[iFi audio]

Ken Ishiwata – One Heck of an Inspiration


(Photo courtesy - Stereonet)

When some of the team at AMR were ‘growing up’ and heavily involved in listening to CDs on the Eighties, we fondly recall the hot-rodded Marantz CD-63 MkII and KI Pearl Amplifiers. They were machines we lusted after as they were unobtanium.

In the digital realm, guided by Ken Ishiwata, there were:

Marantz CD-7



CD-12, CD-17, CD-45, CD-50, CD-60 and many others that all had at the heart the ‘King of MultiBit’, the one and only TDA-1541A.

As we approach 2020, when we listen to the AMR CD-77 with the TDA-1541A, we are still in awe that this chipset still compares to the very best digital has to offer. Despite its approaching 40 years old!

Along the way, we have Ken Ishiwata as one of the key inspirations for AMR to thank for guiding us on our digital journey.

Ishiwata-san, thank you very much for your input in the audio industry. You will be sorely missed.

 

[davidcotton]

First serious setup was a marantz 66 ki signature amp and matching cd player. Rip ken. Emptier of wallets long before I found headfi

 

[2050m]

Sad news. I still have my Marantz CD63 mkii. I will fire her up and raise a glass to an exceptional man.

 

[Sonywalkmanuser]

Interview from ten years ago. His profound knowledge of audio will be missed.

At 6:50: "Trust your own ears and Heart"

 

[xeizo]

I spent a couple of days in Monaco with him and some dealers on a sponsored event back in like 1988, at the time he was just starting transforming Marantz products. For myself I was running PM84 mkII/CD94 at the time, both of which I enjoyed a lot.
He was very nice, social and informative. Still have a couple of CD-cables with engraved gold connectors I got as a gift from him at the event. I had no idea he had passed, will be missed by many.

 

[iFi audio]

will be missed by many.

He surely will be

 

[Currawong]

I had a Project D-1 here a couple of times and it still stands as the gold standard for me for digital reproduction. Even if there have been developments that surpassed in many ways, nothing else sounded quite the same, or quite as magical as that DAC.

 

[Sonywalkmanuser]

Mr Ken explaining how accurate upsampling is done on his CD player

 

[iFi audio]

Mr Ken explaining how accurate upsampling is done on his CD player

Very cool, thanks! He surely knew how to look good in front of a camera!

 

[.Sup]

RIP

 

[Sonywalkmanuser]

Stereo Australia wrote about his achievements:

https://www.stereo.net.au/features/inside-track-in-memoriam-ken-ishiwata

 

[iFi audio]

Stereo Australia wrote about his achievements:

https://www.stereo.net.au/features/inside-track-in-memoriam-ken-ishiwata

Thanks, that's a very nice take on KI's accomplishments.

 

[Whitigir]

so sad