[edstrelow]

The article below has a somewhat potted account of headphone history.


First Glimpse Article - RetroScope


It claims that Koss made the first cans in 1958, an SP3. I wonder if anyone has one of these? They must be worth something as a collectors item at least.

 

[PiccoloNamek]

The actual history of headphones goes back much further than that. Here is a photograph of a pair of radio headphones from 1919:

 

[Bartohlowmeh]

If you look real closely they kinda look like a pair of Grado's

 

[rhythmdevils]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bartohlowmeh /img/forum/go_quote.gif If you look real closely they kinda look like a pair of Grado's

you don't have to look that closely it's the same design!

I love how no frills the grados are...

 

[feh1325]

thats a cool rod-locking system

 

[ast]

BeyerDynamics

 

[SunDevil]

According to German Wikipedia the real inventor is not clear, but many things point to the US-American "Nathaniel Baldwin" (1878-1961). He was the founder and owner of "Baldwin Radio Company" in Salt Lake City and produced his "Baldy Phones" in 1910:
Picture of "Baldy Phones"

According to a different website:
The building of Nathaniel Baldwin radio works is still standing and is now converted into many small shops.

 

[Duggeh]

The first headphone as we understand the technology and term was invented by Beyerdynamic. But it didn't actually start to sell units until some 20 years later. It was the first to use a moving-coil driver instead of salt crystals or some other obsolete and highly limited technology based purely for use with transmission equipment.

 

[SunDevil]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duggeh /img/forum/go_quote.gif The first headphone as we understand the technology and term was invented by Beyerdynamic. But it didn't actually start to sell units until some 20 years later. It was the first to use a moving-coil driver instead of salt crystals or some other obsolete and highly limited technology based purely for use with transmission equipment.

You got dates?? Model numbers??

 

[spritzer]

Good old Koss claiming that they invented everything...

The first dynamic phone was the Beyer DT-48 launched in 1937 but it never took off until well after the war. The first electrostatic was the Stax SR-1 debuted at some Tokyo audio fair in late 1959 and entered production in 1960. So when Koss was "inventing" them Stax released the second generation along with a new lineup of energizers and amps.

 

[facelvega]

so, let's identify a few milestones:

ca. 1910: headset with earcups is invented, perhaps by Baldwin
1937: Beyer introduces the (cone) dynamic headphone, the DT48
1959: Stax introduces the electrostatic headphone, the SR-1
1968: Senn introduces open headphones and dome dynamic driver (adapted from a microphone capsule), the HD414
1972: Juerg Jecklin introduces the float frame
(197x: who introduces the orthodynamic headphone driver?)
(197x: when does ESS introduce the AMT driver in a headphone?
How about Piezos and Plasma drivers? When and who?)
1979: Sony introduces the Walkman
(198x: who introduces the earbud?)
1991: Ety introduces the IEM, the ER-4. (or did Westone beat them to it?)
2006: Duggeh introduces the Phonodome

 

[spritzer]

The plasma headphones are virtually unknown but sometimes in the 80's is most likely. They could be dated by the MB frames used...

The Pioneer SE-700 was reviewed in October 1974 so they predate that but who knows when they were introduced.

 

[SunDevil]

1980 >> A sensational new development, the beyerdynamic DT 880 dynamic headphones breaks with traditions. For the first time it is possible to produce dynamic headphones with electrostatic performance.

 

[PiccoloNamek]

Quote:

For the first time it is possible to produce dynamic headphones with electrostatic performance.

Wait, what?

 

[Duggeh]

Beyerdynamic designed the original DT880 to sound like their ET1000 electrostatic headphone.