IEC 60268-7:2025

Overview

IEC 60268-7:2025 - Sound system equipment - Part 7: Headphones and earphones - is the 4th edition international standard that defines characteristics, classification and measurement methods for headphones, earphones, headsets and earsets intended to be used on or in the human ear. It also covers equipment that is an integral part of the headphone system (e.g., pre-amplifiers, passive networks, power supplies). The standard specifies what manufacturers should include in product specifications and provides measurement methods to improve test repeatability and data comparison.

Key updates in the 2025 edition include consolidation of earlier amendments, clause renumbering, the addition of an effective frequency range for free-field/diffuse-field compensated responses, updated methods for modulation and difference‑frequency distortion, and new Annexes for two‑tone distortion (Annex I) and left‑right tracking (Annex J).

Key topics

• Classification and coding of earphones by acoustic coupling (on-ear, in-ear, open/closed).
• Rated conditions vs. standard measurement conditions; guidance on how manufacturer rated data should be presented.
• Measurement methods for core electrical and acoustic characteristics:
  • Electrical impedance, input voltage/power, rated source impedance
  • Sound pressure level (SPL) and frequency response (free‑field and diffuse‑field compensated and comparison responses)
  • Harmonic, modulation, difference‑frequency and intermodulation distortion (including two‑tone methods)
  • Crosstalk attenuation, unwanted sound radiation, sound attenuation (for ear-defender related aspects), application force
  • Environmental and external field influences, physical characteristics, cables and connectors
• Use of couplers and ear simulators (HATS and pinna simulators) for repeatable acoustic measurement.
• Guidance on graphical presentation of results and which characteristics are for verification versus manufacturer internal use.

Applications and who uses it

IEC 60268-7:2025 is essential for:

• Headphone and earphone manufacturers for specification drafting, product labeling and R&D testing.
• Test laboratories and quality assurance teams performing standardized acoustic and electrical measurements.
• Acoustic engineers and product designers optimizing frequency response, distortion and stereo matching.
• Procurement and certification bodies evaluating performance claims and ensuring comparable data across products.

Practical uses include creating product datasheets, verifying left/right tracking for stereo models, comparing loudness and tonal balance using free‑field/diffuse‑field compensation, and improving measurement repeatability with HATS/pinna simulators.

Related standards

• IEC 62368-1 - safety requirements (referenced; safety not covered here)
• IEC 60268-4 - microphones of headsets
• IEC 60118-0 - earphones/devices for hearing aids
• IEC 60268-24 - active noise cancellation characteristics (excluded from this document)

Keywords: IEC 60268-7:2025, headphone standard, earphone measurement, frequency response measurement, HATS, pinna simulator, harmonic distortion, two-tone distortion, headphone specifications.