By means of an active filter with free-field sound exposure from the front, a system is provided which assures a frequency response of a microphone's transmission functions which is comparable with that of a measurement microphone, so that this system on the one hand analyzes acoustic phenomena in the conventional manner and, additionally, in the case of reproduction via a free-field, distortion-corrected headset to the eardrums of a listening person, generates the same sound pressure signals as if the person were located at the place of sound recording, while, on the other hand, in the case of reproduction via loudspeakers no annoying acoustic contamination occurs. The entire artifical head system is designed for either a.c. or battery operation and is combined with an analog or digital recording unit to produce a self-sufficient recording and reproduction system.