Audio-Technica Celebrates 50th Anniversary With Launch of 5 Limited Edition Products

Leeds, UK, 13-01-2012: Audio-Technica celebrates “50 Years Of Passionate Listening” in 2012, and marks the occasion with the release of five limited edition 50th Anniversary products.

Introduced at CES 2012 between 10-13 January, the ATH-W3000ANV over-ear audiophile headphones, ATH-PRO700MK2ANV DJ headphones, AT50ANV air-core moving coil phono cartridge, AT150ANV Dual Magnet phono cartridge and AT-TI15ANV titanium headshell feature a distinctive 50th Anniversary Audio-Technica logo and colour scheme and are supplied with a commemorative certificate.

The ATH-W3000ANV (£1,200 RRP) is the embodiment of 50 years of Audio-Technica headphones expertise. The earpieces are made from strikingly beautiful Japanese Echizen lacquer-finished Hokkaido Asada cherry heartwood. The ATH-W3000ANV is engineered for superlative sound quality, with special high-power driver magnets, OFC 7N ultra-high-purity oxygen-free-copper voice coils and isolated left/right internal wiring, a newly designed 53mm wide-range driver element and numerous additional refinements. The frame is constructed from magnesium for exceptionally light weight and high rigidity, and the ear cushions are fabricated from luxurious Spanish lambskin.

The ATH-PRO700MK2ANV DJ headphones (£289 RRP) embody the sonic excellence, comfort and durability that have made Audio-Technica headphones industry favorites for 50 years. The headphones employ all-new 53 mm drivers designed especially for this model, to deliver authoritative bass, a clear midrange and open, well-defined treble. Its lightweight construction provides maximum comfort even during extended use, and the headphones’ 50º/90º earpiece swivelling capability ensures a perfect fit for every monitoring application. The ATH-PRO700MK2ANV’s gold trim accents add a touch of elegance. The headphones are supplied with one straight and one detachable cord.

Audio-Technica has been renowned for its phono cartridges for 50 years, and the moving-coil AT50ANV (£2,200 RRP) continues the company’s distinguished tradition. The AT50ANV has a unique air-core design that employs a non-magnetic armature for the coil frame, yielding exquisite resolution of fine musical detail and a natural, transparent, spacious sound. Its new magnetic proprietary circuit design and neodymium magnets deliver almost twice the output of previous cartridges for extremely low noise and improved bass response.

Additional details include a solid boron cantilever with a specially designed line contact stylus, a machined titanium base and aluminum and titanium body components, OFC 7N wiring and other enhancements. This model comes in a wooden presentation case with the 50th anniversary logo engraved into the wood.

The AT150ANV moving-coil phono cartridge (£969 RRP) combines traditional design elements with modern refinements to deliver richly detailed vinyl playback. Like the AT50ANV, it employs a non-magnetic armature coil-wound frame and a magnetic circuit design and neodymium magnets that deliver higher output than other moving coil designs. The AT150ANV utilizes a Micro Linear stylus tip mounted to a solid boron cantilever. Its machined aluminum housing and damping material are designed to absorb unwanted resonances for superb clarity and resolution.

The AT-TI15ANV headshell (£279 RRP) is crafted from pure titanium for light weight and rigidity, and also features a machined aluminium connector. With a quad hybrid lead wire and Hanenite damping material, the AT-TI15ANV is the perfect complement to any serious audiophile system.

Each of the above Limited Edition 50th Anniversary products is available to pre-order from www.audiotechnicashop.com

About Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica was founded in 1962 by Hideo Matsushita, who introduced the company’s first phono cartridge that year, and quickly gained a reputation for producing a range of high-quality, award-winning phono cartridges for some of Japan’s leading electronics companies. In the 1970s and 1980s, Audio-Technica broadened its lineup to include products such as its groundbreaking VM Series dual-magnet phono cartridges; its ATH Series high-fidelity headphones; its first professional microphones and other innovations.