The founder Hideo Matsushita started Audio-Technica with his first cartridge and Audio-Technica will mark this occasion by reaffirming its commitment to analog. Focusing on a human-centered approach to the process of generating sound, the company sees analog as enjoyment and appreciation for audio that doesn’t alter, despite the rapid changes throughout history.
The result of 60 years of phono cartridge research and development, the AT-MC2022 offers cutting-edge technology for the analog audio aficionado. This innovative moving coil cartridge produces a sharp, vibrant soundscape that lets you hear – and feel – every detail of your music.
The highlight of the cartridge is its unified stylus-cantilever, formed from a single, lab-grown diamond.
This unique construction eliminates the distortion caused by conventional bonding of stylus to cantilever, allowing for a purer transmission of the vibration from the record groove to the coils. The very slim 0.22 mm (0.009") diamond cantilever ensures extremely high propagation velocity and fast transient response.
The AT-MC2022 adopts the highly efficient magnetic circuit originally developed for the AT-ART20, resulting in greater magnetic flux density and output voltage. The hybrid construction of the cartridge body consists of an aluminum base and titanium housing, with an elastomer undercover to reduce undesirable resonance. Threaded mounting holes allow for easy installation to a headshell or integrated tonearm, and high-quality terminal pins (with gold plating that’s approximately 30 times thicker than is conventional) reduce contact resistance.
In celebration of Audio-Technica’s 60th anniversary, the AT-MC2022 moving coil cartridge features design accents inspired by traditional shippo enameling (Japanese cloisonné) and comes in a specially crafted walnut storage case with a flip lid, drawer, and acrylic window engraved with the product’s serial number and the 60th anniversary A-T logo.
In addition to AT-MC2022, we will also introduce the ATH-W2022 – new signature wooden headphones that honor our enduring commitment to analog audio and its power to touch our innermost selves.
Sourced and assembled entirely in Japan, the ATH-W2022 blends technological innovation with traditional artistry to fashion a timeless audio component of refined elegance. The housings are expertly crafted from Mizume (Japanese birch) and finished with traditional urushi lacquer – just like our first wooden headphones, the ATH-W10VTG – to deliver pure tone quality with natural reverberation.
Sakura (cherry blossom) and hou-ou phoenix designs are hand-painted on the left and right houses, respectively, using the Japanese maki-e lacquer technique, with the right housing also incorporating mother-of-pearl. The housings are suspended from arms shaped to recall the winged slope of irimoya roofs that cap many Japanese temples. Deerskin is used for the earpads and headband to provide long-lasting durability and comfort.
Within the exquisite housings are baffle-integrated 58mm drivers that were specially developed and optimized for these closed-back headphones. Adopting the innovative Core Mount Technology from our ATH-ADX5000 open-air dynamic headphones, the driver units are positioned for optimal airflow and full-range audio reproduction. We have designed a new magnet circuit that incorporates a pole and yoke structured from laminated pure iron plates to reduce back electromotive force (back EFM). The diaphragm is comprised of a pure titanium center dome, pressed to a thickness of 30 microns. This construction places an emphasis on mid-high range audio reproduction with excellent high-frequency response, as well.
The ATH-W2022 comes with two detachable, cloth-wrapped cables made from high-purity 7N-class D.U.C.C. (Dia Ultra Crystallized Copper). Both of these 3.0m cables have A2DC (Audio Designed Detachable Coaxial) connectors to attach securely to the headphones; one is terminated with a standard 6.3mm gold-plated stereo plug, the other features a 4-pin XLRM balanced connector for use with the latest high-fidelity equipment to achieve better channel separation.
Also included is a 60th anniversary commemorative wood storage case from white paulownia wood with a Kiso cypress lid that’s cut to complement the irimoya styling of the headphone arms.
