Founder of Telefunken Elektroakustik, Toni Roger Fishman, passed away on 12 July 2024 at his vacation cottage near the company’s HQ in South Windsor, Connecticut.

‘Toni was a visionary leader and founder, and an integral part of our company from day one,’ says the company’s administrative team in a statement issued concerning his death. ‘Toni was not just the owner, but also a mentor and friend to many. His vision, passion, and dedication were the driving force behind our success, and his absence is deeply felt by all of us.

‘It was Toni’s wish that our company continue to create the finest audio equipment in the world. Our entire team will work together to ensure that operations continue smoothly. We have a strong and capable team, and we are confident in our ability to navigate through this difficult time.’

Telefunken Elektroakustik of South Windsor, Connecticut, was incorporated in 2001 out of the desire to remake restoration parts to keep vintage iconic microphones in excellent working condition. This passion grew into the goal of recreating the legendary ELA M 251, both sonically and structurally. The new production 251 was first showcased at the 2002 Audio Engineering Society Convention and caught the attention of the professional audio industry with its remarkable accuracy to the original, both inside and out. The microphone won the 2003 Technical and Creative Excellence TEC Award for Studio Microphone Technology.

‘I first met Toni at recording studios here in Hollywood when he was searching for the most pristine of vintage classic microphones,’ says David Goggin, long-time friend and PR director since its inception. ‘He reverse-engineered them and used historic Telefunken schematics and documentation to preserve the legacy of these unparalleled instruments. Toni was always on target and relentlessly continued his quest for sonic excellence throughout his remarkable career.’

The vision of Telefunken Elektroakustik is to preserve the excellence of iconic microphones and their history, and to develop new technologies that draw inspiration from them. The company continues the tradition of producing high-fidelity equipment to benefit the recording and performing world, and to continue to accurately preserve music for generations to come.

Toni Fishman is survived by his wife Yuki and son Ethan.