HIFIMAN ACQUIRES GOLDENWAVE, DEBUTING NEW GOLDENWAVE SERENADE DESKTOP DAC/HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER

Compact Goldenwave Serenade features multiple streaming and input options and proprietary Hymalaya Pro R-2R Ladder DAC.

HIFIMAN, has announced both the acquisition of respected  Chinese audio designer/manufacturer, Goldenwave, and the debut of a new DAC/headphone amplifier that takes full advantage of HIFIMAN’s Hymalaya Pro ladder DAC.

HIFIMAN ACQUIRES GOLDENWAVE

“By bringing GOLDENWAVE under HIFIMAN’s wing, we are embarking upon a new era for both brands, with products that feature the best of what each company has to offer, with music lovers ultimately being the beneficiaries. The Hymalaya Pro ladder DAC and its application will set a new standard for what can be achieved in high-fidelity personal audio electronics at any price.” says Dr. Fang Bian, President and CEO, HIFIMAN Electronics.

“Since its introduction in 2011, GOLDENWAVE is rightfully seen as a leader in the development of desktop audio decoders and headphone amplifiers,” says Dr.Fang.

GOLDENWAVE SERENADE DAC/HEADPHONE AMP

New from the Goldenwave brand, the Serenade desktop DAC/headphone amplifier represents “the best of both companies’ design capabilities”. Serenade is a compact, Class A amplifier with HIFIMAN’s proprietary Hymalaya Pro Ladder DAC, an update of the company’s first-generation Hymalaya DAC, originally released in 2021.

Goldenwave Serenade DAC/Headphone amp front

Measuring a mere 300mm x 255mm x 50mm/12” x 10” x 2”, Serenade includes a host of features and listening options despite compact size.

Serenade supports a wide variety of inputs, including PCM 32bit/384K, DSD64-DSD256 (USB); DSD DoP64 (coaxial and optical); Bluetooth 5.0, LDAC, aptX-HD, aptX (Bluetooth); and PCM44.1-PCM768, DSD64-DSD512 (LAN wired network). Outputs on the front panel include 4-pin XLR, 6.35mm and 4.4mm, with XLR balanced and RCA single-ended outputs on the rear panel.

Goldenwave Serenade DAC/Headphone amp back

HIFIMAN HYMALAYA PRO R2R DAC

HIFIMAN’S Hymalaya Pro R2R DAC, with the added support of a new FPGA algorithm and 0.01% precision resistors reaches a THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) rate of 0.0012% at -6 dB. HIFIMAN’s Hymalaya architecture removes the switches while maintaining a similar or improved level of Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) as the previous PCM1704K DAC chip, with greater power handling and overall efficiency, as well as improved sonic performance.

FET OP AMP

Serenade features the FET operational amplifier, with a discrete component LPF analogue circuit. The design of the whole signal path eliminates coupling capacitors, removing nonlinear distortion caused by electrolytic capacitors. Based on a Class A design, Serenade is supplemented by a precisely matched, fully discrete amplifier circuit.

A 50w toroidal transformer, surrounded by oxygen-free copper wire, is comprised of high-quality full-band iron core, combined with a large pond filter capacitor of nearly 30,000 microfarads and a multi-stage, multi-channel, low-noise, high-speed voltage regulator circuit.

Goldenwave Serenade

GOLDENWAVE SERENADE DAC/HEADPHONE AMP SPECIFICATIONS

The SERENADE’s frequency response is measured at 20Hz-20KHz, +-0.1dB @1KHz. THD+N is 0.0015% -3dBFS@1KHz. DAC output level is 4.5V/XLR, 2.2V/RCA, 0dBFS@1KHz. Headphone amplifier power output is THD+N<0.07% @1KHz balanced output is 4000mW@32 ohms, 760mW@300 ohms; single-end output is 2800mW@32Ω, 510mW@300Ω.

GOLDENWAVE SERENADE PRICE

The Serenade will be available in July at a suggested retail price of $1,199

HiFi PiG Says: A merging of two well-known Headfi companies, this marriage sounds like it should bring great new products to the Headphone community.