REVIEW: Head-direct.com HiFiMan EF2 tube Hybrid Amp with USB DAC - Page 13

When driving headphones I enjoy the EF2 amp section a little more than the Pico amp section, and EF2 is more powerful than the Pico. The EF2 amp section is not technically as precise, detailed or spacious as the Pico amp, but the EF2 is warmer and more musical/euphonic much of the time. I become more engaged in the performance with the EF2. However, the EF2 DAC is not as good as the Pico DAC, and I prefer to use my Pico DAC-only with it when available. I can still enjoy the EF2 with the internal DAC, but it's more on the level of the USB DAC in the 3MOVE or XM5, or Predator and Nuforce Icon (mobile and desktop).

The Pico DAC/amp was good enough to feed the headphone out into a bigger amp like my Woo GES as a DAC/pre-amp - so good that I waited a year before upgrading my stat rig to a PS Audio DLIII DAC. That isn't something you would do with the EF2.

I am not trying to make the EF2 into another FOTM, and there are plenty of cost effective amps out there to compete with it, but there is something about it that makes it worth taking a listen.

The DAC is better than my Macbook Pro or iPod headphone out. I love my iPhone 3GS headphone out sound quality, and EF2 DAC might be on that level.

My Marantz CD5001 RCA output sounds slightly better, but it isn't a huge upgrade, although it is noticeable. Then again, the Marantz sounds good enough that I could probably go without my Apogee mini-DAC or the Pico DAC-only and only be missing just a little bit of what is there. Each of these upgrades is just a little bit better in terms of depth and transparency and detail, etc, but it all adds up in the end.

Regardless, I have said that I think the EF2 USB DAC is decent, and I wouldn't look down my nose on anyone for using it.

I don't have a Jade to compare to.

I thought I'd posted that it is on par (or slightly ahead or behind depending on the headphones and music) with other amps like my Headfive, Travagans Red, Nuforce Icon desktop, 3MOVE, XM5, Millett SSH, EF1, etc. All of those including the EF2 work well with Denon headphones, so this is a good choice.

If it means anything to you, I'm only using the Nuforce with speaker out, I don't have my Travagans Red or Headfive hooked up to anything, I traded the EF1 even for the less expensive EF2, and the Millett sits up in my son's room where I can't use it - but I use the EF2 several times a week.