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Our Take
Maybe it's magic or maybe it's just technology, but however it works, the iEMatch does a great job of removing hiss and balancing sensitive IEMs without degrading the original signal quality. |
The iEMatch Micro Headphone Matcher from iFi-Audio is for removing hiss and improving dynamics in the audio when listening with headphones. The micro headphone-matcher can be used to reduce background noise, improve dynamic range, and increase the usable volume-control range with headphones or IEMs because they are either too loud, or there is excessive hiss from the music source.
Add the iEMatch in-between the headphones and the amplifier, set the controls to either high- or ultra-sensitivity, and sit back to enjoy the music. It is built tough using premium components. Each gold-plated jack is fully balanced. A velvet pouch, a gold-plated airplane adapter, and memory foam contoured ear plugs (-37 dB) are also included.
Dynamics, or more precisely the 'Dynamic Range' is the difference between maximum usable sound level and background noise level. Having very sensitive (very loud) headphones means both the self-noise of the source and the sound level is boosted. When the sound volume must be reduced to get comfortable listening levels, what remains is more noise and a reduced dynamic range
The iEMatch uses 4.4mm Pentacon connections on both ends and is fully-balanced, so it takes full advantage of the balanced wiring for any suitably equipped headphones
The iEMatch is packed with premium components from the 6063-TS aluminum-magnesium alloy through to the signal transfer cable, which is a 6N silver copper matrix. The whole is even better than the sum of these parts – it just makes for the most transparent, enjoyment of music
The iEMatch comes with a velvet pouch, a gold-plated airplane adapter, and memory-foam contoured ear plugs (-37 dB) for peace and quiet when traveling.
| Ultra (-24dB)& High-Gain(-12dB) sensitivity adjustment | |
| TRRS-Balanced® for Single-Ended and Balanced operation | |
| 6N silver/copper matrix wiring with FINAL 6063-T5 aluminium-magnesium alloy shell | |
| Gold-plated printed circuit board with audiophile components (eg MELF resistors) | |
| Gold-plated 4.4mm male/female connectors | |
| Input Impedance: > 16 Ohm | |
| Output Impedance: < 2.5 Ohms (High-Sensitivity) < 1 Ohms (Ultra-Sensitivity) | |
| Compatible Headphone impedance: 16 Ohm to 600 Ohm rated impedance 12.5 Ohm minimum impedance |
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| Weight: 12.2g | |
| Total Length : 116mm |
This gadget allows me to use my Sennheiser IE 900 IEM with my IFI DIABLO. Good quality IFI product that compliments the Diablo allowing it to IE match.
First off, just want to say Bloom are an excellent store to do business with and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. Absolutely no issue with the purchase process or their service (fantastic as always).
I should have done my due diligence prior to purchasing these. Unlike the 3.5 and 2.5 mm IFI iematch (both of which are balanced), these feature a higher ~ 4 ohm output impedance (compared to less than 0.9 ohms).
Given the sole use of the iematch is for ultra senstive, low impedance IEMs, having a 4 ohm output impedance is an incomprehensible design decision. On my Thieaudio V16, there is notable underdamping with audible degradation in the resulting frequency response.
Great idea, and ifi generally are great, but avoid this 4.4 model and get either the 3.5 or 2.5 ifi options (both balanced too!).
Really indispensable for pairing low resistance iem with the Diablo. Cost is very reasonable.
