 | |
 Audio-Technica headquarters in Tokyo | |
| Company type | PrivateKK |
|---|---|
| Industry | Audio equipment |
| Founded | 1962; 63 years ago (1962) Shinjuku, Tokyo |
| Founder | Hideo Matsushita |
| Headquarters | , Japan |
Key people | Kazuo Matsushita (President) |
| Products | |
| Website | audio-technica |
Audio-Technica Corporation (株式会社オーディオテクニカ,Kabushiki Kaisha Ōdio Tekunika) (stylized asaudio-technica) is a Japanese company that designs and manufactures professionalmicrophones,headphones,turntables, phonographicmagnetic cartridges, and other audio equipment.
Audio-Technica was established in 1962 inShinjuku,Tokyo, Japan, byHideo Matsushita as aphonograph cartridge manufacturer. Its first products were the AT-1 and the AT-3 MM stereo phono cartridges. Business rapidly developed, and Audio-Technica expanded into other fields. The headquarters and factory moved in 1965 to the current address in Naruse,Machida, Tokyo.[1] In 1969, the company began exporting phono cartridges worldwide and launched the firstmicrocassette recorders.[2]
In 1972, Audio-Technica established its US arm inFairlawn, Ohio, and started shipping VM phono cartridges to European manufacturers. In 1974, the company developed its first headphones, the AT-700 series, launched the same year. The AT-800 series of microphones were introduced in 1978, and in the same year, the UK establishment inLeeds began operation.[1]
In the 1980s, with the growth in digital music formats threatening their core business of phonograph cartridges, Audio-Technica begun a period of diversification. Employee suggestions were solicited, withsushi machines among the ideas selected for further development.[3]
In 1984, Audio-Technica introduced the ASM50 Nigirikko, anigiri-forming appliance for home kitchens, which incorporated a turn-table like mechanism to deposit the nigiri onto.[3][4] The market success of this product led the company to develop a range of sushi machinery for commercial and industrial use.[3] Audio-Technica remains one of the largest manufacturers of sushi machines globally today, with products marketed under the brand AUTEC.[3][4]
In 1986, the company developedRCA cables with high-purity copper produced from thecontinuous metal casting process, "Pure Copper Ohno Continuous Casting" (PCOCC), invented and developed between 1982 and 1985 by Atsumi Ohno.[5] In the same year, the company launched the AT33ML/OCC phono cartridge, the first made with PCOCC materials. In 1988, another Audio-Technica subsidiary is founded inTaiwan.[1]
In 1990s, Audio-Technica introduced several large-diaphragmcondenser microphones for studio use: the AT4033cardioid microphone in 1991,[1] the AT4050multi-pattern in 1995,[6] and the AT4060vacuum tube cardioid microphone in 1998;[7] the AT895, aDSP-controlled five-element microphone array providing adaptive directional audio acquisition, was introduced in 1999.[1] In 1996, the Southeast Asian establishment began operation inSingapore.[1]
In 2008, the company celebrated the 20th anniversary of supplying microphones forUS Presidential Debates. For their 50th anniversary, Audio-Technica celebrated atConsumer Electronics Show 2012, debuting their AT-LP1240-USB USB DJ Turntable[8] and ATH-CKS55i.[9]
In 2017, Audio-Technica Pure Digital Drive Wireless Headphone ATH-DSR9BT received CES Innovation Honoree Awards[10] by using Trigence Dnote Technology.[11]
In 2020, the company released several new products, including the ATH-CK3TW true wireless earbuds and the AT-XP7 DJ cartridge. The ATH-CK3TW earbuds feature Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and a compact design, while the AT-XP7 cartridge is designed for use by professional DJs and features a durable design and excellent sound quality.
In 2021, Audio-Technica continued to expand its product line, releasing the ATH-CKR7TW true wireless earbuds and the AT-VM95E/H turntable cartridges. The ATH-CKR7TW earbuds feature a high-fidelity audio experience with the convenience of true wireless connectivity, while the AT-VM95E/H cartridges are designed for use with turntables and feature excellent tracking and audio reproduction.
Looking forward to 2022 and 2023, Audio-Technica has announced several upcoming releases, including the ATH-AWKT Kokutan and ATH-AWAS hybrid wood headphones. These headphones feature a combination of rare wood and high-quality audio technology for a unique listening experience. Additionally, Audio-Technica has announced the release of the AT-ART1000 Direct Power Stereo Moving Coil Cartridge, which is designed to provide the ultimate audio performance for vinyl enthusiasts.
Since the late 1990s, Audio-Technica supplied microphones and headphones for US television shows such as theBig Brother,Deal or No Deal, theRock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions and several international events:
| Period | Event | Editions |
|---|---|---|
| 1996–present | Summer Olympic Games | Atlanta 1996,Sydney 2000,Athens 2004,Beijing 2008,London 2012[12] ,Tokyo 2020 |
| 2002–present | Winter Olympic Games | Salt Lake City 2002,Torino 2006,Vancouver 2010,Sochi 2014,Pyeongchang 2018[12]Beijing 2022 |
| 1998–2013 | Grammy Awards|1998–2013[13] | |
| 2019 | MotoGP | 2019[14] |
One of their most famous products was a battery-operated, portable record player calledSound Burger (Sold in the US asMister 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.[citation needed]
In 2005, Audio-Technica developed "Uniguard", a method for making microphones resistant toradio frequency interference from cell phones,Bluetooth devices, wireless computer networks andwalkie-talkies. 13 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.[15][16][17]
Media related toAudio-Technica at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
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