Hifiman EF 400 Headphone DAC and Amplifier

Hifiman's EF400 is a compact headphone amplifier and DAC that is suitable for diverse applications with its high-performance components and multiple connections. With its slim masses, the EF400 takes up little space and can be placed equally well in a hi-fi rack or on a desk. On ...Hifiman's EF400 is a compact headphone amplifier and DAC that is suitable for diverse applications with its high-performance components and multiple connections.

With its slim masses, the EF400 takes up little space and can be placed equally well in a hi-fi rack or on a desk. On the front of the EF400 are four headphone jacks, namely an unbalanced 3.5mm and 6.3mm, and a balanced 4.4mm and XLR jack. There is also a volume control and a four-position gain switch on the front of the unit.

On the rear are connections for USB-B and USB-C sources, as well as an RCA output and a three-pin fully balanced XLR line output. The EF400 is equipped with the HIMALAYA R2R DAC, which was developed in-house by Hifiman's engineering team. The R2R DAC has been optimized for outstanding fine-resolution and musical sound and low power consumption.

With its Class AB amplifier offering the fidelity of a Class A design and the efficiency of a Class B architecture, the EF400, along with its HIMALAYA DAC, sets the bar high for amplifiers/DACs in its price range. With 4.4 watts of power per channel, the EF400 can easily drive demanding headphones. The discreet silver and black housing made of high-quality aluminum gives the EF400 an elegant look that blends well with other equipment.