An Auraldome headset and standard headset (TDH−39/MX−41/AR) were compared via threshold measures, probe tube microphony, and coupler measures. The same TDH−39 receiver was used in each headset. Test–retest threshold and probe tube measures with the Auraldome and standard headset were elicited from the right ears of 30 normal hearing adults at 10 audiometric frequencies (250–8000 Hz). Statistical and descriptive comparisons of headset performance were carried out. For threshold measures at each frequency, intersubject variances of the two headset were compared statistically, as were their intrasubject variances. Descriptive comparisons were also made of the probe tube and coupler data. The threshold data and physical data, considered together, permit comparison of the reliability of the two headsets, as well as allowing comparisons of their real‐ear‐to‐coupler errors. Results demonstrated the suitability of the Auraldome headset for audiometric purposes with adults; however, omitting 8000 Hz from the testing protocol will improve the headset’s reliability. Also shown was the validity of the probe tube microphone methodology used in this study for transferring threshold standards from conventional to unconventional earphones.
Subject Classification: [43]85.76; [43]65.80, [43]65.50.
