AMR/iFi audio Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 iEMatch What the $^ heck is it? We thank you all for your patience and for entering the competition. But besides DUke40, none of the answers were close to being correct - and Duke 40 already won over at Head-Fi. Nevertheless, we thoroughly enjoyed running the competition. Thank you all for entering. The iEMatch 1) What is this new product? Where is it used? iEMatch - it is inserted between the Source and the Headphones/IEMs. 2) What is the first button for – the one on the main barrel (on the left)? Getting rid of the HISS and excessive LOUDness. From mismatched source amplification and headphones. 3) What is the second button for – the one on the 3.5mm connector (on the right)? Selection of Single-Ended (TRS) or Balanced (TRRS). This is a connector proposed by iFi audio to make life simpler with SE or Balanced operation on the go. (More on this later). Why did we develop the iEMatch? The following series of technical notes outlines why we have brought this product to market. We hope you enjoy reading them. Too LOUD, too much HISS? (Part 1) Headphone/IEM mismatched Nearly every High-End Headphones/In-Ear-Monitors(IEM) user has encountered one of the following scenarios. When the headphones/IEMs are connected to the: inflight entertainment system smartphone A/V Amp, HiFi System or dedicated headphone amplifier the volume is at the lowest setting but it is still TOO LOUD and between songs there is a LOT of HISS. This is a mismatch between the Headphones or In-Ear-Monitors and your audio source. Now one can of course sell the new Headphones or IEMs and buy some that are a better match, except many modern Headphones and IEMs are designed with a very large (around 10 times/20dB) mismatch built-in. Instead, one can simply add the iEMatch® in line with your IEM’s or Headphones and adjust for the best match with your source. How bad a mismatch do I have? Background Let us take some numbers for sound levels. [TABLE=width: 100%] [TR] [TD=colspan: 2] Noise/Sound levels[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD] Jet takeoff (50m)[/TD] [TD] 140dB[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD] Thunderclap[/TD] [TD] 130dB (Threshold of pain)[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD] Auto horn (1m)[/TD] [TD] 120dB[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD] Chainsaw (1m)[/TD] [TD] 110dB[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD] Loud Rock Concert[/TD] [TD] 105dB[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] # sustained exposure >95dB may result in permanent hearing loss Due to the risk of hearing damage it is not advisable to exceed 95dB average SPL and around 115dB peak sound levels. Mismatch If we use an iPhone set to maximum (appx. 0.8…1V) and a common HiFi system or in-flight entertainment system (appx 8V) and play music with peaks at the digital maximum, how does a small sample of high-end Headphones and IEMs fare (2)? * at Ultra sensitivity setting [TABLE=width: 113] [TR] [TD] Mismatch[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD] Acceptable[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD] Good Match[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Red (>116dB) is ‘WAY TOO LOUD,’ which means you have a jet taking off or a thunderclap right beside your ears, which is the majority of the headphones sampled fall into. Amber (113 - 116dB) is borderline. Green (<= 112dB) is fine. The loudest headphone (actually an IEM) is a whopping 30dB or eight times as loud as a standard airline headphone. No wonder it will blow one’s head off even at the lowest volume setting on in-flight entertainment. And with a good headphone amplifier or HiFi system it will produce an unbelievable 155dB, never mind irreversible hearing damage, at those SPL’s tissue in the human ear begins to die off!! (yes, hearing is permanently destroyed). In addition to irreversible hearing damage, having mismatched headphones/iEMs mean that the annoying background noise (hiss) is significantly amplified and affects the enjoyment of music. Solution Most headphones can be matched into the ‘green’ range for comfortable listening using iEMatch® with one of the two settings or at least be brought much closer. Our PowerStation is here: click me! Check out our Tidal MQA Set-up Guides below. Android (Renderer) MobileDesktop (Decoder) via USBDesktop (Decoder) via SPDIF Link to comment
Cornan Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 1. Gain control for headphones 2. Output gain high/low 3. Input gain high/low Sent from my Nexus 7 using Computer Audiophile mobile app 🎛️ Audio System Link to comment
Cornan Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 1. Balanced/unbalanced converter for headphones 2. Output balanced/unbalanced switch 3. Input balanced/unbalanced switch Sent from my Nexus 7 using Computer Audiophile mobile app 🎛️ Audio System Link to comment
mansr Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 TRRS plug suggests mobile phone accessory. Maybe. Link to comment
Cornan Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 1. CTIA to OMTP converter for mobile phone/headset 2. Output switch CTIA/OMTP 3. Input switch CTIA/OMTP Sent from my Nexus 7 using Computer Audiophile mobile app 🎛️ Audio System Link to comment
firedog Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 iFi "iClean" for mobile phone audio - sends a cleaner signal to your headphones. Main listening (small home office): Main setup: Surge protector +>Isol-8 Mini sub Axis Power Strip/Isolation>QuietPC Low Noise Server>Roon (Audiolense DRC)>Stack Audio Link II>Kii Control>Kii Three (on their own electric circuit) >GIK Room Treatments. Secondary Path: Server with Audiolense RC>RPi4 or analog>Cayin iDAC6 MKII (tube mode) (XLR)>Kii Three . Bedroom: SBTouch to Cambridge Soundworks Desktop Setup. Living Room/Kitchen: Ropieee (RPi3b+ with touchscreen) + Schiit Modi3E to a pair of Morel Hogtalare. All absolute statements about audio are false Link to comment
mansr Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 iFi "iClean" for mobile phone audio - sends a cleaner signal to your headphones. If this is indeed a phone accessory, they should be careful with the iFoo naming or they'll be owing Apple a billion dollars before they know it. Link to comment
Duke40 Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 1) iPurifier to improve or clean analogue output from a mobile device to IEMs/Headphones 2) On/Off for “3D HolographicSound® system for Headphones" 3) On/Off for “XBass" Speaker : iPhone 6S Plus > UpTone Audio USB Regen (x2) > Benchmark DAC1 Pre > Pass Labs INT-30A > Focal Micro Utopia BE Headphone : Auralic Aries > Auralic Gemini 2000 > Audeze LCD-X Power & Tweaks : Heaps of Balanced & Isolation Power supplies, Dedicated Line, Vinnie Rossi MINI PURE-DC-4EVR, HD-Plex LPSU, iFi Audio DC iPurifiers, DIY Resonance/Vibration platforms using Townshend Audio Seismic Isolation Pods Link to comment
Duke40 Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 1) Super duper tiny Amp for IEM’s/Heaphones connected to mobile devices 2) Balanced/Single Ended switch 3) High/Low for Gain/Impedance switch Speaker : iPhone 6S Plus > UpTone Audio USB Regen (x2) > Benchmark DAC1 Pre > Pass Labs INT-30A > Focal Micro Utopia BE Headphone : Auralic Aries > Auralic Gemini 2000 > Audeze LCD-X Power & Tweaks : Heaps of Balanced & Isolation Power supplies, Dedicated Line, Vinnie Rossi MINI PURE-DC-4EVR, HD-Plex LPSU, iFi Audio DC iPurifiers, DIY Resonance/Vibration platforms using Townshend Audio Seismic Isolation Pods Link to comment
Duke40 Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 1) Some sort of Buffer to re-equalise a mobile devices analogue output, placed between mobile device and IEMs/Headphones 2) Balanced/Single Ended switch 3) High/Low for Gain/Impedance switch Speaker : iPhone 6S Plus > UpTone Audio USB Regen (x2) > Benchmark DAC1 Pre > Pass Labs INT-30A > Focal Micro Utopia BE Headphone : Auralic Aries > Auralic Gemini 2000 > Audeze LCD-X Power & Tweaks : Heaps of Balanced & Isolation Power supplies, Dedicated Line, Vinnie Rossi MINI PURE-DC-4EVR, HD-Plex LPSU, iFi Audio DC iPurifiers, DIY Resonance/Vibration platforms using Townshend Audio Seismic Isolation Pods Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 You are bringing back Sony's Mega Bass feature from the 90s :~) Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
Ciuvn Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 1. 2.5 to 3.5 2. left/right switch not so sure (option 2: merge 2 ground to 1, balanced to unbalance ~.~ not so sure,too =)) becuz useless) (option 3: chage output impedance :v) 3. TRS to TRRS Link to comment
duxservit Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 1. Laser pointer for my 007 iPhone. 2. Left button to switch red/blue/green. 3. Right button explodes the left half :-) Let every eye ear negotiate for itself and trust no agent. (Shakespeare) The things that we love tell us what we are. (Aquinas) Link to comment
thrand1 Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 Could it be... 1) iFi signal attenuator for headphone use 2) -x dB attenuator button that toggles between differing levels of attenuation. 3) Miniature amp/bass boost for headphones, maybe a gain switch? Office: iPod classic/iPad -> Shure SE425 IEM Home: Oppo BDP-83/Synology DS211j -> Integra DTR-7.8 -> Revel speakers Link to comment
deks Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 1) A headphone impedance matcher - iFi head match 2) First button matches headphone impedance 3) Second button matches the connected device impedance Link to comment
AMR/iFi audio Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share Posted May 23, 2017 Look what was spotted in the wild at Munich! Our PowerStation is here: click me! Check out our Tidal MQA Set-up Guides below. Android (Renderer) MobileDesktop (Decoder) via USBDesktop (Decoder) via SPDIF Link to comment
Middy Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 They did a nice job there. I was planning to do something similar on the DC purifier. I hope you don't mind... Cheers Dave Link to comment
AMR/iFi audio Posted June 4, 2017 Author Share Posted June 4, 2017 On 28.05.2017 at 0:44 AM, Middy said: They did a nice job there. I was planning to do something similar on the DC purifier. I hope you don't mind... Cheers Dave Not at all... Our PowerStation is here: click me! Check out our Tidal MQA Set-up Guides below. Android (Renderer) MobileDesktop (Decoder) via USBDesktop (Decoder) via SPDIF Link to comment
Middy Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 You make great stuff. The machining on the case is excellent and nice SMT work. But you don't make it easy to remove. I wouldn't recommend this for most but a Small boost to my set up. Thanks for doing the hard work and making my music better.. Good luck Dave Link to comment
AMR/iFi audio Posted June 5, 2017 Author Share Posted June 5, 2017 22 hours ago, Middy said: You make great stuff. The machining on the case is excellent and nice SMT work. But you don't make it easy to remove. I wouldn't recommend this for most but a Small boost to my set up. Thanks for doing the hard work and making my music better.. Good luck Dave Yup, if you're happy we're happy :-) Middy 1 Our PowerStation is here: click me! Check out our Tidal MQA Set-up Guides below. Android (Renderer) MobileDesktop (Decoder) via USBDesktop (Decoder) via SPDIF Link to comment
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