{"product_id":"hifiman-ef400-balanced-desktop-dac-amp","title":"HiFiMAN EF400 Balanced Desktop DAC\/Amp","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe HiFiMAN EF400 is a compact desktop DAC and headphone amplifier with massive power from a sleek chassis. Built around HiFiMAN’s own HIMALAYA R2R DAC, a four-channel differential design gives up to 4.4W per channel from the balanced outputs, enough for demanding planar headphones such as HiFiMAN’s HE6, and it has every common headphone socket, from 3.5mm to 4-pin XLR.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/hifiman-ef400-balanced-desktop-dac-amp-photo-hero.jpg?v=1791363295\" alt=\"HiFiMAN EF400 DAC and headphone amplifier\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe successor to the EF6\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2012, Dr Fang Bian and his team at HiFiMAN introduced the EF6, a legendary desktop DAC\/amplifier with plenty of power for a wide, detailed soundstage. Ten years later, the EF400 brings HiFiMAN’s more recent technologies, especially its HIMALAYA R2R DAC, into a compact, modern DAC\/amp with the same kind of power.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/hifiman-ef400-balanced-desktop-dac-amp-photo-history.jpg?v=1791363301\" alt=\"From the HiFiMAN EF6 to the EF400\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHIMALAYA R2R DAC\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHIMALAYA is HiFiMAN’s discrete R2R ladder DAC, winner of a 2022 VGP Gold Technology Award in Japan, run by its own FPGA algorithm to reduce interference, noise and power use. A front switch selects high or low gain, each with NOS (non-oversampling) or OS (oversampling).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFully balanced, high current\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA four-channel differential structure of DAC, buffer and active filter feeds a four-channel attenuator and a fully differential Class AB amplifier, reaching 10.7Vrms (THD under 1%) into a 36Ω load. An oxygen-free copper toroidal transformer and 30,000µF of large capacitors power the high-current amplifier circuit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/hifiman-ef400-balanced-desktop-dac-amp-photo-inside.jpg?v=1791363306\" alt=\"Inside the HiFiMAN EF400: toroidal transformer, HIMALAYA module, capacitors and amplifier\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/hifiman-ef400-balanced-desktop-dac-amp-photo-balance.jpg?v=1791363312\" alt=\"The fully balanced signal path of the HiFiMAN EF400\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/hifiman-ef400-balanced-desktop-dac-amp-photo-measure.jpg?v=1791363317\" alt=\"HiFiMAN EF400 measurements\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEvery headphone socket\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe front has 6.35mm and 3.5mm single-ended outputs and 4.4mm and 4-pin XLR balanced outputs, with the four-way function switch on the left and the volume knob on the right. At the back are USB-B and USB-C digital inputs and XLR balanced and RCA line outputs, so the EF400 works as a USB DAC\/amp and as a DAC for active speakers or a power amplifier. The case is matte black with a brushed aluminium front.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/hifiman-ef400-balanced-desktop-dac-amp-photo-front.jpg?v=1791363321\" alt=\"HiFiMAN EF400 front panel: headphone outputs, function switch and volume\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/hifiman-ef400-balanced-desktop-dac-amp-photo-rear.jpg?v=1791363326\" alt=\"HiFiMAN EF400 rear panel: XLR and RCA line outputs, USB-C and USB-B\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/HFMEF400rear1000x397.jpg?v=1767173617\" alt=\"Rear panel of the HiFiMAN EF400\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDAC\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHiFiMAN HIMALAYA R2R · FPGA · NOS or OS\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAmplifier\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFour-channel differential, Class AB · up to 4.4W per channel (balanced) · 10.7Vrms into 36Ω\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHeadphone outputs\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.35mm and 3.5mm single-ended · 4.4mm and 4-pin XLR balanced\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eInputs\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSB-B and USB-C (digital only)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eLine outputs\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eXLR balanced · RCA\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePerformance\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSNR 118dB ±3dB (A-weighted) · THD+N 0.002–0.004% (line out) · separation 125dB ±3dB\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSize and weight\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e246.5 × 228 × 61mm · 3.08kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGood to know\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe only inputs are USB, so there is no analogue input for a CD player or phono stage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHiFiMAN recommends the 6.35mm and XLR sockets for hard-to-drive headphones; use the 3.5mm and 4.4mm sockets with sensitive in-ear monitors, in low gain.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHiFiMAN supplies a two-pin EU mains lead, not a UK one: use a standard UK kettle lead (IEC) or a UK adaptor, and check the 115\/230V switch on the base is set to 230V.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWorks driver-free with macOS and Windows 10 or later.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"HIFIMAN","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57115972600195,"sku":"HFMEF400","price":249.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/img_proxy_5d879be8-6da7-467b-80b8-8693f5fa765e.jpg?v=1767173636","url":"https:\/\/www.advancedmp3players.co.uk\/products\/hifiman-ef400-balanced-desktop-dac-amp","provider":"amp3","version":"1.0","type":"link"}