Founded in 1984 by audio master Isamu Ikeda, Ikeda Sound Labs established its reputation early with the groundbreaking IKEDA 9, the world's first cantilever-less moving coil (MC) cartridge. After Katsuaki Ishiyama took over in 2010, the company expanded its designs to include traditional cantilever models, releasing award-winning products like the 9xx cartridge and the IT-407SS tonearm, while also introducing its first diamond cantilever model, the Akiko, in 2022. Today, the brand's legacy of high-end Japanese craftsmanship continues under the meticulous supervision of Akiko Ishiyama, who builds all MC cartridges, and Ryutaro Ishiyama, who builds all tonearms, ensuring every component meets their exacting standards for superior analog sound reproduction.
