Artificial ears

The human ear is acoustically a complicated structure with volumes, channels and damping resulting in a complex acoustical impedance. Also, at higher frequencies, the diffraction around the outer ear will change the acoustic field and result in a unique response at the inner ear.

In order to be able to compare and quantify measurements related to the human ear, a number of international standards and recommendations have defined some "ideal" or average ears. These can be simulated by more or less complicated mechanical and acoustical systems.

The so called "IEC 318 " coupler is an example of a standardised human ear, having the same acoustic input impedance as an average human ear.