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Bluetooth Headphone Testing

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It’s easy to make comprehensive audio measurement on Bluetooth Headphones, headsets and hearables with SoundCheck. With the simple addition of a stand-alone Bluetooth interface to your existing test configuration, measurements can be made exactly the same way as your conventional wired headphones. Rather than the test signal being directly transmitted to the headphones via a cable, it is sent to the Bluetooth interface and transmitted to the headphones. Our Bluetooth interfaces are fully controlled by SoundCheck, therefore are easily used in test sequences. The SoundCheck software itself features advanced post-processing tools resampling and frequency shift to overcome the Bluetooth time delay and precisely synchronize the stimulus and response waveforms prior to analysis. This makes it easy to compare wired and Bluetooth measurements, as well as measure Bluetooth headset microphones, analyze Bluetooth dropout, compare measurements with different Bluetooth protocols and more.

 

Example configuration for Bluetooth Headphone Test:

This short video demonstrates how easy it is to add Bluetooth headphone measurements to your test system:

 


We also offer a much more in-depth demonstration of Bluetooth headphone testing in this recorded seminar, along with a detailed comparison of our Bluetooth interfaces.

 


To get our SoundCheck users up and running quickly with Bluetooth measurements, we offer a free Bluetooth headphone test sequence which tests the send and receive performance of a stereo Bluetooth headset with a built-in microphone using a mixture of analog and digital channels. This sequence may be used as-is, or can be used as a starting point for your own test development and customized to meet your needs. Naturally Bluetooth measurements can be combined with other specific headphone measurements, such as ANC measurement by simply adding the Bluetooth interface to the test configuration, and inserting the appropriate steps in the test sequence.

 

Headphones Test Sequence

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The purpose of this sequence is to test a stereo headphone. Both left and right earphones are measured simultaneously using a standard 1/12th Octave stepped-sine sweep from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

The analysis is then performed using Listen’s HarmonicTrak™ algorithm that measures harmonic distortion and fundamental frequency response simultaneously. Then the diffuse-field and free-field corrected Fundamentals are calculated. The diffuse-field correction curve compensates for the overall frequency response from the diffuse-field (sound in every direction) to the eardrum and includes the effects of the head, torso, pinna, ear-canal and ear simulator. The free-field correction curve compensates for the overall frequency response from the free-field (sound at 0 degree incidence to the nose of the Head and Torso Simulator – HATS) to the eardrum.

Further post-processing of the signal compares left and right earphone responses to show the difference curve (magnitude and phase are available). The average sensitivity from 100 to 10 kHz for both left and right earphone is calculated and the total harmonic distortion displayed.

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Advanced Headphone Measurement

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October 22, 2020. 10am China time

Low cost production headphone test system

In this 60 minute online seminar, S&V Samford presents Listen, Inc. founder and president, Steve Temme discussing Advanced Headphone Measurements.

Listen, Inc’s SoundCheck electroacoustic test system has always been a popular system for testing headphones, and is used on hundreds of production lines in China as well as R&D labs worldwide. In this online seminar, we will discuss recent developments in headphone technology and how to measure accordingly, including:

  • Measurement Standards e.g. IEC 60268-7
  • Measuring USB and Bluetooth headsets including True Wireless Stereo (TWS) headphones/headsets
  • Measuring headphone and headset microphones (including Send performance)
  • Measuring Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
  • Voice activation and Open Loop measurements
  • Distortion measurement methods including Non-coherent Distortion
  • Measurement considerations for AR & Hi-Res

The presentation will be in English, but slides will be in English and Chinese.

There is no charge for this seminar, but registration is required. Please sign up below.

 

耳机测量进阶篇网络研讨会

中国时间2020年10月22日 星期四上午10点

在这个60分钟的在线研讨会中，声振环保仪器有限公司以及Listen，Inc.创始人兼总裁Steve Temme，会与大家探讨进阶耳机量测。

Listen公司的SoundCheck电声测试系统一直是测试耳机的流行系统已在中国数百条生产线以及全球的研发实验室中使用。在此在线研讨会上，我们将讨论耳机技术的最新发展以及如何进行相应的测量，包括：

  • 测量标准，例如IEC 60268-7
  • 测量USB和Bluetooth耳机，包括True Wireless Stereo（TWS）耳机/耳麦
  • 测量耳机和头戴式麦克风（包括发送性能）
  • 测量主动降噪 (ANC)
  • 语音激活和开环测量
  • 失真测量方法，包括非相干失真
  • 扩增实境耳机(AR)和HI-Res耳机的测量注意事项

这次研讨会将会以英文进行，演示文稿将以中英文显示。

不收取任何费用，但是需要提前注册。请在下面注册。

 

 

Prediction of Listener Preference of In-Ear Headphones (Harman Model)

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This sequence, inspired by AES papers on statistical models to predict listener preference by Sean E. Olive, Todd Welti, and Omid Khonsaripour of Harman International, applies the Harman target curve for in-ear, on-ear and over-ear headphones to a measurement made in SoundCheck to yield the predicted user preference for the device under test. The measurements are made in SoundCheck and then saved to an Excel template which performs the necessary calculations to produce a Predicted Preference score using a scale of 0 to 100. The spreadsheet calculates an Error curve which is derived from subtracting the target curve from an average of the headphone left/right response. The standard deviation, slope and average of the Error curve are calculated and used to calculate the predicted preference score. The sequence also provides the option to recall data rather than making a measurement, which saves time for engineers who already have large quantities of saved data, and enables historical comparison with obsolete products.

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Korea Headphone Seminar

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Over 150 people attended the Listen, Inc./G.R.A.S. headphone seminar in Seoul on Tuesday March 6th, where Steve Temme, Peter Wulf-Andersen, Dr. Sean Olive and Prof. Lee spoke to a packed room about headphone measurement, perception and design and tuning. It was a great event and exciting to meet so many of Korea’s top audio design engineers. Thank you for coming! And of course a huge thank you to our very special guest speakers, Dr. Olive and Prof. Lee.

Videos of the event (in English and Korean) can be viewed using the links below (videos will open in a new tab).

Peter Wulf-Andersen – G.R.A.S.: https://youtu.be/sTZpShVDaoI

Steve Temme – Listen, Inc.: https://youtu.be/35TtshAENdo

Prof. Lee – New Media Communication Joint Institute of Seoul National University: https://youtu.be/mhLW03PvLmw

Dr. Sean Olive, Harman International: https://youtu.be/B8cNf0Q3tNs

Photo Gallery

Bluetooth Headset Measurement

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This sequence tests the send and receive performance of a stereo Bluetooth headset with a built-in microphone using a mixture of analog and digital channels. The left and right earphones are measured simultaneously with a stepped sweep from 20kHz to 20 Hz using two Bluetooth profiles: A2DP and HFP. The mic is measured with a stepped sweep from 8kHz to 100Hz using the HFP profile.

A short 1kHz tone is pre-pended to the test stimulus which serves as a reference tone for resampling and frequency shift operations. Post-processing resampling and frequency shift precisely synchronizes the stimulus and response waveforms prior to analysis. In this case, the HarmonicTrak algorithm is used for frequency and THD analysis. A2DP frequency response and THD curves are displayed on the first display, followed by A2DP & HFP curves superimposed on a subsequent display. Lastly, the Bluetooth headset’s microphone is tested with HFP and its frequency response is shown on the final display along with the previously collected data.

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Headphone & Headset Measurements – Chicago and Boston Dates

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Presented by:

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headphones

 

 

 

Due to popular demand, we are now holding our headphone testing seminar in Chicago and Boston!

Learn about the latest in headphone test systems and methods from design to EOL Test. Industry experts Steve Temme (Listen, Inc.) and Peter Wulf-Andersen (G.R.A.S.), as well as guest speaker Dr. Sean Olive (Harman International) will discuss test equipment (ear couplers, test fixtures, test software and hardware) and demonstrate practical test setups for both R&D and QC headphone testing. It will cover in-ear monitors, Bluetooth, lightning/USB, noise-cancelling and high resolution headphones, in addition to conventional analog headphones. You can even measure your own headphone using our equipment in the hands-on session. Please see the full agenda below.

There is no charge for this one-day seminar and lunch will be provided. Space is limited, so please RSVP today.

Locations and Dates:

Chicago: Friday October 13th, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago Wood Dale-Elk Grove, 1200 N Mittel Blvd, Wood Dale, IL 60191

Boston: Monday October 16th, Hilton Garden Inn, 450 Totten Pond Rd, Waltham, MA 02451 NOTE: THIS VENUE HAS CHANGED. DUE TO HIGH DEMAND FOR THIS SEMINAR WE HAVE HAD TO MOVE IT TO A LARGER VENUE. Note that this is 2 days before the start of the AES show in New York – a short flight or 3.5 hour train ride away. Consider combining this informative seminar with your AES travel!

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See what people are saying about this event (we presented similar earlier in the year on the West Coast)

Agenda (9am-4pm)

  • Introduction
  • Overview of Headphone Test Systems and tools
    • Traditional tools vs. modern consumer demands
      • Introduction to head and ear related terminology and definitions.
      • Historical perspective and background for the tools and standards used today.
      • Limitations vs. Possibilities in term of the measurement capabilities. How does that relate to the modern challenges with Bluetooth and ANC related testing tasks?
    • Tools for Next Generation Headphone Testing
      • Solutions to some the challenges addressed above.
      • Examples based on products and measurements.
    • What about frequencies above 20kHz? Science or marketing? Measurement Consistency – Development vs. Production
      • Progress in measurements from Head and Torso Simulator (KEMAR) to Production Test Fixture (45CC – flat plate). How the different components affect the measurements:
    • Software and hardware for headphone testing including typical headphone measurements and test setups
  • Practical examples of headphone measurements on.
    • Analog Headphones
    • Bluetooth Headsets
    • ANC Headphones
    • Lightning/USB Connected Headphones (using triggered recordings)
    • Hi-Res Headphones
    • In-ear monitors
  • Measurements including:
    • Frequency Response relative to a target response
    • Left/Right tracking
    • Impedance
    • Noise attenuation
    • Distortion including Non-Coherent Distortion
    • Standards including Max SPL EN-50332 & IEC-60268-7
  • Headphone Design: Perception and Measurement of Headphones –  What is the Preferred Target Response? (Guest Speaker: Dr. Sean Olive, Harman International)
  • Hands-on testing: Bring your own device and test it using one of our measurement setups

Reserve your space

Lightning Headphone Test (Open Loop Test)

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open_loop_headphone_screenshotThis sequence tests a stereo headphone connected to a portable audio device such as a mobile phone or MP3 player. It is particularly useful for testing headphones with proprietary connectors such as the Lightning connector which otherwise can’t be tested in a conventional “closed loop” test configuration.

The test stimulus is created in SoundCheck, saved as a WAV file and loaded on to the portable device for playback. Both left and right earphones are measured simultaneously using a continuous log sweep from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The sequence uses a short 1 kHz tone, pre-pended to the normal test stimulus to automatically trigger the test when playback of the test signal begins; it also serves as reference tone for any frequency shift calculations. Post-processing precisely synchronizes the stimulus and response waveforms, and then calculation of the measurement parameters proceeds as with any conventional headphone. In this case, analysis is performed using the Time Selective Response (TSR) algorithm which performs THD and fundamental frequency response analysis simultaneously in addition to producing an impulse response. The fundamentals are then post processed to derive the sensitivity of the left and right channels at 1 kHz.

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