fjlabs
100+ Head-Fier
For using my super high power headphone amps (e.g., Burson Conductor 3XR), I'm running an IEMatch for the 1/4" port. For the XLR balanced, I'm running a similar custom circuit (U-Pad) using 12Ω resistors in series and a 1Ω resistor in parallel.
From my understanding, this is effectively the same circuit that's in the iFi IEMatch but simply with different resistor values. Both my custom attenuator and IEMatch work perfectly at lower powers.
Running my Conductor 3XR Single Ended (3.5W Max) at High Gain and volume @ 80, with no headphones plugged in, the IEMatch gets quite hot in 2 minutes of playing a bass-heavy track. Running balanced with 7W Max in the same settings, my custom attenuator gets ridiculously hot too and can't be touched.
My custom XLR attenuator runs on 1W MELF resistors, so definitely under the 7W Max Output, so the heat makes sense. From teardowns, it seems like the IEMatch is running similar ratings. However, I couldn't find the "max power rating" for the iEMatch anywhere.
Anyone know what's the max "safe" power to run through the IEMatch? Similarly, anyone know how to calculate power running through those resistors, assuming I know output VRMS of the amp at a given value?
From my understanding, this is effectively the same circuit that's in the iFi IEMatch but simply with different resistor values. Both my custom attenuator and IEMatch work perfectly at lower powers.
Running my Conductor 3XR Single Ended (3.5W Max) at High Gain and volume @ 80, with no headphones plugged in, the IEMatch gets quite hot in 2 minutes of playing a bass-heavy track. Running balanced with 7W Max in the same settings, my custom attenuator gets ridiculously hot too and can't be touched.
My custom XLR attenuator runs on 1W MELF resistors, so definitely under the 7W Max Output, so the heat makes sense. From teardowns, it seems like the IEMatch is running similar ratings. However, I couldn't find the "max power rating" for the iEMatch anywhere.
Anyone know what's the max "safe" power to run through the IEMatch? Similarly, anyone know how to calculate power running through those resistors, assuming I know output VRMS of the amp at a given value?
