Headphone Electroacoustic Measurements
In this application note we provide an overview of the key electroacoustic measurements used to characterize the audio quality of headphones and earphones intended for listening to music and other full-band audio program material. These measurements also apply to headsets, but only insofar as they are used as headphones.
Due to the close coupling of earphones to the ears and the acoustic transmission paths involved, headphone measurements are complicated. In this article, we’ll discuss these challenges, types of headphones, measurement standards, headphone acoustics, acoustic test fixtures required for measuring headphones, and the practical aspects of headphone measurements. We’ll also focus on objective measurements.
The following electroacoustic headphone measurements are covered in this application note:
» Frequency Response
» Electrical Impedance
» Input voltages
» Sound Pressure Level
» Distortion
» Noise Attenuation
» Crosstalk Attenuation