The Hifiman EF499 is a high-fidelity headphone amplifier and DAC from the brand Hifiman. It complements the range of affordable headphone amplifiers from the manufacturer alongside its big brother, the EF500. Despite its reasonable price, the EF499 incorporates advanced technologies such as an R-2R DAC and amplification capable of delivering up to 4.35W on a 32 Ω load in balanced mode.
The EF499 adopts a compact vertical format that also allows it to serve as a stand for audio headphones. Its black and copper aesthetic gives it an elegant and luxurious appearance that contrasts with the more understated gray and silver of the EF500. The build quality is top-notch with a robust all-metal chassis ensuring excellent durability.
The front panel features two large solid copper rotary knobs for volume control and the selection of gain (low or high) and oversampling mode (OS or NOS). Four indicator lights show the selected mode. There is also a 6.35 mm jack headphone socket and a 4-pin XLR connector for balanced use.
The rear panel houses all the connectivity options with XLR and RCA line outputs, a coaxial input, an Ethernet input for streaming, two USB ports (type B and C), as well as an input selector, a switch, and an IEC power connector.
In addition to its powerful and versatile headphone amplification stage, the EF499 stands out for using a Philips R-2R DAC instead of the in-house Himalaya R-2R architecture of the EF500. This R-2R implementation at this price level is a remarkable achievement by Hifiman.
The DAC allows signal processing in OS (oversampling) or NOS (non-oversampling) mode according to the user’s preferences. The OS mode offers more resolution and refinement, while the NOS mode preserves a more natural and relaxing sound. The amplification allows for gain adjustment (low or high) to best match the sensitivity of the headphones used.
In terms of connectivity, the EF499 is very comprehensive, accepting a wide variety of digital sources: USB, coaxial, or network via Ethernet. The balanced (XLR) or unbalanced (RCA) line outputs allow it to be integrated into a traditional Hi-Fi system by driving a power amplifier or active speakers.
The Hifiman EF499 delivers remarkable sound performance that can hold its own against more expensive devices. Its R-2R implementation provides a beautiful harmonic richness and a very natural sense of timing, without falling into the excess softness or lack of resolution sometimes attributed to this technology.
The soundstage is very wide and airy, with excellent separation of instruments and voices. The EF499 reproduces a lot of detail with fluidity and without aggressiveness. The frequency response is wide and balanced, the bass is fast and tight, the mids are rich and dense, and the highs are fine and delicate.
In OS mode, the output gains transparency and definition, with more substance and texture. NOS mode, on the other hand, adds a touch of naturalness and musicality, at the cost of a slight loss in resolution. The gain adjustment allows for fine-tuning the EF499 to the headphones used. With an easy-to-drive headphone like the Hifiman Sundara, low gain offers the best balance. With a more demanding model like the Sennheiser HD650, high gain provides more punch and impact.
Generally speaking, the EF499 pairs well with a wide range of headphones and makes Hifiman models like the Ananda, Edition XS, or Arya shine. But it also reveals the great qualities of headphones from other brands like the Focal Clear, Sennheiser HD600/650, or Beyerdynamic T1.
Although very similar on paper, the EF499 and EF500 have some notable differences, beyond their price difference (€349 vs €539). While the former uses a Philips R-2R DAC, the latter employs the more advanced in-house Himalaya R-2R architecture. As a result, the EF500 goes even further in terms of transparency, resolution, and musicality.
The EF500 also handles the most demanding headphones better and is more comfortable with extreme registers, offering more extension in the bass and treble. Its output is more expansive, more airy, and more dynamic. Nevertheless, the EF499 holds its own in comparison and offers an unbeatable performance/price ratio. It is an excellent entry point into the R-2R universe.
Jean-Louis
The voices are beautiful, but the image is a bit narrow. Good product for the price.
Comment from March 13, 2025 — Experience from January 12, 2025
