Human Hall OF Fame Inducts – John C. Koss

If you’re currently sitting on the train riding the subway (tube for my UK readers) staring at your phone and tuning out the absurdity and mayhem that happens around us daily, then I’m willing to bet that there are headphones spewing absolute fire jams of Lady Gaga into your ear holes at this very moment. Maybe you’re listening to a podcast, maybe you’re listening to an audiobook, or maybe you’re sitting next to a guy who’s talking on the phone annoying everybody around him because he lacks the self-awareness and has yet to be shamed for this barbaric behavior…For all of this, we have one man to thank: John C. Koss – the innovator of the worlds first stereophone i.e. Headphones

I am responsible for your very first eargasm…you’re welcome

Koss must first hat-tip Nathaniel Baldwin who Macgyver’d an earpiece in his kitchen making it possible to listen to audio signals. The US Navy was so impressed that they would often go to Baldwin’s house to have tea parties then leave with some sick-ass tech mangled together from pipe-cleaners, worn out belts, and shoe laces.

That sick-ass tech referenced above

Headphones from 1919-1957 were primarily used by the military and CIA as communications equipment and for intelligence gathering. In 1958, John Koss, a Jazz musician from Milwaukee, invented the first stereo headphones with the purpose of listening to new stereo LP’s at home. They were called “Private Listening Units”

Average weight 3-5lbs, essentially the same weight as a football helmet

“Anybody that listened, it was like the first time you rode in a car or the first time you did anything”, Koss recalled, “It was that much of a difference. I couldn’t think of a world without music in it, you can’t go throughout the day without some kind of music. It gives you a lift, and it gives you company, and when you talk about enclosing yourself with just the music…it gets even more thrilling”, Koss said with a smile.

According to the origin story behind the World’s First SP/3 Stereophone, “Koss teamed up with engineer Martin Lange, Jr. to develop a portable stereo phonograph player with side-wing speakers”. The invention was intended as being an accessory but turned into something revolutionary. Their design modeled the military-styled headphones used during WWII.

These are neat

The first ever Beatlephones premiered in 1966 and were a MASSIVE hit. Apparently they were normal Koss Headphones but had a Beatles sticker on it. And if anybody knows anything about the Beatles, then we know that the Beatlephones are a trillion times cooler than any other normal headphones on the market at the time. Even if it just came in a cool box and was basically the same thing. It’s science, folks.

Koss crushed the competition during the 60’s and 70’s gaining early endorsement from celebrities like Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra Jr., and Bobby Hackett. In 1969, Air Force One was outfitted with 50 headphones in all compartments dropkicking the once boring entertainment system out the door as President Nixon and the First Lady made it rain with the first ever mid-flight air guitar solo while jamming to the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil”.

Left: Duuuuuuude, these are awesome!! – Right: I’m gonna shred so hard 

In the 70’s Koss advertised and marketed the headphones in genius ways catapulting the product into the next stratosphere.

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In 1979 Koss was inducted into the Audio Hall of Fame. Koss modernized the design of his stereophones every year into the 90’s.

In 2000, Koss was inducted into the Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame.

As technical advancements continue to thrive, Koss has remained in the conversation despite popularized headphones like Dr. Dre’s Dre Beats, Snoop Dogg’s signature Skull Candy Headphones, and those lame wireless Apple earbuds that earn all the attention.

Today October 6th, 2017, THE Human Hall OF Fame Inducts – John C. Koss – innovator of stereophone/headphones who made drum solo’s and air guitar’ing possible in totally necessary places like Air Force One, hot air balloons, spaceships, and submarines. He saved our lives from once non-avoidable awkward silences. He allowed us to listen to comedians and podcasts who went off the rails allowing us to laugh along without judgement. He made running somewhat bearable because everybody knows cardio is the worst without some sweet tunes. 

Koss joins an elite group featuring gunslingers, actors, astronauts, pilots, war heroes, chefs, spies, authors, innovators, and photographers – Human Hall OF Fame

Links: Koss.com/history / Visually