Koss
Creator of the first high-fidelity stereo headphones in 1958.
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Koss Corporation is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based manufacturer of headphones. The company created the first high-fidelity stereo headphones in 1958, a product that shifted headphones from communications use to consumer audio.
Background
John C. Koss founded the J.C. Koss Hospital Television Rental Company in 1953. Seeking new ideas, he partnered with engineer Martin Lange to develop a stereo headphone, which arose almost by accident from an attempt to market a portable phonograph.
The headphone's privacy switch allowed listeners to hear the Koss SP/3 Stereophones, initially intended to demonstrate the portable phonograph's high-fidelity stereo sound. The design debuted at a hi-fi trade show in Milwaukee in 1958, where audiences approved, and Koss soon began manufacturing stereophones from his basement apartment. The technology was quickly imitated by competitors.
In the early 1970s, Koss operated from two nearby locations in Milwaukee: a TV-rental site that also handled electronics and musical instrument repairs, and a main facility two blocks east. During this period, Koss pioneered the high-end electrostatic 'ES series' headphones, setting a standard for wide-range frequency response.
Koss headphones were durable and cost-effective to repair, with service provided by K&M Electronics. The TV rental and repair site was managed by John's brother Pete Koss. Koss eventually dominated the headphone market, competing mainly with Telex and offering a wide line of models considered higher quality.
In the late 1970s, Koss moved to its present location on Milwaukee's north side. The 1980s saw unsuccessful diversification into related electronics, leading to a net loss of US$6 million in 1984 and a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing; the company emerged in 1985. In 1991, Michael J. Koss, son of the founder, became president and CEO. In December 2009, former vice president of finance Sujata 'Sue' Sachdeva was charged with wire fraud for embezzling US$34 million; she was sentenced to eleven years in federal prison and served six.
Koss restated five years of financials and recouped over US$12 million. In 2020, Koss sued Apple, Bose, and others for patent infringement, settling with Apple in July 2022 for an undisclosed amount. During the 2021 GameStop short squeeze, Koss executives and directors earned US$40 million by selling company stock.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Koss and what do they make?
Koss is a personal audio company headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that designs and sells headphones and headsets. The brand was started in 1953 by John C. Koss and has remained focused on consumer listening products ever since.
Who leads Koss today?
Michael J. Koss has held the roles of president and CEO since 1991, continuing the family's stewardship of the Milwaukee-based brand.
Which Koss headphone models are the most well-known?
The Porta Pro, the KSC series, the Spark Plug, and the Plug are the designs most frequently cited as Koss's signature products across different eras.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Koss Corporation (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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