Making a Binaural Microphone: Comparing Audio Quality, Listener Experience, and Costs of DIY with a Commercial Option

Our work investigated the feasibility of building a cost-effective binaural dummy head microphone, inspired by and compared to the commercially available Neumann KU 100 dummy head. We built on open designs from the Thingiverse website that were further processed using computer-aided design software. The goal was to approximate Neumann’s microphone as closely as possible while ensuring affordability to make the technology more accessible. We evaluated the dummy head on the basis of the frequency response and listener experience. The results demonstrated that the dummy head reproduced a detailed sound image and exhibited spatial characteristics. The study highlighted the potential of 3D printing for creating audio recording equipment. Above all, the study showed that it is possible to build a binaural dummy head relying on DIY techniques by investing time and knowledge.