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#1
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50th anniversary of Headphones?
I was listening to the Business Today on the BBC World Service last
night and they had a short piece on the invention of headphones. They interviewed John Koss as part of the story, played some of his music in the background, and gave some of the historical perspective. All in all, it was an interesting piece, but I haven't seen it on the World Service web page yet. -alan -- Alan Hoyle - - http://www.alanhoyle.com/ |
#2
Posted to rec.audio.high-end
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50th anniversary of Headphones?
"Alan Hoyle" wrote in message
I was listening to the Business Today on the BBC World Service last night and they had a short piece on the invention of headphones. They interviewed John Koss as part of the story, played some of his music in the background, and gave some of the historical perspective. All in all, it was an interesting piece, but I haven't seen it on the World Service web page yet. Headphones have been around for more like 90 years. They were widely used to listen to radio signals in the early days of radio, and they were used by telephone switchboard operators before automatic telephone switching systems were invented. The Wikipedia article on headphones shows a pair that are dated to the 1920s. http://historytogo.utah.gov/salt_lak...rs/070801.html "In the 1920s, the sleepy Salt Lake County farming community of East Mill Creek was home to Utah's first high-tech boom. The Baldwin Radio Company employed 150 men and women around the clock, producing a remarkable variety of gadgets, including "Baldy Phones," the first radio headsets. Few remember that Nathaniel Baldwin, an eccentric Utahn, invented headphones in 1910. During the Roaring '20s, his company generated $2 million in yearly sales, worth 10 times that amount today." Koss didn't even innovate the idea of high quality headphones. Radio headphones underwent a steady increase in quality: http://www.fundinguniverse.com/compa...y-History.html "In 1949, with the release of the K120 DYN, the company's (AKG) first headphone set" |
#3
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50th anniversary of Headphones?
On Nov 27, 4:38*am, Alan Hoyle wrote:
I was listening to the Business Today on the BBC World Service last night and they had a short piece on the invention of headphones. *They interviewed John Koss as part of the story, played some of his music in the background, and gave some of the historical perspective. *All in all, it was an interesting piece, but I haven't seen it on the World Service web page yet. * -alan -- * Alan Hoyle *- *- *http://www.alanhoyle.com/ Curious. Not sure what that piece was about and still nothing up on World Service web page. Headphones are a little older ... Very sensitive headphones such as those manufactured by Brandes around 1919 were commonly used for early radio work. (Circa 1920 photo on Wiki) Don't see an corporations celebrating a 50th recently either ... Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG was founded in 1945, just a few weeks after World War II, by Fritz Sennheiser and seven fellow engineers of the University of Hannover in a laboratory called Labor W. AKG, founded in Vienna in 1947 by Dr. Rudolf Goerike and Ernst Pless. AKG already celebrated their 50th anniversary some time back with a K240 Special Edition headset. {Photo: https://www.head-fi.org/forums/f10/fs-akg-k240-50th-anniversary-327423/} Koss was founded in 1953 as the J.C. Koss Hospital Television Rental Company by John C. Koss. Audio-Technica Corporation established in 1962 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. |
#4
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50th anniversary of Headphones?
On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:20:53 -0800, Arny Krueger wrote
(in article ): "Alan Hoyle" wrote in message I was listening to the Business Today on the BBC World Service last night and they had a short piece on the invention of headphones. They interviewed John Koss as part of the story, played some of his music in the background, and gave some of the historical perspective. All in all, it was an interesting piece, but I haven't seen it on the World Service web page yet. Headphones have been around for more like 90 years. Try more than 100 years. Early Marconi wireless operators (late 1890's) can be seen wearing them in period photohraphs. They were widely used to listen to radio signals in the early days of radio, and they were used by telephone switchboard operators before automatic telephone switching systems were invented. The Wikipedia article on headphones shows a pair that are dated to the 1920s. http://historytogo.utah.gov/salt_lak...rs/070801.html "In the 1920s, the sleepy Salt Lake County farming community of East Mill Creek was home to Utah's first high-tech boom. The Baldwin Radio Company employed 150 men and women around the clock, producing a remarkable variety of gadgets, including "Baldy Phones," the first radio headsets. Few remember that Nathaniel Baldwin, an eccentric Utahn, invented headphones in 1910. During the Roaring '20s, his company generated $2 million in yearly sales, worth 10 times that amount today." Koss didn't even innovate the idea of high quality headphones. Radio headphones underwent a steady increase in quality: Koss's phones were light, circumaural, comfortable and STEREO. Those were his contributions. |
#5
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50th anniversary of Headphones?
"Sonnova" wrote in message
On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:20:53 -0800, Arny Krueger wrote (in article ): Koss didn't even innovate the idea of high quality headphones. Radio headphones underwent a steady increase in quality: Koss's phones were light, circumaural, comfortable and STEREO. Those were his contributions. Pro 4 series headphones, light? ;-) Stereo headphones were commonplace, after all for most of them the difference was in the external wiring. |
#6
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50th anniversary of Headphones?
On Nov 27, 4:38 am, Alan Hoyle wrote:
I was listening to the Business Today on the BBC World Service last night and they had a short piece on the invention of headphones. They interviewed John Koss as part of the story, played some of his music in the background, and gave some of the historical perspective. All in all, it was an interesting piece, but I haven't seen it on the World Service web page yet. Upon reading the title to your post, the pair of headphones my late father used in the cockpit of his Grumman TBF in 1942 suddenly vanished of the bookshelf, embarrassed into non-existence as a cruel lie. This was followed shortly afterwards by an audible Pop! as his headphones from his days in the early 1930's as the holder of amateur radio license W1LHH quickly followed in oblivion. |
#7
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50th anniversary of Headphones?
On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:00:41 -0800, Arny Krueger wrote
(in article ): "Sonnova" wrote in message On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:20:53 -0800, Arny Krueger wrote (in article ): Koss didn't even innovate the idea of high quality headphones. Radio headphones underwent a steady increase in quality: Koss's phones were light, circumaural, comfortable and STEREO. Those were his contributions. Pro 4 series headphones, light? ;-) Stereo headphones were commonplace, after all for most of them the difference was in the external wiring. No they weren't. As a teen, I had the original Koss Stereophones, the SP3 (~1959) which were the FIRST stereo headphones sold to the public. http://www.koss.com/koss/kossweb.nsf/kmuseum?openform&50s^Products They consisted of two lightweight vacuum-formed brown plastic cups, each containing a single, 3" PM speaker. a light plastic cover with a holes in it it was screwed over each speaker and tan-colored piece of die-cut foam rubber made up each ear-pad (later versions had these pads covered with vinyl). A hoop of brass colored wire (looked like brazing rod to me) went over the head where another vacuum-formed light plastic piece formed the back of the head band. The part that touched one's head was another piece of the same foam that formed the ear pads, again, this was vinyl clad in subsequent releases. |
#8
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50th anniversary of Headphones?
"Sonnova" wrote in message
On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:00:41 -0800, Arny Krueger wrote (in article ): "Sonnova" wrote in message On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:20:53 -0800, Arny Krueger wrote (in article ): Koss didn't even innovate the idea of high quality headphones. Radio headphones underwent a steady increase in quality: Koss's phones were light, circumaural, comfortable and STEREO. Those were his contributions. Pro 4 series headphones, light? ;-) Stereo headphones were commonplace, after all for most of them the difference was in the external wiring. No they weren't. As a teen, I had the original Koss Stereophones, the SP3 (~1959) which were the FIRST stereo headphones sold to the public. http://www.koss.com/koss/kossweb.nsf/kmuseum?openform&50s^Products They consisted of two lightweight vacuum-formed brown plastic cups, each containing a single, 3" PM speaker. a light plastic cover with a holes in it it was screwed over each speaker and tan-colored piece of die-cut foam rubber made up each ear-pad (later versions had these pads covered with vinyl). A hoop of brass colored wire (looked like brazing rod to me) went over the head where another vacuum-formed light plastic piece formed the back of the head band. The part that touched one's head was another piece of the same foam that formed the ear pads, again, this was vinyl clad in subsequent releases. In 1959 I worked for a Lafayette Radio Associate store that sold Japanese headphones that were constructed in a similar fashion. Previously, I had owned a pair of Telex stereo headphones with mylar-diaphragm drivers. |
#9
Posted to rec.audio.high-end
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50th anniversary of Headphones?
On Sun, 30 Nov 2008 08:32:34 -0800, Arny Krueger wrote
(in article ): "Sonnova" wrote in message On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:00:41 -0800, Arny Krueger wrote (in article ): "Sonnova" wrote in message On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:20:53 -0800, Arny Krueger wrote (in article ): Koss didn't even innovate the idea of high quality headphones. Radio headphones underwent a steady increase in quality: Koss's phones were light, circumaural, comfortable and STEREO. Those were his contributions. Pro 4 series headphones, light? ;-) Stereo headphones were commonplace, after all for most of them the difference was in the external wiring. No they weren't. As a teen, I had the original Koss Stereophones, the SP3 (~1959) which were the FIRST stereo headphones sold to the public. http://www.koss.com/koss/kossweb.nsf/kmuseum?openform&50s^Products They consisted of two lightweight vacuum-formed brown plastic cups, each containing a single, 3" PM speaker. a light plastic cover with a holes in it it was screwed over each speaker and tan-colored piece of die-cut foam rubber made up each ear-pad (later versions had these pads covered with vinyl). A hoop of brass colored wire (looked like brazing rod to me) went over the head where another vacuum-formed light plastic piece formed the back of the head band. The part that touched one's head was another piece of the same foam that formed the ear pads, again, this was vinyl clad in subsequent releases. In 1959 I worked for a Lafayette Radio Associate store that sold Japanese headphones that were constructed in a similar fashion. Previously, I had owned a pair of Telex stereo headphones with mylar-diaphragm drivers. Koss claims that they invented the Stereo Headphone in 1958, and I must say, that I had never seen or heard of a pair before that. But Lafayette Radio DID sell a pair of gray plastic headphones with snaps around a removable headband very soon after. I recalled that they didn't sound as good as the Koss (which weren't great, either, I must say). |
#10
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50th anniversary of Headphones?
On Nov 30, 4:22*pm, Sonnova wrote:
On Sun, 30 Nov 2008 08:32:34 -0800, Arny Krueger wrote (in article ): "Sonnova" wrote in message On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:00:41 -0800, Arny Krueger wrote (in article ): "Sonnova" wrote in message On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:20:53 -0800, Arny Krueger wrote (in article ): Koss didn't even innovate the idea of high quality headphones. Radio headphones underwent a steady increase in quality: Koss's phones were light, circumaural, comfortable and STEREO. Those were his contributions. Pro 4 series headphones, light? ;-) Stereo headphones were commonplace, after all for most of them the difference was in the external wiring. No they weren't. As a teen, I had the original Koss Stereophones, the SP3 (~1959) which were the FIRST stereo headphones sold to the public. http://www.koss.com/koss/kossweb.nsf/kmuseum?openform&50s^Products They consisted of two lightweight vacuum-formed brown plastic cups, each containing a single, 3" PM speaker. a light plastic cover with a holes in it it was screwed over each speaker and tan-colored piece of die-cut foam rubber made up each ear-pad (later versions had these pads covered with vinyl). A hoop of brass colored wire (looked like brazing rod to me) went over the head where another vacuum-formed light plastic piece formed the back of the head band. The part that touched one's head was another piece of the same foam that formed the ear pads, again, this was vinyl clad in subsequent releases. In 1959 I worked for a Lafayette Radio Associate store that sold Japanese headphones that were constructed in a similar fashion. *Previously, I had owned a pair of Telex stereo headphones with mylar-diaphragm drivers. Koss claims that they invented the Stereo Headphone in 1958, and I must say, that I had never seen or heard of a pair before that. But Lafayette Radio DID sell a pair of gray plastic headphones with snaps around a removable headband very soon after. I recalled that they didn't sound as good as the Koss (which weren't great, either, I must say). Beyerdynamic introduced their DT 48 phones in 1937, and had a stereo version as early as 1950 - http://northern-america.beyerdynamic...sheadsets.html |
#11
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50th anniversary of Headphones?
On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:38:11, Alan Hoyle wrote:
I was listening to the Business Today on the BBC World Service last night and they had a short piece on the invention of headphones. They interviewed John Koss as part of the story, played some of his music in the background, and gave some of the historical perspective. All in all, it was an interesting piece, but I haven't seen it on the World Service web page yet. -alan Still nothing on the web site, but there was a particular anecdote that was worth sharing. In the interview with Mr. Koss, he mentioned how he got headphone jacks added to amplifiers. The story (paraphrased) was as follows: Two primary amplifier manufacturers were around at the time (let's call them "A" and "B" since I can't recall the details) and they were heavily in competition. Mr. Koss had been in discussions with both of them trying to get them to install jacks on their amps, but neither of them were willing to do so. While talking to "A," Koss said something to the effect of "Well, B is going to add them." and A's response was "Wait, wait wait... If they're doing that, then we're going to too." Koss then went to "B" and did roughly the same thing. Thus both manufacturers were convinced to put headphone jacks on their pieces. -a -- Alan Hoyle - - http://www.alanhoyle.com/ |
#12
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50th anniversary of Headphones?
On Mon, 1 Dec 2008 05:08:56 -0800, nebulax wrote
(in article ): On Nov 30, 4:22*pm, Sonnova wrote: On Sun, 30 Nov 2008 08:32:34 -0800, Arny Krueger wrote (in article ): "Sonnova" wrote in message On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:00:41 -0800, Arny Krueger wrote (in article ): "Sonnova" wrote in message On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:20:53 -0800, Arny Krueger wrote (in article ): Koss didn't even innovate the idea of high quality headphones. Radio headphones underwent a steady increase in quality: Koss's phones were light, circumaural, comfortable and STEREO. Those were his contributions. Pro 4 series headphones, light? ;-) Stereo headphones were commonplace, after all for most of them the difference was in the external wiring. No they weren't. As a teen, I had the original Koss Stereophones, the SP3 (~1959) which were the FIRST stereo headphones sold to the public. http://www.koss.com/koss/kossweb.nsf/kmuseum?openform&50s^Products They consisted of two lightweight vacuum-formed brown plastic cups, each containing a single, 3" PM speaker. a light plastic cover with a holes in it it was screwed over each speaker and tan-colored piece of die-cut foam rubber made up each ear-pad (later versions had these pads covered with vinyl). A hoop of brass colored wire (looked like brazing rod to me) went over the head where another vacuum-formed light plastic piece formed the back of the head band. The part that touched one's head was another piece of the same foam that formed the ear pads, again, this was vinyl clad in subsequent releases. In 1959 I worked for a Lafayette Radio Associate store that sold Japanese headphones that were constructed in a similar fashion. *Previously, I had owned a pair of Telex stereo headphones with mylar-diaphragm drivers. Koss claims that they invented the Stereo Headphone in 1958, and I must say, that I had never seen or heard of a pair before that. But Lafayette Radio DID sell a pair of gray plastic headphones with snaps around a removable headband very soon after. I recalled that they didn't sound as good as the Koss (which weren't great, either, I must say). Beyerdynamic introduced their DT 48 phones in 1937, and had a stereo version as early as 1950 - http://northern-america.beyerdynamic...-studio-video- production/ products/headphonesheadsets.html Perhaps. The paragraph that your URL references is actually pretty unclear about exactly what Beyer was doing in 1950. Whatever they did, they certainly weren't SELLING any stereo phones in 1950. There was simply no reason to. There was no STEREO in 1950. Even stereophonic sound in the movies (don't bring up Fantasia, that wasn't stereo) was at least two years away and any home-based stereo was five or six years away with the introduction of RCA stagger-head pre-recorded stereo tape in 1955-56. |
#13
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50th anniversary of Headphones?
On Dec 1, 5:31*pm, Alan Hoyle wrote:
On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:38:11, Alan Hoyle wrote: I was listening to the Business Today on the BBC World Service last night and they had a short piece on the invention of headphones. *They interviewed John Koss as part of the story, played some of his music in the background, and gave some of the historical perspective. *All in all, it was an interesting piece, but I haven't seen it on the World Service web page yet. * -alan Still nothing on the web site, but there was a particular anecdote that was worth sharing. *In the interview with Mr. Koss, he mentioned how he got headphone jacks added to amplifiers. *The story (paraphrased) was as follows: Two primary amplifier manufacturers were around at the time (let's call them "A" and "B" since I can't recall the details) and they were heavily in competition. *Mr. Koss had been in discussions with both of them trying to get them to install jacks on their amps, but neither of them were willing to do so. While talking to "A," Koss said something to the effect of "Well, B is going to add them." and A's response was "Wait, wait wait... If they're doing that, then we're going to too." *Koss then went to "B" and did roughly the same thing. *Thus both manufacturers were convinced to put headphone jacks on their pieces. I imaging that must have been Mr. H. H. Scott and Mr. Avery Fisher. They dominated amplifier volume in the late '50's/ '60's. Interesting anecdote, thanks. |
#14
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50th anniversary of Headphones?
On Dec 1, 7:55*pm, Harry Lavo wrote:
On Dec 1, 5:31*pm, Alan Hoyle wrote: On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:38:11, Alan Hoyle wrote: I was listening to the Business Today on the BBC World Service last night and they had a short piece on the invention of headphones. *They interviewed John Koss as part of the story, played some of his music in the background, and gave some of the historical perspective. *All in all, it was an interesting piece, but I haven't seen it on the World Service web page yet. * -alan Still nothing on the web site, but there was a particular anecdote that was worth sharing. *In the interview with Mr. Koss, he mentioned how he got headphone jacks added to amplifiers. *The story (paraphrased) was as follows: Two primary amplifier manufacturers were around at the time (let's call them "A" and "B" since I can't recall the details) and they were heavily in competition. *Mr. Koss had been in discussions with both of them trying to get them to install jacks on their amps, but neither of them were willing to do so. While talking to "A," Koss said something to the effect of "Well, B is going to add them." and A's response was "Wait, wait wait... If they're doing that, then we're going to too." *Koss then went to "B" and did roughly the same thing. *Thus both manufacturers were convinced to put headphone jacks on their pieces. I imaging that must have been Mr. H. H. Scott and Mr. Avery Fisher. They dominated amplifier volume in the late '50's/ '60's. *Interesting anecdote, thanks.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Late yesterday I received a personal email from Michael J. Koss, President and CEO of Koss Stereophones, confirming that the men in question were indeed Herman H. Scott and Avery Fisher. He further explained that his father certainly did not invent the headphones, but that he was the instigator behind the introduction of stereo headphones (the SP3 and later the Pro4) explicitly designed for high-fidelity reproduction of stereo music, and thus founded the personal stereo listening industry. And it was this latter that requrired persuading Mssrs. Scott and Fisher to add stereophonic headphone outputs to the front of their amplifiers. He mentioned that his father had and used the conventional headsets then extant (late '50's) but as a musician found them terribly wanting in their ability to reproduce music at a quality level. This was his inspiration to invent the Koss Stereophones. I think this is highly credible as I was a budding audiophile during this period, and my Dad owned a chain of audio/electronics stores....it rings true to my recollections of the time. |
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