High-fidelity audio components are often much more than just products to be bought and enjoyed by us hi-fi enthusiasts.

Often these high-fidelity components represent the embodiment of a passionate vision for audio reproduction that are both works of audio art as well innovative audio engineering accomplishments. 

I'm always fascinated by the background stories of the people who are the artisans that passionately design and build the high-fidelity audio components that we enjoy so much in our lives. 

While Mactone is a highly revered audio company in Japan, Mactone isn't as well known in North America as some of the other Japanese high-fidelity audio marques.

Steve Mishoe at In Living Stereo is trying to change that, and get the word out to hi-fi enthusiasts in North America about how impressive these Mactone audio components are.

Steve told me, "After visiting the Matsumoto family outside of Tokyo, I began importing Mactone into North America in late 2018."

Intrigued, I asked Steve if he could tell me a little more about the people behind Mactone.

Steve told me that Mactone is a family owned company, founded in 1964 by Kenjiro Matsumoto (center in the photo above), who is now 91 years old, and is still actively engaged in developing Mactone designs. Kenjiro's son Teiichi (left in the photo above), and grandson Daichi (right in the photo above), handle building the equipment, and day to day operations. 

I think this is a heart warming story, of Kenjiro passing down the vision for his artisan audio creations through the family generations, to son and grandson. 

Here's some more information Steve shared with me:

"Born in Tokyo, Kenjiro Matsumoto started in the audio business with his father's support when he opened an electronics retail shop. All the while he was studying electronic engineering, and graduated from Tokyo Denki Daigaku University of Electricity."  

"In 1964 Matsumoto-san founded Mactone where he began designing and building his first vacuum tube amplifiers and preamplifiers. Quality transformers were always at the top of his quality list in components, and so he began building and winding his own."

"To illustrate how long Kenjiro has been at it, one must understand the technology that was available in the mid 1960s. In order to build a properly matched transformer, Kenjiro had to derive the constant of the transformer by calculating the square root. At first, a hand cranked calculator was used to generate real numbers, but this was extremely time consuming. When the first calculators were available, Kenjiro jumped at buying one. It may be hard to believe now, but the first calculator with a square root function cost 200,000 yen (approximately $1500 USD). Kenjiro didn't have the money to buy it outright so he took out a loan and paid it back over 10 months. After getting the calculator, constant calculations became much easier." 

"After many years of perfecting his design, it became difficult for Kenjiro to properly manufacture the equipment, as lifting and soldering tube amplifiers became difficult for a man in his 80s. "My eldest son helps me make amplifiers. The beginning of a new Mactone", said Mr. Matsumoto."

"It was Teiichi, his eldest son, who stood up to the task. Teiichi Matsumoto was born in 1963 in Hachioji, Tokyo. Teiichi liked to listen to records with songs such as "Queen of Sheba" and "007's Theme". He also liked listening to overseas shortwave broadcasts and recording FM Broadcasts on cassette tapes. He helped with the family business, receiving an allowance for installing parts on chassis and winding transformers."

"Teiichi-san seemed to have a natural talent for making things. After a three year term, Teiichi retired from the Japanese Self Defense Force. It was the early 90's and he began doing custom mods in a motorcycle shop. All the while he helped his father build Mactone products."

"In 1999, Teiichi-san opened up a Harley-Davidson motorcycle specialty shop called Black Chrome Bike Works, Teiichi loves his Harley-Davidsons dearly, in particular, the 45 degree narrow angle V-twin engine's odd beat-like rumble. Teiichi-san still owns Black Chrome Bike Works, and between him and his son Daichi, they manage both the motorcycle and audio businesses."

Note from Jeff: being a passionate motorcycle enthusiast myself, I've been enjoying riding and racing motorcycles now for about 52 years, so I completely understand Teiichi-san's passionate connection to both motorcycles and high-fidelity audio components, which both connect deep within the heart of passion, and the excitement for living life to its fullest.

"Since rejoining Mactone, Teiichi's perfectionistic ways have helped the current Mactone offerings to be better built both inside and out. Teiichi is in charge of building all export products. Once Teiichi inherits the responsibilities of running Mactone, he says, "There is no need to chase a new format like Harley does. It is important not to change Mactone's uniqueness and design philosophy."

"Kenjiro and Teiichi are now working on a new power amplifier utilizing 300B vacuum tubes in a parallel push-pull configuration. Teiichi is excited about the current Mactone and sees a long and bright future for company."

As a sentimentalist by nature, I think it is wonderful to see the passion for artisan high-fidelity designs passed down through the generations - what a wonderful heritage!

I hope you enjoyed learning about the Mactone family of Kenjiro, Teiichi, and Daichi, as much as I did telling you about them.

In the not too distant future I'll be sharing more with you about technical design of Mactone audio components, so stay tuned for that.

I've been enjoying listening to the Mactone XX-440 line preamplifier and MH-120 amplifier in my primary music listening audio system with my Tannoy Westminster Royal SE loudspeakers (photo below). 

I've been listening to a variety of music from the span of the recording arts, 1877 to today, and have been impressed with the rich and natural tone the Mactone XX-440 and MH-120 bring to all of the recording eras. More HERE about the Mactone XX-440 and MH-120.

I've nicknamed the Mactone components "Max-tone", as they really convey the music I've been listening to with gorgeous tone and musicality. 

After I get a little more listening time in I'll write up my initial listening impressions for you, so stay tuned for that.

As always, thanks for stopping by, and may the tone be with you!

You can read the next article in the Mactone series HERE.