Technics EAH-220 (around 1978)
At 330 grams, these cans are heavy, and they were built for serious listening, not fashion.
Overview
The Technics EAH-220 has no flashy design and no modern comfort. It's a no-frills, high-mass stereo headphone from around 1978, aimed at the audiophile and broadcast markets of its time. It weighs 330 grams without the cord, so it wants a sturdy head and a stable setup. It's not gear for jogging or casual wear. The launch price was ¥6,500, a serious sum for personal audio in late-1970s Japan, which suggests Technics positioned it as a premium tool rather than a mass-market accessory.
The drivers are 6 cm polyester film cones, engineered for durability and wide frequency response. The official rating is 20 Hz to 20 kHz, which on paper is full-range for the day. The impedance range of 4 Ω to 16 Ω indicates it was designed to work across different outputs, home and professional. Maximum input handling is 600mW, so it could take a solid punch of power, which helped in studios where signal levels could spike.
The 3-meter coiled cord is standard equipment. It gives the headphone the look and feel of a monitor, the kind used in control rooms or by radio engineers who needed to move around a confined space. Termination is a 6.35 mm (1/4 inch) plug, the universal standard for pro and high-end consumer gear of the era. It was made in Japan, and it carries Technics' reputation for no-nonsense engineering from their analog golden age.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Technics |
| Unit | 6 cm cone mold |
| Max Input | 600mW |
| Impedance | 4 Ω ~ 16 Ω |
| Frequency characteristic | 20 Hz to 20 kHz |
| Code (Cord) | 3m (Curl Type) |
| Weight | 330g (not including cord) |
| Connectivity | 6.35 mm (1/4 in) |
| Country of Origin | Japan |
| Original price | ¥ 6,500 |
| Production years | around 1978 |
| Product type | Stereo headphone |
Collectibility & Value
Market data for the EAH-220 is sparse. A used pair was listed on OLX Poland for PLN 960 in January 2019. A Yahoo Auctions listing from December 2025 (likely a date error in the source) showed a bid of ¥9,000 for a unit in "Good Condition." As of April 8, 2013, some units were available on New Zealand's Trade Me platform. These scattered sightings suggest low but persistent demand, likely from headphone enthusiasts drawn to vintage Technics build quality and driver design. No widespread failures or common service issues are documented, but given the age, owners report that foam degradation and cable fatigue are probable concerns for surviving units.
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