Hifiman releases EF400 AiO DAC-Amp

[cheapmessiah]

Was browsing the hifiman site and saw this AiO, looks kind of nice and the specs arent half bad for the price:

-R2R himalaya dac.
-4.4w per channel max power, no impedance specified, full balanced.
-High current amplifier module (HE6se, HE6 and Susvara capable maybe?).
-Weight: 3kg (chasis looks quite hefty and has an in-case toroidal transformer).
-Price $599, might be quite competitive if the dac perferoms and the amp delivers max power at 50-60ohm.

It seems to be aiming at a very specific niche, a more practical version of the cayin IHA6 with enough power to be a realistic contender for a30pro/a90 + any dac for the price, but the R2R DAC might be a risky compromise and it only has USB input, so if the dac turns out to be bad or have the latency issues of the denafrips ares it instantly becomes useless to most consumers not living on the last century.

EF400

<p><img title="EF400" src="https://hifiman.com/attachments/image/20220329/20220329100420_56540.jpg" alt="EF400" width="790" height="6217" /></p>

store.hifiman.com

 

[Merkurio]

The design, power output (if it's real at 32 ohms), headphone connection options (just shy of 2.5 balanced) and being a complete solution with DAC, Amp and integrated supply for $599 is quite interesting, indeed.

However, having a R2R DAC inside is a big red flag for me as well, and I'm not to much into SINAD wars beyond audibility threshold, but the precedents are not good (and I'm an IEM guy)

I hope Amir review it one day to see how it performs.

 

[Jimbob54]

IIRC past history tells us avoid Hifiman electronics if you like "clean" electronics. If you like sensibly priced kit that measures well, stick to the usual suspects reviewed on here.

Happy to be proved wrong of course.

 

[Jimbob54]

In fact, isnt it something of an unwritten rule that the headphone amps from established headphone manufacturers are at best mediocre and often overpriced and under powered?

Im thinking of the Sennsheiser one meant to pair with the 800 series, there were at least 2 Beyer, there was an Audio Technica one on Drop recently for about $1000- at least this one is "sensibly" priced for a DAC amp.

 

[_thelaughingman]

I was turned off by the inclusion of the R2R dac. Why even go down the rabbit hole with an R2R?

 

[cheapmessiah]

I was turned off by the inclusion of the R2R dac. Why even go down the rabbit hole with an R2R?

It's their proprietary design, they have a couple products with it already so I guess they were just cutting development costs and using what happens to be trendy at the moment.

 

[solderdude]

But hifiman states that R2R is a 'rare treat' and has 'prized performance' so must be heavenly musical.

10.7V in 36 ohm = 3.2W.
Current limited (obviously) = 0.3A.

Specs say 4.4W max (not into which impedance) but with 0.3A current limit we can calculate the max. output voltage which is 14.8V in 50 ohm.

From this we can calculate the following output powers in

12 ohm = 1W
16 ohm = 1.4W
20 ohm = 1.7W
25 ohm = 2.2W
32 ohm = 2.8W
40 ohm = 3.5W
50 ohm = 4.4W
64 ohm = 3.5W
80 ohm = 2.8W
120 ohm = 1.9W
250 ohm = 0.9W
300 ohm = 0.75W
600 ohm = 0.38W

All below Topping A90

 

[cheapmessiah]

But hifiman states that R2R is a 'rare treat' and has 'prized performance' so must be heavenly musical.

10.7V in 36 ohm = 3.2W.
Current limited (obviously) = 0.3A.

Specs say 4.4W max (not into which impedance) but with 0.3A current limit we can calculate the max. output voltage which is 14.8V in 50 ohm.

From this we can calculate the following output powers in

12 ohm = 1W
16 ohm = 1.4W
20 ohm = 1.7W
25 ohm = 2.2W
32 ohm = 2.8W
40 ohm = 3.5W
50 ohm = 4.4W
64 ohm = 3.5W
80 ohm = 2.8W
120 ohm = 1.9W
250 ohm = 0.9W
300 ohm = 0.75W
600 ohm = 0.38W

All below Topping A90

It has a hhigh current mode, is that the max current on that mode?

Also, wont you happen to know the max current of the A90?

 

[solderdude]

It has a hhigh current mode, is that the max current on that mode?

They just state 4.4W max. This requires max current. The only give away is the 0.3A this thus is the high current mode.

Also, wont you happen to know the max current of the A90?

0.68A (11V/16 ohm)

 

[cheapmessiah]

They just state 4.4W max. This requires max current. The only give away is the 0.3A this thus is the high current mode.

0.68A (11V/16 ohm)

Cayin IHA6 has lower power on high current mode if I remember correctly, is there a possibility that that might happen here too? 0.3A in a high current mode seems low.

 

[solderdude]

Why would they need more current ?
In the Susvara they can provide 4W = 15V = 115dB peak SPL (about 100dB average) which is very loud.
To go even louder you would need to connect it to speaker amp outputs > 100W/4Ω
The (now discontinued EF6) was 5W in 50 ohm (only 0.5dB louder)

The specs of the Cayin are most likely an error.

You probably mean these specs:

Technical data i-HA-6

Output power:

• Headphones unbalanced (@ 32Ω):
• 1100mW + 1100mW (High Current)
• 2200mW + 2200mW (Low Current)
• Headphones symmetrical (@ 32Ω):
• 5000mW + 5000mW (High Current)
• 7000mW + 7000mW (Low Current)

Where they state 'high current' should have stated 'low current' and vice versa.
Those specs otherwise would make no sense.

7W in 32Ω = 0.47A
5W in 32Ω = 0.4A

 

[odyo]

Don't sleep on Monoprice THX887. People forgot this exist

This is for $290. Chinese dac amps are so overpriced nowadays this classic still holds up. 8.8W 16ohm.
Add precise volume control and display, instabuy for me.

 

[Snoopy]

Don't sleep on Monoprice THX887. People forgot this exist

This is for $290. Chinese dac amps are so overpriced nowadays this classic still holds up. 8.8W 16ohm.
Add precise volume control and display, instabuy for me.

407 euro in the EU. (444 USD).

 

[Jimbob54]

407 euro in the EU. (444 USD).

Yup. The close cousin from Drop is cheaper even with shipping and taxes if on sale at $200-$300

 

[cheapmessiah]

It goes down to 240-290€ a couple times every year, BF is one of those times.

 

[staticV3]

Where they state 'high current' should have stated 'low current' and vice versa.
Those specs otherwise would make no sense.

 

[Snoopy]

IIRC past history tells us avoid Hifiman electronics if you like "clean" electronics. If you like sensibly priced kit that measures well, stick to the usual suspects reviewed on here.

Happy to be proved wrong of course.

Build quality would be of concern to me to when purchasing a hifiman amp/DAC..

 

[solderdude]

View attachment 199809

Ah quiesent current is higher, not output current (so heat).
At a higher quescent current (more towards class-A) there will be more heat inside the amp and the output power is less.

 

[raindance]

Oxygen free copper in the transformer. So the music will lack "air"... Haha

 

[mario_rouge]

has anyone used it with passive speakers?