Features
| Warranty length | 2 Years |
|---|---|
| Brand | HiFi Man |
Tech Specs
- THD+N (Line out) : Between 0.002% and 0.004%
- Channel Separation : 125+/-3dB
- Signal to Noise Ratio : 118+/-3dB (A Weighted)
- Maximum Power Output : 4.4 W per channel
- Dimensions : 246.5mm(L)×228mm(W)×61mm(H)
- Weight : 3.08kg
Product Description
HiFi Man EF400 headphone amplifier and DAC is a well-designed but great-value headphone amplifier with a lot of finesse and power. The EF400 is a development of the legendary EF6 Desktop DAC/Amp and this combination is growing in popularity.
Additionally, the amplifier is a compact unit but is designed to outperform many headphone amplifiers of a larger size and price. Connectivity is good and the DAC is a resistive network type usually seen on more expensive units. Finally, the sound is musical, tight and tuneful.
High-Quality Build and Multiple Outputs
You will be impressed with the heft of this device as well as its finish. The brushed aluminium and black finish are slightly retro with a modern twist. There are four headphone outputs that cover every eventuality. Two are balanced and two are single ended via 6.3mm, 3,5mm and even a Pentacon 4.4mm output. There are also two XLR outputs. Finally gain is adjustable with or without oversampling. Additionally, There are RCA outputs for connection to an external amplifier.
Himalaya R2R DAC
The Himalaya R2R DAC developed by the HiFi Man himself Dr. Fang, offers full PCM decoding up to 24 bits and 768kHz and a signal-to-noise ratio of 118dB. The THD is a miniscule, at 0.022%. The power amplifier is a class A/B design that is fully discreet and includes 30,000uF capacitors. The output is 10.7V RMS, this will drive any type of headphones. Notably, the power supply uses an oxygen free copper wound toroidal transformer. The main reason why this is such a heavy unit
Connectivity and the DDHIFI TC28i
You can connect a digital input via the USB B or USB C input. Additionally, you can connect you iOS device via a DDHIFI TC28i. This is a dongle that will connect your lightning connector to an external DAC via USB C. The USB inputs are on the rear of the device along with the on/off switch and the power input.
Operation of the EF400 headphone amplifier
Operation of the EF400 is simple. Connect the power cord then connect the unit to your phone, PC or any other digital source, insert your headphones and switch on. The XLR and RCA outputs connect directly to the DAC to feed an external amplifier for more power, if needed. Unusually at this price point the EF400 uses the Himalaya DAC that uses a ladder of resistors to convert a binary signal to analogue. These are usually in very hi-end equipment, as they are expensive to produce.
More Musicality with Non-Oversampling
The maximum output power of the EF400 is 4.4 watts, more than enough for most headphones. Resistor chain R2R DACs with non oversampling are though to sound more musical and less analytical. Listening tests seem to agree, with a well articulated midrange and sweet and airy highs. The bass proved to be tight and tuneful. In oversampling mode the EF400 sounds a tad fuller. We think you’ll be hard pressed to find a better headphone amplifier at the price.
About HIFI Man
HiFi Man was founded in 2007 By Dr. Fang. The company focuses on portable audio and headphones. Such as the the HiFi Man HE-R9 Headphones. These are a good partner for the EF400 amplifier. The headphones are available in wired or wireless versions. 2009 saw the release of the HM801 the world's first hi-end portable music player and more recently their headphone range have made planar designs much more affordable and are a very popular choice.
