Since headphones are basically near field speakers placed over the ears, they fall into the same category, but there certainly has been a lot of evolution through the years. Cool Material recently ran a great article on the history of headphones. Here's an excerpt, but be sure to catch the full article on their site.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhseMcCa7wCOFhykC_I4wOIWbW-USRCagfNsIrae-jpqV23rGVp6HrngAYnksW5FSz_OT1nonbsg9oEPpprNzWhgw1Dj1rDm_1HcRlfym1qtKIbWVEyeEXN0-C7JCRHXANvhNfDXHnJA/s320/headphones+1881.jpeg)
1881 – Way before MP3s, dubstep and premium Spotify accounts, headphones had little to do with music at all. Back in the 1880’s, the first headphones (or at least their early ancestors) were used by telephone operators. It was a single earpiece that rested on the user’s shoulder and weighed over 10 pounds (kinda like placing a boombox on your shoulder).Source
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPCvzl8xsLj6sFt9YI9V04u30TiX_N9EbcC9YsIbztdH4onwYKXgcM1qjiKlqHunXb7vqU70i8PEMZEY4ImFztw-gzctr9CtEJ_ov70mD_5kIm802Av2sgsvdUuMEqCnRTw77YUO63Cs/s320/headphones+1910.jpeg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wi-aBdGCLUV1gZPi8Gla8wEisuzGYUChOzp7uHSyhFFPvDAsM_WW4988kCGpY0EWdX9WLIFu0OA1TrfCmz-zZ0t8Ff2TvLw6pYPq_VOgCknG5g2AcVW4ReN-kRjlgMPxdRIsEPZTIow/s320/headphones+1958.jpeg)
1958 – John C. Koss changed the headphone game in a way that would make Dr. Dre jealous. In 1958, Koss created the first stereo headphones (Koss SP-3) and launched an all out assault on awaiting ear canals. Over the next few decades, Koss would come to dominate the headphone industry, and he would do it all without the need for a pesky college education. Source
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwYkgOQM3aHse5757v62OEtadGErECJlEKacBAVkbj2ez2L3EZI9GgN3VvmOobRBUqq7R1ZnTSjS9f36lrH7ksSOy53YtXYS1flLhPn7jpH2xXBTsLRHo2b-zbqifAY7TkRo083ipbfE/s320/headphones+1980.jpeg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwN0442yO8uo4T8PQUhkfySDpl0DM247LJPflbUtNf4AdtEvnLJn4E0oN6tfDmjsMO09TJ4zYSs1BQGzGAh9iKEU4sRl25Ayu_v0LJQ-cIBhqVbW7XyjKhLf1F-0zmykbzkuK3mE_WJM/s320/headphones+2001.jpeg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzghn8imqMXTFShaubzcYvuPNq5auZaKHdZpQ0ICF2AX-IrPoh4Qm0LcjcEb9s6bxlqLUWMc843jFFQDvmJsqUCSCBv9fy8J-FlzT_3AfWPGOAgZ0Ie7HM4-bQyjw_EdAiQ0dJ8mBgERE/s320/headphones+2012.jpeg)
There are more than just these examples so be sure to check out the entire article here.
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1 comment:
When I was a teenager just starting out in audio engineering I had a great collection of antique headphones. Had over 20 really cool ones that dated back to WWI.
When I moved out of my folks house I couldn't take everything with me at first and by brother sold them for drug money to the local antiques guy, along with a dozen antique cameras, silver and gold encased pocket watches and 600 highly collectable comics and assorted antique reel-to-reels and mics. Quite a collection for a 19 year old. It was my "nest egg".
I had planned to sell them myself to get my first quality recording setup. Made for real behind-the-eightball start to my career. But I percevered and it all, eventually, work itself out.
Cheers
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