, the company would also resurrect its Sound Burger portable turntable from the '80s, with the new model featuring Bluetooth connectivity and a built-in lithium-ion battery with USB-C charging.[32] In January 2023, Audio-Technica announced that more Sound Burgers would be coming in the spring of that year.[33]

At InfoComm 2023, the company showcased its range of integration solutions for commercial use, including its Engineered Sound Wireless system featuring wireless microphones for video- and web-conferencing as well as its ATND1061DAN ceiling array, which could be compatible with Microsoft Teams Rooms, Zoom Rooms, or AVer PTZ cameras depending on the system.[34]

At the 2024 NAMM Show, Audio-Technica announced several big projects: the 3000 Series wireless in-ear monitor system, the AT2040USB hypercardioid dynamic USB microphone, the AT2020USB-XP cardioid condenser USB microphone, the ATH-M50xSTS StreamSet models, and limited-edition ATH-M50x wired and wireless headphones.[35] In March 2024, the company announced its ATH-AWKG wooden high-fidelity headphones.[36][37]

In 2026, the company announced two on-camera microphones designed for professional videographers and content creators, the ATV-SG1 and ATV-SG1LE, its first additions to this segment in 10 years.[38]

Audio equipment supplier

Since the late 1990s, Audio-Technica supplied microphones and headphones for US television shows, such as Big Brother,[39] as well as induction ceremonies and several international events:

Technology

One of their most famous products was a battery-operated, portable record player called Sound Burger (Sold in the US as Mister Disc) that was sold globally in the early 1980s. The model was re-launched in 2022 initially as a limited edition product, but due to overwhelming demand was made available permanently.[32][33]

In 2005, Audio-Technica developed "Uniguard", a method for making microphones resistant to radio frequency interference from cell phones, Bluetooth devices, wireless computer networks, and walkie-talkies. Thirteen patents were involved in bringing the feature to fruition, as company engineers modified many different elements of microphone construction and operation. Over 50 existing Audio-Technica microphone models have been upgraded with the new RFI-resistant technology.[55][56][57]

Awards

In 1965, Audio-Technica received an award from the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology for its AT-1001 tone arm package.[3]

In 1992, the company's AT4033 condenser microphone was chosen as the best microphone of 1991 at the Audio Engineering Society convention.[3]

In 2017, Audio-Technica's ATH-DSR9BT pure digital drive wireless headphones received the CES Innovation Award.[58] That same year, the AT-LP3 fully automatic turntable won the What Hi-Fi? 5-star Award.[59]

In 2018, the AT5047 cardioid condenser studio microphone won a NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Award for Outstanding Technical Achievement in the “Microphones – Recording” category.[60]

In 2019, three products were nominated for "Outstanding Technical Achievement" in the 35th annual Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards: the 5000 Series (Third Generation) UHF Wireless System, AT-LP140XP DJ turntable, and ATM350GL instrument microphone.[61] That same year, Audio-Technica's ATH-M50xBT wireless headphones received the Best of CES 2019 award.[62]

In 2024, the SoundStage! Network's Product of the Year awards featured Audio-Technica's AT-ART20 moving-coil cartridge and the Dayton Audio TT-1 turntable with Audio-Technica's AT-VM95E cartridge.[63]

In 2025, the high-end Hotaru turntable/record player,[64] which was revealed at Milan Design Week 2025,[65] won the A' Design Award for the "Audio Products" category.[66]

In 2026, the company's ATH-R70xa open-back reference headphones won for "Headphone/Earpiece Technology" at the 41st annual TEC Awards.[67][68]

See also

• Sound Burger
• Audio Engineer
• List of microphone manufacturers
• List of phonograph manufacturers

External links

• Official Website