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Despite headphones being considered must-have accessories, not many of us know about the history of a gadget itself. We might have experienced different types of headphones through the years, and might witnessed the technical evolution of headphones but we barely know how it all started.
Here we tried to introduce headphones to all of us who can’t imagine a day without them. Take a look!
When were first headphones invented?
Though there are many different sources and beliefs, the most common is that the first headphones were actually invented by a man named Joseph Henry, who was also one of the founding fathers of electromagnetism. He came up with the idea while working on a telegraph system, and realized that he could use magnets to transmit sound. This led to the development of electro-acoustic technology, which is still used in headphones today.
However, the designer of first prototype of headphones as we know them today is familiar. It wasn’t until 1881 that the first actual headphones were developed. They were created by a man named Nathaniel Baldwin, and were used primarily by telephone operators.
He created them in his kitchen in Utah. His idea was to improve on the telephones of his day by making a pair of earpieces that would fit over a person’s head. The headphones were an instant success and were soon being used by the military and others who needed clear communication. Nathaniel Baldwin’s headphones are still in use today, though they have been updated and improved over the years. It wasn’t until 1910 that headphones began to be widely used by the general public.
Early-ages headphones development
In the early 1900s, headphones were mass-produced for the first time. The first mass-produced headphones were introduced by the American company Zenith Radio in 1919. Zenith’s headphones were made of Bakelite, a durable plastic that was popular at the time.
During the 1920s, headphones became increasingly popular with music lovers. In 1925, German company Beyerdynamic released the DT-48, the first pair of dynamic headphones. These headphones were significantly more efficient than earlier models, and they quickly became a favorite among audiophiles.
In the 1930s, another major breakthrough occurred in headphone technology. In 1931, British company Blaupunkt released the world’s first electrostatic headphones. These headphones were more comfortable and efficient than any other model that had been developed up to that point. In the 1930s, several companies began mass-producing headphones. This helped to lower the cost of headphones and make them more accessible to the general public. This was also the decade when headphones began to be used in professional settings, such as by pilots and air traffic controllers
During the 1940s and 1950s, headphone technology continued to improve. The 1940s saw the development of new headphone technologies, such as noise-canceling headphones. These headphones were designed to block out external noise, making it easier to concentrate on what you were listening to. Headphones were also used during World War II by soldiers in order to communicate with each other while avoiding detection by the enemy. In 1949, American company Koss released the world’s first stereo headphones, the Koss SP/3. These headphones allowed users to enjoy the stereophonic sound for the first time.
Headphones became even more popular in the 1950s as the stereo sound became available. This was a big improvement over monaural sound, and it made listening to music much more enjoyable. This decade also saw the development of portable headphones, which were perfect for listening to music on the go.
In 1958, another major milestone was reached with the introduction of the world’s first open-back headphones, the AKG K120. These headphones provided a more natural listening experience than previous models, and they quickly became popular among professional musicians.
The 1960s and 1970s saw the development of new headphone technologies, such as open-back headphones and in-ear headphones. Open-back headphones provide a more natural sound, while in-ear headphones are small and convenient. These new developments helped to make headphones even more popular.
Modern-day headphones
Today’s headphones come in a variety of different shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common: they allow you to enjoy your music without disturbing those around you. But it wasn’t always this way. In fact, the history of headphones is a long and fascinating one, dating all the way back to the early 1800s.
The first headphones were large and bulky and often required external power sources. This changed in the 1950s with the development of transistor-based headphones. These new models were much smaller and more portable and quickly became popular with music lovers.
There are many different types and manufacturers of today’s headphones. We created article where you can check what is on today’s market. You can check it out here!