From necessity to accessory: The evolution of headphones

The year was 1910, and the young engineer by the name of Nathaniel Baldwin was stuck listening to the radio aloud for everyone to hear. So, seeking to change his unfortunate circumstances, Baldwin sat down at his kitchen table and began to work on the first set of audible headphones. Fast forward a century, and we still see Baldwin’s basic design for headphones: two ear cuffs connected by a headband, providing easy and independent listening experiences. 

Although Baldwin’s invention was created more out of necessity than convenience, today’s use of headphones has evolved past basic functionality and entered the realm of fashion and trends. 

Headphones first became fashionably popular in the 1980s — when the Sony Walkman was introduced. This portable cassette player was complete with a leather case, a set of headphones and a second earphone jack so two listeners could tune in at once. 

The Walkman headphones had much smaller ear cups and a much thinner headband than Baldwin’s original design, which ensured ease and accessibility for the busy body searching for some background music. 

With the launch of the affordable and compact cassette, the ‘80s became known for the Walkman — you couldn’t leave your house without seeing someone wearing headphones and dancing to their own personal concert.

At the turn of the 21st century, headphones became a thing of the past in favor of the sleeker design of the Apple earbuds. Downsizing never looked so good, as headbands and bulky music boxes were kicked to the curb; now, you simply insert a small white bud into the nook of your ear. 

With the purchase of an Apple iPod came the stark white earbuds connected by a thin wire that made carrying your iPod in your pocket incredibly easy. The rise of earbuds dominated the headphone game as many companies and brands produced their own form of earbuds to mimic what Apple had created. 

However, Apple continued to up their game as they later developed earbuds with a small remote control that included a microphone and allowed listeners to change the volume of their music. This new wave of technology became a status symbol as the masses turned to higher-end Apple products to proudly show off their more understated headwear.

Apple continued improving its listening accessories as it debuted the AirPods in 2016. These wireless earbuds created quite a frenzy, as the public deemed them the superior earbud due to their use of Bluetooth and subtle appearance. Although they weren’t always visibly noticeable, AirPods were one of the most popular accessories in the 2010s.

Alongside the AirPods, the wireless headphone was also gaining popularity in the 2010s, although not quite as much as the earbud. 

For those who still preferred the over-the-ear and headband look, Beats Studio Wireless was the go-to product. Similar to the AirPod, these headphones utilized Bluetooth, but they still refrained from the product entering the ear in favor of squishy padding that surrounded the entire ear. 

Despite the similar nature of the headphones, the AirPod was the more popular piece at the time. However, jumping into the 2020s, the over-the-ear headphone has seemingly made a strong comeback. 

With technology at its peak and no new style of headphones being introduced, the choice of headphones is now more about what looks best, rather than what works best. Even though the AirPods came in hot and heavy with their small packaging and subtle looks, bigger and bulkier headphones have gained more popularity as they are used increasingly as a statement piece to complete an outfit.