KEN ISHIWATA: FORTY YEARS OF PRESERVING THE MARANTZ SOUND
Few hi-fi engineers have the public profile of Ken Ishiwata. After more than 40 years at Marantz, he’s something of a celebrity, and is often mobbed at hi-fi shows with people clamouring for his attention.
His demos are renowned for their obsessive set-up and, while he’s known for his extrovert dress sense, it’s the quality of products he’s been involved with that have earned such respect.
KI Signature products – the result of Marantz letting Ishiwata hone those products to his taste – have etched their way into hi-fi legend. Few companies give their engineers this kind of freedom or public exposure. We caught up with Ishiwata just before news broke that he was leaving Marantz – a perfect time to get the inside story on a colourful career.
WHF: What originally
