HIFIMAN EF400 BALANCED DESKTOP DAC/AMP AND HIFIMAN HM800 FULLY BALANCED HM800 MINI-DAC/AMP LAUNCH AT CANJAM NYC

HIFIMAN has two new electronic products to announce, both of which will launch at CanJam NYC this weekend.

The HIFIMAN EF400 desktop DAC/amplifier, the company’s first new desktop model in 10 years, and the portable fully balanced HIFIMAN HM800 DAC/Amp both feature HIFIMAN HIMALAYA R2R DAC Architecture.

The HIFIMAN EF400

HIFIMAN EF400 DESKTOP DAC/AMPLIFIER

Designed as both an homage to the acclaimed EF6 and a statement of modern audio technology, the fully balanced EF400 features the company’s new low-energy, high sampling HIMALAYA R2R DAC, which features an array of highly accurate resistors that use a “ladder” method of conversion. This approach is designed to convert the digital signal with maximum accuracy.

Back panel of the HIFIMAN EF400

HIFIMAN EF400 AND HIFIMAN HM800 HIMALAYA DAC MODULE

HIFIMAN placed equal emphasis on performance, flexibility, and convenience when developing the EF400 DAC/amplifier. The fully balanced four-channel differential structure features the company’s HIMALAYA DAC module, which supports the common PCM signal transmitted by the most common IIS (Integrated Interface of Sound) audio interface, with a maximum 24Bit resolution.

COMPACT DESIGN

Measuring 9.5” D x 9” W x 2.5” H, the EF400 requires the bare minimum of desktop or rack space. The front panel includes four balanced outputs – 6.35mm single-ended, 3.5mm single-ended, 4.4mm balanced, XLR four-pin balanced – in addition to a four-level function switch and volume control. The rear input panel includes jacks for RCA, USB-B, and USB-C source connectors, in addition to dual (L/R) XLR three-pin full balanced line outputs, a rarity in products at this price point.

The HIFIMAN EF400 features the HIMALAYA DAC module

Signal-to-noise ratio is measured at 118+/-3dB, channel separation is 125+/-3dB, and THD+N (line out) is between 0.002% and 0.004%. Maximum power output is 4.4 WPC (watts per channel), giving the EF400 the power to drive the majority of low-efficiency planar headphones, including HIFIMAN Electronics’ flagship model, Susvara.

HIFIMAN HM800 PORTABLE DAC/AMP

The HIFIMAN HM800  is a portable mini-DAC also featuring the company’s new low-energy, high sampling HIMALAYA DAC module.

HIFIMAN HM800 mini portable DAC/Amp

The new HM800 earphone DAC/amplifier relies on R2R architecture, a chip composed of an array of resistors, but with a new algorithm that reduces power handling between the chip and peripheral components. Its miniature proportions, approximately the size of a U.S. quarter, make the HM800 highly portable. In addition, HIFIMAN emphasized maximum flexibility, with a USB-C input and four cables included for connection with the majority of high-end earphones on the market: USB-C, MMCX coaxial, MMCX-0.78 and MMCX-0.75 pin connector cables.

SMARTPHONE

Designed to turn any smartphone into a high-resolution audio source, the HM800, which, from its DAC to its amplifier is fully balanced, combines a low audio frequency range, out-of-band noise, and low energy. The internal HIMALAYA DAC module supports the common PCM signal transmitted by the most common IIS (Integrated Interface of Sound) audio interface, with a maximum 24Bit resolution.

NOS FILTER

HIFIMAN’s new concept-based NOS (None Over-sampling) filter stands out from previous designs by minimizing noise without pushing weak signals to the ultrasonic frequency band, rendering them inaudible. The signal-to-noise ratio is measured at 112dB, the output power is 40mW+2, and the DAC module’s total harmonic distortion plus noise (THD+N) is 0.0025%.

The HM800 is very compact and portable

CANJAM NYC 2022

Taking place this weekend in New York, CanJam NYC will also feature the recently announced HIFIMAN Edition XS open-back planar headphones and HIFIMAN R9 closed-back dynamic headphones. For links to CanJam and other HiFi Shows globally, go to our HiFi Diary page here. 

The HIFIMAN EDITION XS headphones will be at CanJam NYC 2022

HIFIMAN EF400 AND HIFIMAN HM800 PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

The HIFIMAN EF400 DAC/amplifier will be available in March at a suggested retail price of $599.

The HIFIMAN HM800 DAC/Amp will also be available in March at a suggested retail price of $299.

HiFi Pig Says: HIFIMAN is picking a lot of tech into these new compact and super compact DAC/Amp designs, check them out at CanJam NYC if you get the chance.

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