High-frequency Head and Torso Simulator

High-frequency Head and Torso Simulator (HATS) Type 5128 family, with built-in realistic ear and mouth simulators, provide a realistic reproduction of the acoustic properties of an average adult human head and torso. High-frequency HATS is designed for in situ electroacoustics tests and can cover the full audible frequency range (up to 20 kHz).

USE SCENARIOS

• Testing of smartphone audio performance in relation to national and international standards for communication quality. This includes testing of mobile and wireless handsets
• Evaluation of the intelligibility of headset two-way communication in the presence of background noise and conditions that may produce feedback into the system
• Evaluation of speech intelligibility in two-way communication using hands-free devices such as conference phones and smart speakers based on accurate production of human speech for the evaluation of directivity, intelligibility, feedback and background noise suppression
• Facilitates the evaluation of microphone recording accuracy for human speech with variations in level, directivity and sibilance
• Measurement of the audio response of headphones in exactly the way a human would perceive the quality. This allows designers to identify and correct anomalies in headphone design that lead to artefacts in the frequency response. The new ear canal design provides the most benefits to designers of in-ear headphones, where the geometric fit is crucial to the evaluation
• Sound quality evaluation of hearing aids with correct anatomical positioning
• Measurement of the attenuation and effective sealing of hearing protectors with the correct ear canal geometry and head anatomy

ADDITIONAL CAPABILITIES

Type 5128-C

Core HF HATS Type 5128-C comes in several variants and is available without ears or mouth for simpler applications.

 

Type 5128-D

Includes Handset Positioner Type 4606. The handset positioner enables a smartphone to be precisely positioned on the HATS. This results in easier test set-ups and better data quality from electroacoustic tests.

 

Type 5128 complies with ITU-T Rec. P.58, IEC 60318-7 and ANSI S3.36-1985

Type 5128 and ear simulator Type 4620 have been approved by ITU-T as standardized solutions for the requirements of P.57 (ear simulator standard) and P.58 (HATS standard), meaning that they can now be used for statutory approval of communication devices, such as mobile phones, for use in mobile phone networks.

Type 4620 ear simulator forms the basis of a new standard ear simulator type 4.3 and uniquely allows accurate human ear impedance loading up to 20 kHz.

Another notable feature of the type 4.3 ear simulator is that the full average ear canal geometry has been defined and specified in the standard. This allows better evaluation of the physical shape of products inserted into the ear, such as ear buds and hearing aids.

The design of Type 4620 is a complete revision of the previous type 3.3 ear simulator based on extensive studies involving multiple human subjects and correlating ear canal geometries and acoustic impedance measurements. The result is a revision of the average human response over the entire frequency range, not just the previously undefined high frequency region above 8 kHz.

The result is much more realistic evaluations of audio performance as perceived by humans.

The full information about the new standard can be downloaded from the ITU-T website. For the ear simulator standard in P.57 click here, and for the HATS Standard in P.58 click here.

Type 5128-B

Tabletop HATS is a torso-less head that is supported on a foot. Suitable for testing all types of headphones, 5128-B can be used free standing on a desk, fitted on a tripod or on a turntable using a tripod mounting adapter. Tabletop HATS is configurable and includes two ear simulators. 

Support foot UA-2180 is available as an optional accessory for HF HATS Types 5128-C and -D. 

The head geometry of Type 5128-B complies with ITU-T Rec. P.58, IEC 60318-7 and ANSI S3.36-1985.