Before the invention of the radar, when early detection of approaching war aircrafts was necessary, there was a sound-based detection device.
Large tubes were used, and well… it was just amplifying the noise of the aircrafts engines.
Over time, as the planes became faster and flew higher and higher, the device lost its initial effectiveness. The radar replaced it.
The tool’s nickname was “the war tuba”.
Source :
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/war_tuba