![]() Test tones are played through a pair of headphones fitted on the device. The EARS is a testing rig that uses microphones fitted in silicone simulated ears to record data via a computer connection. Recently the miniDSP EARS testing jig was released for a fraction of the cost, and while not the equal of pro-level devices, is entirely acceptable for headphone enthusiasts. Originally used to design and test hearing aids, professional headphone measurement devices are very expensive (often measured in thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars). Success! How Do We Measure Them? Headphone Measurement Tools Header image. Increases in treble and bass and an overall decrease in midrange shoutiness. Frequency response changes from inserting memory foam rings into the cups behind the drivers. Unfortunately, it is not as easy as trusting the measurements as an absolute indicator of sound quality. However, almost every headphone or IEM review includes a measurement graph to try to add an objective analysis to the purely subjective content of a review. There is no certainty that the reviewer’s tastes match your own, and only through gathering the impressions from several trusted reviewers can one feel any confidence in ratings and reviews. The reviewer’s predilections and experiences shape their impressions of a headphone. How can you tell if one headphone sounds better than another? Isn’t it entirely a subjective process, where our preferences and expectations come into play? But headphone enthusiasts seem to feel that some sort of inherent ranking list is possible if the plethora of rating scales, tiers, and best-of lists are any sort of indicator. Why Do We Measure Headphones and IEMs? The Audio Precision AECM206 test rig is another measurement option that looks quite a bit like the EARS, albeit a much more expensive one at ±$11,000. Low or high-frequency roll-off can easily be seen on this type of graph by a sharp decline above or below a specific frequency. In general, bass frequencies are shown on the graph under 250Hz, midrange frequencies from 250Hz – 5kHz, and treble frequencies above that. Large spikes or dips in the graph indicate uneven boosting or dropping of frequencies. The graphed line shows the relative loudness of each frequency that the headphone reproduces. This graph typically shows the Sound Pressure Level (SPL) on the vertical axis and the Frequency Range of human hearing (20Hz – 20kHz) on the horizontal axis. The typical result of a headphone measurement is a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) graph. What Exactly Is Being Measured? The frequency response graph of Thieaudio Voyager 3 ![]() Measurements Do Not Equate To Sound Quality.The miniDSP EARS is not the Right Solution for Measuring IEMs. ![]()
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