The History of the Headphone – 7dayshop Blog (2024)

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What is the summary of headphones? ›

Headphones let a single user listen to an audio source privately, in contrast to a loudspeaker, which emits sound into the open air for anyone nearby to hear. Headphones are also known as earphones or, colloquially, cans.

The first true headphones, as we know it now, were designed by an engineer called Nathan Baldwin on his kitchen table. As much as people ignored his invention, the US Navy understood the importance of his invention and bought hundreds of them. These were used for defence purposes.

The modern headphone was invented by a technically-inclined churchgoing man by way of Stanford named Nathaniel Baldwin, who wanted to amplify the sound of sermons at his Mormon temple.

It wasn't until 1937 that the first pair of dynamic headphones for home use was invented by the German company BayerDynamic. However, in 1958 John Koss invented the first ever stereo headphones, the Koss SP-3, as a jazz lover he was tired of using the low-quality headphones used by radio operators.

Headphones are electronic audio device that people wear over their ears. They let people hear sounds on a walkman, MP3 player, mobile phone or computer. Headphones come in many different sizes from big to small. They are also known as earphones, stereophones, headsets or even 'cans'. Earbuds are inserted into the ear.

Headphones can play a huge part in our lives. We use them to listen to our favorite music and podcasts, to participate in Zoom calls, and to watch shows or movies. Headphone usage is widespread among different age groups as well. Toddlers, older adults, and everyone in between likely have a pair.

Back when they were first invented the primary use for the product was telephone operators to have their hands free while they were on the phone. Hence the “head” and “phone” in the name. Then years later once people starting mainly using them for listening to music and audio they just keep the name.

Nathaniel Baldwin invented headphones in 1910. With the US Navy's guidance, Baldwin's final design consisted of two sound receivers, each containing a mile of copper wiring, attached to the operator's headband. This design was the foundation for electricity-free telephones used in World War II.

Before this creation, music was a social aspect and the invention of the headphones transitioned music into a more personal and private matter. Headphones allowed people to listen to music in solitude.

While NASA did not invent the modern wireless headphones, the technology for it was first developed by them in collaboration with an audio company.

Did headphones exist in the 60s? ›

During the 60s and 70s, people started getting their first taste of portable music. During this time, companies started manufacturing headphones that actually had radio receivers built-in. Unfortunately, even though they were portable, they were still rather large and bulky.

Dr Lawrence Jerome Fogel, an American pioneer of electrical and aerospace engineering, is credited with inventing the concept of noise-cancelling headphones in the 1950s. The Brooklyn-born inventor submitted a patent about using noise cancellation in the field of aviation.

The first headphones we would recognize as such were the invention of an American named Nathaniel Baldwin. Known as a “Radio Head-Set”, Baldwin's device was sat comfortably on the head. Two ear cups were connected by a headband in a design that headphones have maintained in basic form up to the present day.

“With John's obvious liking of this AKG K60 model of headphones, as demonstrated by the number of images he is seen wearing them, it's likely my headphones were used in the recording sessions The Beatles did in Apple studios between January 22–29, 1969 prior to their rooftop concert at the building.

An interesting footnote to this story is the suggestion from media theorist Friedrich Kittler that, while Koss may have created the first truly stereo headphones, the first people to actually experience stereophonic sound through headphones were the members of the German Luftwaffe during World War II.

Headphones, particularly over-ear and on-ear variants, provide a more immersive and encompassing listening experience. They often offer better sound quality and a wider soundstage, making them suitable for critical listening and audio enthusiasts.

headphones. plural noun. a device with parts that cover each ear through which you can listen to something, such as music, without other people hearing.

There are various types of headphones according to style and application, and there are various types of headphones such as listening headphones for listening to music, monitor headphones for recording / music production, noise-canceling headphones and portable headphones in recent years.

Headphones are a type of hardware output device that can be connected to a computer's line-out or speakers port, as well as wirelessly using Bluetooth. They are also referred to as earbuds. You can watch a movie or listen to audio without bothering anyone nearby by using headphones.