There are many ways to listen to audio, but a solid pair of headphones can be one of the most intimate ways to stay connected to your music. These days we can show you plenty of wireless Hi-Fi headphones for home, or you may already have a pair of headphones tucked in your pocket. However, headphone technology has come a long way and the 1960s played a significant role in how we know the audio accessory today.
If you’re curious, we can tell you all about the first headphones, which weighed 10 pounds and didn’t have much to do with music. Early headphones were primarily reserved for military or communications operations, but that would change beginning in 1958, when jazz musician John C. Koss invented the first pair of stereo headphones, the Koss SP/3 stereophones. These over-ear headphones would usher in a new way for users to listen to audio, and the company behind them had even more in store for those who wanted to listen to vinyl or the radio at home.
Although the headphones of yesteryear looked more like something you’d expect someone in aviation to wear, the ’60s were an important time for technological advancements in personal audio. Today we can take things like Bluetooth wireless connectivity and small portable systems for granted, but some major players have helped bring some needed features to the masses.
Did headphones exist in the 60s?
With John C. Koss teaming up with engineer Martin Lange Jr. to invent the first pair of stereo headphones in 1958, Koss Electronics Inc. was able to grow as a brand and release several different units throughout the 1960s. This included the SP/3X model in 1960 and the PRO/4 model in 1962. Both looked very similar to what you might see today, although the speakers and the headbands certainly protruded a little further from the wearer’s head. Headphones in the ’60s were chunky to say the least, and that’s certainly not always the case today.
What’s also interesting about the 60s is that they gave birth to the first wireless headphones. Thanks to advances in transistor technology, wearable headphones have become possible. However, audio sources were rather limited, as these solid-state “radio headphones” included built-in AM/FM antennas. A pair from the era could allow users to listen to music on the go thanks to 2-inch speakers and padded earcups.
The 1960s also gave rise to noise-reducing ear cups and headbands, placing greater emphasis on comfort. Inspired by military units, it will once again be John Koss who will develop these new features. Additionally, Koss (i.e. the company) delivered the world’s first self-energizing electrostatic headset, the ESP/6, in 1968, which relied on current-free charging to achieve its sound profile. While wireless technology has evolved into Bluetooth, electrostatic headphones are still available today, as are many features available in accessories of yesteryear. This might be worth considering when looking for the best headphones for audiophiles.
