Headphone Testing (Part 1): The Basics

In this article, Steve Temme discusses the issues that are common to testing all types of headphones. As more and more loudspeaker engineers find themselves employed in the fast-growing headphone market, it is important that the unique challenges of testing headphone packages are fully understood.

Loudspeaker defects caused by manufacturing, aging, overload, or climate impact generate a special kind of irregular distortion commonly known as rub & buzz, which is highly audible and intolerable for the human ear. This article, originally published in Voice Coil, June 2011, discusses how to measure and detect those defects.

K&K Development has released a new analyzer specifically designed for high-speed quality control. The new P750 QC and measurement system connects to a PC by USB and was designed as an economic solution for testing of loudspeakers in a production environment or lab environment. The Danish company says it is the right solution for micro speakers, headphones and handsets testing.