XPost: sci.electronics.design, alt.audio.equipment   
   From: suspendedingaffa@kateshouse.org   
      
   On Sat, 13 Aug 2011 11:33:05 -0400, Jamie   
    wrote:   
      
   >RichD wrote:   
   >> I have the standard earpod set, which came with my   
   >> armband MP3 player.  It pops out every 2 minutes.   
   >> How did these things become the standard design?   
   >> They suck.   
   >>   
   >> So now i'm looking for the earbud style, i.e. inside the   
   >> ear.  They range from $8 to $40, and Shure offers a set,   
   >> over $100?!?  For something so small, how can there   
   >> be such a range? Is there really such quality difference?   
   >>   
   >> They are all sealed in blister packs, there's no chance   
   >> to compare.  Even if there were, differences in   
   >> environment, time of day, etc. swamp perceptual   
   >> discernment.   
   >>   
   >> How would you go about testing these things, in the lab?   
   >>   
   >> --   
   >> Rich   
   >Epoxy works well.   
   >   
   >  Jamie   
   >   
      
     You would have to make an artificial ear canal and place the   
   microphonic transducer at the 'eardrum'end of it, and the earbud   
   transducer at the test point end.   
      
     With that keeping each test on the same set-up, the results should all   
   track, even if the numbers are off or 'uncalibrated'.to a specific   
   measure.  Until you calibrate it (the input to the mic), of course.   
      
    That would be dealing with the position and angle of the mic transducer   
   at the 'eardrum' end of the channel.   
      
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