Sixty years ago, Hideo Matsushita established Audio-Technica in a small flat in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Inspired by the emotional connections to audio he witnessed at hi-fi listening parties held at the Bridgestone Museum of Art, Matsushita dedicated his time to creating affordable audio equipment to heighten everyday listening experiences.

Building on our passion for listening we have grown to design critically acclaimed headphones, turntables and microphones, remaining a family business and retaining the belief that high-quality audio should be accessible to all. Today, we continue to honor Hideo-san’s vision, celebrating our analog heritage and bringing people together through sound.

As we celebrate 60 years, we take a look back at six of our most iconic products over the last six decades, from cartridges to studio headphones.

1967 – AT35X

The AT35X cartridge, the first to feature our VM dual magnet design, received patents worldwide.

1980 – AT727, aka the “Sound Burger”

This portable turntable became a cult classic due to its stylish design and functionality.

1992 – AT4033

A studio favorite, the AT4033 mic was selected as the best microphone at the 1992 Audio Engineering Society (AES) convention.

2007 – ATH-M50

The ATH-M50 headphones were an iconic pair of studio headphones (that live on as the ATH-M50x) praised by top audio engineers and loved by millions of listeners.

2008 – AT2020/AT2020USB

From podcasts to YouTube videos, the game-changing AT2020 and AT2020USB mics brought professional audio into the home studio at an affordable price, making them popular among content creators.

2009 – AT-LP120-USB

Our first professional, direct-drive turntable, the AT-LP120-USB (updated as the AT-LP120XUSB) became one of our most popular products in the U.S. and Europe.

Built on our passion for listening, we are proud to offer audio gear that makes high-quality audio accessible to all.