SAEC Brand Overview
Today, SAEC is one of Japan’s leading audio−cable manufacturers.
One of Japan’s oldest audio companies, SAEC (Sound of Audio Engineering Company), was founded in 1974 by professional audio specialists who developed uncompromising analog products for Pioneer, Yamaha, and other manufacturers, including turntables, cables, tonearms, and phono cartridges. Their first tonearm, the WE-308N, was released at that time and won the Audio Excellence Award in 1983. The unparalleled quality of this Japanese company's analog products remains the benchmark and object of quest for music and high-quality sound lovers worldwide. The finest tonearms and turntables ever produced are a point of pride for any audiophile.
Evolution: tonearms to high−end cables
Since the company began business in 1976 in Japan as a unique manufacturer of “double knife edge” tonearms, the WE series tonearms have been sold not only in Japan but throughout the world, including Eurasia and the United States.
When the digital era arrived in 1982, vinyl quickly gave way to CDs, SAEC discontinued tonearm production and shifted its focus to high−end audio cables.
SAEC's history in audio cables began with the production of interconnect cables for phono cartridges, the renowned MC transformers, and phono preamplifiers. The company developed cables with different internal impedance for different cartridge types — an approach that caused a sensation at the time and was first introduced by SAEC. Since then, SAEC has consistently produced cutting−edge cables and maintained a leading position in the Japanese market.
SAEC gained worldwide recognition in digital audio in 1987 with the creation of the world’s first high−grade digital audio cable. Achieving superior sound reproduction requires not only top−quality materials but also the perfect balance of many technical parameters.
“Special Prize” award
In 2006, SAEC received the “Special Prize (Hi−Fi Manufacturer)” at the Audio Excellence Awards for its long−standing contribution to high−end audio — an honour rarely given to a company rather than an individual product.
innovative PC−Triple C material
In 2014, SAEC announced the adoption of the most advanced conductor material of its time — PC−Triple C (Pure Copper Continuous Crystal Construction). The development of this technology entered an active phase when the world’s only manufacturer of high−quality copper for audio cables, the Japanese company Furukawa Electric, announced the discontinuation of its special PC−OCC copper, recognised by leading manufacturers of high−end cable products.
The manufacturing process of PC−Triple C conductors involves a colossal compression of the copper, up to 70%, through repeated, gradual forging with strict adherence to numerous forging parameters. This forging process significantly alters the copper’s conductivity characteristics, producing a homogeneous, single−crystal structure of interlocking crystals aligned in a specific direction, which is then used as the signal transmission direction. This makes PC−Triple C material ideal for audio cables.
In early March 2014, SAEC returned to its analog roots and introduced a new line of vinyl−focused products: phono cables, shell lead−wires, and grounding cables (from tonearms to preamplifiers) — all made from PC−Triple C copper.
In 2017, SAEC released the STRATOSPHERE SL−1 / XR−1 interconnects — the world’s first cables made from innovative PC-Triple C/EX, featuring a forged silver layer over PC−Triple C copper. The cables were immediately embraced by Japanese audiophiles and received multiple awards from the audio press.
Revived, award−winning WE−4700 tonearm
In 2019, at the High End show in Munich, SAEC unveiled its revived, legendary WE−4700 tonearm, which immediately garnered all the most prestigious awards in Japan, including the Excellence Award Silver, Award Analog, Grand Prix Award Radio, and Experimental MJ Excellence Award. Demand for SAEC products in Europe surged. The Stratosphere series was expanded with the speaker cable SP−1, digital cable DIG−1, and SUS−20 USB cables.
SAEC continues to develop products that meet the expectations of the world’s most demanding listeners, remaining true to its core philosophy of high−fidelity sound reproduction.