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    Hifiman EF499 Review

    January 27, 2025 4 min read 0 Comments

    Hifiman started introducing R2R ladder DAC technology in its DAC AMPS and it's now trickling down to its budget DAC+AMPs. The EF499 is their latest addition to their DAC+AMP lineup and it boasts R2R ladder DAC, which is uncommon in this price range. In our testing, it punches way above its price point.

    Hifiman EF499

    Specifications:

    THD+N (Line Out): 0.008% (0dB)

    Channel Separtion: 95+_3dB

    SNR: 99dB (A Weighted, AP Open Loop Test)

    Maximum Power Output:  4.35 WPC@32Ω balanced/1.28 WPC@32Ω unbalanced

    The EF499 Supports up to DSD64 and PCM 24BIT/192kHz. The absence of DSD128 and DSD256 support isn’t too much of a loss in our opinion. The power output of both single-ended and balanced was more than enough for all the headphones in our collection. We would have liked to see a 4.4mm balanced output besides the XLR headphone output. But this can be solved using an XLR to 4.4mm adapter.

    Design, build and features

    Out of the box, the EF499 comes with a stand to place the amp+dac vertically. We preferred to use it this way since it saves a lot of space on the desk and can also be doubled as a headphone stand. From its size, there is no way to tell that this unit is so heavy. It feels solid and is extremely well built for its price point. The socket and knobs were in its place with no wiggling movement.

    Apart from the usual inputs and outputs, Hifiman provides the option of both USB-B and USB-C input and a Network connector for multimedia streaming. So you can plug in a network cable in the unit and stream music from apps like Spotify, tidal,  qobuz, etc. This is extremely useful for users who rely on streaming as their main music source, although we feel that not having wireless functionality is a missed opportunity here.

    Apart from the R2R DAC, another thing which impressed us the most is the inclusion of NOS modes. NOS modes are usually reserved for much higher end DACs, but Hifiman somehow managed to include it in its entry-level unit. The modes can be seen in four LEDs on the top of the unit along with the gain. Hifiman incorporated the gain and NOS control in one knob in the top which is appreciable. The knob is tactical and can easily be changed. The NOS mode makes a noticeable difference which we’ll talk about in the sound section.

    Hifiman EF499

    Pairings

    Hifiman EF499

    Sound

    NOS VS OS: In all our headphone pairings with the EF499, the NOS mode faired a better result than the OS mode. While the OS resulted in faster transients and better dynamics, the NOS mode provided a better sense of depth, organic and natural timbre and an overall easier listening experience. In our experience, none of the DAC+AMPs in this price range could output such a smooth sound.

    Tonality: The EF499 sounded neutral with a hint of warmth owing to its R2R DAC chip. The vocals especially sounded natural. Testing with our go-to album, Jeff Buckley’s “Grace”, the vocals sounded more organic than any of the other DAC+AMP in this price range. Organic and engaging don’t necessarily go hand in hand, but in this case, it did. Everything sounded very engaging, forcing the listener to concentrate on the music.

    Technical Performance: In terms of sheer details, this might not be the most detailed but it is more than adequate. It shines in layering and instrument separation, better than some pricier options. This is evident even in busy tracks. The soundstage on the EF499 is average but does well in terms of imaging. It was easy to locate where the sound was coming from in the tracks “Bubbles” and “Wandering” by Yosi Horikawa.

    Bass: The bass on the EF499 is one of its strong suites. The Audeze LCD-X (2021) is a bass monster and it paired perfectly without sounding bloated. The bass was controlled, textured and slammed hard. The Arya Stealth is no slouch in terms of bass either, but in our experience, its bass performance depends on the source a bit. With some sources, the bass can sound soft. But with the EF499, it was layered and had a natural timbre. With either of the headphones, the bass did not bleed into the midrange a bit. It was definitely a bit more defined in the OS mode, but we preferred the sound characteristics in the NOS mode.

    Mids: The mids are where the EF499 truly shines. The midrange of all the headphones we used with it was truly addictive. There is a hint of warmth with great tonality and texture. Vocalists sounded true to life and guitars sounded just right. Some might call it coloured, but there is no question about the quality of its presentation. What this unit does in this price point is superb.

    Treble: There is no harshness in the treble, although competing products might have a bit more air and details in the treble, they can border in “edgy” and “analytical”. The EF499 does not share these problems, it is still sufficiently detailed and more importantly, sounds natural and does not cause any fatigue over hours of listening. The treble nicely complements its fantastic midrange leading to a coherent experience.

    Hifiman EF499

    Conclusion

    We are thoroughly impressed with the EF499 with what it does in its price tier both in terms of features and sonic performance. The inclusion of R2R and wired streaming capabilities are big wins in our book. The synergy with all the headphones we threw at it is also commendable. This is not always the case with DAC+AMPS from any price category. Even if you use it as a standalone DAC, it is still worth it. This is an excellent option for anyone who wants a solid desktop DAC+AMP who are looking for pure performance without breaking the bank.