A one-size-fits-all earpiece with multiple microphones and drivers for hearing device research

Earpieces that include one or more microphones and drivers are required in many research applications related to hearing devices, however suitable devices are often not readily available. In this contribution we present the development and evaluation of an earpiece for research on assistive hearing devices and hearables. The earpiece includes two balanced armature drivers as well as four microphones, which are built into a one-size-fits-all acrylic shell. It features custom transducer positioning at different positions inside a vent, as well as a microphone inside the ear canal. We discuss details on the earpiece design, present acoustic measurements, and discuss the eligibility for different applications. The earpiece is openly available both in a vented as well as an occluded version.