Hifiman EF600 - The All-in-One R2R DAC/Amp to beat under $1000? - Honest Audiophile Impressions
Vložit
- čas přidán 6. 06. 2024
- A BIG thanks to Apos Audio for providing the Hifiman EF600 for review, much appreciated. The EF600 is an R2R DAC/AMP and the bigger sibling to the EF400. Is it an upgrade to the EF400? Is it the All-in-One R2R DAC/Amp to beat under $1000?
More Info:
store.hifiman.com/index.php/e...
Apos Audio Purchase Link:
apos.audio/products/hifiman-e...
CHAPTERS:
00:00 INTRO
00:50 BUILD/DESIGN
01:56 HEADPHONE STAND
02:31 VENTING
02:50 NOS VS OS
04:10 LAYOUT/BLUETOOTH
05:42 ACCESSORIES/BOX
06:30 SOURCE PAIRINGS
08:25 SONIC IMPRESSIONS
13:13 VS HIFIMAN EF400
13:55 VS SCHIIT AUDIO BIFROST2
14:15 VS SOEKRIS DAC1421
15:06 CONCLUSION
15:48 OUTRO
I am not a professional sound engineer, producer, musician, or vocalist, etc. I have not done any scientific research, measurements, or in-depth testing of any kind; just my own listening, comparing and internet reading/research. I have limited, real-life experience with recording, mixing and mastering gear. I have been involved since my teenage years with various churches as an amateur sound booth technician.
Please take these thoughts, opinions and reasonings as just that, my honest audiophile thoughts, opinions and reasonings.
Instagram: pB4LG7Kqp_...
Twitter: / talkdbs @TalkDbs
Website: www.thehonestaudiophile.com
Patreon : / thehonestaudiophile
CZcams membership: / @thehonestaudiophile
The Honest Audiophile research/review process: • Let's Talk - My resear... Tierlist:docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Audio Terms/Definitions: www.thehonestaudiophile.com/p...
Test Tracks: www.thehonestaudiophile.com/p...
Amazon playlist: music.amazon.com/user-playlis...
Recommended Gear:
Audeze LCD-5: www.audeze.com/products/lcd-5
Rosson Audio Design RAD-0: www.rossonaudiodesign.com/
Meze Empyrean: mezeaudio.com/products/meze-e...
Hifiman Ananda: hifiman.com/products/detail/290
Sennheiser HD600: en-us.sennheiser.com/best-aud...
Sennheiser HD660s: en-us.sennheiser.com/hd-660-s
Austrian Audio Hi-X60: austrian.audio/headphones/hi-...
Audeze LCD 2 Closed: LCD-2 Closed Back (audeze.com)
ADV. M5-12D: www.adv-sound.com/collections...
CTM Da Vinci X: cleartunemonitors.com/product...
Tin Hifi T2: www.linsoul.com/products/tinh...
Sony NW-A105: electronics.sony.com/audio/wa...
Sony NW-WM-1a: electronics.sony.com/audio/wa...
Mytek Liberty DAC ii: mytek.audio/shop/lbrt-dac-ii-...
HeadAmp GSX-Mini: www.headamp.com/products/gs-x...
Tor Audio Roger: toraudio.com/main.html#
Schiit Audio BiFrost 2: schiit.com/products/bi-frost-1
Massdrop THX AAA 789:
drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa-789...
Massdrop THX AAA One Linear: drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa-one...
If you like the content of this channel and want to see more like this in the future, please
consider donating. All funds donated to the channel will be used to purchase headphones and audio gear for the channel.
Paypal: www.paypal.me/dbsylvia
Venmo: @David-Sylvia-6
Patreon : / thehonestaudiophile
If you would like to contact the channel please send an email to: dbstechtalk@gmail.com
Affiliate links:
Drop: click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/...
Apos Audio: apos.audio?sca_ref=45218.8XN5h6dArS
ADV-Sound: adv-sound.com/?mct=8ENJK5lB promo code: DavidS10
HifiGo: hifigo.com/?rfsn=5772588.cbfbb66
Linsoul: www.linsoul.com?sca_ref=910677.dpweP21PzL - Hudba
Here are a couple of things that weren't mention in the video.
1.. The EF600 has too much output impedance for most IEM's; most hissed or were overpowered with the EF600.
2. The EF600 powered every headphone I have with ease
3. Specs:
Outputs: 6.3mm single-ended, XLR four-pin balanced, dual (L/R) XLR three-pin full balanced line outputs
Rear inputs: RCA, USB-B, and USB-C source connectors
Signal-to-noise ratio: 118dB (weighted)
Channel separation: 131+/-3dB
THD+N (line out): 0.0014% (-8dB)
Maximum power output: 5.12 Watts per channel @32 ohm balanced/1.8 Watts per channel @32 ohm
Dimensions: 104mm/4” x 135mm/5 1/4” (top); 104mm/4” x 165mm/6 1/2” (bottom) ; 283mm/11”(height)
How HOT does it get? 🔥
@SpiritualPsychotherapyServices As mentioned in the video, I didn't notice that the EF600 got hot, it was pretty normal for an amplifier of its power. Warm to touch but not close enough to heat a room or burn your hands.
@@TheHonestAudiophile, that will teach me to listen more closely. 🤪
😇 May God Bless You Always! 😇
how much is the output impedance on the single ended and balanced outputs?
Great review.
Thanks!
Thanx for the review! Now l know what my next headphone dac/amplifier will be)) Now I'm up to selling my Daart Aquila II))
Awesome 👍 Glad you found the review helpful.
Nicely Done.
Glad you added the additional info.
Maybe I missed this in the video - was there much difference between the single ended & balanced output ?
Hope the Arya Organic comes your way soon .
Thanks
I didn't hear any difference except for volume increase.
Arya Organic would be awesome, maybe one day.
Volume should be a passive stepped attenuator
Looks like you need to go back to the old camera as the focus is still wonky. Appreciate the attempts to get more clear view but this new focus drives me nuts trying to watch. Thanks for all your hard work, not everyone can be Joshua Valour.
Noted! Thanks for the feedback.
Man doesn't give a damn. Spending that much money in headgear and amps but not getting an entry level 500 bucks camera is beyond me...
Thanks for the good review, though we disagree on the volume knob--I hate the look and some have noted it feels cheap and has too much dead play. Like Hifiman headphones (I have and love the Arya Stealth), the EF600 seems to punch above its price point in performance, in part by skimping on premium materials, accessories and using dead plain--and cheap--packaging. It's not a bad tradeoff IMO. This was especially interesting to me since I am thinking about getting an R-2R DAC later this year. The Bifrost 2 is a serious candidate, so the comparison was very helpful. My other primary candidate is the Denafrips Ares Twelfth (slightly upgraded version of the still in production Ares II, renamed Enyo), which I assume you have not heard. But another interesting candidate also comes from Hifiman: they have just released an even newer DAC/amp, the Serenade, which uses the same Hymalaya Pro DAC but pairs it if with a Class A amp from GoldenWave, a Chinese company that they just acquired. It has a more conventional chassis, goes for $1200 and I'm anxious to see some comparisons to the EF600.
Glad you found the review helpful. Interesting about the volume knob. I've not heard any Denafrips and the Serenade looks very interesting, hope to hear them at some point. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Great review! What’s the minimum impedance for headphones to work well with this ?
32ohm dynamic headphone I had no issues. Planar are different even though some have lower impedance than dynamics. With every headphone I tried there was no issues just with IEM did I have issues with hissing and being over driven.
Nice review, but one thing I might have missed is how the controls work. I've watched a few reviews, but none of them covered things like output switch functions when using it with powered speakers or the like.
You tap the little selectors at the top and choose which input you want. The outputs in the back are both fixed, no variable, and work at same time as headphone output.
@@TheHonestAudiophile Thanks, sad to hear that there's no output selector, really don't like having to unplug my headphones in order to use my speakers. A bit of a deal breaker for me, which is sad since I was really considering this unit.
I understand. You're welcome. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Love my EF600. My Ananda and HE6SE never sounded so good
Awesomeness!!!
@rvgr12 how does it improve the ananda, thinking of getting the stealth version and ef600
@@tc9929 to me everything sounds richer and with the extra power available from the amp there is more power to control the driver better making everything way more pleasing. Lovely bass too.
I previously powered with a Lyr3.
I have HD600 (old version), Focal Radiance, Arya Organic, and a couple of Chi-Fi IEMs. I think the EF600 would suit the Arya and HD600 very well but the S9C should be more versatile with low Z cans like the Focal and those IEMs. In my country, the EF600 is around $800 but I can get the S9C with bluetooth for as low as $620. How they are different from each other sonic wise? What is your recommendation for my case? Thank you.
S9C Pro would be good as it's more an all-around performer with any gear whereas the EF600 is mostly for headphones. I don't recall everything about the EF600 since I reviewed it but if memory serves me correctly the Aune has a little smaller stage width but similar depth and imaging. They're close in tone and timbre, details and resolution.
Thanks for your review. I have a Eversolo A6 and the EF600 with a HE1000V2 Stealth headphone. Would you recommend to use the spdif coax input of the EF600 or the USB input. Or will there be no difference in sound quality? Looking forward to your answer :) I am getting a Curious USB to try, Heard a lot of good things about it so I wonder what it brings in my setup....
USB is what I use for my setup. I don't really use the other connections .
@@TheHonestAudiophile Thanks for the response. I will go that way to. So USB for me, Do you have a favorite USB cable brand that you use? Are you familiar with Curious usb Cable?
To be honest, I don't put a lot of stock into a USB cable making much difference, I don't believe I have heard a difference between them. BUT I do like a nice looking, feeling and quality built cable so I like Viborg USB cables. When reviewing, I do test all the USB connected gear with the stock USB cable.
@@TheHonestAudiophile Well I have the stock cable that came with the Eversolo and I have a FIIO CA-TC1 usb-C cable. Will try both to see which one sounds best. Will save me some money. :) Thanks to you !!!
@user-mn7mk5tx6t my pleasure, you're welcome. Look forward to hearing your impressions.
I have a question. I Have a Ifi Zen Stream. When I connect it with the EF600 over coax vs Usb-c the output of the volume of the EF600 is way louder with the coax cable. Is that normal? Do you prefer coax over Usb when you use the EF600? Thanks for the great review :)
I don't recall a difference between coax and USB volume. Could be the preamp function boosting output from Zen Stream, not sure. I've not heard a Zen Stream. I use USB mostly though.
@@TheHonestAudiophile Thanks for your response. I also use the USB-B input (Audioquest carbon cable) of the EF600. Can't explain either why one input is louder as the other but the Coax is really loud. With the EF volume at 25% IT IS REALLY LOUD. With the usb it is around 50% ok. Both in Low gain. Do you remember where the volume know was standing on your EF600 while you were listening at comfort levels? Thanks again for your time and effort
@DJTHEFONZ I don't recall exactly the volume knob position but I rarely was past 11am on the dial
Hifiman EF600 or Fiio k9 AKM whats your favourite?
For musicality the EF600 is phenomenal but the K9 AKM is more the neutral and analytical. Personally I prefer the K9 AKM.
Or you can do both 😊
I do like the looks very much. The idea is 👌 Unfortunately that's about it for me. This is a bit too Chinese for me. I prefer more decent headphone amps. They are real workhorses in any serious setup. Unfortunately they come in at workhorse prices.
6 points for the idea.
Interesting. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Why no mention of DSD????? AFAIK this thing cannot even play DSD music, am I wrong? Not even mentioned here. Nearly all my music recordings are DSD and sound fantastic.
As for DSD not being mentioned, I didn't mention any file types. I don't believe the EF600 has native support for DSD, common in most R2R products. You can verify with Hifiman customer service.
Anyone compared the EF600 vs EF500 ?