Westone History

    Hello, Habr!

    After I published the Nintendo Story and the Samsung Electronics Story, I decided to continue this tradition. This time the choice fell on Westone, a little less well-known in Russia. But she is known in the USA: for example, the headphones of this company are used by the armed forces of this country. In addition, the company produces sound equipment for medical purposes - hearing aids and more, as well as monitors for musicians, headphones for the military and athletes.

    image

    Background


    In 1959, Westone was the first company in the world to produce customized headphones for an in-ear cast, perfect for the ear. It was at first a humble family business in Colorado. In the photo - inside the form is a headphone made by cast.

    image

    At the moment, the company produces equipment, instruments and accessories for doctors and people with hearing problems.

    image

    In order to make an individual earphone, special material is used. It is poured into the ear, after which you can work with the form obtained.

    image

    Now the company produces everything that is possible for the treatment, diagnosis of hearing. These are various hearing aids, instruments for doctors, models for installation in clinics and so on.

    image

    image

    Offtop
    I will cover the topic of hearing prosthetics in a new article, which will go into a series of posts that I started with On health! Wearable Devices in Sports and Medicine and Empowering . Also on the way is an article on devices for people with visual impairments.

    Monitors for musicians


    Westone's main focus is hearing protection. Who needs it: musicians, pilots, motorcyclists, cyclists, call center operators. Here's a helpful table on how to lose your hearing. So the company expanded its assortment, taking up the production of goods for these categories. Keep a helpful “how to lose your hearing” label.

    image

    It all started in 1987, when Etymotic proposed Westone to jointly develop headphones for musicians. The goal was to create headphones that protect your hearing. That is, at least they will not harm one of the most important organs for a musician. The production of headphones under the Etymotic brand has begun. Westone was responsible for developing comfortable soft tips.

    In 1990, an important step took place in the production of headphones for musicians: Westone was the first to use reinforcing drivers in monitors. The peculiarity of headphones with a balanced anchor is that the effect on the radiating membrane occurs with the help of a movable armature.

    image

    In 1995, Alex Van Halen had a problem: he did not hear at the drum kit that the other members of his group sang and played. Louder monitors did not help. Jerry Harvey, the band’s sound engineer, found a solution: he put together a two-driver headphone that can block noise and produce good enough sound. At first, other members of the group became interested in the development, then Skid Row joined, while they were touring with Van Halen - they sold six pairs to them for three thousand bucks. After pop singer Engelbert Humperdinck also wanted these, Harvey decided to found Ultimate Ears. And the Westone company helped to refine these headphones and took up their production. In 1998, UE customers already included The Rolling Stones, Enrique Iglesias and Red Hot Chili Peppers.



    image

    In 1996, Shure developed universal intra-channel monitors with a set of nozzles. Not as convenient as the cast, but you can choose the best option. In the photo - soundproof monitor E1. All Westone earphones are balanced armature, or reinforced. In the lower price segment, such simply does not happen.

    image

    These are the two-driver monitors E5, released in 1999. Landing is again universal.

    image

    Now the company produces five product lines - headphones and monitors for musicians. The first is the Universal Series monitors. It includes models UM Pro 10, UM Pro 20, UM Pro 30, UM Pro 50. In the photo - UM Pro 10, reinforcing headphones with one emitter.

    image

    UM Pro 50 - reinforcing headphones with five emitters.

    image

    The next line is the W Series. In the photo - W50, with five emitters.

    image

    W60 was presented at CES 2014 - these headphones have two emitters for low, medium and high frequencies. One of the advantages of the entire series is a detachable wire with a coaxial connector. Such a wire is with a headset. Convenient, of course.

    image

    Elite Series monitors are made according to the musician’s ear cast.

    image

    CR10 - Consumer Recreational.

    image

    Monitors for musicians AC10 and AC20.

    image

    And the fifth "family" - universal adapters for headphones and monitors UM56.

    image

    Headphones


    This part is already more interesting for the average user. And for the audiophile.

    Remember the Walkman? In 1985, Westone developed headphone jacks for this player. Firstly, the headphones became damn comfortable, unlike the competitors available at that time. Secondly, the low frequencies in them sounded much better.

    image

    In 2002, reinforcing headphones with a single emitter UM1 were released. These are the first Westone branded earbuds made for mere mortals.

    image

    Headphones Westone 3 - reinforcing with three emitters, designed for the consumer market. Released in 2008. A year later, Westone 1 and 2 appeared for the same purpose.

    image

    In 2012, the 4R line goes on sale.



    image

    At CES 2014, the aforementioned W Series headphones were presented in the music product section. They are suitable for ordinary users. For example, for the W60 with six emitters, you can also buy a wire with a headset so that you can use them every day with a smartphone. The wife’s voice will be transmitted more qualitatively than ever! If the service provider does not fail.

    image

    Warfare


    As it was shown in the table closer to the beginning of the post, the rumble from the take-off of a jet airplane can completely ruin the hearing. Therefore, everyone who deals with airplanes and helicopters needs to take care of their ears. For the military, Westone produces headphones that protect the ears, and at the same time let you hear where your co-workers are going to fly and who to shoot at.

    image

    imageA key series in this direction is ACCES, Attenuating Custom Communications Earpiece System. If anyone does not know, Aces are aces or aces. We see, therefore, they called it so consonantly. In the picture on the right are headphones that provide pressure stabilization designed for pilots. There are many additional features to these headphones, for example, a helmet clip that allows you to remove the wire, and a cable that attaches to the oxygen mask.

    Elite Series monitors offer the same case as ACCES. It includes hygiene products, including grease for the headphones. The case itself is shockproof and waterproof.

    image

    It's interesting:
    The Nintendo story led by Hiroshi Yamauchi
    Samsung Electronics Story: From dried fish to high tech
    Health! The ten most interesting new products of 2014
    On health! Wearable devices in sports and medicine
    Expanding opportunities

    Also popular now: