iFi Audio iEMatch Headphone Travel Accessory

BonGoBiLai

100+ Head-Fier
Convenient, Essential
Pros: Fantastic ergonomics and weight-balancing

Solid build quality

More headroom with beefy amps for easy-to-drive headphones and IEMs

Zero noise, no matter how noisy the source output is

Resolution and dynamics remain fully intact.
Cons: There is none
About iFi
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iFi is among the UK’s finest and has carved quite a nice niche and unique design language for itself. Although iFi’s mainline product lineup initially focused on the mid-fi segment, it now offers a highly varied catalog of products catering to all tiers of customer bases. iFi also makes a wide range of accessories alongside its flourishing desktop and portable DAC Amp arsenal. Some of these are very unique and have no real competitors. iFi iEMatch is one of the best examples of such authentic iFi specials.



Disclaimer: I am an audiophile and a reviewer who works with Mr. @Sajid Amit of Amplify Audio Reviews. Amplify generally covers high-end IEMs, Accessories, DAC Amps, and Headphones, with occasional reviews of some budget products. Check out our video reviews at: https://www.youtube.com/@amplifyaudioreviews

iEMatch 4.4 Specifications

Price $69

Ultra (-24dB) & High-Gain (-12db) sensitivity adjustment

Custom minZ™ helix construction design, intrinsic shielding provided by minZ™ helix

6N silver/copper matrix wiring with FINAL6063-T5 aluminium-magnesium alloy shell

Gold-plated printed circuit board with audiophile components (e.g., MELF resistors)

Gold-plated 4.4mm male/female connectors

Input Impedance < 40 Ohms (High-Sensitivity)
< 50 Ohms (Ultra-Sensitivity)

Output Impedance < 8.4 Ohms (High-Sensitivity)
< 3.6 Ohms (Ultra-Sensitivity)

Weight 17.5g (0.62oz)

Length 116mm (4.6")

Warranty 12 months


What is the IEMatch?

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The iEMatch by iFi Audio is an audio optimizer designed specifically for 3.5mm, 2.5mm, and 4.4mm amplifier outputs. It is primarily targeted towards highly sensitive headphones and IEMs that are susceptible to high noise floor and therefore, have audible background hiss and crackles when plugged in. Though iFi originally made only the 3.5mm variant of the IEMatch, they eventually released the 2.5mm and 4.4 mm balanced version of it.

The 4.4mm version has 24dB noise reduction in ultra sensitivity mode and 12 dB noise reduction in high sensitivity mode. Alongside removing hiss and background noise, IEMatch also addresses the issue of suboptimal volume levels, which I will discuss in detail in a later part of this review. According to iFi audio, at least 2 Bits of resolution are lost when listening to music at lower-than-optimal volumes. The iEMatch enables users to turn up the digital volume and safely get those 2 Bits back. You can check out iFi’s tech note from this link for detailed information.

Unboxing experience and Build quality observation


The iEMatch 4.4 comes packed in a compact white packaging box. iFi has a unique aesthetic vibe going on with its packaging, just like its DAC Amps and accessories. The packaging can be instantly recognized as an iFi product from afar. Removing the outer packaging reveals a phone cutout snugly housing the iEMatch itself. iFi provides some interesting extras with the iEMatch. You will get a pair of lime green earplugs alongside a beautiful velvet pouch as complimentary gifts.

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The build quality of iEMatch 4.4 is entirely flawless. The male and female TRRS shells/casings are made from 6063-T5 aluminium-magnesium alloy, which is quite an improvement from the original 3.5mm version. The texture and finishing of the metal parts look and feel super premium. The wire portion is made from 6N silver/copper matrix wiring. iFi used a unique helix construction design aptly named minZ™ for the wire. I do not know what this name signifies, but it sounds hella cool, not gonna lie.

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iFi has achieved the perfect mean between weight balancing and premium construction with the iEMatch 4.4 edition. There is no extra pressure on the 4.4 mm ports of the source devices, and connecting the iEMatch with IEM wires feels seamless and natural. There is no weird uncanny valley originating from this pigtail configuration, which I often encounter with different converters and adapters. The iEMatch 4.4 is an absolute joy to own from an ease-of-use perspective.

Performance:
Fortunately, I have access to some of the best possible match-ups to test the iEmatch 4.4's capability. My daily driver is the Questyle CMA 18P, an amazing-sounding device with a very audible noise floor. Even medium-sensitivity IEMs and easy-to-drive headphones produce hiss while idle if paired with the CMA 18P. Additionally, I borrowed my friend’s iFi Go Blu and iFi Diablo to test the iEMatch. I also tried my PC’s noisy front panel jack with a 3.5mm to 4.4 mm adapter as a joke.

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As for IEMs, I tried some of the most sensitive IEMs I could get my hands on. I extensively tried the highly sensitive Campfire Audio Ponderosa and medium-high sensitive Flipears Aurora, Artha, and Vision Ears Aura. I wish I had access to the poster child of sensitive IEMs, the original Campfire Andromeda. But the Poderosa is an excellent testing alternative nonetheless. I also tried it with the highly sensitive Sony MDR MV1. The MV1 has a single-ended cable by default, though I got an aftermarket cable supporting 4.4 balanced outputs.

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Pairing the iFi iEMatch with the CMA 18P was pure magic. All traces of RF interference and background hiss was instantly omitted. I initially started with the mid-high-sensitive Vision Ears Aura. Then I switched to the Flipears Aurora and was impressed once more. The Ponderosa was dead silent with its full capability intact, which once again proved the iEMatch’s capability. After the CMA 18P, I tried the iEMatch with the iFi Go Blu’s 4.4mm balanced output, which is known for its impressive output power but higher noise floor. iFi Diablo v1, despite being iFi’s former portable flagship (now replaced with a more expensive upgrade), does not have an integrated iEMatch, unlike the iDSD Gryphon and iDSD Signature. The Diablo is primarily targeted towards hard-to-drive, full-sized headphones and is not that ideal for IEMs. The iEMatch worked flawlessly with both iFi portables. The MV1 hisses with CMA 18P but not with the iFi portables, so removing its hiss was even more of a cakewalk.

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This noise issue can also be resolved via cheap impedance adapters from aliexpress. Unfortunately, there will be a subsequent loss of resolution and alteration in sound signature with these adapters, often not for the better. The iEMatch, on the other hand, not only eliminates the hiss but also fully preserves the resolution and dynamics. In fact, I noticed a noticeable improvement in dynamics when paired with sources boasting higher output power, as I could use more headroom. The reduction in SPL/Output volume allowed me to crank up the volume knob without the risk of blowing out the drivers. With high power sources, the true capability of the amplifier is often unexplored with high-sensitivity headphones and IEMs. Plugging the iEMatch is the best possible workaround I can think of for this issue.

Should you buy it?

The iEMatch is not particularly expensive at $69, given its ease of use and convenience. I believe it is a great everyday carry accessory not only for sensitive IEM/Headphone users but also for beefy headphone amplifier owners who would like to hook up their IEMs to these amps and crank the volume as far as they can. The iEMatch 4.4mm gets the highest recommendation I can give to an audio accessory.

MundoHiFiOz

100+ Head-Fier
IFI iEMatch+ REVIEW
Pros: Easy to use
Light and small design
Performance
Cons: No 4.4mm version
About me:
Music lover and earphone enthusiast, most of my previous reviews are in spanish.

Disclaimer: iFi graciously lent me the IEMatch+ in exchange of my opinion

Gear used:
Elemental Watson II amp, Ifi Zen Can, Fiio Q5s, Final Sonorous II

About iFi:
iFi audio is a company with headquarters in the UK that since 2012 has launched more than 30 high quality audio products with one aim in mind "to improve your music enjoyment." You can find more in https://ifi-audio.com/about-ifi/

Specifications:

Input Impedance> 16 Ohm
Output Impedance< 2.5 Ohms (High-Sensitivity)
< 1 Ohms (Ultra-Sensitivity)
Weight12.8 g (0.45 oz)
Total Length116 mm (4.6")
Warranty period12 months
Travel accessories includedGold plated airplane adapter
Soft foam contoured ear plugs (-37dB)

What is it?
The iematch+ is a 3.5mm headphone sensitivity matching device that eliminates hiss without any loss in sound quality. It can be used with any device that has 3.5mm audio output so laptops, tablets, cell phones and not just special audio equipment is included.

This product also reduces volume from our devices helping us to achieve the desired volume level. This is very useful with powerful amps in which the minimum volume is excessive. For this purpose, it has 2 settings: High (-12dB) and Ultra (-24dB).

One interesting feature of the iematch+ is that it prevents the 2 bits loss of resolution by letting us turn up the digital volume of our devices to high levels without reaching harmful volume levels in our headphones. To be honest, I hear no difference in sound with or without the 2 bits gain.

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Accessories and construction:
The iEMatch+ comes in a small white box that additionally contains a gold plated airplane adapter, the warranty card, a fabric travel pouch and one pair of soft foam contoured ear plugs. These accessories are a good addition to the main product.

The iematch+ is a very small and light device, it has a solid aluminium-magnesium gray shell that looks durable and it's not easy to scratch. The cable has a minZ Helix construction, it also presents extra plastic protection in both ends and it's very flexible. I would like to see a removable cable system in future designs that achieves the same cleanes and increases life time of this kind of device. I know it's not that easy but it would be a big upgrade.

In both extremes of the device we will find the common gold plated 3.5mm male/female connectors as you can see in the pictures.

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Daily use:
The iematch+ promises to reduce hiss from any kind of device and it achieves this purpose with no sound changes based on the devices i tested. The following gear was used to test its capabilities.

HP Envy PC: My laptop has a severe hiss problem, it's supposed to have a Bang&Olufsen audio system but it sounds mediocre. With the iematch+ the 3.5mm output is noise free now.

Fiio Q5s: When we use the bluetooth mode, this portable dac-amp has hiss/noise with sensitive iems. The hiss problem is solved with the iematch+ and the sound keeps as usual.

Zen Can + Final Sonorous II: Sonorous II is a very sensitive headphone that needs a silent source to sound at its best. When I use the Zen Can and the Sonorous II, I'm not able to achieve a comfortable volume level because the volume increases very fast with minimal movements in the Zen can´s potentiometer. Once I use the iematch+, the volume wheel is smoother and now I can reach the desired volume level.


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Elemental Watson II + almost any iem on the market: I haven´t found an iem that can be used with the elemental Watson tube amp. It produces a lot of distortion, hiss, the minimum volume level is too high and it has channel imbalance making it impossible to use with iems. When I use the iematch+ in the high setting, there's still hiss and distortion in both channels, the volume is much lower now but it is still very uncomfortable to listen to. Then, if I change to the Ultra setting everything changes: the hiss is gone and distortion is only present when I bring my phone close (very common even with Sennheiser HD650).

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Conclusion

The iematch+ is the kind of device that can be recommended not only to the audiophile community but the regular audio consumer that uses only its laptop for listening to his favourite youtube playlist. It completely eliminates noise and I didn´t experience changes in sound with the gear I own. Finally, I would like to see a 4.4mm version of this device for using the rest of my iems without using a 2.5mm adapter.
Sebastien Chiu
Sebastien Chiu
Thanks for the well-written review, sir!
iFi audio
iFi audio
Great stuff, much appreciated!

goodyfresh

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: --Completely eliminates background-hiss/crackle from my laptop's audio output to my IEM's, so it did exactly as I intended and needed it to.

--Unlike what some people say, this does NOT truly "alter" the sound-signature; see review for details
Cons: --Pretty much nothing for my purposes (home-use on a computer from which I will rarely unplug it). However:

--The build-quality may be too fragile for portable use with devices like phones and DAP's
First, some background on why I purchased this product: I recently got a new gaming laptop (an HP Omen 15-dc1062nr), and while I love it a lot, I discovered to my great dismay that the onboard audio from the headphone-jack has a very large, noticeable amount of background hiss/crackling/static when using my Fiio FH1 IEM's, which becomes even louder whenever I do anything at all that uses the processor (typing, web-browser activity, even just moving the mouse). I tried using my Hiby R3 as a USB DAC to fix the issue, but unfortunately, it seems to have intermittent issues with very large amounts of latency/lag, where sometimes I hear sounds up to a full half-a-second :)scream::scream::scream:) after the action in a game or video which caused them. Since my laptop is for watching stuff and gaming, not for music (I use my R3 for that), such an issue obviously makes the R3 useless for me as a USB DAC. I did some online research which indicated that such latency a very common issue when using the Hiby R3 as a USB DAC for computers, and is in no way an issue with my laptop itself.

So, I got the iEMatch as a way to attenuate the background-hiss! It arrived today, and here's what I can say about it:

This product is PERFECT! It does exactly what it is supposed to. On both the High and Ultra sensitivity settings, it completely eliminates any and all background-noise from my laptop's audio-output to my IEM's.

I now want to say something very, VERY important: Reviewers who say that this product "alters" the sound-signature are people with a poor understanding of audio science. I mean no offense towards them, but before making such a complaint, they should learn the truth about output-impedance and how it relates to impedance-graphs for headphones and IEM's. On the "high" setting (less than 2.5ohm output impedance), the iEMatch might indeed slightly "alter" the sound-signature if your IEM's are very low-impedance, in that it may add a tiny bit of bass-bloat, slightly narrow the soundstage, and possibly attenuate the treble a little bit. However, this is in no way a flaw with the iEMatch itself; it is simply the natural consequence of an output-impedance above 2ohms! A device which "alters" sound-signature would be something like an equalizer. The iEMatch does no such thing, it simply has certain impedance-levels which are clearly stated by iFi in its specifications. While my IEM's have a supposed/stated impedance of 26ohms, they are hybrid dual-driver IEM's and as a result likely have some large dips in their impedance graph, possibly to as low as 10ohms, in the frequency-range for the driver-crossover. As a result, any source with output impedance above 2ohms or so may slightly bloat the bass and attenuate the treble when compared to my Hiby R3 which has an output impedance of less than 1ohm.

On the "Ultra" sensitivity setting on the iEMatch from my laptop, the sound-signature is IDENTICAL to what I get on these IEM's from the Hiby R3 (I did a proper comparison-test with volume-matching and log-perceptual and constant-volume frequency-sweep files, as well as some binaural tracks). The only difference is a slight narrowing of the soundstage and decrease in clarity, but that was already true of my laptop's onboard audio and is simply because the Hiby R3 is a superior audio-player, and again it is no fault whatsoever with the iEMatch itself.

Some people say the iEMatch alters the sound-signature from equipment which is already VERY low impedance (like 0.2ohms or below). But that makes sense, and no one should be surprised by it, as in that case the iEMatch would just be attenuating volume while raising impedance. The product is intended for use with sources that have higher impedance than the setting being used on the iEMatch.

Essentially, any "changes in sound-signature compared to the true/original signature of IEM's" caused by the iEMatch are due to either the High Sensitivity setting still having overly-high impedance for some IEM's, or cases in which the iEMatch is used with very-low-impedance sources for which it was never intended for use.

On the Ultra Sensitivity setting, the iEMatch does indeed decrease/attenuate volume a very large amount (24db)
, so I need to turn my laptop's volume up to 90 or 100% for a lot of the stuff I watch or play, or sometimes even play things in VLC-player with a volume-boost or use an add-on to add gain when streaming in my web-browser. But that is, again, a consequence of the iEMatch doing exactly as it is supposed to, and is actually my laptop's fault for having too little output-power from the headphone-jack. It says right on the box that it attenuates volume by 24db on that setting, so voicing that as a criticism of the product would be unfair to iFi.

The fact is that the iEMatch does exactly as it is supposed to, and it does it VERY well. The features of being able to switch from balanced to SE output, as well as switch between two different impedance/attenuation settings, are very nice and make it mostly worth the price, as in that regard it is greatly superior to most audio-attenuators which people could make at home using resistors and soldering.

All that being said, the reason I give 4.5 instead of 5 stars is because the build-quality seems intended for home use rather than portable use, and I have a feeling that the device might break if it was being used for a portable device (like a phone or DAP) while constantly walking around with it and unplugging and plugging the iEMatch back in extremely frequently. For my purposes, in which it will spend 99% of its time plugged in to my laptop (which I basically use as a desktop PC, I only got a laptop because I occasionally require portability), the build-quality seems perfectly fine! But that may be a different story for people who want to use it portably; for them, I would strongly advise that they be very careful in handling the device when plugging and unplugging it on a regular basis into a DAP or phone.

SUMMARY: People saying this ruins the sound-signature need to research how impedance works in audio setups. This is an excellent product which does a very good job at exactly what it is intended for, and I would recommend it to ANYONE having issues with background-hiss/crackle from their audio setup on sensitive IEM's or headphones, as long as their source has enough output-power that they can still get enough volume with the attenuation from the iEMatch.
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rafaelo

1000+ Head-Fier
Pros: 1) Very good build quality, very beautiful
2) potential game changer under circumstances
3) A nice Refinement of sound in most reasonable cases
4) you can find the optimal output region of your amp better
5) provides a slight improvement even straight out of the iPad headphone jack (soon to be obsolete...)
6) smoother sound
7) nice angle for the cables very convenient
Cons: 1) under circumstances you end up with low volume - not enough power to drive your headphones so the sound quality output deteriorates
2) slightly highly priced (2.5 version)
3) can potentially increase battery consumption under some mobile set ups
I am writing this rewiew since ifi have contacted me to review some of their products, a privilege which I find particularly extremely difficult to reject. One of these products is the iematch and subsequently the iematch 2.5.

As all of my reviews are made from the point of view of a simple consumer as such my reviews are quite unconventional which means I do not provide unboxing or nice photos or discussing what the box contains inside. For these, please look on more professional reviews or better on youtube. I provide a different angle from a simple consumer/hobbyist that does this on the side without any monetary interest. Quite the contrary, since I am working in the City my time is limited and extremely valuable. But when I have some time I really enjoying doing this and I can be as objective as possible because my professional life does not depend at all on it.

Therefore, I will do this review in an informal way from the point of view of a simple consumer that offers an honest opinion in order to help other consumers at his level to choose a product and I hope some of you will find this review somewhat useful… and I will write this review while I am listening through my surface book through the ipurifier 3, another ifi audio product that I have currently for a review.

iematch and iematch 2.5 are specialised products and they are not recommended in all cases. There are many good reviews in this review thread that explain in detail in which situations these products are most suitable therefore I will not elaborate extensively here. Put it differently, Iematch and iematch 2.5 in some situations are not recommended at all. For example, if your source (phone, amp, dap whatever) marginally drive your headphones then with iematch the result will be negative instead of positive!!! This is why this should be considered as a special product not a universal solution.

Usually, in audio you have products that make a difference or does not make a difference but not products that they will deteriorate the audio quality outcome. You have 3 possible outcomes according to the circumstance

  1. Game changer – dramatic improvement in sound quality (as the first time I used an spdif ipurifier in my home system) where you immediately decide to buy the product, in case you can afford it obviously, without second thinking
  2. Positive change but not dramatic, so according to the price of the product you spend some time thinking if you should buy the product but usually if the price is reasonable you buy the product – otherwise you would not be in head-fi reading reviews.
  3. Very minor positive difference or no difference at all. In a blind testing would be very difficult to separate the improvement. Now you start thinking for a refund or regretting buying the product.
But with iematch you have also the case that if your set up can marginally provide loud sound then the loudness with iematch will be so low that you really will be disappointed with the result. So first be certain that this is the right product for you because I already said it, this is a specialised product for specific circumstances.

This means that this product has designed for very sensitive headphones/iems where usually an audible hiss is the main problem. So according to your circumstance you can end up in any of the 3 cases discussed above. If you have very sensitive headphones and lot of hiss that makes them unlistenable or unenjoyable then this is a game changer read no further - an impulse buy. But I do not belong to this category yet as I do not have so sensitive iems or so powerful amps. Moreover, there two modes with iematch High and Ultra, I did NOT have a single instance that I could find usable the Ultra option for my set ups meaning obviously that I am not the main target customer for this device.

So for me these products belonged to the other two circumstances most of the time. However, by testing various combinations I found also one two cases where I believe that the iematch could be a game changer for me also as I will discuss below.

First things first, the biggest curiosity I had was how the iematch could improve the sound of my meze 99 through my main marantz amplifier. Meze 99 is a sensitive headphone and as Marantz drives them at near 9 o clock I thought that with iematch Meze will sound better as iematch will force my Marantz to work in a more optimal output region. And yes! it did that but was not such a dramatic difference, lets say what an ipurifier can make to a system with unrealised potential (More to that on my upcoming review of the ipurifier 3).

I have a particular obsession with a particular piece from Vivaldi:

https://tidal.com/track/2400331

Vivaldi: Recitative And Aria From Cantata Rv 679, L2 The Nordic Sound.

I believe that this is a very technical track that exposes the weakness of the headhones and really separate mediocre headphones from the truly great ones. It is the definitive track that will make me choose and keep a headphone or not although later most of the times probably I am going to listen house music from tunein…I know go figure…

But this is my track where I test for the fastest lap and this is where Iematch was tested first with the Meze 99 classics and I can definitely say that it does belong to the second circumstance discussed above. In this case, some additional smoothness and greatness were added but needed an A/B testing to be observable at full extent. Something like “I cannot believe it, it sound even better with it…!!” But iematch cannot transform 99 and make it sound like a hi-end planar which is an unreasonable task anyway. I could compare the improvement in sound quality in what you could experience with the audioquest jitterbug, a very nice refinement for a modest amount.

Then I used it in my mobile situations as follows:

  • MotoX style phone directly to Meze 99 Neo, Classics and Meze Classics 12 iem.
  • As above and with xDSD (briefly in my testing period)
  • MotoX style connected through BT to es100 and then directly to Meze 99 Neo and Meze Classics 12 iem.
  • Out of my Little Bear Tube preamplifier B4 with Meze Classics 12 (iem)
  • Out of my pad and directly to my phones
And my observations are the following:

  • xDSD does not need an iematch. The technology in xDSD makes it irrelevant so save the money and if you can afford buy xDSD directly which I recommend wholeheartedly.
  • I did not pay particular attention to little bear except until my review period passed. Only few weeks ago I noticed that my Neo 99 pick a lot of hiss and then I though that the iematch might be also a game changer in this situation. Unfortunately, among so many combinations that I currently have, this passed unnoticed at the time and I lost the opportunity to test it properly. Maybe was the new opamp that I installed at later time but I really do not remember. But as it now stands, I prefer to use only my insensitive HD6XX and HE4XX with the little bear.


From the rest of the cases, except ONE particular case, the iematch sound quality wise, provided a nice refinement with the added benefit of being a very good angle adaptor. The Iematch is very beautiful constructed with great materials and very beautiful. The meze cables have not any angle so they are really cumbersome when you connected them in the phone or my ipad so an adapter like this makes things so much easier. Actually, as my ipad can provide a lot of power to my Meze 99 I noticed a noticeable improvement in this scenario. Providing also a very useful angled version for this situation. So yes, iematch provides a very nice refinement to the sound in a simple scenario like this one.

I hope ifi audio to sell such adaptors like the OTG usb cable in such reasonable prices. I think as xDSD does not need an iematch, someone like me needs such an adapter to match such cables. Actually, all my balanced cables I use right now would benefit from such an adapter.

Last but not least, I left the most important personal experience I have with iematch. Using IEMATCH with my phone, directly or through es100 with listening in poor quality streaming through 128k mp3 with tunein radio. This is where the Game Changer moment with iematch came for me. Obviously, I like over ears headphones a lot but I find iems particularly elegant to use in an professional environment, very mobile and user friendly in summer under hot conditions. I do not own very expensive iems and I am not very expert with iems in general. However, as I received on offer with my Meze 99 classics the Meze 12 classics I can say that the 12 classics is the endgame iem for me at the moment. The Classics 12 is not perfect and it has its moments but when paired well, for my standards sound amazing and with the foam tips supplied it sounds as a nice open headphone. It has a completely different signature from the 99 series. In contrast, here the bass is very good but the treble is the weakest link. It can be piercing some times. With xDSD and Tidal material in Bluetooth mode the 12 Meze iem was a revelation to me. An endgame for office situations. I could not believe the quality I was getting from a budget iem like that sounding like an open headphone. But when my review week was over with the xDSD and I needed to use my ES100 and my phone directly simply I could not listen more than one or two songs with the classics 12 (but to be fair to 12, also in combination with low res material that I am usually listen from tunein). But this exactly where iematch came in rescue and smoothed the treble in such a degree that made these combinations enjoyable and usable again. Clearly, this is the definition of a game changer situation to me. Something that is unusable to be usable. At this point I was thinking ordering the iematch (and the iematch 2.5) for me but as I left for my wedding and my honeymoon in summer I left it for some future time. But now as I am the lucky winner of the xDSD I still postpone this purchase as my listening habits and set ups change so often and much.

Initially, I requested the IEMATCH 2.5 because I am an idiot and at that time I had no experience with balanced cables, I thought 2.5 is the new version of iematch and not the balanced connection size version. When I opened the box I was quite shocked and I could not understand how to use this with my equipment. However, at later stages when I received my balanced cables to use with my es100 I briefly tested the IEMATCH 2.5. My observations mirror the observations I discussed for the original version above. ES100 in balanced mode can provide a lot of power so if you have sensitive iems you can see a benefit with using the iematch 2.5. I have the intuitive feeling that there is an optimal region in every amp, should not be near max or near min if iematch helps you to find that optimal region then the greater the benefit you can extract from you amp.

Finally, the other observation I have to make is that I did also a direct comparison for iematch technology when I tested the black nano, which includes IEMatch inside, and it seemed that most of the time I preferred the iematch input with my first generations budget headphones (i.e. AKGY50 etc.) although one should also note that in mobile applications the benefit of iematch comes with raising battery consumption as you are forced to use higher volumes.

All in all, this is a nice refinement of the sound in many circumstances without asking a fortune, it has the potential to be a game changer in some others but also it can be a completely wrong addition to other ones but this is not the product’s fault.

I conclude by provide further explanation about my rating. This can be a 5 star product potentially under some scenarios but in most of my personal specific cases was not. Also, personally I keep the 5 star recommendation for products that are really exceptional and have shocked me one way or another. The xDSD, the iOne and the ipurifier spdif are products that belong to this category. Also, to give a 4 star to product which is very special and unique is quite unfair too. This product designed for specific cases and is not designed for every possible use and as such in some cases does not make a night and day difference.

Also, there are some great reviews in this thread, far better than mine, please have a look and get more information there.

As for me, I might buy both versions at some point in future but right now my attention has turned to two other ifi audio products that theoretically should have not (because I have the xDSD)…the ipurifier 3 and the xCan…

...Why ifi Why...? :)

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B9Scrambler

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Does what they say it does - Nice materials and build quality - Priced accordingly
Cons: Slightly wiggly/spongy switches
Greetings,

Today we're checking out a helpful accessory from iFi, the iEMatch.

ifi is well known best for their plethora of amps and dacs, but they also have an extensive lineup of accessories. The iEMatch is tailor made for highly sensitive headphones and earphones that suffer from background hiss, or are louder than is comfortable for general listening. As someone that listens at exceptionally low volumes most of the time, and finds a lot of sources too loud even at their base volume, this is a very desirable product. A number of my earphones are too loud out of a few specific devices like my F.Audio S1 and HiFiMan MegaMini. They also suffer from a fair bit of invasive background hiss which can make for a pretty sub-par experience. The iEMatch does an outstanding job of nullifying these issues.

Let's take a closer look.

Disclaimer:

Thank you to Lawrance for sending over a sample of the iEmatch for the purposes of this review. The thoughts within this review are based on my experiences with this product, and do not represent iFi or any other entity. At the time of this review, the iEMatch retailed for 49.00 USD. You can check it out here on their site; https://ifi-audio.com/products/iematch/

Specifications (from packaging):
  • Ultra (-24dB) and High (-12dB) gain sensitivity adjustment
  • TRRS-Balanced for single-ended and balanced operation
  • 6N silver/copper matrix wiring with FINAL 6063-T5 aluminum-magnesium alloy shell
  • Gold-plated printed circuit board with audiophile components (eg. MELF resistors)
  • Gold-plated 3.5mm male/female connectors
    Input Impedance: >16 Ohms
  • Output Impedance: <2.5 Ohms (High-Sensitivity) / <1 Ohms (Ultra-Sensitivity)
  • Weight: 12.2g
  • Total Length: 116mm (119mm for my sample)
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Packaging and Accessories:

The iEMatch comes in a compact box sharing it's design language with the Pro iCan I reviewed earlier in the year. The white outer sheath contains an image of the iEMatch on the front with a sticker outlining a couple things it does, those being lower hiss and increase dynamics. The left side shows the contents, while the right highlights a few features, such as the high or ultra sensitivity switch, TRRS balanced support, 6N Silver/Copper matrix wiring, and that it features an aluminum-magnesium alloy casing. The back of the sleeve goes over in greater detail the purpose of the iEMatch and the specifications.

Sliding off the sleeve and removing the protective cardboard insert, you find the iEMatch and accessories nestled within a soft foam insert. For something that would in itself be classified as an accessory, the iEMatch comes with a fair number of them. In all you get:
  • iEMatch
  • Gold plated airplance adapter
  • Yellow foam earplugs (-37dB)
  • Fabric carrying pouch
I've seen earphones in this price range that come with less than the iEMatch. The earplugs are even encased in a handy plastic case that you could re-purpose to carry around spare ear tips. Everything you get seems to be of high quality, though the carrying pouch does have a streak of glue across it that removes some of the appeal. Almost looks like dried out dog drool. Fun!

Build:

The iEMatch's casing is constructed from an aluminum-magnesium alloy and feels rock solid as a result. There are noticeable seams between the component parts that make up the casing, but they are minimal and line up accurately. The pebbled, matte-silver coating is evenly applied as well. Overall fit and finish is quite good. The switches move with a reasonably smoothness, but have a hint of wiggle too them before they start loving. On the plug, the single ended and balanced indicators (BAL/SE) are printed, but on the other end where you find the iFi branding and Sensitivity indicators, the letters in laser etched. While the BAL/SE letting is liable to wear off over time, the rest of the print should be fine.

The cable connecting the two segments that make up the iEMatch is very well relieved (thank you iFi!!!) via 10mm long, flexible rubber extensions. The sheath feels fairly dense and durable, and is plenty flexible.

Over the iEMatch feels like a quality piece of kit which is great because in my experience, dongle-like devices like this tend to deal with more stress than a standard cable and wear out quickly. The iEMatch doesn't feel like it will suffer that fate.

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F.Audio S1 -> iFi iEMatch -> Astrotec Delphinus 5:

F.Audio S1 is intended as a source for use with high impedance, low sensitivity headphones. The D5 is the opposite of this, and as a result is extremely picky when it comes to source matching. A D5/S1 combo is about as far from ideal as it gets. With the volume down, hit play and the static starts crackling with authority. The amount of volume needed to overcome it is unreasonable but easy to achieve because the D5 get's loud FAST on the S1.

Tossing the iEMatch into the mix makes for a night and day comparison. What was a noisy, invasive background turns into silence. Not even a hint of static remains. The D5's presentation goes from strained to effortless, as it should be given the premium, flagship status it holds in Astrotec's lineup. Dynamic range doesn't seem to be affected much though. Volume is much easier to manage. I tend to use Ultra setting with D5 plugged in for this reason.

HifiMan MegaMini -> iFi iEMatch -> Campfire Audio Polaris:

The Polaris/MegaMini matchup isn't quite as drastically poor as the S1/D5 matchup above, but it's still far from ideal. Without the iEMatch in place, you get a fair bit of static playing behind your music at all times. Base volume for the MegaMini is quite high and at the lowest setting is about what I would listen to the Polaris at when in a quiet area (ex. in bed before sleep, or, in a library).

Filtering through the iEMatch makes a world of difference. Volume control is much more varied with the Polaris sounding ideal on the High-Sensitivity setting. Static is, predictably, gone leaving a nice black background between tracks and during low volume listening. More surprisingly, I found the Polaris more lively with the iEMatch in place, particularly in the treble which sounds more vibrant. The sound stage opens up too, showing greater depth than I get when paired with any of my media players, sans iEMatch.

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Final Thoughts:

The iEMatch has been a somewhat trans-formative product for me. It has taken away a lot of the guess work in finding ideal pairings between my favorite earphones and my limited selection of players, most of which are designed for use with higher impedance headphones.

The iEMatch lets me pair them with anything, including my cell phone, without having to deal with nasty background hiss or listening at a louder volume than I'm comfortable with. It's well built too, and for all the improvements it brings, is priced quite generously. It's an absolute no brainer to pair with high end earphones that are picky about sources and well worth picking up.

Thanks for reading!

- B9Scrambler
Pros: I can listen to sensitive IEMs on the Questyle QP2R now without being swallowed by hiss, nice diamond dust feel and look to the casing, simple to use, lightweight, takes pressure off of 2.5mm jack
Cons: 2.5mm jack isn’t flush with barrel, original iEMatch less expensive
List Price: $69

Product Website: https://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/accessory-iematch2-5

Introduction
I’ve been wanting to get an iEMatch ever since the first one was released. I was surprised that iFi didn’t send me one to review, given how much we’ve worked together. I’ve got a few hiss monster DAPs in house, including my favourite DAP, the QP2R. Beyond the QP2R, the HiFiMAN SuperMini and the HiFiMAN MegaMini are hiss cannons. When iFi sent me the press release for the 2.5mm version of iEMatch, I had to get it. So, when I saw them at Sound & Vision 2018 in Bristol, I bought one on the spot.

This review was originally published on audioprimate.blog.

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Usability: Form & Function
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The box that the iEMatch2.5 comes in is iFi’s standard small item box. They use the same box for their Purifier series, and I have to imagine they use it for their Defender and other USB paraphernalia. Inside the box are the iEMatch2.5 with a formed slot cut out of the foam, a pair of earplugs, the cloth bag, and a tasty tasty silica packet. Mmmm anhydrous! Underneath the earplugs, there is a smiley face thank you. Also in the box are a conveniently sized and folded instruction manual and a warranty card. The box has all kinds of fancy pictures on the outside, which is standard for iFi. They are good with the graphic stuff.

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The iEMatch itself is tiny. I was able to easily fit it in side the Noble Encore Pelican hard case with a bulky aftermarket cable. It’s really a life-saver with the Noble Encore.

The iEMatch2.5 has a lower output impedance than the version built into the iDSD Nano Black Label (under 1Ω versus 4Ω) but the same as the original iEMatch. In practice, what this means is that I don’t notice any colouration of the sound signature on the Noble Encore with the iEMatch2.5, but I do with the iDSD Nano Black Label. I get to listen with the best DAP I have in house, which is excellent. With the Noble Encore, I only have ever needed to use the High sensitivity setting, but if you are an Andromeda fan, I’d wager the Ultra sensitivity setting would have you covered.

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One thing that I noted was that with the Questyle QP2R, the Ultra setting on the iEMatch was a bad idea, as the volume had to be turned up too high and it caused a little clipping. So you may not be able to use the iEMatch2.5 with every IEM source combination. If it sounds wrong and you have to jack the volume knob up to insane levels, stop. Use your sense.

On the iEMatch2.5, the 2.5mm jack plug has a collar. It has been my observation that 2.5mm plugs are very brittle, which is one of the reasons that I'm all gung-ho for 4.4mm balanced jack plugs to take over the DAP world (my 4.4 make sure all y'all kids don't grow, to homophone a great one). The best way to strengthen a 2.5mm jack plug is increase the contact area around the plug. Using a collar decreases this area and makes the plug vulnerable. Similarly, the end your aftermarket cable plugs into is not flush with the magnesium body of the iEMatch2.5 so also has a point of vulnerability that could have been mitigated. That said, moving your aftermarket cable plug away from the 2.5mm jack on the DAP reduces the amount of pressure, thus reducing the likelihood of a busted jack plug on your [expensive] aftermarket cable. This issue is why I docked the build quality 0.5 points.

I only have one other gripe, and that is the price differential between the standard iEMatch, and the iEMatch2.5. The regular iEMatch can be had for around $50. I think this is actually a more appropriate price, which is why I had to dock the value 0.5 points.

This was awfully close to being my first ever perfect 5 review. If I'd beta tested this, it would have got the 5 star rating, because I would have addressed the only issues. My cons would then read: none.

Specifications
Specifications
Price $69
Sensitivity adjustment Ultra (24dB), High (-12dB)
Input impedance 16Ω
Output impedance
< 2.5Ω (High-Sensitivity)

< 1.0Ω (Ultra-Sensitivity)

Weight 12.2g
Total length 116mm
Waranty 12 months
Accessories Fabric travel pouch, 1 pair soft-foam contoured ear plugs (-37dB)


Acknowledgment
I acknowledge that I bought the iEMatch my own darn self. No acknowledgment necessary. I got a show discount.

Conclusions
The iFi iEMatch is a hissbusting miracle worker in a diamond-dusted magnesium suit. It’s worth every penny. Buy it!

ifi-iematch2-5.png


Rating Disclaimer: ratings are subjective. Audio quality and value do not mean the same thing across all prices. A headphone with a 5 rating on audio at $5 does not have equivalent sound quality as a 5 rating at $500. Likewise, value at $5 is not the same as value at $5000 dollars.

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Dobrescu George

Reviewer: AudiophileHeaven
Pros: Price, Build Quality, Easy-to-use, colorless, does its job well
Cons: Very specific tool for a very specific job, performance varies with the setup, IEM and DAP, hard to say it will do the same favor for two setups if one of the components change.
iFi iEMatch 2.5 - Balanced Matching

iFi iEMatch 2.5 is the version of iEMatch made for 2.5mm balanced connectors. Those iEMatch units have been known to help those with hissy sources get a better sound without needing to upgrade the whole source, and iEMatch is usually pretty affordable as well. We'll place this one through its paces and see what the buzz is all about.







Introduction

iFi is a very well-known company in Audio and especially in the Audiophile Hobby, since they are some of the most exemplary when it comes to their service, support as well as involvement with the community. iFi products are a dream to own, and we have a few already, from their iFi iDSD Black Label Micro, to the Nano, and soon to come is the iFi xDSD, another awesome product. We're not affiliated with iFi, but we like their work so far, pretty good and most important, usually really well priced compared to the competition.

It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with iFi, I am not receiving any incentive for this review or to sweeten things out. This review is not sponsored nor has been paid for by iFi or anyone else. I'd like to thank iFi for providing the sample for the review. The sample was provided along with iFi's request for an honest and unbiased review. This review will be as objective as it is humanly possible, and it reflects my personal experience with iFi iEMatch 2.5. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to help those interested in iFi iEMatch 2.5 find their next music companion.



About me

https://audiophile-heaven.blogspot.ro/p/about.html



Packaging

First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:









For most of their products, iFi used pretty fancy packages, but now the package is rather small. Of course iFi iEMatch 2.5 doesn't have a lot it comes with since it is an inexpensive adapter that helps with hissy and noisy sources, so we aren't bothered by the lack of a larger package.


In fact, we're pretty happy that iFi included all that was necessary in the package, and a little extra.

With iEMatch 2.5 you get the unit, two foam plugs, and a little carrying pouch.

It is unclear why the foam plugs are included, but they are a welcome addition anyways, especially for that time you go to a concert and happen to need something to protect your hearing from the loud music.


All things considered, we are rather happy with the package, it feels fitting for the product.



What to look in when purchasing a high-end Audiophile Accessory

https://audiophile-heaven.blogspot.com/p/what-to-lookl.html



Technical Specifications

Input Impedance: 16 Ohm
Output Impedance: &lt; 2.5 Ohms (High-Sensitivity) &lt; 1.0 Ohms (Ultra-Sensitivity)
Weight : 12.2g
Total Length : 116mm
Warranty period: 12 months




Build Quality/Aesthetics

iFi iEMatch 2.5mm is basically a little cable adapter which is used to control the output impedance and noise of your source. It works by filtering the signal of your source and lowering the noise floor, along with the volume of it. It usually results in a lower output volume as well.








The Aesthetics make it look like a sturdy adapter of sorts, it doesn't give off much about its purpose by the looks alone, being neither a cool-looking device nor something that will change the overall look of your setup too much. At most, it looks like a USB DAC like those used in Type-C based smartphones, so most people can either think it is part of the natural listening setup, or a jack adapter.

This is actually good, because its purpose is quite complicated, and while it can surely make a good discussion subject with someone who is really into audio, it can be slightly complicated to understand for a more casual listener / user.

The Build Quality is excellent, the plug and cable are both sturdy and feel trustworthy, the button for setting the iEMatch to High or Ultra feels good and overall, the device is built very well.

iEMatch has two modes, one being high and one being ultra, depending on how much it affects the impedance, the Ultra setting being the one that has more effect than the High one.



Sound Quality

We don't have any other device to run the typical comparison and running the pairing tabs isn't very worthwhile when iEMatch does the same thing for almost all sources. The basic rule of thumb is that if you feel your source is noisy, then iEMatch is sent from Heaven.



Most 2.5mm Balanced outputs have a little bit of added power compared to their Single Ended counter parts. This means that for most people the Balanced output can sound a bit more dynamic, a little brighter, and sometimes even hissier, as for some DAPs the balanced output has a higher output impedance, resulting in a few impedance differences, leading to hiss with very sensitive IEMs.

Many users claim a difference in the sonic performance of their equipment when running it on Balanced, differences usually being a more controlled sound, quicker sound, better overall ADSR/PRaT (Textures), more Dynamics and a more enjoyable overall experience. We never reviewed Balanced vs Single Ended because a bias-free test is impossible, since we can't hot swap between two devices, and since Balanced Cables are usually made with a more strict quality control, along with a different overall cable composition. This means that for the most part the Balanced version of a IEM or Headphone might sound better, but a lot of variables change along the way, being hard to tell what exactly makes them sound better.

With the recent increase in Balanced devices appeared some which have a little too much power, an output impedance that is a little too high, or those which are a little hissy / noisy by default.

This is where iEMatch comes in handy, its role is to silence the noise from the source. What it does, it basically adds impedance to the source, which although doesn't sound like it would do a lot, it actually silences the sound, makes everything quieter, including the noise.







Now, there are a few aspects to this that we should discuss.

This lowers the hiss from sources, leading to a hiss-free experience, that works with IEMs which are very sensitive to hiss, like those IEMs with only a few OHMs of impedance for themselves.

iEMatch also states that it can increase the dynamics of a combo, and there might be some truth to this, especially for IEMs (In-Ear Monitors), where those would need really low amounts of power. This means that the amplifier used in the pairing might be operating at a really low voltage / power, which can result in certain designs in a loss of dynamics. By adding impedance, and increasing the volume, there is a chance of also increasing the dynamics of sound, since some designs operate better at high loads. This is very design dependent though, and hard to predict unless experimented with.

The other thing iEMatch can do is lower the noise floor by filtering noise. Some users reported that they hear a black background and more focus on certain background instruments which would otherwise be drowned by the background noise.

In all fairness, we tested iEMatch 2.5 extensively, but we are usually not very prone to notice noise nor hissing, but we did notice a darker overall background with iEMatch 2.5, along with a better overall sound, although it required us to increase the volume considerably more than if not using it, the results being sometimes the amplifier working at higher loads than it would normally do.

All in all, it is as it should be, colorless, it is supposed to be transparent and not change the signature much, and it does what it states it should do, lower the hiss and adding resistance to the IEM, so the improvements will be variable, from IEM to IEM. We're looking at something that is not supposed to have a Sound Signature, just to improve and silence noise, and this is something it does.

In our experiments, the dynamics were not necessarily consistently better for all setups, some setups did indeed benefit from adding iEMatch 2.5, while others did not, with the results themselves being rather small. In the end we can't guarantee the results on dynamics.

The background is blacker, there is a silence going on in the background, especially if the source was noisy, and even if it was only slightly noisy.

We would like to remind you that this device is colorless, it doesn't really change the signature itself, only a few aspects of the sonic performance of a device. Its biggest role is to change the output impedance to a lower one after all.




Portable Usage

The portable performance is good. Being rather small and flexible, it doesn't really add to the bulk of a listening setup, and it doesn't really change it either. On this note, we usually talk about listening volume and noise isolation, so we feel it is fair to run iEMatch 2.5 through those two as well.

On listening volume, adding iEMatch means that you will require more volume.




Although most 2.5mm Balanced source have no problem in driving hard-to-drive loads, if yours was already reaching the maximum volume when driving something, then adding iEMatch is not a great idea, as it will make everything quieter. This means that you might be unable to drive your IEMs / Headphones properly loudness-wise, but then again, this should be extremely rare, and for most IEMs or headphones that would be like this, you're probably not going to need iEMatch since its design is mostly intended for those which are very sensitive and would pick up hiss and background noise.

On the noise isolation, it is fair to state that iEMatch does nothing to it, but the fact that you have a blacker background means that you might require less isolation on an overall level, because background notes are easier to distinguish. This effect might also lead to lower overall listening volumes, even while on-the-go and while in public, since you'd be hearing more in the background, with less volume, so this can be a good part of using iEMatch 2.5, although we feel that this will depend a lot on the user.

All in all, the shape, size and build quality make iEMatch very portable and a good addition to your portable listening setup. It can sit nicely with any DAP, from Hiby R6 to Opus #1s, FiiO X5-3, FiiO X7mkii, FiiO Q5, and so on. There's literally no real bulk added to most audiophile setups, so on portability, it is really good.



Value and Conclusion

First, we have the price, which is around 60 - 70 USD. This isn't exactly low, considering what it is, but it isn't exactly high either. iEMatch 2.5 is also going to be usable with any DAP you upgrade to, and with all your IEMs, as long as they are based on 2.5mm connectors, so unless you plan on switching to 4.4mm balanced connectors, or unless you plan on going to unbalanced, you're going to have usage for it for a long time, so the money can be considered a good investition. Since most DAPs that have a balanced connection start from 300 USD and go up, and since most multi-BA IEMs that are quite sensitive are also quite pricey, iEMatch is not a very expensive addition to your listening setup, and in most cases can be considered affordable, relative to the rest of the listening setup.




When it comes to its build quality, it is extremely well made, its simplicity playing a role on this, and we didn't have any issues with it. In fact, this is important because it will stay in a stack with a device, and it should be pretty solid. It doesn't have much weight, and it doesn't pull on the jack of the device it is connected to, and it doesn't have any part that can break.


Its main rol, the lower the output impedance of a device, is achieved fairly well, and it doesn't colour the sound. It will redeem a device if its Balanced output is a bit hissy or a bit noisy, and it can redeem a device even if its balanced output is very hissy or very noisy. The main issue here is that there are few devices that have balanced outputs, and even fewer that are really noisy, but as more and more devices come to the market, some will aim to drive very hard-to-drive headphones from that balanced output, and this will sometime mean that a sacrifice has to be made, and that device might not be ideal for driving in-ears. Here, iEMatch 2.5 will be a great addition to your listening setup and help you enjoy the sources and the IEMs you already own more.

In conclusion, iEMatch 2.5mm is a great addition to your listening setup if you use IEMs a lot, especially multi-BA IEMs and IEMs that are very sensitive (have a very low impedance, or very high efficiency), as those will take advantage the most from the works of iEMatch 2.5mm. With a good build quality, and a nice design, iEMatch 2.5 is going to be a great aid if you want less hiss and less background noise, and it comes at a price that's not very high either, so you can safely add it to your listening setup.



I hope my review is helpful to you!

Stay safe and remember to always have fun while listening to music!



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WitzyZed
WitzyZed
@Dobrescu George Been using it the past couple of days. Right out of the gate I'll say the hiss is totally rectified. X5iii's BO had output impedance of 3 ohms, iEMatch's 'high' setting brings that down only slightly to 2.5 ohms. And yet it seems to have done the trick!
WitzyZed
WitzyZed
@Dobrescu George Without it in the chain, I can clearly tell when my headphone cable is plugged into the player or not. With it in the chain, I cannot tell the difference between headphone cable being plugged in or not. That being the test, it succeeds!
Dobrescu George
Dobrescu George
@WitzyZed I'm really happy it works well for you, and I'm really happy it solved the issue for you!!

narco dacunzolo

New Head-Fier
Pros: makes a great job with hiss ussues and impedance dismatches
Cons: none
ifiuzzzo1.jpg

After the review of their IEMatch 2.5, i am quite happy to test both Ifi EARBUDDY and the standard IEMATCH.

My review of IEMatch 2.5: https://simplyaudiophile.wordpress.com/2018/04/26/review-ifi-iematch-2-5-hiss-no-problem/

So, what does these small dongles can do?
In the first part of this review I will show what iFi claims about their products, in the second part you can find my personal experience with many sensitive IEMs and different players/amp.
The iEMatch® solves the bane of headphone listening by removing hiss and improving dynamics. As most IEMs and headphones are too loud at even half the volume level, listening enjoyment is always curtailed. No more with the iEMatch® in the signal path.
Use the iEMatch® when the headphones/in-ear monitor (IEM) is either too loud and/or there is excessive hiss from the music source. From Smartphones to airplane in-flight entertainment systems, powerful headphone amplifiers, the iEMatch® improves musical enjoyment by:

1. Background noise – significantly reduced
2. Dynamic range – more open, transparent
3. Volume control – increased usable range

Technical example:
If a source has (say) 114dB dynamic range and the Headphone is 30dB too loud, once the volume has been turned down 30dB the dynamic range is reduced to 84dB, or below CD quality, from what is an excellent result for a high-solution source.

With Headphones, especially those that significantly reduce background noise (IEM, noise-reducing etc) excessive levels of electronic background noise quickly become annoying, so noise should always be kept as low as possible.
It literally defeats the object of building a system around an expensive high-resolution headphone amplifier when the volume must be backed off so much that the resulting background noise is so high, quality is reduced to below CD or MP3 audio quality.
By using iEMatch® one can reclaim 12 or 24dB lost dynamic range; as needed to get the most enjoyment from the source; from modern high-resolution recordings down to MP3, the difference is there to be heard.

This unit was sent me as a sample , I am not affiliated with the company and all observations and opinions will be only my own. Would like to thanks iFi team for sending me these units giving me the opportunity to test these simple and effective dongles.
The Earbuddy and IEmatch aims to do the same thing, but the IEMatch not only shows a more premium build quality, but will give you the opportunity to choose between Ultra (-24dB) & High-Gain (-12dB) sensitivity adjustment.

OFFICIAL SITE : https://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/accessory-iematch2-5/

FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/iFiAudio/

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PACKAGING: more or less both earbuddy and IEMatch has the same packaging and same accessories, so will refer to only the IEMatch one.
The IEMatch comes in a simple, but quite elegant box. With the dongle you will find a velvet pouch and memory-foam contoured ear plugs (-37dB)(that you can use when travelling or in noisy environments).

Build quality is very good, obviously is not one of the most elegant products, but for this price range makes its job. iFi used a Al-Mg alloy casing for the body and a 6N silver/copper matrix wiring for the cable; with a Gold plated 2.5mm Balanced Connection. Like the standard IEMatch, you can switch between high and ultra sensitivity( I always used only high sensitivity with all my custom and universal IEMs, but ultra mode can be quite helpful with sensitive monster like Campfire Andromeda).
Switching between high and ultra mode depends by your iems and sources too, cause ultra mode will oblige to push the volume up and this thing can cause clipping issues.
<img src="https://simplyaudiophile.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/ifiuzzo-3.jpg" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1482" height="640" alt="ifiuzzo 3" width="960">

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE:

I have tested the iEMatch with my custom INEARZ EUPHORIA both in standard and ADEL configuration, Aroma Audio Yao,Twins, HEIR AUDIO 10.0, Stereo Pravda SB7, Inear SD5, Fiio ex1, Dunu C-Falcon, . For the sources, I have plugged the iEMatch into Opus1s, Astell and kern kann, fiio m7, aune x1 Desktop DAC/AMP.

Stereo Pravda SB7+ Ifi IEMatch/EARbuddy + Aune x1s: this pairing shows how a 2500usd IEM can improve its performance with this small dongle. Aune X1 is a Desktop DAC/AMP with high output impedance, using the IEMatch improves not only some hiss issues, but recover the full dynamic range and the impedance dismatch between the high impedance output of the Aune(10 ohm) and the high sensitivity of this IEM.

INEARZ EUPHORIA custom+ Ifi IEMatch/EARbuddy+ Opus 1s: EUPHORIA doesn’t suffer too much of hiss problems, but I found Opus 1s in high gain can produce some hiss issues. Thanks to the IEMatch I can listen to high volume without loosing the full dynamic range.

ifiuzzo 2.jpg

Fiio F5 + IEMatch + astellkern KANN: kann doesn’t have too much noise in high gain, but the F5 has good amount of hiss. I found F5, IEMatch and akKANN one of the best pairing for this iem giving me the chance to experience great dynamic and never fatiguing experience.

Dunu C-Falcon + Ifi IEMatch/EARbuddy: C-Falcon is a great IEM for its price range, but like Fiio F5 can suffer of hiss problems. With these dongles, you can easaly raise the volume without increase hisses.


CONCLUSION: as for the IEMatch 2.5 there is no cons( maybe a bit the price), it just works great and keeps promises, so If you have any hiss problems with your high sensitive custom or premium IEMs, just give a try to this dongle and will surely not regret.
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Grimbles

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Small, cheap, helpful little gadget
Cons: Nothing of note
Quick Read Conclusion

The iFi Audio iEMatch (the "iEMatch") is a handy little device which helps to eliminate hiss and hum for sensitive earphones (and is particularly focussed on IEMs, hence the name). It does the job well, at a reasonable price, and has the added benefit (in 3.5mm form) of being suitable for both SE and balanced cabling. If you are plagued by hiss and buzz from your sensitive IEMs, or want to use IEMs with kit which is normally a bit too noisy (like a valve amp) an iEMatch may well be worth a look at, especially given its reasonable price point.

Introductions and General Bumf

Test Kit: I have tested the iEMatch with Shure SE215, SE425, Ultimate Ears UE900s and Campfire Audio Polaris IEMS. I didn't bother using it with my proper cans (KEF M500 and Sennheiser HD600) as I've never heard hiss or buzz on them. In terms of source components, I have plugged the iEMatch into a Samsung Galaxy Note 8, S8, Schiit Vali 2, Pioneer XDP-30r, an iFi Audio Nano iDSD Black Label a random aeroplane and a low quality dell computer monitor speaker.

in pio 2.5.jpg in pio 425.jpg in pio polaris.jpg in pio ue900.jpg in s8 nice.jpg in s82.jpg

The switches on the 3.5mm unit let you choose between balanced and se modes, and high and ultra sensitivity. The 2.5mm unit is fixed in balanced mode so only has 1 switch.

Me as a listener: I am not a pro by any stretch of the imagination. I have always enjoyed my music, and my tastes are pretty broad. I go to live music ranging from rock and pop concerts to orchestra and opera. I would not describe myself as having a trained ear, but I am attentive and my ears are in pretty good nick for a 34 year old.

Affiliations

For the avoidance of doubt, this review is my honest personal opinion, I am not affiliated with iFi Audio, and have received no inducement from iFi Audio (or anyone else) to write this review. I was sent the iEMatch (both 3.5mm and 2.5mm versions) by iFi in exchange for my honest review. Once I am done with them, I will be sending them back to iFi. I would like to thank Karina and the team for giving me the opportunity to review some more of their products.

What and Why?

You know that feeling when you have an awesome pair of £2,500 IEMs but their ultra-sensitivity creates annoying buzz and hums? Me neither! But this is a truly first world problem which iFi are trying to solve with their iEMatch.

You will have seen from my kit list above that I don't own any IEMs which fit into the ultra-sensitive bracket, but I still found quite a few uses for what turned out to be a handy little piece of kit!

Unboxing


Unboxing of the iEMatch is a lovely experience with a quality feel. The boxes for the 2.5mm and 3.5mm versions are (almost) identical, with the exteriors noting the differences between the two. The only specific difference is that the 2.5mm unit does not contain the airplane adaptor. Not sure if this is just because these are testers but will update once I have heard from iFi. In the box, you get the iEMatch, warranty card and paperwork, (in the 3.5mm box) an aeroplane adaptor, a pair of earplugs (see below) and a crushed velvet type bag to hold it all in.

UB1.jpg UB2.jpg ub3.jpg ub4.jpg ub5.jpg ub6.jpg UB7.jpg

A noisy amp? Problem solved.

I have a Schiit Vali 2 in my home rig, a lovely amp, which I use predominantly to drive my HD600s. Every now and then, it I useful to be able to listen to IEMs on this set up, but I rarely do, because (even on the low gain setting) there is a very audible buzz at low music volumes. The iEMatch completely resolves almost all buzz, even on high gain, including on my CA Polaris (which is, to my ear, the most sensitive of my IEMs and certainly reproduces the Vali 2 buzz the loudest). You can still (just about) hear the buzz at high gain with the volume cranked up, but this would be so loud it would probably explode the IEMs!

in vali.jpg

Only got a line out/overly powerful output? Problem solved.

I also have a monitor speaker at work which has a pretty loud electrical buzz on it (so bad that it makes the headphone port on that speaker completely unusable to anybody who cares about what they are hearing) and also has such a bad volume control that it either pumps out dangerously high volume or nothing at all! The iEMatch both cuts the electrical noise out below my hearing level, and enables the volume to be turned up, making the speaker jack usable.

Just for laughs, I also plugged the iEMatch into the line out from my Nano BL, and the result was a listenable volume.

in nano LO.jpg

Want to use good IEMs on an aeroplane? Problem solved.

On a recent flight, I plugged the iEMatch into the aeroplane's inflight entertainment system (which is often a big mistake due to high volumes and electrical noise). The iEMatch performed admirably, eliminating the unpleasant noise and emitting sensible volumes direct into my UE900s.

Got a child who cranks up the volume? Problem solved.

My 3 year old cannot watch anything on the iPad without the volume at max. No matter how many times she is told to turn it down, you look back a moment later and she has cranked it up! I worry about her ears… but the iEMatch deals with this quite well – insert it between the iPad and her headphones, and the volume is much more limited meaning max volume is no longer too loud!

Mook.jpg

Need good, comfortable earplugs? Problem solved.

I just want to mention how good the earplugs which the iEMatch ships with are. Their ergonomic shape, and firm foam mean that I have worn them for hours with absolutely zero ear fatigue. In an open plan office environment, I have also found their bright colour helpful, as people can see I not just being rude! These are the best set of foam earplugs I have ever used, and I will be buying more.

EP1.jpg EP2.jpg

And the sound?

This is a tough bit. Honestly, I can say I have found the sound transparent. That is, other than reducing volume and hiss, I don’t find that the iEMatch materially alters against the source. I even tried plugging into the Nano BL's normal headphone output and 1-2ing against the Nano BL's built in iEMatch, with no discernible difference to my ears.

When I first reviewed the Nano BL, I said "If I'm being very picky, I would say that the IE Match port sounds ever so slightly veiled compared to direct, particularly in the mids with guitars. But it's slight, barely noticeable, and wouldn’t stop me from using it for IEMs."

I stand by this in respect of the standalone iEMatch. If I am being ultra-picky, there is a very slight veil but I can only notice it on a track I really know very well, and am used to listening to good recordings of, on good sources. Otherwise I simply can't hear a material difference, other than a lowering of volume.

Conclusion

I found the iEMatch to be a really useful gadget, especially in 3.5mm form (switchability from SE to balanced mode means I would recommend buying one of these and a 3.5mm->2.5mm adaptor rather than both the 3.5mm and 2.5mm versions, and also the 3.5mm version comes with an airplane adaptor where the 2.5mm version does not). If you need to eliminate hiss or buzz (whether or not using ultra-sensitive IEMs) from an audio source, or you want to reduce the volume from an overpowered output, the iEMatch is a wonderful little contraption.

Kervsky

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: It reduces hiss/noise, it reduces output impedance, restores lost dynamics
Cons: Volume loss could be less, can lead to a long chain of adapters


iFi Audio is a company that doesn't need a lot in terms of introduction as they are well known for their various amp solutions and multitude of accessories that aim to help different levels of audiophiles to hear audio nirvana. This relatively new product, the iFi IEMatch was released sometime last year and comes in two flavors. What I have here is the 2.5mm version, which I bought for the purpose of using with my DAP, this has some differences with the 3.5mm version and I'll discuss it along the review. On the box, it promises lower noise and increased dynamics and is considered a headphone audio optimiser (yes, it's spelled that way, see below) but does it?



The package is one small cardboard box sealed in vacuum plastic.



With lots of information on the back about what it does and what's it's made of.

Specifications:
Ultra (-24dB) & High-Gain (-12dB) sensitivity adjustment
6N silver/copper matrix wiring with FINAL6063-T5 aluminium-magnesium alloy shell
Gold-plated printed circuit board with audiophile components (eg MELF resistors)
Gold-plated 2.5mm male/female connectors
Input Impedance: 16 Ohm
Output Impedance: < 2.5 Ohms (High-Sensitivity)
< 1.0 Ohms (Ultra-Sensitivity)
Weight: 12.2g
Total Length : 116mm



Inside is an information leaflet, a black velvety pouch, ear plugs in a cutesy case and the iEMatch itself.



Under the ear plugs you can see a nice little "Thank you!" sticker, that is if you actually took it out or have x-ray vision.



The pouch when un-rolled is big enough to hold your iem, cable and the iEMatch in one go. It's not the most luxurious of pouches but it has a nice soft feel to it.

Now if you notice, the 2.5mm male plug has that black oblong covered space which one could mistake for an aesthetic touch. It is actually a vestige of the 3.5mm version, it is where the switch for single and balanced output was placed. So aside from that and the actual plug types used, everything else is the same as the 3.5mm version including the aircraft aluminum body and all the high end pretty cables it comes with.



The whole reason for this add-on to exist of course is it's ability to lower his and output impedance and thereby return the lost dynamics from noise and high impedance devices. In this case scenario, the iEMatch does work, and there are may citations of hiss reduction from devices like the Questyle QP2r and CEntrance Hifi-M8 around the net so I won't bother with that part. What I will focus on is it's ability to reduce output impedance.

There are 2 modes for this:
High: reduces Output Impedaance to less than 2.5Ω (-12db in volume)
Ultra: reduces OI to less than 1Ω (-24db in volume)

As most of you probably know, the Hiby R6 has an output impedance of 10Ω and that causes some frequency responses to shift around, most notably on low impedance Balanced Armature driven IEMs. This I have experience on my Campfire Andromeda (12Ω thereabouts) wherein there was a shift forward in the frequency response with less bass, a bit more forward mids and highs had near sibilance.



Using the iEMatch on the Hiby R6 with the Andromeda on High settings was enough to restore the sound to what I was familiar with, though some may argue it's not enough (citing the x8 OI 'rule' like the ten commandments - ex. high (2.4Ω) x 8 = 19.2Ω is what impedance the head gear 'should' be at for that setting) and that Ultra should be used (ultra (0.9Ω) x 8 = 7.2Ω which is below the impedance of the Andromeda.)

In either switch, the Andro did exhibit more dynamic range than it did without the iEMatch on the R6 and has effectively restored it's original frequency response slash sound signature, which is proof (for me) of the claims it promises.



So why would someone want the iEMatch (both versions) for themselves? If you have ear gear that hiss/gain noise with your source or you have sources with high output impedance (like certain DAPs and Amps) then this is something you would appreciate having for your listening pleasure.

The iEMatch 2.5mm version was bought at 3,060 pesos (or around $60 US) and is more expensive than it's 3.5mm counterpart by a few hundred pesos at the local Egghead Audio store.

Pros: It reduces hiss/noise, it reduces output impedance, restores lost dynamics

Cons: Volume loss could be less, can lead to a long chain of adapters

Nitpick: Volume loss could be less, but I realize that's just part of how it works. Did we really need the ear plugs?

NaiveSound

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: None
Cons: Sound quality takes a hit
Just a garbage product all over., hinders audio quality, it removes hiss from sources when played with sensitive iems/hp. But at a great cost to audio quality, this isn't a solution, it's trash. There are other attenuators but this one at least looks ok. In hifi... Any performance improvement is great, this does thr opposite, I returned it the first day
csglinux
csglinux
I agree with your review. Well, maybe there's one pro - it can reduce/eliminate hiss. But it does so at the expense of changing the FR. I agree the sound quality takes a hit.
psikey
psikey
And I say it either doesn't change sound quality or slightly improves it. Works great with my SE846's especially if connecting to a PC where I could only listen at 4-6 (out of 100!) and seriously risk my hearing if volume too high. With IEMatch on High setting I can comfortably listen now at volume 40-50. Great product.

ExpatinJapan

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Decreases hiss, increases dynamics, solves impedance issues.
Cons: An additional dongle.
Ifi IEMatch Review And Impressions - Expatinjapan

ifi iEMatch review


ifi iEMatch review
-expatinjapan

ifi iEMatch! What does it do? No one seems to know.
Its like some magical unicorn that lurks about on Groundhog day spreading glitter upon the Earth.
so lets find out.

The ifi website explains it quite thoroughly though:
http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/accessory-iematch/

`The iEMatch® solves the bane of headphone listening by removing hiss and improving dynamics. As most IEMs and headphones are too loud at even half the volume level, listening enjoyment is always curtailed. No more with the iEMatch® in the signal path.
Use the iEMatch® when the headphones/in-ear monitor (IEM) is either too loud and/or there is excessive hiss from the music source. From Smartphones to airplane in-flight entertainment systems, powerful headphone amplifiers, the iEMatch® improves musical enjoyment by:
1. Background noise – significantly reduced
2. Dynamic range – more open, transparent
3. Volume control – increased usable range
The solution? Add the iEMatch® in-between the headphone and the amplifier. Set to high or ultra-sensitivity, sit back and enjoy the music.`



At times due to the over use of ifi website quotes this `review` may read more like a promotion piece.
My apologies, the source material explained much more concisely and clearly the intended use and aim of the iEMatch device.



Specifications:

Ultra (-24dB)& High-Gain(-12dB) sensitivity adjustment
TRRS-Balanced® for Single-Ended and Balanced operation
6N silver/copper matrix wiring with FINAL 6063-T5 aluminium-magnesium alloy shell
Gold-plated printed circuit board with audiophile components (eg MELF resistors)
Gold-plated 3.5mm male/female connectors
Input Impedance: > 16 Ohm
Output Impedance: < 2.5 Ohms (High-Sensitivity) < 1 Ohms (Ultra-Sensitivity)
Compatible Headphone impedance: 16 Ohm to 600 Ohm rated impedance
12.5 Ohm minimum impedance
Weight: 12.2g
Total Length : 116mm
Whats in the box?












Quote: `The iEMatch® is packed using premium components from 6063-TS aluminium –magnesium alloy through to the signal transfer cable which is a 6N silver copper matrix.`



Quote: `Included in the iEMatch® packaging are; a velvet pouch, gold-plated airplane adapter and memory-foam contoured ear plugs (-37dB) for peace and quiet when traveling.`



Balanced or Single-Ended for 3.5mm

Explanation via the ifi website:
`AMR/iFi would like to use the iEMatch® to introduce its proposed new industry standard for single-ended or balanced operation. The 3.5 TRRS-Balanced headphone jack.
There is only ONE option that makes sense, in a commonsensical context. The 3.5mm TRRS Jack is widely adopted in Smartphones and connectors, both plugs and sockets are easily available. Having 4 connections (like the 4-pin XLR), it is ideal for balanced headphones.
Headphones may be fitted with TRRS Jack and a switch to alternate between unbalanced mode (even with microphone) for direct connection to a Smartphone and to balanced mode for use with suitably-equipped DAP/DAC/Headphone Amplifiers.
The ‘TRRS-Balanced®’ system by iFi provides a way to select the TRRS plug to offer either a balanced connection or a single-ended one.
The iEMatch® uses 3.5mm TRRS connections on both ends and is fully-balanced, so it takes full advantage of the balanced wiring in suitably-equipped headphones.
If the attached headphone is single-ended without microphone, iEMatch® is automatically converted to unbalanced operation. For any unbalanced source with a microphone connection or any unbalanced headphone with a microphone, simply switch the TRRS-Balanced® selector to ‘SE’ and convert iEMatch® to unbalanced operation.`



Sensitivity can be set to High sensitivity (2.5 Ohms) or Ultra sensitivity (1Ohms) output impedance.
High or Ultra Sensitivity
Explanation via the ifi website:
`When listening to music, ‘better dynamics’ is preferable. Or more precisely, a wider ‘Dynamic Range*’ to allow the full openness of a recording; from the upper treble of a cymbal to the deepest bass rumble of a kettle drum to shine through.
*Defined as the difference between the maximum usable sound level and background noise level. Usually, a higher ‘dynamic range is better’ as there is more music to enjoy and less noise to annoy.
Having very sensitive (very loud) headphones means both the self-noise of the source AND the sound level is boosted. This is far from desirable. And to add insult to injury, the sound volume must be reduced to get comfortable listening levels. What is left is more noise and less dynamic range!
Technical example:
If a source has (say) 114dB dynamic range and the Headphone is 30dB too loud, once the volume has been turned down 30dB the dynamic range is reduced to 84dB, or below CD quality, from what is an excellent result for a high-solution source.
With Headphones, especially those that significantly reduce background noise (IEM, noise-reducing etc) excessive levels of electronic background noise quickly become annoying, so noise should always be kept as low as possible.
It literally defeats the object of building a system around an expensive high-resolution headphone amplifier when the volume must be backed off so much that the resulting background noise is so high, quality is reduced to below CD or MP3 audio quality.



By using iEMatch® one can reclaim 12 or 24dB lost dynamic range; as needed to get the most enjoyment from the source; from modern high-resolution recordings down to MP3, the difference is there to be heard.`



Does it work?
It most certainly does. I tried it with a number of earphones that I have that are more sensitive than others.
Although I am not a hiss master like my friend Nathan of Ohm Image, I can still pick up on it.
The Andromeda some find have a bit of hiss at times which often seems largely source dependent.
I decided as my main experiment I was going to use the CEntrance Hifi-M8 which was originally designed as an all rounder but packed the power for even full sized headphones (CEntrance later released the Mini-M8 which was more designed to cater to IEM users).



The CEntrance Hifi-M8 later added an option to have the gain lowered to meet the needs of IEM users. I was able to do this with my ipod touch and Flacplayer app which has a gain option, although at the time I had mainly headphones and DD earphones.




I demoed several earphones and choose the CEntrance Hifi-M8 as it can be tricky with some IEMs that are of the balanced armature type.
Most Daps these days have a lower floor noise. I did do some brief testing with the iBasso DX200, Opus#3, Hifiman MegaMini and Opus#2. And although the iEMatch performed successfully as expected, it wasnt as needed on these particular daps as much as some other devices would.
I tested with a range of earphones: Campfire Audio Andromeda, Nova, Jupiter, Dorado, advanced AcousticWerkes W300U, Jomo 6R and Jomo PLB, iBasso IT03.
I used a variety of cables, stock and after market of the single ended 3.5mm kind.
As already noted the iEMatch performed as promised, reducing hiss, improved the possible overall dynamics in some cases and gave more space on the volume pot.



Value
The ifi iEMatch retails at around US$49. Which is a nice price I think for this device.
definitely affordable.
It certainly comes in handy when using devices that have a higher output impedance which rips the intended sonic signature of multi driver BA IEMs to bits, and often causes an accompanying hiss.
Also it does what it states:
`The iEMatch® solves the bane of headphone listening by removing hiss and improving dynamics`
Its an elegant solution to a common problem, and at an affordable price.



Overall
The iEMatch although seemingly a simple device simply solves many possible issues that a listener made face in an easy and (once again) simple matter, although the device itself is not mere simple piece of design and manufacturing.
This `review` quotes a lot from ifi website and at times reads like a unpaid promotion of the device. This is merely that it was the easiest way to communicate to you the reader what this device is, what is does and how it works.
And does it work as intended? yes, a simple and elegant solution for many problems that plagues the usual audiophile, especially the ones who have portable rigs and sensitive in ears.



Thank you to ifi for sending Head pie the ifi iEMatch for review
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MikePortnoy

Reviewer at The Headphone List
Pros: Eliminates hiss, no significant change in sound
Cons: Switches could be stronger
Introduction:
 
The IFI is a co-brand of AMR Audio that is known by its famous audio gears such as DP-777. They produce many different audio components: digital audio converters, amplifications, speakers, cables, and active noise cancelation units. The IFI provides four main product lines: Nano, Micro, Retro and Pro. In the Nano Line, there are smaller units compared to the Micro Line. In the Pro Line, they offer Pro iCAN tube amplifier and there are stereo components in the Retro Line. IPurifier2, Gemini and Mercury cables that are included to this review can be seen in the accessories and power sections in the IFI website. 
 
The IFI provides a large product range most of which are multi-functional with multiple outputs and inputs. It is highly possible to find beneficial and cheap solutions to close the gaps of the portable systems. As we all know, a system is no stronger than its weakest part. 
 
1.jpg
 
IFI IEMatch:
 
IEMatch is one of the IFI’s newest units. According to the company, it removes hiss and provides a more dynamic presentation. 
 
It offers a balanced plug that allows using it on sources that have balanced outputs. In addition, there is a switch on the plug for a range of output style from single ended to balanced. 
 
On the male part of IEMatch, there is a 3.5 input and a sensitivity switch. When IEMatch is plugged to the source, earphones may need more driving power due tothe extra resistance created by IEMatch. On the ultra mode that is suitable for very high sensitive earphones, some smartphones may not reach enough loudness and driving power due to too increased ohm value. On the other hand, that wouldn't be problem for sources that are already very powerful such as desktop amps. 
 
2.jpg
 
The plug and the male part of IEMatch have an aluminum body, but the switches might be a little stronger. According to the website, IFI utilizes silver-copper conductors for a better sound transmission. 
 
In the package, there are a soft carrying case, an airplane adapter, and earplugs. In this regard, IFI offers rich accessories for those who frequently travel via airplane. 
 
3.jpg
 
 
I tested IFI IEMatch on Chord Hugo, Lotoo Paw Gold, and IPhone 6. The tests maintain similar results; IEMatch relatively eliminates hiss arising out of the source with a slight change in the sound. 
 
Some results from different custom monitors:
 
Please note that the differences are not significant.
 
4.jpg
 
Westone ES60: The space around instruments becomes cleaner by a small margin. 
 
HUM Pristine: The midrange becomes a little laid-back. 
 
Noble Audio Katana: The mid-bass now has more control. 
 
AAW W500 AHMorph: The high frequency becomes smoother and sub-bass is slightly tighter. The space around instruments becomes cleaner. 
 
 
Final Words:
 
IFI IEMatch is a nice travel accessory that can be purchased for $49. It is easy to use and can be considered as a daily unit. Although it increases the resistance by a significant value, it eliminates hiss considerably. Please check the IFI website for more information about IEMatch.    
Pros: Eliminates the need to own several impedance adapters, Runs inline with sources and earphones, Incredibly smart design, Easy to use
Cons: No adapter for 2.5 mm balanced TRRS
As the rabbit hole of summit-fi in-ear monitors gets deeper and deeper, I find myself encountering the same issues over and over. Most of the high end multiple armature driver in-ear monitors in today’s market are incredibly sensitive. What happens as a result is many of these earphones have a background hiss or will pick up digital noise. It can get really annoying, especially when trying to use an earphone of this type (or any other sensitive earphone for that matter) with our favorite portable sources like DAPs, and portable DAC/Amplifiers. If we are going to shell out large amounts of cash on a high end earphone, we don’t want to be burdened by background noise, right?​
 ​
One of the ways to address this is with impedance adapters. Different adapters are currently sold in various impedances. Although it does help (and basically does what I’m about to cover in this review) there are drawbacks to this. First and foremost, when dealing with different impedances, the sound of our favorite in-ear monitors can change with the impedance adapter used. Second, different impedance adapters can not only impact the sound differently, it ends up being a specialized case for many of our earphone and source matchups. This means that people with several sources and earphones need to own and use several different impedance adapters.​
 ​
20161015_103203_HDR.jpg
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20161015_103212.jpg

I personally lean towards simplicity in my audio chain. I see some of the rigs on Head-Fi and shake my head at some of the portable set-ups I see. In my opinion, if you need a wheelbarrow or backpack for your portable rig I don’t consider it portable.The less stuff you have to stuff in my pocket the better. That includes impedance adapters. The folks at iFi have recognized the issue and brought to market a device that makes a lot of sense. Introducing the iEMatch from iFi.​
20161015_103307.jpg
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20161015_103258.jpg

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20161015_103355.jpg
The package contains a velvet carrying case that is big enough to hold your iEMatch, the included airline jack and earplugs, and possibly a pair or two of in-ear monitors (not included).​
 ​
The iEMatch is not some revolutionary technological advancement, but I find it to be a great companion for earphone enthusiasts like myself. It’s an inline chain that eliminates the need to use various impedance adapters.​
 ​
Have a sensitive pair of earphones that picks up background noise from whatever source you want to use them with? Its as easy as plugging the device into your source’s jack and using it as a bridge from the source to your earphone, then using the switches to dial in the type of source you’re using, and resistance needed to use your earphone without signal noise.​
 ​
20161015_103459_HDR.jpg
iEMatch has two switches. The first one is to adjust from High sensitivity to Ultra sensitivity (pretty self explanatory). I’m happy to say that the iEMatch was able to address issues with EVERY pair of in-ear monitor and portable source I used. With the iEMatch, picking out a source and earphone has become a much easier task. I can grab what I want to use for the day and go. As long as I have the iEMatch, the issues of background hiss and EMI are eliminated. Just for the record, the ieMatch also works with most desktop rigs as well. Most importantly, the iEMatch didn't significantly alter the sound like some impracticly applied impedance adapters do. With the flip of a switch I can dial it in and find the right setting to eliminate signal noise without significantly altering the sound of my sensitive earphones.​
 ​
20161015_103507.jpg
The other switch is to switch the jack (that plugs into the source) from 3.5mm balanced TRRS to standard 3.5 mm TRS. That’s right, you can use your earphone with a 3.5 mm balanced source. While I find this to be a nice touch, I wish iFi would have figured out a way to also use the device with a 2.5 mm balanced jack as well. As it stands, a majority of sources in today’s market uses 2.5 mm balanced TRRS as opposed to the 3.5 mm TRRS application.​
 ​
The iEMatch can be purchased on Amazon market for $49 USD. While it does come in at a higher price than a few impedance adapters, this is a convenient product that will be a must have for those of us who have several in-ear monitors. I have already mentioned this device in several reviews. It addresses one of the main gripes people have for sensitive earphones. Many TOTL earphone manufacturers are already including them with the sale of their low impedance earphones. Here is a link for more information and purchase:​
 ​
 ​
Thanks for reading and happy listening!​
20161206_164041.jpg
Fiio X7, AM3 Amplifier Module, iFi iEMatch, Noble K10E Encore Universal

Hisoundfi
Hisoundfi
Hey Baybars, the V10 recognizes the ieMatch as a "normal" impedance device. Even with high impedance earphones linked in the audio chain the V10 recognizes the ieMatch as low normal aka low impedance.
avitron142
avitron142
I noticed you made a distinction between this and "regular" impedance adapters. Is there a different technology used, to show that it doesn't alter BA drivers like impedance adapters do, or is it just your ear?
Hisoundfi
Hisoundfi
It changes the impedance, so there is minor differences in sound with multi-armature earphones, just like an impedance adapter. The difference is that it isn't as significant because there are options to change the impedance with the switch on the ieMatch. You can dial it in easier than owning and swapping out a different adapter
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