You would use a IEM on that monster? 
Even with IEMatch feature on the 3,5mm output I would no go with a ultra sensitive IEM.
Even with IEMatch feature on the 3,5mm output I would no go with a ultra sensitive IEM.Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org
dpump
Please don't take this the wrong way, but balanced outputs is the major calling card of this amp. And you had no balanced phones to test it with? Of course balanced output should be better but you're left to say it probably is instead of being able to confirm it. I can understand iFi wanting diverse opinions but I would think they would also want a complete test of the amp using both balanced and single ended phones.
thatonenoob
@HiFiChris Definitely looking to doing a couple of loaded measurements in the future.
@dpump no problem - I understand your point. For this review, iFi reached out to me based on my experience previously with the Micro iCAN. It was a good chance to get to know a fairly new piece of kit, and I took them up on it. While I would love to be able to get balanced cans, I am at the end of the day still just an enthusiast with a budget. Trying to maintain a relevant portable and home rig, testing gear, and photography setup (this is a doozy) is quite difficult as it stands, and I simply can't make it to everything sometimes. Cheers, and happy listening.
@dpump no problem - I understand your point. For this review, iFi reached out to me based on my experience previously with the Micro iCAN. It was a good chance to get to know a fairly new piece of kit, and I took them up on it. While I would love to be able to get balanced cans, I am at the end of the day still just an enthusiast with a budget. Trying to maintain a relevant portable and home rig, testing gear, and photography setup (this is a doozy) is quite difficult as it stands, and I simply can't make it to everything sometimes. Cheers, and happy listening.
Taking it one step further would be measuring output impedance and frequency response deviation with multi-driver IEMs as critical load (e.g. the good old Triple.Fi 10 that really needs less than 1 Ohm, or the ATH-IM03).