[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/CE marking for headphones and earphones EUProduct guide # CE Marking for Headphones and Earphones Wireless headphones have a deceptively complex CE stack: RED for the Bluetooth transmitter, SAR testing for the on-ear worn radio device, RoHS for electronics materials, and EN 50332 sound level limits. Market surveillance frequently targets headphones — particularly for phthalate content in cable sheaths and RoHS restricted substances in solder joints. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Fce-marking-for-headphones) At a glance Applicable directives 4 EN 50332 requirements 5 SAR assessment points 5 ## Applicable legislation RED ### Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU Mandatory for all wireless headphones — Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (uncommon), or any other intentional radio transmitter. Covers radio safety, RF exposure, and spurious emission requirements. RoHS ### RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU All electronic headphones regardless of wireless capability. Restricts lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBB, PBDE, and four phthalates in electronics. Most headphone failures in market surveillance relate to phthalates in cable sheaths. GPSR ### GPSR (EU) 2023/988 General product safety requirement for all consumer headphones. Manufacturers must assess and mitigate all foreseeable risks including acoustic shock, cable strangulation (children), and hearing damage. EMC ### EMC Directive 2014/30/EU Wired headphones with an active electronics module — noise cancellation circuits, amplifiers, DACs. Battery-powered headphones with no radio transmitter fall under EMC, not RED. ## EN 50332 maximum sound level requirements EN 50332-1 covers the maximum output voltage of headphones when used with portable music players — the overall system must not exceed 85 dB(A) average with a maximum of 100 dB peak. EN 50332-2 covers wideband signal requirements specifically for portable music devices and provides reference test signals for acoustic measurement. The EU has implemented EN 50332-based limits through product safety regulations for portable listening devices — manufacturers must test and document SPL compliance. Professional and studio monitor headphones with deliberately high maximum output levels may require additional safety documentation explaining the professional intended use. Volume limiting apps or firmware used to enforce sound level limits must be documented in the technical file — any firmware update that removes or bypasses the limit would affect compliance. ## SAR assessment for worn-on-ear radio devices 01 SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) measures energy absorbed by biological tissue per unit mass — 2 W/kg over 10 g tissue for head and trunk in EU (ICNIRP 1998 limits, as referenced in RED harmonised standards). 02 Bluetooth headphones worn on the ear are classified as 'head' use — SAR assessment to EN 50360 and IEC 62209-2 is required for the radio transmitter. 03 True wireless earbuds (TWS) placed in the ear canal may have higher SAR values per unit than over-ear headphones due to proximity to tissue — SAR testing is mandatory. 04 At-ear SAR test systems use a standard 'ear SAM' phantom filled with ear tissue-simulating liquid. Test protocol follows IEC 62209-2. 05 If the measured SAR value is below the limit established by RED harmonised standards, the value must be documented but does not need to appear on consumer-facing labelling. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does a wired passive headphone (no electronics) need CE marking? A purely passive headphone with no electronics, no battery, and no active circuitry — just drivers and cables — is technically outside the scope of most CE directives (no radio, no electronics for EMC, not mains-powered). However, GPSR still applies to ensure general consumer product safety. RoHS applies to any electronic components if present. In practice, almost all consumer headphones contain some active circuitry or at least contain RoHS-restricted materials in cables and housings. ### Do noise-cancelling headphones need any additional CE testing? Yes. Active noise cancellation (ANC) headphones contain a microphone, amplifier, and signal processing electronics — these active components require EMC testing. If the ANC headphones are also wireless (Bluetooth), RED applies for the radio transmitter and SAR is required. The ANC performance itself is not regulated by EU law, but the electronics enabling ANC are subject to the same CE requirements as any other active electronic consumer product. ### Is SAR measured differently for TWS earbuds vs over-ear headphones? The fundamental SAR measurement principle is the same — energy absorbed per unit mass in biological tissue. However, the test position differs. Over-ear headphones are tested with the driver unit held against the ear using an ear SAM phantom. In-ear TWS earbuds are tested with the earbud inserted into a standard ear canal phantom. TWS earbuds, due to their proximity to tissue, may show higher SAR values despite lower transmit power than over-ear designs. Both must comply with the 2 W/kg over 10g limit. ### Do headphones sold only in the EU need an EU Authorised Representative? Only if the manufacturer is based outside the EU. Any non-EU manufacturer placing headphones on the EU market under RED, RoHS, and GPSR needs an EU Authorised Representative — a legal entity or natural person established in the EU who acts as the regulatory point of contact. The AR's name and address must appear on the product or packaging. This is a hard legal requirement, not optional. **Disclaimer:** Educational resource only. EN 50332 sound level testing and SAR measurement must be performed by accredited laboratories. Always verify current standard versions before initiating your test program. 🇪🇺 CE Marking roadmap for your product Every standard, document, and test that applies — free, no account required. See your free roadmap[ Want an expert to take your product through 🇪🇺 CE Marking compliance for you? One consultant from Krono's compliance team takes your product from requirements to legal sale, with a fixed quote before any work starts. See compliance services](/services) Learn this properly In-depth course that teaches the full process, not just this one answer. [Start the course — $149](/courses/01-ce-marking-for-electronics-engineers)[Prefer to read? Get the book — $24.99](/books/01-ce-marking-for-electronics-engineers) Related guides * [Radio Equipment Directive (RED) complianceEverything you need to know about the Radio Equipment Directive: scope, essential requirements, testing, harmonised standards, …](/guides/red-directive-compliance) * [SAR testing for CE markingComplete guide to SAR testing for CE marking: EU RF exposure limits (2 W/kg over 10g tissue), products requiring SAR assessment…](/guides/sar-testing-ce-marking) * [RoHS Directive complianceA complete guide to RoHS 2 compliance for hardware makers: the 10 restricted substances, concentration limits, exemptions, docu…](/guides/rohs-directive-compliance) * [CE marking for consumer electronicsComplete guide to CE marking for consumer electronics: applicable directives, testing requirements, cost breakdown, and realist…](/guides/ce-marking-for-consumer-electronics)