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First Headphones
The first headphones were used by telephone operators. It would rest on their shoulders and weighed about five kilos. -
Electrophone system
The Electrophone system looked like a stethoscope and was used by wealthy people to listen to a live concert or opera from the comfort of their own homes. -
first "modern" headphones
These were the first headphones that resembled modern-day headphones. Nathaniel Baldwin made them and sold them to the American Navy. -
DT-48
These headphones were the first dynamic headphones to hit the market. They were a huge leap forward in the headphone timeline. -
SP-3
These were the first stereo headphones. It was designed to replicate the excitement of listening to something live. -
SR-1
First-ever electrostatic headphones. -
MDL-3L2 - Walkman
When the Walkman was invented, headphones had to be portable. As such, the MDL-3L2 was invented, the first pair of headphones that you could easily take with you on a journey. -
earbuds
earbuds were made in the 1980s for people who wanted headphones to be lighter or got headphone hair. -
Cans
lightweight headphones that when over the head. Basically a quiet speaker with a soft cover to protect your ears. -
QuietComfort
Noise cancellation headphones were released to the public. While pilots had been using other noise cancellations for decades, now passengers could use it as well. -
Ipod
While the iPod itself isn't a set of headphones, it's certainly is a landmark on the headphone timeline. Sold with the accompanying set of earbuds, it became common to see someone wearing a pair of earbuds. -
First Bluetooth headphones
The first Bluetooth headphones finally arrive -
Skullcandy
before this, headphones didn't really have any designs. This opened the doors to a whole host of funky designs. -
Beats
Beats were a popular pair of headphones in the 2000s. Modern headphones had joined the market fully. -
1st gen Airpods
Airpods were first released in 2016. They became hugely popular in 2019.