So typically a good single ended can sound just as good as balanced, but it really depends. I think balanced makes the most difference for sensitive iems imo. If an amp has balanced, make sure to use it, but if it doesnāt, you donāt really need to worry about it
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A Hip DAC reviewer on Youtube observed that its balanced-out has an audible background hiss with the FiiO FH7 IEM. He surmised that they were too sensitive for the high current balanced output of the Hip.
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I recently learned that this happens with sensitive IEMs when they are connected to a dac/amp. Ifi sells product to prevent this, the EarBuddy and more expensive IEMatch, the latter also comes in a version that allows balanced output. Got the EarBuddy this week and Iām happily hiss-free now.
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āFor those āhissyā IEMs, use the 3.5mm S-Balanced . Enjoy all the benefits of balanced from your single-ended connection.ā
All well and good iFi but you try and buy a cheapish 3.5mm trrs to mmcx or 2 pin?
as ifi xDSD user ā¦
payed for my 3.5 TRRS balanced male to 4 PIN XLR adapter 20 bucks at venture electronics and 40 for the cable version at oidio sound uk
there are some 2.5 TRRS to 3.5 TRRS balanced adapters for under 20
I got once the Massdrop set āMEE AUDIO MMCX BALANCED AUDIO CABLE W/ ADAPTERSā for 80 bucks
here you also get a 45 degree angled 2.5 TRRS female to 3.5 TRRS male adapter and a pentacon version as well
they have the 2 PIN version as well
you can find the same set on Amazon - at least on Amazon Germany
Not sure how much that Drop one went for mate but the MEE cable on UK Amazon retails for Ā£69.99 which is the start of custom prices and 1/2 the price of the DAC lol.
the hole set went for 80 bucks
you donĀ“t have to use a 3.5 TRRS
a 4.4 pentacon third party IEM cable on Linsoul or Drop is about 20-30 bucks
I have maybe a dozen different 2.5 TRRS and some pentacon terminated IEM cables and all work like a charm
mattris was saying that the Hip Dac can cause sensitive iemās to hiss on the 4.4 pentacon so iFi suggests use the 3.5 S-Balanced output so necessitating a purchase of a trrs cable thatās allā¦not too sure whether the power match was used when the hiss was detected?
I can run my FH7ās on my Micro with it set on normal gain with the iem match off without a problem just donāt move the volume knob more than 10 degrees lol but its single ended.
The Youtuber (Gavinās Gadgets) said that the Hip DACās power match feature was not activated when he heard the background hiss on his FiiO FH7 through the 4.4mm balanced out.
Well thatāll be the reason then lolā¦I take it he didnāt try it when he activated the switch?
Just passing on what he said. For more information, have a look through his review video commentsā¦ or ask him yourself.
mattris @15.00 dead fucking silent lol.
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Zeos also said āalmost undetectable noise floorā ā¦ āto his earsā. And he did not use the same IEMs as Gavin.
I have one, the only IEM I tried was the Tin T4, but it was pretty much dead silent in low gain mode.
Iāll post impressions at some point, but I got a lot of stuff yesterday, and listened to it only briefly.
Generally I thought it was good for a portable unit.
Also has enough power to drive my ZMF Eikonās on high gain.
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Oooohhhhh now I really gotta decide between this and the BTR5 and iFi seems to be calling my name with that bass boost button. The first step is admitting you have a problem.
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T2 Pro no problems either. Iāll have my review up some time today
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Iām thinking Iāll just stick with my XD-05 and live without balanced portable. Sadly, I wonāt have the replacement for my TA-10 till Tuesday, but thatās okay.
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I was just watching Zās review on this. I think iFiās decision to recess the data port so much was a good idea. My Topping NX4-DSD (micro USB) has a fairly loose connection for the the data and charge ports. Itās loose enough that if I put it in my pocket and try to move around while listening to music - you know, like you do for a mobile headphone amp - the cable jostles and looses connection with the phone. Potentially, iFiās choice to use a type A connector might be a bit overkill, but I have to admit that the physical strength of connection there appeals to me.
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I actually kinda like the recessed type a, it works well on other ifi devices from others I own
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