[iFi audio]

iFi Launch Competition

What the $^&# heck is it?


 





It has been a while since we had a launch competition. As we know you all like iFi competitions, we are hereby hosting another!


 


This time, it is very simple:


 


1) What is this new product? Where is it used?


2) What is the first button for – the one on the main barrel (on the left)?


3) What is the second button for – the one on the 3.5mm connector (on the right)?


 


 


Prizes


10 of the above brand new products to 10 lucky winners


 


And there will be one further mystery prize to the 1^st name out of the hat.


 


 


The rules are simple:

1. Each Head-Fi member is allowed to guess as MANY TIMES as he/she so wishes; each new and correct answer will count as one additional entry
2. The competition closes on 8th August 2016

 


 


Among the staff at iFi and along with ‘Skin’ the head of skunkworks, we shall draw out of a hat, 10 lucky winners


 





 


 


Their decision is final!


 


The winners will be announced one week or so later.


 


Hope you have as much fun with this competition as playing Pokemon Go!


 


Questions? - just ask!


 


 


(Note: This is not open to staff or friends as that is not fair!)

 

[HiFiChris]

A couple of guesses by me...:
 
1) It's a cable/adapter cable. It is used in audio applications (source device -> headphone).
 
2) Switching between Apple and Android remote standard? Crossfeed on/off? Bass boost on/off?
 
3) Switching between balanced and microphone cable use? Switching between balanced and single-ended connection? No impedance/added impedance switch? Crossfeed on/off? Bass boost on/off? Crossfeed intensity? Switching between Apple and Android remote standard?

 

[glassmonkey]

First guess:
 
1. It's a portable headphone amplifier
2. The first switch is a gain setting
3. The second switch turns the mic on or off
 
Edited: I flipped my answers, because I was thinking source to headphone, i.e. direction of current.

 

[bocosb]

I would say:
 
1) What is this new product? Where is it used?:  Amplifier for mobile phones / maybe with included microphone
2) What is the first button for – the one on the main barrel (on the left)?: Gain switch / mic on/off
3) What is the second button for – the one on the 3.5mm connector (on the right)?:  Android/Apple switch

 

[XVortex]

1) looks like a impedance adapter for headphones. Used for connecting low imp headphones to powerful dac/amp.
2) left switch for impedance selection resistors.
3) right for balanced/se mode or answer button mode.

 

[nmatheis]

1. Teensy-weensy AMP

2. Either bass boost or 3D

3. Gain selector

 

[rafaelpernil]

1) It is a power attenuator for iems (Portable iEMatch?)
2) It changes the gain (i.e dBs of attenuation)
3) It lets you choose between balanced and single ended mode.
 
Thanks for the competition and good luck to everyone 

 
Regards,
Rafael

 

[Duke40]

1)     iPurifier to improve or clean analogue output from a mobile device to IEMs/Headphones
2)     On/Off for “3D HolographicSound® system for Headphones"
3)     On/Off for “XBass"

 

[Duke40]

1)     Super duper tiny Amp for IEM’s/Heaphones connected to mobile devices
2)     Balanced/Single Ended switch
3)     High/Low for Gain/Impedance switch

 

[Duke40]

1)     Some sort of Buffer to re-equalise a mobile devices analogue output, placed between mobile device and IEMs/Headphones
2)     Balanced/Single Ended switch
3)     High/Low for Gain/Impedance switch

 

[YAGIZ]

1) BAL to SE, SE to BAL adapter (No astell kern support)
2) impedance switch preferably bass boost?
3) SE&BAL switch

Edit reason: Format

 

[Aegruin]

1) 3.5mm 4-pin Balanced to 3-pin(also 4-pin) adapter. Makes balanced's sound in non-balanced cable and it's an impedance plug.
2) Balanced or non-balanced swith.
3) Tempers with the impedance

 

[tjw321]

1) An adapter to convert any headphone to active noise cancelling.
2) Turning off the NC.
3) I've no idea.
 
Actually, I think someone else already has the correct answer. I just wanted to come up with a different guess...

 

[rafaelpernil]

Second guess:
 
1. Single Ended/Balanced converter.
2. SE/Balanced input
3. SE/Balanced output

 

[HiFiChris]

Following the most common belief of what the product is, I want to follow up with a 2nd post of what it could be:
 
1) A tiny headphone amplifier that is built into this 90° cable adapter. What I just said and/or a cable/device that will also allow for in-line cable remote commands to be passed through.
 
2) Power on/off. Gain selector. Bass boost (xBass) on/off. Crossfeed (3D) on/off.
 
3) Charging on/off. Gain selector. Bass boost (xBass) on/off. Crossfeed (3D) on/off. Selector between CTIA and OMTP pin layout (Apple/Android).