The 2025 AES International Conference on Headphone Technology is certain to be one of the major opportunities for the engineering involved in personal audio.
More than 300 million pairs of headphones will be sold this year and people are using headphones everywhere. The popularity of “smart” and “wearable” devices has driven developments in low power processors and sensors that are enabling the augmentation of headphones with features more typically associated with hearing aids. A future convergence is possible. This conference will assemble leading researchers and practitioners across all forms of headworn hearing technology to chart the future course of headphones.
The conference will take place at the Dipoli building, located in Otaniemi, Espoo, at the heart of Aalto University’s campus. Otaniemi is Finland’s leading hub for science, technology, and innovation. The university facilities are exceptional, and the auditoriums are a pleasure for the senses, helping to focus on the presented content. The area is easily accessible by public transportation and is well-connected to Helsinki and the surrounding regions.
The Audio Engineering Society has announced full Technical Program details for the upcoming 2025 AES International Conference on Headphone Technology, taking place August 27 – 29 at the iconic and experimental Dipoli student union building in the heart of Aalto University’s campus in Espoo, Finland.
The complete interactive session schedule is now live online, with three packed days of keynotes, Tutorials, Paper sessions, Workshops, Posters and demos covering an extensive array of personal monitoring technologies, in addition to special events, Technical Tours of local production facilities, and social events. Registration is also available via the event website, with significant discounts for AES Members and students.
The AES brings together leading researchers and practitioners in head-worn and personal audio technology to chart the future of headphones. Two such significant figures in the field include Dr. Sean Olive (Harman International), renowned for his work in sound perception, who will deliver the opening keynote, sharing insights on objective headphone measurement and the listener experience of headphone sound quality; and codec and immersive audio pioneer Karlheinz Brandenburg (Brandenburg Labs), who will explore the future of headphone technology, from AI support to deeper immersion.
The Technical Program also features Papers and Workshops delving into dozens of specialized topics including headphone target curve selection; automated measurement systems like HeRMeS; ambient sound control innovations for noise cancellation and transparency; and explorations in spatial audio, HRTF personalization, and balance between isolation and situational awareness.
Additionally, the Conference’s Workshops will include sessions on fundamentals of headphone acoustics, ergonomics, auditory modeling and audiology-informed design, while a variety of Tutorials cover topics involving integration of hearing health technologies directly into headphone engineering design, binaural audio, AI support for immersive listening, and monitoring standards for personal listening devices.
The Conference will also feature a Poster expo and demonstration exhibits each day, an informal AKU barbeque pre-conference event at the Aalto University Acoustic Lab, and a Technical Tour and social event hosted by Genelec at the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.
"Whether you’re a researcher, engineer, designer, audiologist or industry pro, this conference is a vital touchpoint for the rapidly evolving world of headphone and personal audio technology,” states Juha Backman, Conference chair. "With compelling content, global experts, and a collaborative international forum within a top-tier academic setting, this is the premier conference on head-worn hearing technology and wearable audio devices."
Since the event takes place at the end of August, enjoying a few days to discover Finland and visit its audio companies is also recommended.
Remember that citizens of the United States will need to register the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) for Finland before traveling. The new European visa waiver is valid for the entire Schengen Area.
2025 AES International Conference on Headphone Technology
August 27-29, 2025
Location: Dipoli | Aalto University
Otakaari 24, Otaniemi, Espoo, Finland
https://aes2.org/event-extra/2025-aes-international-conference-on-headphone-technology-program/
