Listen Up: The Story Behind Bose Headphones
Share
In The Architecture Issue author Jordan Yerman looks at the high-tech advances in headphones, but the history behind these advances is interesting too.
In 1978, professor and electrical engineer Amar Bose was so disatisfied by the headphones supplied during his flight he immediately started designing a set that would prevent him from going berserk due to the dull roar of ambient noise.
The Bose Corporation has partnered with several airlines since that fateful day. First up was American Airlines in 1999 – if you didn’t notice, it’s because you’ve been flying coach. Since then, carriers such as American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Korean Air have all partnered with the headphone giant.
This is in line with the hospitality-industry mentality, which is rapidly becoming the norm in the airline world. It’s the little things that build brand loyalty, like tuning out the hours-long rumbling that’s part and parcel of air travel.
If you’re flying with an airline that’s not spoiling your eardrums (in a good way), there are plenty of options available at your nearest electronics shop. However, those options aren’t cheap: A passable set of noise-canceling headphones will run you $100 USD, and as much as $400 for a set of Beats. The Bose QC headphones, a perennial favorite, go for roughly $300. So, if your knees can’t get a first-class upgrade, perhaps your ears can.
Read about Soundchip and Panasonic’s HD-AUDIO headphones, here.