The term Dummy Head refers to a specialized stereo miking device designed to physically mimic the shape, dimensions, and often the density of an average human head. It is the central tool for binaural recordings. In this system, microphone capsules are positioned precisely inside replicas of the ears (in the auditory canals), which allows for capturing crucial spatial cues — such as the time arrival difference between the ears and the acoustic shadowing effect caused by the head itself — exactly as a human being would perceive them. The result is an extremely realistic and immersive three-dimensional audio experience; however, for the psychoacoustic spatial effect to work correctly, the resulting audio must be listened to mandatorily through headphones.