What the $^&# heck is it?.........iFi iEMatch!
- Thread starter iFi audio
- Start date
Skunkworks? I didnt know Lockheed Martin was part of this.
Just cuz I like your avatar and i have visited your location many times
Careful with that axe eugene! Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
vapman
Member of the Trade: bhobuds.com
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2006
- Posts
- 8,365
- Likes
- 2,446
lol, the 8th already happened.
kamikaziH2Omln
100+ Head-Fier
"The winners will be announced one week or so later."
Put down your pitchforks guys. Should be around the 15th or so.
Put down your pitchforks guys. Should be around the 15th or so.
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2013
- Posts
- 17,533
- Likes
- 13,420
Yes, you are correct.
The competition shop is closed now. We let it run a little longer as you guys were having fun and we like getting a sample of the thought process because believe it or not it does help us look at how we write user manuals etc.
Thanks.
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2013
- Posts
- 17,533
- Likes
- 13,420
We thank you all for your patience and for entering the competition. Before we announce the winners, we should divulge the answers really!
It was thoroughly enjoyable reading the entries as they were a hoot.
1) What is this new product? Where is it used?
iEMatch - it is inserted between the Source and the Headphones/IEMs.
2) What is the first button for – the one on the main barrel (on the left)?
Getting rid of the HISS and excessive LOUDness. From mismatched source amplification and headphones.
3) What is the second button for – the one on the 3.5mm connector (on the right)?
Selection of Single-Ended (TRS) or Balanced (TRRS). This is a connector proposed by iFi audio to make life simpler with SE or Balanced operation on the go. (More on this later).
Why did we develop the iEMatch? The following series of technical notes outlines why we have brought this product to market. We hope you enjoy reading them.
Nearly every High-End Headphones/In-Ear-Monitors(IEM) user has encountered one of the following scenarios.
When the headphones/IEMs are connected to the:
the volume is at the lowest setting but it is still TOO LOUD and between songs there is a LOT of HISS.
This is a mismatch between the Headphones or In-Ear-Monitors and your audio source.
Now one can of course sell the new Headphones or IEMs and buy some that are a better match, except many modern Headphones and IEMs are designed with a very large (around 10 times/20dB) mismatch built-in.
Instead, one can simply add the iEMatch® in line with your IEM’s or Headphones and adjust for the best match with your source.
Background
Let us take some numbers for sound levels.
[td=colspan:2]
Noise/Sound levels
[/td]
# sustained exposure >95dB may result in permanent hearing loss
Due to the risk of hearing damage it is not advisable to exceed 95dB average SPL and around 115dB peak sound levels.
Mismatch
If we use an iPhone set to maximum (appx. 0.8…1V) and a common HiFi system or in-flight entertainment system (appx 8V) and play music with peaks at the digital maximum, how does a small sample of high-end Headphones and IEMs fare (2)?
* at Ultra sensitivity setting
Red (>116dB) is ‘WAY TOO LOUD,’ which means you have a jet taking off or a thunderclap right beside your ears, which is the majority of the headphones sampled fall into.
Amber (113 - 116dB) is borderline.
Green (<= 112dB) is fine.
The loudest headphone (actually an IEM) is a whopping 30dB or eight times as loud as a standard airline headphone. No wonder it will blow one’s head off even at the lowest volume setting on in-flight entertainment.
And with a good headphone amplifier or HiFi system it will produce an unbelievable 155dB, never mind irreversible hearing damage, at those SPL’s tissue in the human ear begins to die off!! (yes, hearing is permanently destroyed).
In addition to irreversible hearing damage, having mismatched headphones/iEMs mean that the annoying background noise (hiss) is significantly amplified and affects the enjoyment of music.
It was thoroughly enjoyable reading the entries as they were a hoot.
The iEMatch
1) What is this new product? Where is it used?
iEMatch - it is inserted between the Source and the Headphones/IEMs.
2) What is the first button for – the one on the main barrel (on the left)?
Getting rid of the HISS and excessive LOUDness. From mismatched source amplification and headphones.
3) What is the second button for – the one on the 3.5mm connector (on the right)?
Selection of Single-Ended (TRS) or Balanced (TRRS). This is a connector proposed by iFi audio to make life simpler with SE or Balanced operation on the go. (More on this later).
Why did we develop the iEMatch? The following series of technical notes outlines why we have brought this product to market. We hope you enjoy reading them.
Too LOUD, too much HISS? (Part 1)
Headphone/IEM mismatched
Nearly every High-End Headphones/In-Ear-Monitors(IEM) user has encountered one of the following scenarios.
When the headphones/IEMs are connected to the:
- inflight entertainment system
- smartphone
- A/V Amp, HiFi System or dedicated headphone amplifier
the volume is at the lowest setting but it is still TOO LOUD and between songs there is a LOT of HISS.
This is a mismatch between the Headphones or In-Ear-Monitors and your audio source.
Now one can of course sell the new Headphones or IEMs and buy some that are a better match, except many modern Headphones and IEMs are designed with a very large (around 10 times/20dB) mismatch built-in.
Instead, one can simply add the iEMatch® in line with your IEM’s or Headphones and adjust for the best match with your source.
How bad a mismatch do I have?
Background
Let us take some numbers for sound levels.
| Jet takeoff (50m) | 140dB |
| Thunderclap | 130dB (Threshold of pain) |
| Auto horn (1m) | 120dB |
| Chainsaw (1m) | 110dB |
| Loud Rock Concert | 105dB |
[/td]
# sustained exposure >95dB may result in permanent hearing loss
Due to the risk of hearing damage it is not advisable to exceed 95dB average SPL and around 115dB peak sound levels.
Mismatch
If we use an iPhone set to maximum (appx. 0.8…1V) and a common HiFi system or in-flight entertainment system (appx 8V) and play music with peaks at the digital maximum, how does a small sample of high-end Headphones and IEMs fare (2)?
* at Ultra sensitivity setting
| Mismatch |
| Acceptable |
| Good Match |
Red (>116dB) is ‘WAY TOO LOUD,’ which means you have a jet taking off or a thunderclap right beside your ears, which is the majority of the headphones sampled fall into.
Amber (113 - 116dB) is borderline.
Green (<= 112dB) is fine.
The loudest headphone (actually an IEM) is a whopping 30dB or eight times as loud as a standard airline headphone. No wonder it will blow one’s head off even at the lowest volume setting on in-flight entertainment.
And with a good headphone amplifier or HiFi system it will produce an unbelievable 155dB, never mind irreversible hearing damage, at those SPL’s tissue in the human ear begins to die off!! (yes, hearing is permanently destroyed).
In addition to irreversible hearing damage, having mismatched headphones/iEMs mean that the annoying background noise (hiss) is significantly amplified and affects the enjoyment of music.
Solution
Most headphones can be matched into the ‘green’ range for comfortable listening using iEMatch® with one of the two settings or at least be brought much closer.
Bansaku
1000+ Head-Fier
Nice, and I was so close to getting all 3 right! Does 2 out of 3 count for anything?
I am even more curious now that I know what the device, the iEMatch, is used for! Typical iFi, leaving us hanging.
Question/thought: Will the iEMatch be beneficial for my 32Ohm headphones on the 2nd gain setting on my iCAN micro SE, so I don't have to switch the settings back to 0 gain after listening to my 300/600Ohm headphones?
Middy
1000+ Head-Fier
Anything good for hearing apart from my wife is a good thing...
Faber65
100+ Head-Fier
I take two flights a week (6 hours altogether) and I know the feeling. The iEMatch is a must for me... 
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2013
- Posts
- 17,533
- Likes
- 13,420
Question/thought: Will the iEMatch be beneficial for my 32Ohm headphones on the 2nd gain setting on my iCAN micro SE, so I don't have to switch the settings back to 0 gain after listening to my 300/600Ohm headphones?
Hi,
Yes, this will work fine. First stage, of 'High-Sensitivity' is the recommended setting. But in due course, when the iEMatch launches at the end of this month, then try for yourself first.
Audio Advisor will be the first dealer to receive these in the USA.
http://www.audioadvisor.com/
Heartsmart
100+ Head-Fier
This is the product I'm being waiting for 
Mojo is a fantastic gadget but for me with my super duper ultra sensitive CIEM the experience has been disturbed by the noise. They are the only transducer I've heard noise out of mojo.
And sometimes nearly ruined my CIEM and ears by not noticed the volume when plugging them in, this will now be over.
Sometimes I have plugged my CIEM to my home rig: iUSB 3.0 > iTube > iDSD micro > iCAN, just to enjoy the fantastic ifi products, but the noise really spoiled the experience.
Of the gear I have in my possession iDSD micro and my iBasso DX90 is silent enough for the CIEM. And for me even if DX90 is a fantastic value it doesn't touch iDSD micro in sound quality and flexibility to tweak the sound as I love to do sometimes. But this new gadget will change the game for me when I'm on the run by making mojo useable with my CIEM.
I hope that ifi as usual sells this thing for a reasonable price. Then I think it could be a game changer and will make gadgets who in the past wasn't able to play together now will be friends
Mojo is a fantastic gadget but for me with my super duper ultra sensitive CIEM the experience has been disturbed by the noise. They are the only transducer I've heard noise out of mojo.
And sometimes nearly ruined my CIEM and ears by not noticed the volume when plugging them in, this will now be over.
Sometimes I have plugged my CIEM to my home rig: iUSB 3.0 > iTube > iDSD micro > iCAN, just to enjoy the fantastic ifi products, but the noise really spoiled the experience.
Of the gear I have in my possession iDSD micro and my iBasso DX90 is silent enough for the CIEM. And for me even if DX90 is a fantastic value it doesn't touch iDSD micro in sound quality and flexibility to tweak the sound as I love to do sometimes. But this new gadget will change the game for me when I'm on the run by making mojo useable with my CIEM.
I hope that ifi as usual sells this thing for a reasonable price. Then I think it could be a game changer and will make gadgets who in the past wasn't able to play together now will be friends
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2013
- Posts
- 17,533
- Likes
- 13,420
We have taken our time to churn through the answers as the some entries were close to the actual feature and our Skin made the final decision of whether or not it constituted a 'correct' guess or not. Okay this is not the Rio 2016 Olympics but you all get the gist.
The first three winners out of the hat are:
1. rafaelpernil
and
2. Duke40
and
3. Joeq70
Drop us a pm or email
press@ifi-audio.com
to inform of who and where you are so that we can send out the iEMatch to you. PLEASE bear in mind the iEMatch will launch at the end of August so there may be a wait between now and then. For sure the winners will be one of the very first in the world to receive them!
Congrats!
The first three winners out of the hat are:
1. rafaelpernil
and
2. Duke40
and
3. Joeq70
Drop us a pm or email
press@ifi-audio.com
to inform of who and where you are so that we can send out the iEMatch to you. PLEASE bear in mind the iEMatch will launch at the end of August so there may be a wait between now and then. For sure the winners will be one of the very first in the world to receive them!
Congrats!
Users who are viewing this thread
