walkman.archive - 2012-02-25 02:55
I've just seen this interesting infography at blogcasque, where they explain visually a brief history of headphones. Very interesting.
Interesting.. but: "credit where credit is due". Apple did not invent the earbuds.. Obviously they didn't. Sony launched the earbuds in the 1980s (the "fontopia" line"), then made the transition from earbuds (16mm) to in-ear monitors (9mm) in 1999 with the EX-7s. The EX-7s, if I remember correctly, were the 20th anniversary in-ear monitors meant to celebrate the long-standing market life of Sony's fontopia line. Eventually, the EX-7s hit the shelves as MDR-EX70LP (US and Europe) and EX70SL (Asian markets). A huge number of in-ear monitors from different manufacturers followed, all of them with the constraint of the maximum diameter of 9mm.
The first in-ear monitors with a 13.5mm diaphragm were the Sony MDR-EX90 in 2006. An improved (and much more expensive) version was the EX700. The MDR-EX1000s are the current Sony's top-of-the-line in-ear monitors.
I don't think the article claims Apple invented earbuds, it merely hinted that they made them popular. However, the article's greatest error is not to make more of the Sony MRD-3s, it was after all, the miniaturisation of the headphone which made the walkman possible. As a result of this one single development, headphone sales grew exponentially not to mention it's introduction as a lifestyle accessory.
As you were
Originally Posted by agentorange:
As you were
claret.badger - 2012-02-25 10:17
i thought Apple invented sliced bread
