Sound system equipment - Part 7: Headphones and earphones

IEC 60268-7:2025 is applicable to headphones, earphones, headsets and earsets, intended to be used on, or in, the human ear. It also applies to equipment, such as pre-amplifiers, passive networks and power supplies which form an integral part of the headphone system.

This document does not deal with:

- safety, for which reference is made to IEC 62368-1 or another appropriate standard;

- the characteristics of microphones of headsets, for which reference is made to IEC 60268？4;

- earphones and other devices for hearing aids, for which reference is made to IEC 60118-0;

- headphones for audiometry;

- headphones and other devices which form part of an active ear-defender system, although some of the provisions of this document can be applicable;

- active noise cancelation characteristics as covered by IEC 60268-24.

This document specifies the characteristics which are included by the manufacturer in specifications, and relevant methods of measurement. It includes a classification of the different types of earphones, mainly characterized by the way in which the transducer is coupled acoustically to the ear, and a classification code which can also be used for marking. Rated cond