Headphone History, The Evolution Of Headphones From Heavy Devices Placed On The User’s Shoulder To Light Airbags Inside The Ear Is Examined.

Headphone History, Headphones are nothing special today. We use this device when we want to listen to our favorite song or podcast without disturbing others. Everyone likes to use them, But most people do not think about where this technology started and how it has evolved over the years.

These days, it is almost impossible to walk around the city, campus, shopping mall, or any other place without seeing a few people with headphones in their corners. The learning of modern headphones can perhaps be attributed to the Sony Walkman, introduced in 1979 and almost immediately became a pop culture symbol. It was the first portable, low-cost music player to become known for its youthful features quickly.

Headphones have a long history, dating back to decades before the first Walkman devices were introduced on the street. Like many commercial electrical appliances, today’s headphones are an evolving example of a more specific device. Of course, this device does not have a fixed inventor, and several people have worked on it in different fields.

This article has a brief history of headphones collected and put at your disposal in different years.

How do headphones work?

It does not matter what type of headphones you use (wired, USB or Bluetooth). They all follow the same principles for sound production. If the sound comes from a digital device, that digital signal must be converted to raw electrical current by a digital-analog converter (DAC).

The headphone speaker consists of several parts; But the main ones are magnets, sound coils, and cones. The DAC sends current directly through the audio loop. When current passes through the sound coil, an instantaneous electromagnetic field is generated. The electromagnetic field interacts with the magnet around the circle.

The interaction of the fields causes the winding to move. Depending on the current, the coil moves more or less. The sound coil is attached to the cone; So it makes it move. The movement of the cone moves the air and creates pressure waves. These are the sound waves that enter our ears.

1881 – The ancestors of headphones

One of the first versions of headphones appeared in the early 1880s. Telephone operators needed speakers that could use to make and transfer calls. The solution to this problem was a speaker that rested on the user’s shoulders. These large pieces weighed ten pounds!

In 1891, when French engineer Ernest Mercadier developed an in-ear headphone, the gadget’s technology took off. These headphones were similar to the handsfree we have today, only larger. Also, unlike the prominent speakers mentioned above, this headphone model had two much lighter speakers.

1895 – Electrophone

In the early 1880s, the practical telephone line was more than just a call. Companies broadcast music performances over telephone lines, and people could only listen to them through their receivers. Electrophone, a British telecommunications company, went a step further in 1895 with new development in the world of headphones.

The headphones were made very similar to a medical phone, and the headphones were attached to a Y-shaped handle. This handle hung under the chin. A wire passed through the bottom of the handle and connected directly to the telephone line. The telephone company then played music now on the headphones. It is the first time that headphones have been used to listen to music.

1910 – Birth of modern headphones

Headphones returned to normal in 1910. Nathaniel Baldwin created a pair of in-ear speakers and sent them to the US Navy for testing. Influenced by Baldwin’s headphones, the Navy agreed to trade with him. Since then, the Navy has used Baldwin headphones to communicate.

Unlike the electrophone, the Baldwin headphones fit overhead just like modern models. Each phone had a cable that connected to a separate jack. This plan is the foundation of what we have today, But Baldwin never applied for a patent; Even when the Navy encouraged him to do so.

1958 – The first stereo headphones

In 1957 we saw the introduction of stereo sound. Until then, even if there were two speakers in the headphones, the same signal would pass through each. Stereo sound became very popular in the large speaker market, But there were no stereo headphones to use this technology.

After hearing stereo sound through a pair of military-grade headphones, John Coss, a musician, and entrepreneur was impressed. After creating a stereophonic turntable, he and his friends formed the Koss SP / 3 stereo headphones. Since then, the popularity of stereo headphones has skyrocketed and become the industry standard.

The 60s and 70s – Radio headphones

In the ’60s and ’70s, people tasted the first taste of portable music. During this time, companies began to produce headphones that contained radio receivers. These headphones were portable, But unfortunately, they were relatively large and bulky. Radio headphones kept music listeners busy until the Walkman hit the market.

1979 – Walkman

The immense popularity of the Sony Walkman led to a renaissance in the world of headphones. Sony has sold more than 400 million units in its lifetime, and much of that wealth has been in the headphone market. At that time, having a walkman had become a must for everyone; As a result, all users had to buy headphones.

Before that time, headphones were relatively large and bulky; But with the introduction of the Walkman, the headphones became thin so that they could be carried more easily.

The 80s and 90s – Headphones became airbags

As the popularity of portable music players grew in the 1980s, the world witnessed the introduction of the Airbag. The airbags were small enough to fit inside the ear canal. In the 1990s, due to the small size of airbags, they were pre-packaged with portable music players.

There was an airbag market in the 1990s, But they did not become famous until the early 2000s. In 2001, Apple sold the AirBad alongside its popular iPod. The success of MP3 players has dramatically increased the popularity and sales of AirBad.

2004 – Bluetooth headphones

In the mid-2000s, we saw the introduction of Bluetooth headphones. Bluetooth technology with wireless headsets introduces in the late 1990s; But only for one ear. In 2004, the first actual Bluetooth headphones for both ears were introduced, which, like radio headphones, allowed wireless sound; But it was much smaller and more comfortable. After that, Bluetooth headphones took over the headphone industry and became popular among ordinary consumers.

Early 2010 – Bluetooth Airbnb

Bluetooth technology did not stop in the headphones. Years after the advent of Bluetooth headphones, airbags have also moved on to use Bluetooth. The first version of the Bluetooth airbag had a wire that connected both sides. This wire place in front of or behind the neck.

In 2015, wires removing entirely from Bluetooth airbags, and the term genuine wireless airbags were introduced. Japanese company Onkyo introduced the Onkyo W800BT in September 2015. This product paved the way for other brands of simple wireless airbags, But the W800BT had its problems. This airbag model suffers from poor connectivity and low battery life. Regardless, all the airbags currently on display are made for the brave construction of the W800BT.

last word

Headphones have evolved dramatically since the late 1800s and have grown from heavy ten-pound devices to lightweight speakers. Headphones are now an essential part of personal devices; Therefore, it is impossible to predict what future generations will change; But we look forward to seeing more progress in them!