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Daishin Kashimoto, 1st Concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic, appointed as brand ambassador for VELVET SOUND

2019/12/18

Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) has appointed Daishin Kashimoto, 1st Concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic, as brand ambassador for VELVET SOUND, AKM’s brand concept for audio ICs. Kashimoto earnestly endorses AKM’s philosophy to completely recreate the original sound including the artist’s intention, and as brand ambassador he will help AKM convey this to more people.

AKM has been providing audio ICs such as D/A converters (DACs), which convert digital sound source signals into analog signals, for over 30 years. AKM’s audio ICs have been highly evaluated around the world by manufacturers of products ranging from professional audio equipment to consumer audio devices.

Audio schematic

Launched in 2014, VELVET SOUND is the brand concept for AKM’s next-generation audio devices. The new circuitry found in VELVET SOUND devices is designed to maximize dynamics and ensure pure, unaltered audio data, prioritizing the accurate capture and reproduction of the source material in order to achieve high performance and rich musicality. These devices are designed specifically for the high-resolution digital audio era. AKM’s flagship VERITA series audio devices target high-end and boutique audio equipment. These devices integrate cutting-edge features ideal for the high-fidelity and high-resolution audio markets.

https://velvetsound.akm.com

Message from Daishin Kashimoto

I'm so honored to be appointed as brand ambassador for VELVET SOUND. When I listened to the sound produced by AKM’s cutting-edge technology, I was totally amazed. It was completely different from my previous experience with audio equipment. As a musician, my greatest pleasure is for the exact sound of a performance to be conveyed to listeners even through speakers.

Daishin KASHIMOTO

Profile of Daishin Kashimoto 

A Japanese classical violinist, born in London. First prize winner of five renowned competitions including the International Fritz Kreisler Violin Competition and the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud-Crespin International Competition for Piano and Violin. Kashimoto is recognized internationally for performing with orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Dresden Staatskapelle, Tonkunstler Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, St. Petersburg Philharmonic and the NHK Symphony Orchestra under renowned maestros such as Seiji Ozawa, Lorin Maazel, Evgeny Svetlanov, Yehudi Menuhin, Yuri Temirkanov, Mariss Jansons, Sir Simon Rattle, and Paavo Jarvi. He is also active in the field of chamber music, and has performed with noted musicians such as Martha Argerich, Gidon Kremer, Yuri Bashmet, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, and Emmanuel Pahud. Since 2007, he has served as music director of Le Pont International Music Festival Ako & Himeji, an annual chamber music festival in Japan. He was appointed as 1st Concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic in 2010. He plays a 1674 Andrea Guarneri violin.

About Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation (AKM) 

Headquartered in Japan, AKM designs, manufactures, and sells CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) mixed-signal ICs, magnetic sensors, and invisible optics devices for applications including audio, smartphones, automotive, industrial equipment, and telecommunications. AKM has continued to provide customers with optimum solutions all over the world for over 30 years.

https://www.akm.com

AKM, VELVET SOUND Logo™ and VELVET SOUND VERITA Logo™ are trademarks of Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation in Japan, Europe, and the United States.