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Low end. Cheap. Generic. Otherwise bang for buck cable thread!
Apr 25, 2021 at 8:43 PM Post #6,136 of 9,223
Apr 25, 2021 at 10:31 PM Post #6,137 of 9,223
PhoenixSong said:
I actually have had the In Ear Buddy and IEMatch for some time. Never used them much as I thought they affected the sound despite the claims of many that they don't
Click to expand...
I do not use IEMatch often, but I started to appreciate it more for many points.

First, I had an impression similar to yours, but then I realized that the effect on the sound is largely due to the source.
In an ideal world, an ideal source should provide the same instantaneous power, even when a significant part of the power is dissipated by the load.

I never had powerful sources - mine are all portable, but to me the best idea of IEMatch is to be able to use a powerful (actually too powerful for IEMs) source not at its lowest power where signal/noise is high but at its more optimal regime.
In any case, IEMatch is very effective in minimizing the IEM noise/hiss, but when it brings a moderate power source to its upper limits - the distortions can kick in.
 
Apr 25, 2021 at 10:40 PM Post #6,138 of 9,223
PhonoPhi said:
I do not use IEMatch often, but I started to appreciate it more for many points.

First, I had an impression similar to yours, but then I realized that the effect on the sound is largely due to the source.
In an ideal world, an ideal source should provide the same instantaneous power, even when a significant part of the power is dissipated by the load.

I never had powerful sources - mine are all portable, but to me the best idea of IEMatch is to be able to use a powerful (actually too powerful for IEMs) source not at its lowest power where signal/noise is high but at its more optimal regime.
In any case, IEMatch is very effective in minimizing the IEM noise/hiss, but when it brings a moderate power source to its upper limits - the distortions can kick in.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure about this, it has been measured to have the same THD+N ratio with the same power output. It also messes up the frequency response due to the altered impedance. The only advantage I can see is if your device has significant channel imbalance at lower levels on the volume knob
 
Apr 25, 2021 at 10:49 PM Post #6,139 of 9,223
PhoenixSong said:
I'm not sure about this, it has been measured to have the same THD+N ratio with the same power output. It also messes up the frequency response due to the altered impedance. The only advantage I can see is if your device has significant channel imbalance at lower levels on the volume knob
Click to expand...
Please explain to me how can a resistive load (a resistance bridge) mess up the frequency response other than due to the source limitations?

Can you give the reference/link to the measurements - first of all for me to understand what was actually measured and how?
 
Apr 25, 2021 at 10:57 PM Post #6,140 of 9,223
Apr 25, 2021 at 11:18 PM Post #6,143 of 9,223
Hi, just showing my latest batch of cables from XINHS.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001742099286.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.77094c4dT0o2H2
Copper Alloy
Copper Alloy.jpg

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001844000119.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.77094c4dT0o2H2
Copper + SPC (This one is rosary gold in colour!)
mixed.jpg

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001874696470.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.9.1f513d0e7t5byE
Cheap Copper Alloy
Copper Alloy Thin.jpg

Will post my impression later. Cheers!
 
Apr 26, 2021 at 1:05 AM Post #6,144 of 9,223
saldsald said:
Hi, just showing my latest batch of cables from XINHS.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001742099286.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.77094c4dT0o2H2
Copper Alloy


https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001844000119.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.77094c4dT0o2H2
Copper + SPC (This one is rosary gold in colour!)


https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001874696470.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.9.1f513d0e7t5byE
Cheap Copper Alloy


Will post my impression later. Cheers!
Click to expand...
Can't say much about the Copper + SPC yet but it has a vivid treble sound signature, not that impressed so far but will try with other earphones.

For the two Copper Alloy (Copper + Gold, I think), you get what your pay for. :smirk: I bought the cheap alloy as XINHS only sells these two alloy cables. Gotta say I like the 4 core one (the more expensive one, sorry both are 4 cores). Wide stage, good atmosphere, good instrumental separation, good but not harsh treble extension, response to low frequencies well, however just a bit hard and on the heavier side in weight.

The cheap alloy cable isn't bad at all, in fact still quite good. Treble very slightly not as smooth and not much extension. Bass is good enough, stage definitely not as wide as the above cable, also there is less "air" between each instrument.

There are 3 must-buy cables from XINHS so far IMO:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002036919544.html?spm=2114.12010612.8148356.17.5b0d4cbb5YR2mh
(This one also comes in black skin, there are quite a few listings)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001796996285.html?spm=2114.12010612.8148356.35.33d24cbb8MVY5f
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001742099286.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.77094c4dT0o2H2
 
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Apr 26, 2021 at 3:50 AM Post #6,145 of 9,223
PhoenixSong said:
https://www.audiodiscourse.com/2019/06/campfire-andromeda-mini-review.html
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...asurements-of-ifi-ear-buddy-and-iematch.4707/
Click to expand...
Thank you for the links.
Very interesting and good examples.

The second review is nicely competent and to the point (to many excellent points in fact). My experience with IEMatch exactly matches: "...solve a real problem. They reduce the gain so that you are able to use more sensitive headphones with your headphone amplifier and thusly, reduce noise..."

The second parts of the conclusion (and schematics) would help to explain the results of the 1-st reference/link with the different frequency response well.

I do not have Ear Buddy, but then "very low source impedance that may load down amplifiers too much" is so true, 3 Ohm or so.

I looked up ADI- 2 - a great versartile source, indeed. At the same time, its 0.1 Ohm low-impedance mode is spec-ed up to 8 Ohm load, so the 3-Ohm load is just killing it, and Andromeda perfectly serves as a nice sensitive detector of the limitations of a good amp used outside of its specs.

For the relevance to the cables, if "cables matter" to your chain, the best is ideally to look at your source, so it can match your phones properly.
 
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Apr 26, 2021 at 5:04 AM Post #6,149 of 9,223
Tiax said:
Resistance, i wounder it's worth it, or is it better to just buy another TRI Through :)
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TBH, I have a Degree in Physics and I can tell you as long as the cable is not faulty, resistance actually doesn't matter and to determine the true resistance of the cable you actually need an oscilloscope not a multimeter. And, you can tell I am also an experimentalist as I keep buying cables, lol.

I posted my little impression here:
https://www.head-fi.org/goto/post?id=16267961
 
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Apr 26, 2021 at 5:16 AM Post #6,150 of 9,223
saldsald said:
TBH, I have a Degree in Physics and I can tell you as long as the cable is not faulty, resistance actually doesn't matter and to determine the true resistance of the cable you actually need an oscilloscope not a multimeter. And, you can tell I am also an experimentalist as I keep buying cables, lol.

I posted my little impression here:
https://www.head-fi.org/goto/post?id=16267961
Click to expand...
Then I guess they dont affect this at all:
1619428513707.png

https://www.audiodiscourse.com/2019/06/campfire-andromeda-mini-review.html


Cable resistances DO affect iems, mostly BA iems that are more sensitive to it than DD or hybrids.
 
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