What the $^&# heck is it?.........iFi iEMatch!

[iFi audio]

By my calculations, the output impedance of the Ear Buddy when connected to my AVR (with its 500 ohm impedance) would be 3.38 ohms. Is this correct? I used the formula 1/Z = 1/Z1 + 1/(Z2 + Z3), where Z is the output impedance of the Ear Buddy attached to my AVR; Z1 and Z2 are the smaller and larger of the two resistors in the Ear Buddy (measured at Audio Science Review to be 3.4 ohms and 15.3 ohms respectively, see here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...asurements-of-ifi-ear-buddy-and-iematch.4707/); and Z3 is my AVR's output impedance at the headphone jack (500 ohms).

The 20% value means taking the source impedance from zero to infinity will cause the output impedance of EarBuddy and iEMatch to vary by less than 20% of the nominal value.

 

[bobbooo]

The 20% value means taking the source impedance from zero to infinity will cause the output impedance of EarBuddy and iEMatch to vary by less than 20% of the nominal value.

Ok thanks

 

[iFi audio]

Ok thanks

You're welcome.

 

[gazzington]

Anybody used one of these with a tera player?

 

[iFi audio]

Anybody used one of these with a tera player?

Shouldn't be a problem.

 

[DjunedAhmed]

i have a small but annoying problem with my amp, which is Aroma A100...it has hiss, but i don't mind with it since i listen at high volume...the problem is a popping sound while connecting it to any iems...is this IEmatch gonna solve that and the hiss ? i don't know if this kinda problem gonna have a long term effect or not since nobody mention it in any reviews, but still it's bothers me...

 

[iFi audio]

i have a small but annoying problem with my amp, which is Aroma A100...it has hiss, but i don't mind with it since i listen at high volume...the problem is a popping sound while connecting it to any iems...is this IEmatch gonna solve that and the hiss ? i don't know if this kinda problem gonna have a long term effect or not since nobody mention it in any reviews, but still it's bothers me...

iEMatch will solve hiss alright, but pops during playback should be sorted elsewhere.

 

[HappyMachine]

Just replaced my old iEMatch due to a weak connection. Took it apart out of curiosity

 

[iFi audio]

Just replaced my old iEMatch due to a weak connection. Took it apart out of curiosity

Looks like ours.

 

[Hentype]

Please, can anyone tell me if the IEMatch for example with the Campfire Andromeda could decrease the overall sound quality? I mean: are there any degradations of the sound quality using the IEMatch?

I don't own them personally but i've seen plenty of reviews / impressions and sales of Andromeda being used with IEmatch. I don't recall mentions of sound degradation of quality just minimizing / eliminating noise. Any owners please correct me if i'm wrong.

 

[HuoYuanJia]

I don't own them personally but i've seen plenty of reviews / impressions and sales of Andromeda being used with IEmatch. I don't recall mentions of sound degradation of quality just minimizing / eliminating noise. Any owners please correct me if i'm wrong.

Potentially this could be an issue. Of course you will lose headroom of the source amp when using the IEmatch. But I'd rather have less headroom than audible noise floor. Just make sure that you don't provoke clipping (strong increase in THD). Most devices have increased distortion levels at higher power outputs too.

Many (like myself) would argue that the Andro's tuning sounds best with 2-3 ohms output impedance and that is exactly the high setting of the IEmatch.

 

[iFi audio]

Many (like myself) would argue that the Andro's tuning sounds best with 2-3 ohms output impedance and that is exactly the high setting of the IEmatch.

Thanks for your feedback. If I may ask, what would you say about these IEMs at output below 1 ohm?

 

[HuoYuanJia]

Thanks for your feedback. If I may ask, what would you say about these IEMs at output below 1 ohm?

I'd say the original Andromeda, matched with a low impedance cable and source, have a very Westone-sound. They showcase a warm, recessed and slightly dull midrange with a soft treble. They're fairly close to something like the W60.

I think a lot of the success of the Andros is based on pairing them with the Sony DAP (forgot the model) which had an increased OI. That helps a lot to increase contrast and dynamics in the midrange to bring out a more realistic and also lively presentation.

Coincidence? The stainless steal limited edition does a better job at maintaining that 2ohms signature of the original, so maybe not. Either way, Campfire do an amazing job at unleashing the full potential of the drivers, so for many listeners the change in frequency might not even be that apparent as other factors of the source equipment also come into play.

Long story short, the IEmatch is a must, especially for Andro users.

 

[bobbooo]

I'd say the original Andromeda, matched with a low impedance cable and source, have a very Westone-sound. They showcase a warm, recessed and slightly dull midrange with a soft treble. They're fairly close to something like the W60.

I think a lot of the success of the Andros is based on pairing them with the Sony DAP (forgot the model) which had an increased OI. That helps a lot to increase contrast and dynamics in the midrange to bring out a more realistic and also lively presentation.

Coincidence? The stainless steal limited edition does a better job at maintaining that 2ohms signature of the original, so maybe not. Either way, Campfire do an amazing job at unleashing the full potential of the drivers, so for many listeners the change in frequency might not even be that apparent as other factors of the source equipment also come into play.

Long story short, the IEmatch is a must, especially for Andro users.

The change in the Andromeda's frequency response with increasing output impedance is characterised exactly in this graph by Reference Audio Analyzer, which seems to match what you described, with a boost in treble and mids.

This big change in frequency response is due to the Andromeda's very low input impedance of 4 ohms in the bass, which increases almost eightfold up to the treble. Headphones with low, varying impedance with frequency like this will have their frequency response markedly changed when used with high output impedance sources, as the system acts as a voltage divider. See here for more details. (Maybe you knew all this, but I thought I'd write it out in case anyone else was wondering.)

 

[phiemon]

I don't own them personally but i've seen plenty of reviews / impressions and sales of Andromeda being used with IEmatch. I don't recall mentions of sound degradation of quality just minimizing / eliminating noise. Any owners please correct me if i'm wrong.

Potentially this could be an issue. Of course you will lose headroom of the source amp when using the IEmatch. But I'd rather have less headroom than audible noise floor. Just make sure that you don't provoke clipping (strong increase in THD). Most devices have increased distortion levels at higher power outputs too.

Many (like myself) would argue that the Andro's tuning sounds best with 2-3 ohms output impedance and that is exactly the high setting of the IEmatch.

That post was very old. In the meanwhile I bought the IEMatch and hey, this thing is really good: it actually improves the sound quality since it "opens" the sound much more than without… it is much clearer.