 |
 | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Nasdaq: KOSS | |
| Industry | Electronics |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Headquarters | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Area served | Worldwide |
Number of employees | 31 [1] (2023) |
| Website | koss |
Koss Corporation is a company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US that manufactures headphones. The company introduced the first high fidelity stereophones. [2]
 | This section needs additional citations for verification .(August 2015) |
John C. Koss founded the J.C. Koss Hospital Television Rental Company in 1953. [3] After a short time Koss was looking for new ideas, and partnered with Martin Lange to eventually develop a stereo headphone. Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, in 1991 Koss Audio & Video Electronics started producing and selling consumer electronics products as a separate company in Hazelwood, Missouri, United States. The Koss family owns more than 75% of the firm.
Having only a high school education, John C. Koss worked with Lange, an engineer, to develop the headphone that launched the company almost by accident, as they came upon the headphone idea as a result of an attempt to market a portable phonograph. [4] What made this product unique was the privacy switch feature, which gave listeners the opportunity to listen to the first Koss SP/3 Stereophones. Initially, the product's purpose was to demonstrate to consumers the high-fidelity stereo sound of the portable phonograph. [5]
Until then headphones had only been used in communications applications. In 1958 the design was introduced at a hi-fi trade show in Milwaukee, and audiences approved of it. Soon after the trade show, Koss went into business manufacturing and marketing stereophones from his basement apartment. The technology was imitated by competing manufacturers. [5]
In the early 1970s, Koss worked out of two locations near each other. One was Koss TV-Rental, which also did electronics and musical instrument repairs; the second was the main facility two blocks to the east. At this time, Koss pioneered the high-end "electro-static" "ES series" headphone market. These headphones set the standard for wide-range frequency response. Being very durable, they required service for wear and tear on cords and earpads during their lifespan, by K&M Electronics (Klenworth & Midwest based in Minneapolis), working out of the TV Rental location. Koss headphones were easy and cost-effective to repair. At this site, a separate garage was set up to support the musical instrument and electronics repair business. The TV rental and repair site was managed by John's brother Pete Koss. Eventually, Koss dominated the headphone market, competing mainly with Telex. Koss was considered a higher quality unit at the time, offering a wide line of models.[ citation needed ]
In the late 1970s, to accommodate rapid growth, Koss moved to its present location on the north side of Milwaukee.[ citation needed ]
in the 1980s, Koss tried to diversify, unsuccessfully, into related areas of electronics; in 1984 the company filed for bankruptcy protection after a net loss that year of US$6 million (equivalent to $16.9 million in 2022). Koss emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in 1985. [4]
In 1991, Michael J. Koss, son of founder John C. Koss, took over as president and chief executive officer. [6]
In December 2009, former vice president of finance Sujata "Sue" Sachdeva was charged in federal court with wire fraud after the firm discovered her embezzlement of US$34 million (equivalent to $46.38 million in 2022), and sentenced to eleven years in federal prison, [7] of which she served six years. [8] Koss was forced to restate five years of financials. [9] It was able to recoup over US$12 million from its former auditor, from Sachdeva's credit card company, and by auctioning Sachdeva's stolen merchandise. [8]
In 2020, Koss sued Apple, Bose, JLAB Audio, Plantronics Inc., and Skullcandy for patent infringement. [10] In July 2022 Koss and Apple reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount regarding the alleged patent infringement on Koss' intellectual property. [11]
During the 2021 GameStop short squeeze, the executives and directors of Koss earned US$40 million by selling company stock. This was more than the value of the Koss Corporation at the end of 2020. [12]
| Product | Description | Year Released |
|---|---|---|
| SP/3 | The World's First Stereophone | 1958 |
| Pro4 Stereophones | Elected #1 by Consumer Union Magazine in 1963 | 1962 |
| Beatlephone | Beatles Tribute Stereophone | 1966 |
| ESP/6 | The first self-energizing electrostatic stereophone | 1968 |
| Pro4AA | Featured a speaker system specially designed for dynamic stereophones | 1970 |
| HV1A | The first dynamic stereophone to deliver all 10 audible octaves | 1974 |
| Porta Pro | Portable "high-end supra-aural stereophone model" | 1984 |
| JCK/300 Kordless Stereophone System | Cordless stereophone system with infrared technology | 1989 |
| ESP/950 | Electrostatic, complemented by the E/90 amp [13] | 1990 |
| QZ1000 | Quiet zone noise reduction stereophone | 1993 |
| KSC35 | Earclip stereophone | 1995 |
| The Plug | Plug in-ear earphone | 1999 |
| Sporta Pro | Tilting headband reduces hair/hat interference, based on Porta Pro | 1999 |
| QZ/5 | Provides isolation from all types of outside noise, high and mid frequency | 2000 |
| UR/20 | Incorporated a neodymium, rare earth magnet and 16-micron mylar diaphragm for deep bass and treble clarity | 2000 |
| KTXPro1 | Rubber headband | 2002 |
| UR40 | Foldable headphones | 2002 |
| KSC75 | Earclip headphones | 2004 |
| CC_01 | Earphones with adjustable, in-ear fit. | 2009 |
| KDE250 | Adjustable earclip headphones | 2009 |
| FitClips | Earclip activewear headphones designed for women | 2010 |
| Striva | World's first Wi-Fi headphones | 2012 |
| BT540i | Wireless headphones with Bluetooth aptX codec | 2014 |
| SP Series: SP540 and SP330 | Designed specifically for personal listening | 2014 |
| Pro4S | Professional studio headphones | 2014 |
| UR23i | Headphones with D-Profile design, In-line one-touch microphone, and tangle-resistant flat cable | 2015 |
| KPH14 | Side-firing headphones for active lifestyles | 2015 |
| KEB25i | Headphones with a dynamic element positioned just outside the ear, connected to a tubular port structure that inserts into an expandable cushion | 2015 |
| BT539i | Headphones with D-Profile design, Bluetooth | 2017 |
| KPH30i | Pro35/KTXPro1 inspired | 2017 |
| PortaPro Wireless | In-line mic, onboard controls, wireless | 2018 |
| Noise Canceling QZ Buds | Monitor mode switch deactivates noise cancelling | 2018 |
| CS300 USB | Flexible mic, electret mic | 2018 |
| Utility Series | KPH40, KEB90, and PortPro with detachable cables | 2021 |
Koss headphones were also sold in RadioShack stores under their own brand. The Koss Plug and Koss Spark Plug are in-ear passive noise-isolating earphones; they can be adapted to take the high-end Etymotics ear tip, becoming the "Koss Hybrid". Other models include the Koss Porta Pro and well-regarded budget-priced headphones including the KSC series. [14] Since 1989, all headphones manufactured in North America by KOSS come with a limited lifetime warranty covering normal use by the initial owner. [15] Returning to the pre-Koss use of headphones, Koss produces communications headsets with microphone. [16]
Headphones are a pair of small loudspeaker drivers worn on or around the head over a user's ears. They are electroacoustic transducers, which convert an electrical signal to a corresponding sound. Headphones let a single user listen to an audio source privately, in contrast to a loudspeaker, which emits sound into the open air for anyone nearby to hear. Headphones are also known as earphones or, colloquially, cans. Circumaural and supra-aural headphones use a band over the top of the head to hold the speakers in place. Another type, known as earbuds or earpieces, consists of individual units that plug into the user's ear canal. A third type are bone conduction headphones, which typically wrap around the back of the head and rest in front of the ear canal, leaving the ear canal open. In the context of telecommunication, a headset is a combination of a headphone and microphone.
A phone connector is a family of cylindrically-shaped electrical connectors primarily for analog audio signals. Invented in the late 19th century for telephone switchboards, the phone connector remains in use for interfacing wired audio equipment, such as headphones, speakers, microphones, mixing consoles, and electronic musical instruments. A male connector, is mated into a female connector, though other terminology is used.
Avaya LLC, often shortened to Avaya and formerly Avaya Inc., is an American multinational technology company headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey, that provides cloud communications and workstream collaboration services. The company's platform includes unified communications and contact center services. In 2019, the company provided services to 220,000 customer locations in 190 countries.
Bose Corporation is an American manufacturing company that predominantly sells audio equipment. The company was established by Amar Bose in 1964 and is based in Framingham, Massachusetts. It is best known for its home audio systems and speakers, noise cancelling headphones, professional audio products and automobile sound systems. Bose has a reputation for being particularly protective of its patents, trademarks, and brands.
Craftsman is a line of tools, lawn and garden equipment, and work wear. Originally a house brand established by Sears, the brand is now owned by Stanley Black & Decker.
The multinational technology corporation Apple Inc. has been a participant in various legal proceedings and claims since it began operation and, like its competitors and peers, engages in litigation in its normal course of business for a variety of reasons. In particular, Apple is known for and promotes itself as actively and aggressively enforcing its intellectual property interests. From the 1980s to the present, Apple has been plaintiff or defendant in civil actions in the United States and other countries. Some of these actions have determined significant case law for the information technology industry and many have captured the attention of the public and media. Apple's litigation generally involves intellectual property disputes, but the company has also been a party in lawsuits that include antitrust claims, consumer actions, commercial unfair trade practice suits, defamation claims, and corporate espionage, among other matters.
Monster Inc. is an American company that manufactures and markets about 6,000 products, but is best known for audio and video cables. It also produces speakers, headphones, power strips, mobile accessories and audio devices for automobiles. The company was founded by an audiophile and engineer, Noel Lee, in 1979 by experimenting with different ways to build audio cables. It grew by doing demonstrations to convince the industry that audio cables made a difference in audio quality and by establishing relationships with retailers that were attracted to the cable's profit margins.
Immersion Corporation is an Aventura, Florida based developer and licensor of touch feedback technology, also known as haptic technology. Immersion Corporation has been accused of being a patent troll. Founded in 1993 by Louis Rosenberg, it is currently headed by lawyer Francis Jose, who serves as both chief executive officer and general counsel.
Røde Microphones is an Australian-based audio technology company specializing in the design and manufacturing of microphones, headphones, related accessories, audio interfaces, and audio software. The company has gained recognition as a significant player in various audio categories, catering to consumer, producer, and professional markets. Their product range focuses on applications such as music recording, location sound recordings, broadcast and podcasting, filmmaking, and content creation.
Creative Technology Ltd., or Creative Labs Pte Ltd., is a Singaporean multinational technology company. The principal activities of the company and its subsidiaries consist of the design, manufacture and distribution of digitized sound and video boards, computers and related multimedia and personal digital entertainment products. It also partners with mainboard manufacturers and laptop brands to embed its Sound Blaster technology on their products.
Microsoft has been involved in numerous high-profile legal matters that involved litigation over the history of the company, including cases against the United States, the European Union, and competitors.
Lynn Steven Adelman is an American lawyer, judge, and former politician. He has served as a United States district judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, since December 1997. Earlier in his career, he served 20 years in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing southwest Milwaukee County and neighboring municipalities.
Epistar Corp. (晶元光電股份有限公司) is the largest manufacturer of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in Taiwan. Epistar Corp. was established in 1996, and its headquarters are in Hsinchu. In 2009 it had an annual turnover of NT$10 billion. Epistar specialises in high-brightness LED products, which are used in general lighting, traffic signals, and various consumer products such as mobile phones and laptop computers. The company supplies the LED backlighting for Samsung liquid crystal displays.
Beats Electronics LLC is an American consumer audio products manufacturer headquartered in Culver City, California. The company was founded in 2006 by music producer Dr. Dre and record company executive Jimmy Iovine. Since 2014, it has been an Apple subsidiary.
Fujifilm Corp v. Benun, 605 F.3d 1366 was a case in which the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the judgment made by the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey that the defendants infringed patents owned by Fujifilm Corporation.
The smartphone wars or smartphone patents licensing and litigation refers to commercial struggles among smartphone manufacturers including Sony Mobile, Google, Apple Inc., Samsung, Microsoft, Nokia, Motorola, Huawei, LG Electronics, ZTE and HTC, by patent litigation and other means. The conflict is part of the wider "patent wars" between technology and software corporations.
Motorola Mobility v. Apple Inc. was one of a series of lawsuits between technology companies Motorola Mobility and Apple Inc. In the year before Apple and Samsung began suing each other on most continents, and while Apple and High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC) were already embroiled in a patent fight, Motorola Mobility and Apple started a period of intense patent litigation. The Motorola-Apple patent imbroglio commenced with claims and cross-claims between the companies for patent infringement, and encompassed multiple venues in multiple countries as each party sought friendly forums for litigating its respective claims; the fight also included administrative law rulings as well as United States International Trade Commission (ITC) and European Commission involvement. In April 2012, the controversy centered on whether a FRAND license to a components manufacturer carries over to an equipment manufacturer incorporating the component into equipment, an issue not addressed in the Supreme Court's default analysis using the exhaustion doctrine in Quanta v. LG Electronics. In June 2012, appellate judge Richard Posner dismissed the U.S. case with prejudice and the parties appealed the decision a month later.
Zi Corporation was a software company based in Calgary, Canada. The company was founded on 4 December 1987 as Cancom Ventures Inc, owning an Edmonton secretarial college and an industrial equipment rental business. On 30 August 1989 the name was changed to Multi-Corp Inc. In 1993, board member Michael Lobsinger took control of the company, became CEO, and turned the company towards the telecommunications industry, purchasing several privately held companies involved in the telecommunications businesses, and in November 1993, Multi-Corp entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Eric Chappell for a stroke-based Chinese text entry system which they referred to as the Jiejing Licenses. A wholly owned subsidiary, Ziran Developments Inc, was formed to handle the Chinese text entry business.
Jaybird is a Utah-based consumer electronics company owned by Logitech. The company designs and manufactures headphones and wearable activity trackers. The company is mainly known for its line of wireless Bluetooth sports headsets. Jaybird was founded in 2006 by Australian entrepreneur Judd Armstrong.
Right to repair is a legal right for owners of devices and equipment to freely modify and repair products such as automobiles, electronics, and farm equipment. This right is framed in opposition to restrictions such as requirements to use only the manufacturer's maintenance services, restrictions on access to tools and components, and software barriers.
