Although I couldn’t afford a quad system back in my teens, I do remember seeing some quad headphones in the 1970s, with front and back drivers for each ear. When I saw the AKG K 280’s dual-driver earpieces, arranged top and bottom, I thought they might be intended for some sort of quad or phony surround-sound application, but no: A quick Google search told me that the extra drivers are there to reduce distortion and increase maximum listening level.
These ancient AKGs sounded a lot like AKG’s current over-ear models, with a balanced, precise sound and a mild emphasis in the mid-treble. The highs of these old ’phones were a little crispy, but I dug the big, ambient vibe, and the super-tight, deeply extended bass. Like today’s AKG over-ear models, the K 280 is exceptionally comfortable. Innovative also had a pair of the single-driver AKG K 240 (still available today) on hand; I liked these better because the highs were more in balance and they had a more open sound.
