Introducing the HIFIMAN EF400 Balanced Desktop DAC/Amplifier!

[Ichos]

There is a reviewer on youtube that says that the Singxer SA-1 with the EF400 as a dac is better thant the EF400 alone. At least he likes it more with the SA-1 as a Amp vs the amp on the EF400. My doubt is the 500euros needed for the upgrade that is much higher than the money i gave for the EF400 itself. But an interesting path of upgrade could be:
Upgrade the EF400 with Silver Pro chips (150usd) and get the SA-1.
The level above could be the Serenade or even the EF400 with gold chips and something like the Aune S17 Pro..So many options..

Why €500? Isn't it $299 to upgrade the EF400 with the gold modules?

 

[ProAcTivo]

Why €500? Isn't it $299 to upgrade the EF400 with the gold modules?

Reeding it now its confusing but in that post the upgrafe i was talking about was the Singxer SA-1 (500€)

 

[Hyde00]

By the way, don't remember which thread it was that I read, either from EF499/EF500 thread or the Elegia thread.

I think another forum member had a EF400 then he upgraded to the gold R2R chip, he said resolution increased but he found it lost its "magic".

But he didn't want to buy another EF400, so he find EF499 "close enough" that it works as a cheaper replacement of EF400.

Not saying everyone will hear the same but just something to keep in mind before upgrading.

That it might not be one of those no brainer upgrade, things might just be "different".

Again this is what I read, forgot who posted about this lol.

 

[ProAcTivo]

By the way, don't remember which thread it was that I read, either from EF499/EF500 thread or the Elegia thread.

I think another forum member had a EF400 then he upgraded to the gold R2R chip, he said resolution increased but he found it lost its "magic".

But he didn't want to buy another EF400, so he find EF499 "close enough" that it works as a cheaper replacement of EF400.

Not saying everyone will hear the same but just something to keep in mind before upgrading.

That it might not be one of those no brainer upgrade, things might just be "different".

Again this is what I read, forgot who posted about this lol.

Yes. I think e read that too somewhere. Maybe going for the Silver chip is more "safe" as the upgrade cost is only 150usd and maybe the gained resolution is not so extreme as the gold chip that we end up losing the lushness on the EF400 stock. I will wait for the Ichos review of the Gold modules on the EF400.

Another think i would like to ask is if anybody is using the EF400 as a dac only and what amps are you using with it.
What i feel with the EF400 and HE6SEV2 combo is that most of the times i have to EQ it(maybe too much) to get rid of the hot trebble and high mids that i find fatiguing(snare drums for example). Maybe with another amp that "smooths" out the HE6SEV2 i will be more happy

 

[Brain Damage]

Yes. I think e read that too somewhere. Maybe going for the Silver chip is more "safe" as the upgrade cost is only 150usd and maybe the gained resolution is not so extreme as the gold chip that we end up losing the lushness on the EF400 stock. I will wait for the Ichos review of the Gold modules on the EF400.

Another think i would like to ask is if anybody is using the EF400 as a dac only and what amps are you using with it.
What i feel with the EF400 and HE6SEV2 combo is that most of the times i have to EQ it(maybe too much) to get rid of the hot trebble and high mids that i find fatiguing(snare drums for example). Maybe with another amp that "smooths" out the HE6SEV2 i will be more happy

So I am using the EF400 as an AIO unit, but I do also use it purely as a DAC (balanced out) to the ifi ZenCAN (balanced headphones out) to mainly my Focal Elex and Elegias.

I do believe the micro details are as good through the ZenCAN but feel the dynamics are better with the internal amp of the EF400 - there is more energy, punch and slam for me. The Focals are very dynamic and therefore, in my opinion, are better synergised with the EF400 for most music.

However, I do enjoy switching between both setups which has prompted my contemplation of a better external amp as an upgrade to the ZenCAN. As I believe the ZenCAN to be one of the best amps in the £200 with its balanced architecture and features, this is why I am looking at a more mid-range priced amp such as:

- Lake People G111 MkII
- RNHP
- Singxer SA-1

I don't think I can quite justify the higher price hike for say the Violectric V222 or GS-X Mini from what I have read. And I begin to question if these would be better matched with an even better DAC than the EF400. But if anyone has experience of any of these pairings, then I could be tempted. Typical of this hobby lol

 

[Ichos]

Can the EF400 sound even better?
Read the EF400 Gold upgrade review to find out more.

 

[Ichos]

For people that have missed the EF400 Gold upgrade review, I have uploaded it at Headfi.

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/hifiman-ef400-gold-upgrade.28153/review/37861/

Or

https://ichos-reviews.com/hifiman-ef400-gold-upgrade-review/

Worth every cent.