IEC 60268-7:2010/AMD1:2020

Amendment 1 - Sound system equipment - Part 7: Headphones and earphones

Amendement 1 - Equipements pour systèmes électroacoustiques - Partie 7: Casques et écouteurs

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Sep-2020
• ICS: 01 - GENERALITIES. TERMINOLOGY. STANDARDIZATION. DOCUMENTATION
• ICS: 33.160.50 - Accessories
• Technical Committee: TA 20 - Analogue and digital audio
• Drafting Committee: MT 60268-7 - TC 100/TA 20/MT 60268-7
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 15-Sep-2020
• Completion Date: 15-Sep-2020

Relations

• Amends: IEC 60268-7:2010 - Sound system equipment - Part 7: Headphones and earphones
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 60268-7 ®
Edition 3.0 2020-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
AMENDMENT 1
Sound system equipment –
Part 7: Headphones and earphones

IEC 60268-7:2010-01/AMD1:2020-09(en)

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester. If you have any questions about IEC
copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or
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About the IEC
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International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

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IEC 60268-7 ®
Edition 3.0 2020-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
AMENDMENT 1
Sound system equipment –
Part 7: Headphones and earphones

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 33.160.50 ISBN 978-2-8322-8763-7

– 2 – IEC 60268-7:2010/AMD1:2020
© IEC 2020
FOREWORD
This amendment has been prepared by technical area 20: Analogue and digital audio, of IEC
technical committee 100: Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
CDV Rapport de vote
100/3316/CDV 100/3437/RVC
Full information on the voting for the approval of this amendment can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
The committee has decided that the contents of this amendment and the base publication will
remain unchanged until the stability date indicated on the IEC website under
"http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to the specific publication. At this date, the
publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
_____________
INTRODUCTION to Amendment 1
This Amendment 1 contains the following significant technical changes with respect to
IEC 60268-7:2010:
• evaluation of free-field compensated frequency response has been added;
• evaluation of diffuse-field compensated frequency response has been added;
• the Bibliography has been updated;
• some normative references have been updated;
• the term "HATS" and its definition has been added.

1 Scope
In item a), replace “IEC 60065” with “IEC 62368-1”.

2 Normative references
Add the following new reference:
IEC TS 60318-7, Electroacoustics – Simulators of human head and ear – Part 7: Head and torso
simulator for the measurement of air-conduction hearing aids

 IEC:2020
3 Terms and definitions
Add, after the existing term 3.16, the following new term.
3.17
head and torso simulator
HATS
simulator of a median adult human head and part of the torso extending in total from the top of
the head to the waist and designed to simulate the sound pick-up characteristics and acoustic
diffraction
Note 1 to entry: The head simulator includes two pinna simulators, and at least one occluded-ear simulator.
[SOURCE: IEC TS 60318-7:2017, 3.1, modified – The preferred term "manikin" has been
omitted.]
Add, after 8.6.6, the following new Subclauses 8.6.7, 8.6.8 and Figure 4.
8.6.7 Free-field compensated frequency response
8.6.7.1 Characteristics to be specified
The frequency response measured at the ear simulator of the HATS is compensated either
during the measurement by inverse filtering with the 0° free-field response of the HATS, or by
subtracting (in dB) the 0° free-field frequency response of the HATS from the uncompensated
measured headphone response at the ear simulator of the HATS as a post-process operation.
8.6.7.2 Method of measurement
• The headphone is brought under standard conditions for measurement, and a test signal at
the rated source voltage is applied in series with the rated source impedance.
• The frequency is then varied over at least the rated frequency range of the headphone (see
8.6.6), and the sound pressure (level) at each frequency is noted for both the right and the
left ear.
NOTE Ideally, the values for both ears are equal. Reasons for differences in practice can include non-
symmetrical positioning of the headphone or wider tolerances of the headphone transducers.
• The output of the ear simulator of the HATS with or without compensation shall be at least
10 dB above the noise floor of the measurement system at all measured frequencies.
The nominal frequency response is obtained from a power average of the five measurements
and finally graphically presented in decibels referred to the value at the standard reference
frequency. The headphones shall be removed and remounted to the HATS before each
measurement.
8.6.7.3 HATS
The HATS used for measurement shall comply with IEC TS 603
...

IEC 60268-7 ®
Edition 3.0 2020-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
A MENDMENT 1
AM ENDEMENT 1
Sound system equipment –
Part 7: Headphones and earphones

Équipements pour systèmes électroacoustiques –
Partie 7: Casques et écouteurs

IEC 60268-7:2010-01/AMD1:2020-09(en-fr)

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester. If you have any questions about IEC
copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or
your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

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Switzerland
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigendum or an amendment might have been published.

IEC publications search - webstore.iec.ch/advsearchform IEC online collection - oc.iec.ch
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IEC 60268-7 ®
Edition 3.0 2020-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
A MENDMENT 1
AM ENDEMENT 1
Sound system equipment –
Part 7: Headphones and earphones

Équipements pour systèmes électroacoustiques –

Partie 7: Casques et écouteurs

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 33.160.50 ISBN 978-2-8322-9439-0

– 2 – IEC 60268-7:2010/AMD1:2020
© IEC 2020
FOREWORD
This amendment has been prepared by technical area 20: Analogue and digital audio, of IEC
technical committee 100: Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
CDV Rapport de vote
100/3316/CDV 100/3437/RVC
Full information on the voting for the approval of this amendment can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
The committee has decided that the contents of this amendment and the base publication will
remain unchanged until the stability date indicated on the IEC website under
"http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to the specific publication. At this date, the
publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
_____________
INTRODUCTION to Amendment 1
This Amendment 1 contains the following significant technical changes with respect to
IEC 60268-7:2010:
• evaluation of free-field compensated frequency response has been added;
• evaluation of diffuse-field compensated frequency response has been added;
• the Bibliography has been updated;
• some normative references have been updated;
• the term "HATS" and its definition has been added.

1 Scope
In item a), replace “IEC 60065” with “IEC 62368-1”.

2 Normative references
Add the following new reference:
IEC TS 60318-7, Electroacoustics – Simulators of human head and ear – Part 7: Head and torso
simulator for the measurement of air-conduction hearing aids

 IEC 2020
3 Terms and definitions
Add, after the existing term 3.16, the following new term.
3.17
head and torso simulator
HATS
simulator of a median adult human head and part of the torso extending in total from the top of
the head to the waist and designed to simulate the sound pick-up characteristics and acoustic
diffraction
Note 1 to entry: The head simulator includes two pinna simulators, and at least one occluded-ear simulator.
[SOURCE: IEC TS 60318-7:2017, 3.1, modified – The preferred term "manikin" has been
omitted.]
Add, after 8.6.6, the following new Subclauses 8.6.7, 8.6.8 and Figure 4.
8.6.7 Free-field compensated frequency response
8.6.7.1 Characteristics to be specified
The frequency response measured at the ear simulator of the HATS is compensated either
during the measurement by inverse filtering with the 0° free-field response of the HATS, or by
subtracting (in dB) the 0° free-field frequency response of the HATS from the uncompensated
measured headphone response at the ear simulator of the HATS as a post-process operation.
8.6.7.2 Method of measurement
• The headphone is brought under standard conditions for measurement, and a test signal at
the rated source voltage is applied in series with the rated source impedance.
• The frequency is then varied over at least the rated frequency range of the headphone (see
8.6.6), and the sound pressure (level) at each frequency is noted for both the right and the
left ear.
NOTE Ideally, the values for both ears are equal. Reasons for differences in practice can include non-
symmetrical positioning of the headphone or wider tolerances of the headphone transducers.
• The output of the ear simulator of the HATS with or without compensation shall be at least
10 dB above the noise floor of the measurement system at all measured frequencies.
The nominal frequency response is obtained from a power average of the five measurements
and finally graphically presented in decibels referred to the value at the standard reference
frequency. The headphones shall be removed and remounted to the HATS before each
measurement.
8.6.7.3 HATS
The HATS used for measurement shall comply with IEC TS 60318-7, however with the pinna
simulator specified in IEC 60268-7:2010, Annex A. Otherwise, the type of pinna simulator shall
be stated with the measurement results.
NOTE For use of a HATS outside the scope of IEC TS 60318-7, that scope recommends that a statistical analysis
of the measurement data be carried out to determine the level of repeatability that can be achieved. This is especially
necessary for measurements at frequencies higher than 16 kHz. Detailed requirements for these are under
consideration.
8.6.7.4 Characteristics to be stated
Measured free-field compensated frequency response should be stated together with at least
one of the following characteristics:

– 4 – IEC 60268-7:2010/AMD1:2020
© IEC 2020
• the free-field response of the HATS used in the measurements;
• the frequency response of the headphones measured with the HATS without free-field
compensation.
An example of a setup for the measurement of free-field compensated frequency response is
shown in Figure 4.
8.6.8 Diffuse-field compensated frequency response
8.6.8.1 Characteristics to be specified
The frequency response measured at the ear simulator of the HATS is compensated either
during the measurement by inverse filtering with the diffuse-field response of the HATS, or by
subtracting (in dB) the diffuse-field frequency response of the HATS from the uncompensated
measured headphone response at the ear simulator of the HATS as a post-process operation.
8.6.8.2 Method of measurement
• The headphone is brought under standard conditions for measurement, and a test signal at
the rated source voltage is applied in series with the rated source impedance.
• The frequency is then varied over at least the rated frequency range of the headphones (see
8.6.6), and the sound pressure (level) at each frequency is noted for both the right and the
left ear.
NOTE Ideally, the values for both ears are equal. Reasons for differences in practice can include non-
symmetrical positioning of the headphones or wider tolerances of the headphone transducers.
• The output of the ear simulator of the HATS with or without compensation shall be at least
10 dB above the noise floor of the measurement system at all measured frequencies.
The nominal frequency response is obtained from a power average of the five measurements
and finally graphically presented in decibels referred to the value at the standard reference
frequency. The headphones shall be removed and remounted to the HATS before each
measurement.
8.6.8.3 HATS
The HATS used for measurement shall comply with IEC TS 60318-7, however with the pinna
simulator specified in IEC 60268-7:2010, Annex A. Otherwise, the type of pinna simulator shall
be stated with the measurement results.
NOTE For use of a HATS outside the scope of IEC TS 60318-7, that scope recommends that a statistical analysis
of the measurement data be carried out to determine the level of repeatability that can be achieved. This is especially
necessary for measurements at frequencies higher than 16 kHz. Detailed requirements for these are under
consideration.
8.6.8.4 Characteristics to be stated
Measured diffuse-field compensated frequency response should be stated together with at least
one of the following characteristics:
• the diffuse-field response of the HATS used in the measurements;
• the frequency response of the headphones measured with the HATS without diffuse-field
compensation.
An example of a setup for the measurement of diffuse-field compensated frequency response
is shown in Figure 4.
 IEC 2020
a
Free-field/diffuse-field compensation can also be done by post processing.
Figure 4 – Example of a setup for the measurement of
free-field/ diffuse-field compensated frequency response

– 6 – IEC 60268-7:2010/AMD1:2020
© IEC 2020
Replace the existing entire bibliographical references with the following:

Bibliography
IEC 60118-0, Hearing aids – Part 0: Measurement of the performance characteristics of hearing
aids
IEC 60268-3, Sound system equipment – Part 3: Amplifiers
IEC 60268-4, Sound system equipment – Part 4: Microphones
IEC 60268-5, Sound system equipment – Part 5: Loudspeakers
IEC 60318-1, Electroacoustics – Simulators of human head and ear – Part 1: Ear simulator for
the measurement of supra-aural and circumaural earphones
IEC 60318-2, Electroacoustics – Simulators of human head and ear – Part 2: An interim acoustic
coupler for the calibration of audiometric earphones in the extended high-frequency range
IEC 60318-3, Electroacoustics – Simulators of human head and ear – Part 3: Acoustic coupler
for the calibration of supra-aural earphones used in audiometry
IEC 60318-5, Electroacoustics – Simulators of human head and ear – Part 5: 2 cm coupler for
the measurement of hearing aids and earphones coupled to the ear by means of ear inserts
IEC 61938, Multimedia systems – G
...