Japan Airlines’ new aircraft, the A350-1, features the world’s first headphone-free stereos in its first- and business-class seats.
The headphone-free stereo works through built-in headrest speakers, allowing passengers to hear inflight entertainment without using headphones or earpods.
According to One Mile at a Time, the new technology comes as a surprise, considering the Japanese culture values silence on public transport. Ben Schlappig, a reviewer for the platform, says the audio from the headrest was not disruptive to other passengers but that it may be redundant considering the current adoption and use of Bluetooth headphones and pods. However, the headrests are ideal for those who prefer not to have their ears covered.
