HIFIMAN has launched the EF1000DAC , a new reference desktop DAC / amplifier featuring the company’s newly developed Hymalaya Pro DAC. It should work with almost any headphones.
The EF1000DAC embodies the talent of the HIFIMAN design team in developing high-precision, high-efficiency technologies that deliver unrivaled sound while maximizing energy savings. The headphone amplifier section has an output power of 13.7 W with four matched transistors.
The highlight of the DAC section is the proprietary HIFIMAN Hymalaya Pro Ladder DAC, which is an upgrade from the first generation Hymalaya DAC originally released in 2021.
Between the R-2R resistor network and the controller, conventional PCM1704 DAC and the like, a large amount of power is consumed in the switch section. The HIFIMAN Hymalaya architecture eliminates switches while maintaining similar or improved total harmonic distortion (THD) levels as the PCM1704K DAC chip, with more processing power and overall efficiency, and improved audio performance.
As the new top-of-the-range DAC/amplifier in HIFIMAN’s lineup, the EF1000DAC includes several upgrades from the original EF1000 amplifier. The new model is the first to feature HIFIMAN’s ultra-precision discrete operational amplifier in the input stage, which operates at 26V high voltage, with 12V output at 0.0003% THD and 100 ohm output impedance.
Thanks to the Hymalaya PRO DAC and ultra-precise discrete op-amp module, the EF1000DAC’s Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) is as low as 0.0012%. Rounding out the EF1000DAC is a fully balanced 13.7W output stage with four matched transistors per channel. Additionally, there is a fully balanced stepped volume control and a 150W transformer with oxygen-free copper wire.
The EF1000DAC includes four input options: USB, optical, coaxial and RCA. Additionally, users can stream LDAC and Apt-X HD Bluetooth streams, which are noticeably better than standard BT streams. Front panel outputs include 4-pin XLR and 6.5mm, while single-ended RCA and balanced XLR outputs are on the rear panel.
Price: $15,000
