The first-ever glimpse into the Japanese audio company's design process reveals the obsessive craft behind their R-series open-back headphones.
After 63 years of keeping things close to the chest, Audio-Technica has released an unprecedented documentary that opens their Machida headquarters to cameras, letting viewers sit in on the meticulous work of headphone engineer Shiwaku Nonomi. Now live on Audio-Technica Japan’s YouTube channel, it’s a fascinating look at how serious audio gear actually gets made.
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Nonomi’s been designing headphones for Audio-Technica for a decade, which means she’s been through every phase of product development imaginable. For the newly released R-series open-back headphones, her expertise in transducer technology was critical. Unlike closed-back designs, open-back headphones sit exposed to the environment, so the diaphragms need to deliver precise audio reproduction while accounting for unobstructed airflow. That’s the kind of detail most people never think about—but it’s exactly where the difference between adequate and exceptional headphones lives.
The new doco captures the connection between maker and product, with Nonomi describing the feeling of knowing something she created is out in the world. She shares a moment where a customer discovered she’d worked on their favourite headphones and got emotional about it, a pretty special experience to have.
Audio-Technica also touches on an occupational hazard of working in audio: when listening to music becomes your job, you can’t help but dissect it. Nonomi admits that it’s been a bit of a personal struggle, though certain songs still manage to bypass the analytical brain and reach something deeper.
Beyond the headphone engineering itself, viewers also get a glimpse into Japanese working culture, with communal canteens serving daily specials and dimly lit listening bars providing the backdrop for post-work lemon sour cocktails.
For anyone curious about what goes into designing audio gear, this documentary offers a rare look at the craft and precision behind Audio-Technica’s work.
