# Audio-Technica

> Audio-Technica is a privately held Japanese audio manufacturer founded in 1962 by Hideo Matsushita. It began with affordable phono cartridges and expanded the same core expertise - turning mechanical movement into electrical signal, and back again - into microphones, headphones, wireless systems, turntables and commercial audio. Its customers range from record collectors and podcasters to studios, AV integrators and global sports broadcasters.

- **Founded:** 1962
- **Headquarters:** Machida, Japan
- **Founders:** Hideo Matsushita (Founder)
- **Team size:** The supplied U.S. company record lists 420 employees. Audio-Technica's Japanese company page lists 581 employees and 779 including domestic affiliates; a current consolidated global headcount is not publicly stated.
- **Products:** AT-1 and AT-3 cartridges, Professional microphones, Headphones and earphones, Turntables and phono systems, Wireless and commercial audio systems
- **Notable:** Founded on April 17, 1962 with ¥1 million in capital, Hideo Matsushita and three employees in a rented Shinjuku building., The AT-1001 tonearm package received recognition from Japan's Agency of Industrial Science and Technology in 1965., Developed the proprietary VM cartridge architecture and expanded it through international patents and exports.

## Products & services

- **AT-1 and AT-3 cartridges** — The moving-magnet stereo phono cartridges that launched the company; both became early hits and were supplied to Japanese audio manufacturers.
- **Professional microphones** — Studio, live, broadcast, content-creation, boundary, shotgun and array microphones, from the AT800 line onward.
- **Headphones and earphones** — Consumer, gaming, wireless, noise-cancelling, audiophile and professional monitoring models, including the M-Series and R-Series.
- **Turntables and phono systems** — Entry-level through premium turntables, cartridges, headshells and replacement styli, including the semi-automatic direct-drive AT-LP8X.
- **Wireless and commercial audio systems** — Digital and UHF wireless systems, discussion systems, mixers, Dante network microphones and beamforming ceiling arrays for installed AV.
- **R-Series open-back reference headphones** — ATH-R70xa, ATH-R50x and ATH-R30x models aimed at professional production, mixing, mastering and critical listening.

## Achievements

- Founded on April 17, 1962 with ¥1 million in capital, Hideo Matsushita and three employees in a rented Shinjuku building.
- The AT-1001 tonearm package received recognition from Japan's Agency of Industrial Science and Technology in 1965.
- Developed the proprietary VM cartridge architecture and expanded it through international patents and exports.
- More than 1,500 Audio-Technica microphones were used at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
- Reached its 60th anniversary in 2022 while continuing to manufacture cartridges, microphones and headphones.
- System 20 PRO won a Sound & Video Contractor Best of Show award at InfoComm 2024.
- Reported ¥67.7 billion in consolidated fiscal-2026 revenue and 33 consecutive profitable years.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Released a Stream Deck plugin for its 20 Series USB microphones.
- **2026-06** — Introduced the AT-MCD1 flagship dual-moving-coil cartridge with an integrated lab-grown diamond stylus and cantilever.
- **2026-04** — Introduced ATH-SQ1TW2NC true-wireless noise-cancelling earbuds in six colors.
- **2025-12** — Announced the AT33x moving-coil cartridge series.
- **2025-05** — Launched the ATH-R30x open-back reference headphone, completing the expanded R-Series range announced around NAMM 2025.

## Links

- Website: https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/audio-technica
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/USAudioTechnica
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AudioTechnicaUSA
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audiotechnicausa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AudioTechnicaUSA

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/audio-technica
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-21