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Author Topic: Apple in-ear ME186 measurement  (Read 1823 times)

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speakerphone

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Apple in-ear ME186 measurement
« on: February 09, 2015, 05:18:31 PM »















​My artificial Ear (Coupler) follows IEC 60318-4 (former IEC 60711), ITU-T Recommendation P.57, ANSI S3.25 standards.​

References
IEC 60318-4 : Electroacoustics - Simulators of human head and ear - Part 4: Occluded-ear simulator for the measurement of earphones coupled to the ear by means of ear inserts
http://webstore.iec.ch/webstore/webstore.nsf/artnum/043703!opendocument

ITU-T Rec. P.57 : Series P: Telephone transmission quality, Objective measuring apparatus : Artificial ears
http://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-P.57

​​ANSI/ASA S3.25 : Occluded Ear Simulator
http://webstore.ansi.org/FindStandards.aspx?SearchString=s3.25&SearchOption=0&PageNum=0&SearchTermsArray=null%7cs3.25%7cnull

IEC 60268-7 : Corrigendum 1- Sound system equipment - Part 7: Headphones and earphones
http://webstore.iec.ch/webstore/webstore.nsf/artnum/043714!opendocument

ISO 11904-2 : Determination of sound immission from sound sources placed close to the ear
http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=32439

​Olive-Welti Target : Listener Preferences for In-Room Loudspeaker and Headphone Target Responses
http://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=17042
« Last Edit: September 14, 2015, 02:54:32 PM by speakerphone »
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Jay_WJ

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Re: Apple in-ear ME186 measurement
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2015, 11:05:23 PM »

Impressive measurement setup!

A quick question. What are the current IEC standards for headphone non-linear distortion measurement? A quick summary?
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speakerphone

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Re: Apple in-ear ME186 measurement
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2015, 01:33:54 PM »

Impressive measurement setup!

A quick question. What are the current IEC standards for headphone non-linear distortion measurement? A quick summary?
Refer to IEC 60268-7, Non-linear distortion should be measured under reference condition, known as IEC 60318-4 with 94dB SPL @ 500Hz, or 1mW amplifier output. Also THD, 2nd and 3rd harmonic is available in this standard.

Jay_WJ

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Re: Apple in-ear ME186 measurement
« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2015, 02:52:55 PM »

Thanks! 94 dB @ 500 Hz seems reasonable, but I do not see a sensible reason why a fixed input power should be used. All transducers are different in their efficiency.
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speakerphone

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Re: Apple in-ear ME186 measurement
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2015, 04:13:54 PM »

Thanks! 94 dB @ 500 Hz seems reasonable, but I do not see a sensible reason why a fixed input power should be used. All transducers are different in their efficiency.

I can't agree more. So I use 94dB @ 500Hz .

riker1384

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Re: Apple in-ear ME186 measurement
« Reply #5 on: September 12, 2015, 04:33:33 PM »

What do you folks think of these? I haven't heard any high-end IEMs. The only good ones I've compared to these are the Etymotic ER6i's and the Apples sound superior to me. The Etys lack bass and sound nasal/shouty with upper mid emphasis and less refined treble.

The measurements at innerfidelity look on par with high-end IEMs except for the upper-mid distortion. But if you have 90db or 100db in the upper mids, then the overall sound level is going to be well above that since most music is strongest in the upper bass or low mids, right?. You shouldn't be listening that loud.

Rin Choi found that adding resistance brings down the bass & low mids close to flat. Also reduces the 3khz distortion but is that just because it reduces the 3khz level a bit?
(http://rinchoi.blogspot.com/2013/08/apple-me186lla-budget-wonder-updated.html) I'm probably going to try out the Cowon 33-ohm "sound capsule".

I got excellent customer service when I had an issue with mine. I'm not going to say what they did exactly because I don't want people to take advantage of it.
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speakerphone

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Re: Apple in-ear ME186 measurement
« Reply #6 on: September 14, 2015, 03:04:07 PM »




http://clarityfidelity.blogspot.com/2014/12/apple-in-ear-me186-measurement.html

 IMO it is better than any other high-end IEMs if resistor is added.
33ohm is okay, but if you can find the resistor with higher ohm, that would be much better.

keanex

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Re: Apple in-ear ME186 measurement
« Reply #7 on: September 14, 2015, 03:30:27 PM »

I assume these are the dual drivers? I had them about 6-7 years ago and loved them. I know the model number is different now so I wonder what the difference is. They look the same outside of the mic.
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speakerphone

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Re: Apple in-ear ME186 measurement
« Reply #8 on: September 14, 2015, 03:48:34 PM »

I assume these are the dual drivers? I had them about 6-7 years ago and loved them. I know the model number is different now so I wonder what the difference is. They look the same outside of the mic.



http://rinchoi.blogspot.com/2013/08/apple-me186lla-budget-wonder-updated.html

Yes it is dual BA IEM.

keanex

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Re: Apple in-ear ME186 measurement
« Reply #9 on: September 14, 2015, 08:06:07 PM »

They were one of my intros to good sound. I might pick up a pair again, I remember them being warm but clean and detailed.
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