A source of error using supraaural earphones in the determination of auditory thresholds appears, in part, to be associated with the changes in position of the earphone relative to the ear. The authors have investigated the possibility of constructing a circumaural device that will reduce this error. The design is based on a study of the standing-wave modes that occur in the cavity. The reduction of these by means of a double-cavity system and suitable damping material strategically positioned is discussed. Experimental results are reported that show that displacement sideways of this circumaural earphone on a flat-plate coupler by as much as 1.25 cm from the central position produces a variation in response of only 1 dB up to 6 kcps and 6 dB between 6 and 8 kcps.
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Atherley et al. (1966) studied this question.