SIST EN IEC 60268-24:2024
(Main)Sound system equipment - Part 24: Headphones and earphones - Active acoustic noise cancelling characteristics (IEC 60268-24:2023)
Sound system equipment - Part 24: Headphones and earphones - Active acoustic noise cancelling characteristics (IEC 60268-24:2023)
IEC 60268-24:2023 is applicable to active acoustic noise-cancelling headphones and earphones which have the function of reducing the noise heard by the user by the output sound from the transducer generated by the environment noise detection microphone and the noise reduction signal processing circuit.
This document specifies the terms and definitions of this type of headphones or earphones, the characteristics to be specified, and the measurement and evaluation methods.
The noise detection microphone or microphones are mounted in the body, on the surface, or on an accessory of the headphones or earphones. Signal processing circuits are analogue and digital electronic circuits.
This document does not deal with equipment intended for hearing protection.
The noise cancelling characteristic measurement methods can be applied to headphones and earphones having no active noise cancelling function.
Elektroakustische Geräte - Teil 24: Kopfhörer und Ohrhörer - Eigenschaften zur aktiven Geräuschunterdrückung (IEC 60268-24:2023)
Equipements pour systèmes électroacoustiques - Partie 24: Casques et écouteurs - Caractéristiques d'annulation active du bruit acoustique (IEC 60268-24:2023)
L'IEC 60268-24:2023 s'applique aux casques et écouteurs à annulation active du bruit acoustique qui ont pour fonction de réduire le bruit entendu par l'utilisateur; le son obtenu en sortie provient du transducteur et il est généré par le microphone de détection du bruit ambiant et le circuit de traitement du signal de réduction du bruit.
Le présent document spécifie les termes et définitions relatifs à ce type de casques ou d'écouteurs, les caractéristiques à spécifier ainsi que les méthodes de mesurage et d'évaluation.
Le microphone ou les microphones de détection du bruit sont montés à l'intérieur du corps, sur la surface ou sur un accessoire des casques ou des écouteurs. Les circuits de traitement du signal sont des circuits électroniques analogiques et numériques.
Le présent document ne traite pas des équipements destinés à la protection auditive.
Les méthodes de mesurage des caractéristiques d'annulation du bruit peuvent être appliquées aux casques et aux écouteurs qui n'ont aucune fonction d'annulation active du bruit.
Oprema zvokovnega sistema - 24. del: Naglavne in ušesne slušalke - Karakteristike aktivnega odpravljanja šumov (IEC 60268-24:2023)
Standard IEC 60268-24:2023 se uporablja za naglavne in ušesne slušalke za aktivno odpravljanje šumov s funkcijo zmanjševanja stopnje šuma, ki ga sliši uporabnik, z zvokom pretvornika, ki ga ustvarita mikrofon za zaznavanje okoljskih šumov in vezje za obdelavo signala za zmanjšanje šumov.
Ta dokument določa izraze in definicije za to vrsto naglavnih ali ušesnih slušalk, karakteristike, ki jih je treba določiti, ter metode za merjenje in vrednotenje.
Mikrofon oziroma mikrofoni za zaznavanje šumov so v ohišju ali na površini slušalk oziroma na dodatkih zanje. Vezja za obdelavo signalov so analogna in digitalna elektronska vezja.
Ta dokument ne obravnava opreme, namenjene za zaščito sluha.
Metode merjenja karakteristik odpravljanja šumov je mogoče uporabiti za naglavne in ušesne slušalke brez funkcije aktivnega odpravljanja šumov.
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-julij-2024
Oprema zvokovnega sistema - 24. del: Naglavne in ušesne slušalke -
Karakteristike aktivnega odpravljanja šumov (IEC 60268-24:2023)
Sound system equipment - Part 24: Headphones and earphones - Active acoustic noise
cancelling characteristics (IEC 60268-24:2023)
Elektroakustische Geräte - Teil 24: Kopfhörer und Ohrhörer - Eigenschaften zur aktiven
Geräuschunterdrückung (IEC 60268-24:2023)
Equipements pour systèmes électroacoustiques - Partie 24: Casques et écouteurs -
Caractéristiques d'annulation active du bruit acoustique (IEC 60268-24:2023)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 60268-24:2024
ICS:
33.160.50 Pribor Accessories
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN IEC 60268-24
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM January 2024
ICS 33.160.01
English Version
Sound system equipment - Part 24: Headphones and earphones
- Active acoustic noise cancelling characteristics
(IEC 60268-24:2023)
Équipements pour systèmes électroacoustiques - Partie 24: Elektroakustische Geräte - Teil 24: Kopfhörer und Ohrhörer
Casques et écouteurs - Caractéristiques d'annulation active - Eigenschaften zur aktiven Geräuschunterdrückung
du bruit acoustique (IEC 60268-24:2023)
(IEC 60268-24:2023)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2024-01-04. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Türkiye and the United Kingdom.
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2024 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 60268-24:2024 E
European foreword
The text of document 100/3880/CDV, future edition 1 of IEC 60268-24, prepared by Technical Area 20
Analogue and digital audio, of IEC technical committee 100: Audio, video and multimedia systems and
equipment, was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by CENELEC as
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2024-10-04
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2027-01-04
document have to be withdrawn
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national committee. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CENELEC website.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 60268-24:2023 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following notes have to be added for the standard indicated:
ISO 4869-1:2018 NOTE Approved as EN ISO 4869-1:2018 (not modified)
ISO 11904-1:2002 NOTE Approved as EN ISO 11904-1:2002 (not modified)
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments)
applies.
NOTE 1 Where an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the
relevant EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2 Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available
here: www.cencenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60268-7 - Sound system equipment - Part 7: EN 60268-7 -
Headphones and earphones
IEC 60318-4 - Electroacoustics - Simulators of human EN 60318-4 -
head and ear - Part 4: Occluded-ear
simulator for the measurement of
earphones coupled to the ear by means of
ear inserts
IEC 60318-7 - Electroacoustics - Simulators of human EN IEC 60318-7 -
head and ear - Part 7: Head and torso
simulator for the measurement of sound
sources close to the ear
IEC 61260-1 - Electroacoustics - Octave-band and EN 61260-1 -
fractional-octave-band filters - Part 1:
Specifications
IEC 61672-1 - Electroacoustics - Sound level meters - EN 61672-1 -
Part 1: Specifications
ISO 532-1 2017 Acoustics - Method for calculating - -
loudness - Part 1: Zwicker method
ISO 3741 2010 Acoustics - Determination of sound power EN ISO 3741 2010
levels and sound energy levels of noise
sources using sound pressure - Precision
methods for reverberation test rooms
ANSI/ASA S12.42 2010 Methods for the Measurement of Insertion - -
Loss of Hearing Protection Devices in
Continuous or Impulsive Noise Using
Microphone-in-Real-Ear or Acoustic Test
Fixture Procedures
ITU-T - Head and torso simulator for - -
Recommendation telephonometry
P.58
IEC 60268-24 ®
Edition 1.0 2023-11
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Sound system equipment –
Part 24: Headphones and earphones – Active acoustic noise cancelling
characteristics
Équipements pour systèmes électroacoustiques –
Partie 24: Casques et écouteurs – Caractéristiques d'annulation active du bruit
acoustique
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 33.160.01 ISBN 978-2-8322-7882-6
– 2 – IEC 60268-24:2023 © IEC 2023
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
INTRODUCTION . 6
1 Scope . 7
2 Normative references . 7
3 Terms and definitions . 8
4 Measurement method for noise cancelling characteristics . 9
4.1 Characteristics to be specified . 9
4.2 Test signals . 10
4.2.1 Pink noise . 10
4.2.2 Simulated ambient noise . 10
4.3 Nominal environmental conditions . 13
4.3.1 General . 13
4.3.2 Test site . 13
4.3.3 Background noise . 13
4.4 Test equipment . 14
4.4.1 Playback equipment for test signals . 14
4.4.2 Acoustic test equipment . 14
4.4.3 Analysis equipment. 14
4.5 Test procedure for measurement of noise suppression level . 15
4.5.1 Adjustment of sound pressure level of test signals . 15
4.5.2 Sound pressure level measurement at HP-OFF condition . 15
4.5.3 Sound pressure level measurement at ANC-OFF condition . 15
4.5.4 Sound pressure level measurement at ANC-ON condition. 15
4.6 Test procedure for measurement of noise suppression loudness. 16
4.6.1 Adjustment of loudness of test signals . 16
4.6.2 Loudness measurement at HP-OFF condition . 16
4.6.3 Loudness measurement at ANC-OFF condition . 16
4.6.4 Loudness measurement at ANC-ON condition . 16
4.7 Reporting of data . 16
4.7.1 Insertion Loss . 16
4.7.2 Noise suppression ratio . 17
Annex A (normative) Pseudo-diffuse sound field for measurement of ANC headphones . 18
Annex B (informative) Example of reporting of data . 20
Annex C (informative) Examples of filter circuits for making simulated ambient noise . 22
Annex D (informative) Procedure for real ear measurements . 24
Bibliography . 25
Figure 1 – Tolerance limit of power spectrum of simulated aircraft cabin noise . 11
Figure 2 – Tolerance limit of power spectrum of simulated train compartment noise . 12
Figure 3 – Tolerance limit of power spectrum of simulated cafeteria noise . 13
Figure 4 – Example of noise-cancelling characteristic measurement system . 15
Figure A.1 – Measurement reference point and sound pressure level confirmation point . 18
Figure B.1 – Example of reporting of insertion loss performance . 20
Figure C.1 – Example of filter circuit for making simulated aircraft cabin noise. 22
Figure C.2 – Example of filter circuit for making simulated train compartment noise . 23
IEC 60268-24:2023 © IEC 2023 – 3 –
Table 1 – Power spectrum of simulated aircraft cabin noise . 10
Table 2 – Power spectrum of simulated train compartment noise . 11
Table 3 – Power spectrum of simulated cafeteria noise . 12
Table B.1 – Example of reporting of insertion loss performance . 21
Table B.2 – Example of reporting of noise suppression ratio performance . 21
– 4 – IEC 60268-24:2023 © IEC 2023
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
SOUND SYSTEM EQUIPMENT –
Part 24: Headphones and earphones –
Active acoustic noise cancelling characteristics
FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote international
co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To this end and
in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications, Technical Reports,
Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC Publication(s)”). Their
preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with
may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising
with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely with the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence between
any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) IEC draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). IEC takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent rights in
respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, IEC had not received notice of (a) patent(s), which
may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that this may not represent
the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at https://patents.iec.ch. IEC
shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
IEC 60268-24 has been prepared by Technical Area 20 Analogue and digital audio, of IEC
technical committee 100: Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment. It is an
International Standard.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
100/3880/CDV 100/3981/RVC
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
IEC 60268-24:2023 © IEC 2023 – 5 –
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/publications.
A list of all parts in the IEC 60268 series, published under the general title Sound system
equipment, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn, or
• revised.
IMPORTANT – The "colour inside" logo on the cover page of this document indicates
that it contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct understanding
of its contents. Users should therefore print this document using a colour printer.
– 6 – IEC 60268-24:2023 © IEC 2023
INTRODUCTION
This document specifies both methods of measurement and reporting of data for noise
cancelling characteristics on active acoustic noise cancelling headphones and earphones.
Active acoustic noise cancelling headphones and earphones are commonly used to reduce the
ambient acoustic noise to which the ear is exposed.
However, to date, there is no International Standard for evaluating the noise cancelling
performance of active acoustic noise cancelling headphones and earphones. Manufacturers
currently measuring noise cancelling performance only use proprietary methods, and the
resulting metrics are neither uniform nor comparable.
This document provides measurement methods and metrics for the noise cancelling
performance of active acoustic noise cancelling headphones and earphones. The resulting
measured and calculated values enable comparison of performance data obtained in different
locations.
IEC 60268-24:2023 © IEC 2023 – 7 –
SOUND SYSTEM EQUIPMENT –
Part 24: Headphones and earphones –
Active acoustic noise cancelling characteristics
1 Scope
This document is applicable to active acoustic noise-cancelling headphones and earphones
which have the function of reducing the noise heard by the user by the output sound from the
transducer generated by the environment noise detection microphone and the noise reduction
signal processing circuit.
This document specifies the terms and definitions of this type of headphones or earphones, the
characteristics to be specified, and the measurement and evaluation methods.
The noise detection microphone or microphones are mounted in the body, on the surface, or on
an accessory of the headphones or earphones. Signal processing circuits are analogue and
digital electronic circuits.
This document does not deal with equipment intended for hearing protection.
The noise cancelling characteristic measurement methods can be applied to headphones and
earphones having no active noise cancelling function.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies.
For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 60268-7, Sound system equipment – Part 7: Headphones and earphones IEC 61260-
1:2014, Electroacoustics – Octave-band and fractional-octave-band filters – Part 1:
Specifications
IEC 60318-4, Electroacoustics – Simulators of human head and ear – Part4: Occluded-ear
simulator for the measurement of earphones coupled to the ear by means of ear inserts
IEC 60318-7, Electroacoustics – Simulators of human head and ear – Part 7: Head and torso
simulator for the measurement of air-conduction hearing aids
IEC 61260-1, Electroacoustics – Octave-band and fractional-octave-band filters – Part 1:
Specifications
IEC 61672-1, Electroacoustics – Sound level meters – Part 1: Specifications
ISO 532-1:2017, Acoustics – Method for calculating loudness – Part 1: Zwicker method
ISO 3741:2010, Acoustics – Determination of sound power levels and sound energy levels of
noise sources using sound pressure – Precision methods for reverberation test rooms
– 8 – IEC 60268-24:2023 © IEC 2023
ANSI/ASA S12.42:2010, Methods for the Measurement of Insertion Loss of Hearing Protection
Devices in Continuous or Impulsive Noise Using Microphone-in-Real-Ear or Acoustic Test
Fixture Procedures
ITU-T Recommendation P.58, Head and torso simulator for telephonometry
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60268-7, in
IEC 60318-4, in IEC 60318-7 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
active noise cancellation
ANC
characteristic of reducing the noise level in the user’s ear canal by the output sound from the
driver, which is generated by the noise detection microphone and the signal processing circuit
3.2
noise cancelling headphones
ANC headphones
headphones or earphones that have the characteristics of active noise cancelling
3.3
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 60318-7:2022, 3.1, modified – The abbreviated term "HATS" has been added.]
3.4
acoustic test fixture
ATF
inanimate device that approximates certain physical characteristics and dimensions of a
representative human head, pinnae, and ear canal and is used for measuring the insertion loss
of ambient noise by a headphone
[SOURCE: ANSI/ASA S12.42, modified – "of a hearing protection device" replaced with "of
ambient noise by a headphone"]
3.5
passive insertion loss
insertion loss determined from the difference betwee
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