[mandrake50]

Headphone sensitivity is fixed. Meaning that the ratio of SPL to power input never changes. At the same volume level you will have to have the same exact power going into the headphone. The volume control position is not relevant. Changing the position for the same SPL does not change the power out.
But if you are running at 10 to 11 o'clock, for me that is pretty ideal. You have enough of the travel to get past any low level channel imbalance and still have plenty of adjustment on the high end available.
If you can't hear any difference, I would suggest that you just pick one and don't worry.

 

[X-Frame]

Headphone sensitivity is fixed. Meaning that the ratio of SPL to power input never changes. At the same volume level you will have to have the same exact power going into the headphone. The volume control position is not relevant. Changing the position for the same SPL does not change the power out.
But if you are running at 10 to 11 o'clock, for me that is pretty ideal. You have enough of the travel to get past any low level channel imbalance and still have plenty of adjustment on the high end available.
If you can't hear any difference, I would suggest that you just pick one and don't worry.

I appreciate the help and explanation, thank you! I don't notice any difference On Eco at 11 o'clock versus Normal at 9 o'clock.

 

[iFi audio]

Just got my iDSD Micro BL! Using with my LCD-2 Classic's I am very surprised how powerful this is. With it on Normal Mode, I can only listen at 9 o'clock. I need to drop it to Eco Mode so that I can get it to about 10-11-ish. Very amazed!

Apologies if this has been asked and answered already in this 557 page thread, but is there any difference in the power going to my headphones if I am on Eco Mode with IEMatch Off (which gets me to 10-11 o'clock) versus going to Normal Mode w/ IEMatch set to High Sensitivity (also gets me to 10-11 o'clock). I am trying to find the combination that would provide the most power yet give me the biggest amount of volume control, if that makes any sense. Thank you!

The usable range should be somewhere between 11 - 15 o'clock for normal listening levels. Please feel free to tinker with your settings to end up somewhere in this range and you're good!

 

[mandrake50]

The usable range should be somewhere between 11 - 15 o'clock for normal listening levels. Please feel free to tinker with your settings to end up somewhere in this range and you're good!

You are the absolute expert here, but does that mean 10 O'clock is not good? I run mine from 9 to 11 quite often, this in ECO mode. No IEM compensation. It all depends on the level of the signal coming out of my PC.
Should I use digital volume control from the PC (Bit loss ?) to drop input down so that I can run the analog control higher?
I am willing to try, I just have not thought the trade off worth it. Your thoughts?

 

[iFi audio]

You are the absolute expert here, but does that mean 10 O'clock is not good? I run mine from 9 to 11 quite often, this in ECO mode.

This should give you a reasonable range of adjustment.

It all depends on the level of the signal coming out of my PC.

Generally speaking, the level should not change much. You need to check if the volume control is set correctly, or better, WASAPI exclusive mode is used for the audio interface (it depends on playback application).

Should I use digital volume control from the PC (Bit loss ?) to drop input down so that I can run the analog control higher?

No, this is not recommended. In your case eco mode is fine, it seems you prefer slightly lower levels.

The LCD-2 is around 110dB/1V (see innerfidelity measurements), so in eco mode with the volume maxed out the loudest peaks will be around 116dB and the average level depending how "loud" the music is mastered, usually between 96dB average and 110dB average, which is indeed quite loud.

With the volume control at 12 o'clock, the loudest peaks would be up to 98dB with average SPL for music somewhere around 78dB to 92dB. At 9-10 o'clock it is even quieter, but that is fine.

You can try combining eco mode with the first level of iEMatch to get a bit more usable volume control range for your personal needs.

 

[mandrake50]

When I use Foobar, I do the setting that you recommend. Even at that, and with ReplayGain, there is significant differences in the sound level. When using several of the different online sources, for instance YouTube, they are all over the place. On some I have to reduce the Windows volume significantly just to keep my BL out of the area where channel imbalance is a problem. With other material I can run the Windows volume wide open and the BL at 11 O' Clock. Anyway, I get what you are saying and thank you for the feedback.

 

[iFi audio]

When I use Foobar, I do the setting that you recommend. Even at that, and with ReplayGain, there is significant differences in the sound level. When using several of the different online sources, for instance YouTube, they are all over the place.

You may want to check your replaygain settings. As a rule, since replaygain operates as digital volume control, we would advise against its use if sound quality is of concern.

Sources like Youtube generally have internally their take replaygain applied, they will likely tend to be "louder" than unprocessed audio. Different sources have different "normalization" reference levels.

A per application use of the volume control in "loud" applications should rain in hot sources to match normal unprocessed audio. As providers like youtube generally use fairly low-grade compressed audio the loss in sound quality is unlikely to be of much concern.

On some I have to reduce the Windows volume significantly just to keep my BL out of the area where channel imbalance is a problem

If you are already in Eco mode, just kick iEMatch into the first level and you should be fine.

 

[thebkt]

I've recently started using iematch for both my Aeons and Clears. I'm guessing normal mode has more current, as it sounds fuller than eco with the Aeons, but leaves little to no volume control. Iematch resolved this and seems to sound fine?

 

[Yethal]

I've recently started using iematch for both my Aeons and Clears. I'm guessing normal mode has more current, as it sounds fuller than eco with the Aeons, but leaves little to no volume control. Iematch resolved this and seems to sound fine?

Either you have bat hearing or I'm going deaf. I also use Clears with iDSD and I listen on Normal mode with volume control between 11 and 12 o'clock.

 

[thebkt]

Either you have bat hearing or I'm going deaf. I also use Clears with iDSD and I listen on Normal mode with volume control between 11 and 12 o'clock.

My hearing's fine. Clears on normal are more than loud enough at 9 o'clock, just above where my BL gets imbalanced. eco + iematch with the clears means I run it around 11-12 o'clock to get nice and loud.

There's definitely other factors at play though. When I'm using my Clears with the BL it's generally as I'm winding down for the night, so the volume's definitely lower than I have it when working or gaming or whatever else earlier in the night.

 

[cardeli22]

My hearing's fine. Clears on normal are more than loud enough at 9 o'clock, just above where my BL gets imbalanced. eco + iematch with the clears means I run it around 11-12 o'clock to get nice and loud.

There's definitely other factors at play though. When I'm using my Clears with the BL it's generally as I'm winding down for the night, so the volume's definitely lower than I have it when working or gaming or whatever else earlier in the night.

How do you like the Clears and the BL pairing? I have the Beyerdynamic dt 1990s and was thinking of the getting the Clears or the MD Elex.

 

[Yethal]

How do you like the Clears and the BL pairing? I have the Beyerdynamic dt 1990s and was thinking of the getting the Clears or the MD Elex.

Using that combo right now. Can't really find any faults there, detail resolution and clarity were just right, the soundstage is rather small (the same as Elear and Utopia) and the overall tonal balance is pretty neutral. They do get better when powered by a beefier (preferably balanced) amp which is why I'm looking for one but iDSD itself drives them easily.

 

[cardeli22]

Using that combo right now. Can't really find any faults there, detail resolution and clarity were just right, the soundstage is rather small (the same as Elear and Utopia) and the overall tonal balance is pretty neutral. They do get better when powered by a beefier (preferably balanced) amp which is why I'm looking for one but iDSD itself drives them easily.

Awesome.

 

[frogmeat69]

Installed the new firmware, seems to work fine with Tidal, but now when playing songs in DSD format on Foobar, if I pause or stop the song, I get a popping type sound, any ideas??? Doesn't do it when playing FLAC, just DSD type files.
Original silver model, btw.

 

[iFi audio]

Installed the new firmware, seems to work fine with Tidal, but now when playing songs in DSD format on Foobar, if I pause or stop the song, I get a popping type sound, any ideas??? Doesn't do it when playing FLAC, just DSD type files.
Original silver model, btw.

It's highly likely that this is software related, namely your DSD settings in Foobar2000.