ieMatch adapter dongle (iFi)

Not sure if this has been discussed here before, or if it's crap. A search wasn't possible because the terms are so common

There's a couple versions, the first is 20$ and the second is 50$

The "Ear Buddy" (crap name)
https://ifi-audio.com/products/ear-buddy/



The ieMatch dingus
https://ifi-audio.com/products/iematch/



I'm not sure what the difference aside from the price and ieMatch dingus having 2 different attenuation and output impedance settings, as well as balanced/single needed switch (they sell a separate unit for 2.5mm balanced). But it could open up more DAC/AMP units for iem use. With this dongus, I'm guessing the iFi Hip Dac could be used with iems with this, as the only thing holding it back was the high gain and lack of the Black Label Nano's ieMatch. Though that means it will cost as much as the Black Label Nano. Maybe there are other portable dac/amps that would become iem capable with this.

 

I own the IEMatch back when I had my CA Andro, the CA Solaris, and not too long ago when I had the CA Ara loaner.

IEMatch really makes those IEMs work on any big boy amp for the most part, by adjust the z to your liking. However, I always felt it was taking something away from the sound. When I had the Andro I used it on my tube amps with the IEMatch. Makes it really usable but lost some body and always felt something was kind of off on the sound. I'm not alone to this as others as stated in the past.

I just deal with DD IEMs if I wanna use my big boy amps on them.

 

That's a shame.

Aren't you worried about the 2 bits you're loosing without it????!?!!!!!!!

 

I have the silver one, and it's extremely useful for making a couple of my higher power noisy amps usable with IEMs and efficient headphones. My Bottlehead S.E.X., for example, sounds fantastic with high Z and inefficient cans, but is too noisy at idle to listen to at all with IEMs or really efficient headphones. Since I only use it for situations where not using it isn't a real option, I can't really speak to sound quality being lost. I think you're spot on with the guess at differences between the two products.

I consider it a handy and inexpensive tool to have in the toolbox.

 

I tried to contact iFi about the difference between the two but their super high tech contact form failed to send.

 

There's a comparison chart on the product page here.

https://ifi-audio.com/products/ear-buddy/

Your Google-fu, it is no good!

 

With the IEMatch, my CA Andromedas sound far better in "high sensitivity" (~2.5 ohm OI) mode than in "ultra sensitivity" (~1 ohm OI) mode. If that's your application and you don't need 3.5mm balanced capability, the Ear Buddy will work just as well for less money.

 

I second this, high noticeably better for Andros (OG).

 

Actually it’s my scrolling skills that failed me

Did any of you hear what YMO heard?

 

Yes, many of us did when Andromedas where the hottest thing going here. I used the iematch once or twice and then shelved it.

 

Strange. You’d think it would be the same electronics as used in the black label nano and I’ve seen no complaints about ieMatch in that amp. (But that doesn’t mean they aren’t there I’ve only read so much about it.)

 

Let me see if I can find the one I got. If I can I’ll drop it in the mail to you gratis.

 

Ok cool Jesus people around here are too nice. I’ll report back about it sounding weird. I’m gonna make my fuckin iPod have higher output impedance

 

RD:
I’m wondering if your ieMatch circuitry is the same as implemented in the ieMstch adapter and the ieMatch in the nano iDSD BL.

I also want to encourage you to make a version of the Hip Dac with ieMatch because it’s small size makes it perfect for portable use with iem’s. I think you would sell a lot more of them!

Thank you

iFi:
Yes, it is very similar. Thanks for the suggestion, I will pass it on to our product team.

Thanks.

Daniel
Technical Support

 

Necro-ing this thread because I'm slow on the uptake and have just spotted that the 4.4mm version of the iEMatch has output impedances of ~3.6 Ohms ('Ultra' setting, -24 dB gain) and ~8.4 Ohms ('High' setting, -12 dB gain). The other versions have ~1 and ~2.5 Ohms, respectively.

Here's a representation of what these will do to the frequency response of the OG Campfire Andromeda. The impedance profile is the Tan curve, from @purr1n 's measurement here; the orange, green, blue and purple curves are deviations from the response out of a nominal zero impedance source at output Zs of 2.5, 3.6, 4 (iEMatch jack of iDSD Nano BL) & 8.4 Ohms, respectively.



The SBAF consensus seems to be that the OG Andro's tonal balance is most agreeable from sources with output Zs around 2-2.5 Ohms. Using the 'High' setting on the iEMatch 4.4 would give up to 4 dB more SPL through the upper mids & treble.

I have trouble understanding the reasoning behind this product. IFi says the higher impedances are to enable connected amplifiers to provide more power into balanced loads. But if the main purpose of an iEMatch is to cut gain and therefore hiss in sensitive earphones, surely more power is not what the user would be after. And the 2.5 (also balanced) version has the same (lower) impedances as the 3.5 SE, so...

Anyway - the main thing to take away is that the 4.4 iEMatch has higher output Zs than the 2.5 iEMatch, so if you're considering one for your balanced-output source, be aware that depending on the impedance vs frequency profile of your IEMs, the two choices might produce significantly different sound.

 

I was just wondering if they'd changed anything with the 4.4mm version besides the cabling. So this is MUCH appreciated. Definitely not dumping $70 on the 4.4mm, for me.

 

Yep - better with the 2.5mm version and a 2.5 to 4.4 adapter - Ifi's own, the ddHiFi one for a few $ more, or the Geekria for somewhat less.

 

Small word of caution on the Geekria stuff, I tried one of the 4.4mm to 2.5mm adapters from Amazon and it was wired out of phase. Sent it back; got a second one and it had the same issue. DDHifi quality is a considerable step up beyond just being correctly soldered together...