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いよいよスタート

Dec 1, 2021
4 min read

Updated: Jul 9, 2025


 

 ヴァイナルオーディオ研究所がいよいよスタートします。


 冒頭のご挨拶として適当かどうかはありますが、正直なお話、まさか私がオーディオブランドを立ち上げることになるとは、思っていませんでした。

 しかしここに設立宣言をし、製品を提供開始いたします。

 私のオーディオの経験の上で大きな役割を果たしたのは新藤ラボラトリーの創設者,故新藤研氏が作ったアンプ、スピーカーとFIGARO後にルミエール(Lumiere)とした菊池氏でした。SHINDO LABORATORYのPetrusと300B Singleアンプと新藤氏設計、組み立てのスピーカー(JENSEN+Altec hornやRCAの励磁型オープンバッフル)で奏でる音楽の格調の高さや新藤氏が整備したWestern Londonの聴き手を蕩けさせるボーカル再生に大きく影響を受けました。

 菊池氏は欧州からクラシックのレコード、特にモノラルレコードやステレオ初期のレコードを買い付け、試聴してから買える、というスタイルのレコード店兼オーディオ店でしたから、良い音楽に触れる機会を沢山貰えました。

 今回提供するのは、NEUMANNのDSTを参考に開発したルミエールワン(Lumiere1)を参考に、独自の工夫を加えて特許取得した技術をベースにしています。

 製造工程もほぼ100%職人芸だったルミエールワンに対し工業化を図っています。

 さて、今のカートリッジ市場に存在するカートリッジのほとんどは、オルトフォンタイプのMCカートリッジとシュアータイプのMMカートリッジのみとなりました。これらのカートリッジにも魅力があり、私も使用していました。しかし違う構造を用いることで新たな音楽体験ができることもまた事実です。

 DECCA、GE、TANNOYバリレラ、LEAK、NEUMANNなどかつて個性的なカーリッジが多かったものの、ひっそりと消え去ったり、一部のマニアにのみ愛されるのは、その個性が故ともいえるでしょう。

 個性を出すと万能さが薄れ、どうしてもレコードに対する得手不得手が生じます。〇〇向きの製品などという評価はそのひとつの表れです。私たちが提供する製品もきっとそうした物になることでしょう。

 古いジャズやクラシックのレコード(古き良き時代の名演奏)を想定した製品です。


 小規模なスタートです。

 当面は、受注生産に近い形で提供いたします。

 ご注文いただいてからお待ち頂くことがございます。

 納期等につきましても、お気軽にお問い合わせください。


 これを機会に、以後お引き立てのほど、お願いいたします。


ヴァイナルオーディオ研究所

Now Vinyl Audio Laboratory(VAL) has just started!

I'm not sure if this is an appropriate opening greeting, but to be honest, I never thought I would start an audio brand.


However, thanks to various coincidences and encounters, I am now announcing the establishment of the company and beginning to provide products.


The amplifiers and speakers made by Ken Shindo, founder of Shindo Laboratory, and Kikuchi, who made FIGARO and later Lumiere, played a major role in my audio experience.

I was greatly influenced by the high quality of music played by the Petrus and 300B Single amplifiers from SHINDO LABORATORY and the speakers designed and assembled by Shindo (JENSEN+Altec horn and RCA magnetic open baffle), and the listener-melting vocal reproduction of the Western London speakers that Shindo had set up.


Kikuchi's record and audio store was a style that purchased classical records from Europe, especially mono records and early stereo records, and allowed customers to listen to them before buying, so I had many opportunities to come into contact with good music.


The cartridges we are offering this time are based on Lumiere 1, which was developed by Kikuchi based on NEUMANN's DST. I added my own innovations to Lumiere 1, which became a new patent. This technology is the basis. For the listening test, I used my favorite Shindo Laboratory audio set.

The manufacturing process of Lumiere 1 was almost 100% artisanal, but we have attempted to industrialize it.


Now, most of the cartridges on the market today are only Ortofon type MC cartridges and Shure type MM cartridges. These cartridges also have their appeal, and I have used them myself. However, it is also true that using a different structure can provide a new musical experience.


There used to be many unique cartridges from DECCA, GE, TANNOY, LEAK, NEUMANN, etc., but they have quietly disappeared or are only loved by a few enthusiasts, which could be said to be due to their individuality.


When the manufacturer tries to make a unique product, the versatility is diminished, and it is inevitable that there will be pros and cons with records. Evaluations such as "this product is suitable for this" are one example of this. The products we provide will surely be of this type.


This product is designed with old jazz and classical records (famous performances from the good old days) in mind.

VAL is small, I'm manufacturing slowly.

It will be a production to order. It is very important to make superior sound.

In fact, after finishing to manufacturing, I will listen to records for a day to check sound

If you need, please send me e-mail freely.


Thank you!




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Contact Office (Moved to the following address)

Laboratory / Office / Manufacturing factory (Sorry, Not Allowed To Visit)

Kodaira city, Tokyo, Japan

Mr.Masashi Miyake

​​[Important Notice]

Regarding Product Inquiries and Procurement Channels
The products developed and manufactured by our laboratory are entirely handcrafted and individually inspected by a few staffs.

Because we deeply value delivering our products based on a transparent and sincere relationship of trust,

we kindly ask for your cooperation regarding procurement channels .

​

💡 Consult with Us Before Finalizing Channels

If you would like to ask whether it is possible to purchase through a specific dealer you frequently visit,

please feel free to consult with us via email beforehand.
However, if an arrangement or transaction channel is finalized before consulting with us,

and it involves an irresponsible broker,  we may not be able to guarantee proper product delivery or after-sales care.

In such cases, we may respectfully propose switching to a direct transaction, or we may be unable to accept the order.

Please consult with us via email during the planning stage of your purchase.


⚠️ Caution Regarding Non-Recommended and Irresponsible Intermediaries
On the other hand, there are certain intermediaries and unauthorized entities

with whom we cannot recommend dealing and with whom we have no association whatsoever.

Please exercise caution regarding procurement through intermediaries who display the following characteristics:

・Entitles who have not familiarized themselves with our technologies, products, how-to or policies, been never studying,

and are unable to explain them.
・Entities requesting direct shipment to the end customer without receiving the product themselves
・Brokers who accept orders from customers but refuse to handle or inspect the product,

requesting that our laboratory ship it directly to the customer solely to extract middleman margins.
・Entities offering no after-sales support to their own clients,
・Intermediaries who receive payment or margins from customers but completely abandon standard customer service,

such as explaining proper usage or assisting with initial care.
・Entities deflecting all issues or questions entirely to our laboratory
・Intermediaries
who refuse to assist when a question or issue arises between them and the customer,

simply telling the customer to deal with us directly while avoiding any accountability.
 

Our laboratory does not recognize the validity of such irresponsible entities,

and we cannot assume any responsibility for issues arising through these channels.


🎵 Please Share Your Passion for Music and Favorite Artists
Whether you contact us directly or through a trusted introduction,

we highly appreciate it if you could share the musical genres you enjoy and the specific artists you wish to hear in the highest fidelity.
Sharing the musical eras and artists you love allows me to offer tailored recommendations,

such as suggesting a specific model that would best resonate with your listening habits.​

​

​

Please contact by e-mail. Sorry we have no space to invite you.

And I'd like to ask you to write your name, address, e-mail, phone and so on.

Please remove the brackets() before sending e-mail.

vinyl.audio.laboratory(@)gmail.com

連絡事務所 (以下に集約しました)​

研究所 兼 事務所 兼 製造工場(来所不可)

東京都小平市

担当: 三宅 正師

(ご面倒でもメールにてご連絡をお願い致します。)

 

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vinyl.audio.laboratory(@)gmail.com   ( )を外してお送りください。

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