Until now, Ken has been the best kept secret in audio. When I say audio, I mean vintage and bespoke Japanese audio MANIA. The man is a master of this mysterious art, a mad genius confined to his dark, smoke-filled workshop. Take a look at the selection of items he lists on his website. Some seem like junk, but are in fact carefully selected, exquisite national treasure goods. He can make a fully bespoke amplifier using any of the legendary parts to your exact specification and budget. I personally have experience with two type 71A amplifiers, the latter of which was custom designed. I asked for a somewhat dark sounding piece with lots of drama and emotion, which was delivered in spades. I asked for a specific design using natural wood and raised copper plates, and he allowed me to participate in the design process on the level of layout. You can see the finished piece in a recent post to the website. Finally, it was surprisingly affordable. I was so happy with the result that I ordered a matching phono preamp, which is currently in the works. Overall, an extremely unique and satisfying experience, a throwback to the golden age of mania.
