Non-Traditional dynamic noises and distortions that couple into earbuds and headphones are measured and analyzed. The effective noise and distortion level relative to the signal level for a number of commercially available headphones and earbuds are reported. The impact of this noise and distortion on listener experience is quantified and discussed. Finally, the impact on listener fatigue is quantified. Results presented show that the non-traditional sources studied are significant, audible and that they present a fundamental limitation to the performance of many earbuds and headphones. In many cases, these sources reduce the effective signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the audio system into the 30-40 dB range, well below the SNR level that would result from by a 0.1% total harmonic distortion (THD) system and even below that of a 1% THD system. In addition to limiting system performance, the non-traditional noise and distortion are found to increase ear fatigue experienced by the user when ear fatigue tests are conducted with identical audio levels. Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) results from tested subjects show degradation that is significantly greater when the impairments are present vs. when they are mitigated.
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