A Study on the Force Comfort of Over-Ear Headphones Based on 3D Anthropometric Data

The purpose of this study is to conduct a comprehensive study on the relationship between the dimensions of over-ear headphones, the dimensions of users’ heads and ear anthropometric characteristic dimensions, and users’ wearing comfort, to provide a practical design guidance program for the earmuff design of headphones. Initially, the head and ear anthropometric characteristic dimensions of 30 subjects (with balanced gender representation) were collected, measured, and statistically analyzed using a handheld 3D scanner. Additionally, four headphones were selected for the measurement and statistical analysis of their earmuff dimensions. Subsequently, experiments on headphone-wearing force comfort were designed and conducted. Preliminary results indicate that the size of the earmuff does not necessarily have an absolute effect on users’ wearing force comfort and overall comfort. In the wearing comfort experience of headphones, the clamping force of the headphones does not directly affect wearing comfort. Furthermore, it is the force comfort of the headphones that determines the overall wearing comfort perception of the headphones, with a positive linear relationship between the two. This study can serve as a reference for the design and improvement of headphone earmuff size modeling.