We describe an experimental device that measures acoustic emission (AE), and the results of tests of solid and stranded high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes (Bi, Pb) 2Ca2Sr2Cu3Ox / Ag (Bi-2223 / Ag). It is shown that the flexural HTS tape Bi-2223 / Ag is the formation and development of micro, causing AE signals, and the method of the AE can be applied to determine the defects and quality of superconducting samples considered microstructural level. The test results demonstrate that the determination of damage to superconducting tapes must consider both the deformation and rate of deformation of the sample. Furthermore, it is shown that the data obtained by AE in identifying microstructural damage correlated with the results of the method of magneto-image (IOI) and the critical current value.