[Freddi]

Saw this old headphone on an auction. Anyone know what it is?

 

[zotjen]

Looks like something ship operators would wear during WWII.

 

[ericj]

Yeah. Really Really Really Old headphones for use with Really Really Really Really Old radios.

And that's all they're good for, if even that.

Seriously, they're older than your grandmother.

 

[philodox]

I believe they also have insanely high or low impedance... can't remember. Might be interesting to try out if you get them really cheap, but I wouldn't expect much.

 

[ericj]

Yeah, 2000ohm impedance was normal back then.

Strom Thurmond was running for president on a platform of racial segregation when these headphones were new.

 

[Freddi]

Good thing I asked about them then... I was thinking of cancelling my long awaited DT770's.

Would be fun to check out the sound in them anyways. Would probably sound horrible!

 

[jonnywolfet]

that looks like the first headphone by beyerdynamic. forgot the model number though.

 

[ericj]

Nope, they don't look at all like DT48's.

 

[exec_]

Do you have any larger pictures of them?

Not that I knew anything about such old phones, I'm just interested...

 

[Duggeh]

Theres no shortage of those old crystal set headphones. They are almost universally mono, almost universally between 2000 and 6000 ohms impedance and almost universally don't work properly anymore. Also they are heavy for their size, being made of metal and bacalyte and sound to put it politely, unimpressive.

 

[Freddi]

Can't find any better pictures of them. I think the auction is over. It said that they were probably used with a crystal radio. With means really, really old in my book.

 

[Freddi]

I've been doing some research and I see them going for about $30 over here. So I guess they're not considered that interesting for collectors either...

 

[ericj]

Just recently someone posted a url for a guy's online museum of crystal set headphones.

 

[braillediver]

WOW! The first Grado- they must be worth a fortune?


Mitch

 

[Killercrush]

Yeah, it really looks like a Grado ancestor lol !!!