The HiFiMan Serenade Jr is an R2R DAC with an integrated headphone amplifier, offered at a relatively affordable price (€719 on the official store), and developed through a collaboration between HiFiMan and Goldenwave. We had wanted to try it for quite some time, and now we have finally had the opportunity. In the following review, you will find our detailed impressions!
Prodotti consigliati
Introduction
As is well known, HiFiMan Electronics is a Chinese company founded by Dr. Fang Bian that has gained enormous popularity thanks to its advanced planar magnetic headphones, which have won numerous awards over the years and are considered among the best in their respective price ranges. In addition to headphones, HiFiMan also produces other high-end audio electronics, including DACs, headphone amplifiers, and portable music players. Its range of desktop headphone amplifiers has expanded considerably since late 2022, when HiFiMan launched the EF400, a powerful and high-performing headphone amplifier equipped with an integrated R2R DAC. The EF400 proved very successful and was soon joined by its bigger brother, the more flexible and powerful EF600, followed by the more affordable EF500 and EF499, both equipped with network connectivity.
Alongside the EF series, HiFiMan has developed in collaboration with Goldenwave a range of higher-end DACs and headphone amplifiers. The HiFiMan products currently developed in collaboration with Goldenwave are the Serenade, Serenade Jr, Serenade WiFi, Prelude, and GA-10. We had the opportunity to extensively test the Serenade Jr, the “smallest” and most affordable product in the Serenade range, currently available for around €700, as well as the Serenade Senior, which we will discuss in a separate review.
Technology, connections, and technical specifications
Like many other HiFiMan products, the Serenade Jr performs digital-to-analog conversion through an R2R-based DAC. This solution uses a carefully designed resistor network, generally controlled by FPGA units, to perform digital-to-analog conversion. According to its supporters, when properly implemented this technology can deliver a richer, more natural sound with better spatial definition than converters based on other technologies. However, the need for extremely precise electronic components often makes DACs of this type rather expensive.
The Serenade Jr uses a high-performance R2R DAC called Himalaya LE, an evolution of the original Himalaya found in the EF400. Compared with the “Pro” version used in higher-end products such as the Serenade, Serenade WiFi, or the EF600, it aims to reduce costs while sacrificing only a small amount of performance.
The DAC is paired with a very respectable amplification section, operating in Class A and mainly using discrete components such as transistors, diodes, resistors, and capacitors. It delivers 3 W into 32 ohms from the balanced output and 2 W from the single-ended output. In addition to USB, the Serenade Jr also features optical and coaxial inputs, as well as an Ethernet port for its streaming functionality. For just over €700, the Serenade Jr therefore provides a genuinely high-quality audiophile-grade R2R DAC, a very powerful headphone amplifier, and network streaming capabilities. It can also be used as a preamplifier. This means it can serve as a genuine control hub for decoding and playing all your digital sources.
Here are the complete technical specifications:
Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz, ±0.1dB @ 1kHz
THD+N: 0.0025%, -3dBFS @ 1kHz
Signal-to-noise ratio: -110dB
Channel separation: -120dB
DAC output: 4.5V (XLR), 2.2V (RCA)
Headphone amplifier THD+N: less than 0.07% @ 1kHz
Balanced power output: 3000mW @ 32Ω, 660mW @ 300Ω
Single-ended power output: 2000mW @ 32Ω, 410mW @ 300Ω
Weight: 3.9kg
Dimensions: 300 x 255 x 50mm
Like virtually all HiFiMan products, the Serenade Jr arrives in a large, decidedly unglamorous cardboard box containing only the amplifier and a standard power cable. However, even before opening the package, its size and weight immediately suggest that this is a larger and more solidly built product than most competitors in its price range. Once removed from the box, the Serenade Jr indeed reveals itself to be a massive, heavy, and well-built DAC. Its thick, bright-red metal chassis also gives it a unique and distinctive appearance.
On the very clean front panel, alongside the volume knob, there is a large, clearly visible yet unobtrusive “old-school” LCD display and three headphone outputs: balanced XLR and 4.4mm, plus a 6.35mm single-ended output. Directly above the front panel are three easily accessible buttons that allow you to select the input, output mode (DAC, headphone amplifier, or preamplifier), and display brightness.
On the rear panel we find balanced XLR and single-ended RCA outputs, optical, coaxial, and USB digital inputs, the wired Ethernet network connection, and the power socket with its power switch. Overall, we really liked the Serenade Jr’s build quality and ergonomics, with one exception: the inconveniently positioned power switch on the rear. With such a large front panel, there certainly could have been enough room for an on/off button, especially because leaving the unit switched on longer than necessary is not advisable, not so much because of its power consumption, which is fairly modest, but because of the heat generated by its Class A amplification.
Internally, the Serenade Jr features a very tidy construction, dominated by a large 50W toroidal transformer. Two Himalaya LE R2R modules handle digital-to-analog conversion for the left and right channels. The amplification section is fully balanced, operates in Class A, and uses entirely discrete components. According to HiFiMan, it delivers a sonic signature similar to that of the expensive, ultra-high-performance Prelude headphone amplifier, but at a significantly lower cost.
The USB interface is handled by an excellent XMOS XU316 chip. Maximum resolution is 32-bit/384kHz PCM – DSD256 via USB, 32-bit/192kHz PCM – DSD64 through the optical and coaxial inputs, and 32-bit/768kHz PCM – DSD512 via LAN. This last difference is somewhat curious, although ultimately fairly irrelevant considering the scarcity of digital files with resolutions beyond 32-bit/384kHz and the limited improvements in audio quality above this resolution. The LAN input allows the unit to connect through a router to online streaming services or to your own audio library stored on a NAS or smartphone. This feature will certainly please those who listen to music using these newer methods. For us, being somewhat more traditional, it was particularly pleasing to find not only an excellent USB input with the classic USB-B connector, but also well-implemented and good-sounding optical and coaxial digital inputs, which can be used to connect devices such as a CD player or television.
How the Serenade Jr sounds
We tested the Serenade Jr for an extended period with a wide variety of headphones, including some of HiFiMan’s best-known planar magnetic models: Sundara, Arya, Arya Organic, HE6v2 SE, HE600, and Edition XV. To evaluate its performance with high-sensitivity, low-impedance dynamic headphones, we also tried it with the Grado SR80E, the closed-back HiFiMan HE-R9, and the Grell OAE2. We also carried out some interesting comparisons with HiFiMan’s EF-series DACs (EF400, EF500, and EF600).
Even after just a few minutes of listening, it becomes clear that the Serenade Jr is an unusual digital-to-analog converter with a distinctive and clearly defined sonic signature: a slightly warm and musical sound that is at the same time highly refined, resulting partly from the R2R DAC itself but also undoubtedly from a deliberate design choice.
The low frequencies are dense and highly impactful, yet never uncontrolled and always very well articulated. There is good depth and excellent texture: the Serenade Jr is not intimidated by bass-heavy tracks or genres and can be extremely satisfying for listeners who enjoy music that requires plenty of energy in this part of the frequency range. However, probably the most fascinating part of the Serenade Jr’s sonic spectrum is the midrange: incredibly musical and completely natural, never becoming harsh even with less-than-perfect recordings. Together with extremely clean yet never overly intrusive upper mids and highs, this produces a type of sound that may not quite reach the astonishing level of detail achieved by some modern DAC/headphone amplifiers designed with maximum transparency as their primary goal, but that is nevertheless extremely musical and enjoyable even during hours-long listening sessions.
There is also excellent directional definition within a soundstage that is fairly wide, though not exceptionally so, and which we nevertheless appreciated greatly. With high-quality instrument positioning, good separation, and a level of detail that, while not class-leading, is still very high, the soundstage — and the overall listening experience — is extremely immersive. Vocals are particularly impressive during softer passages or when the singer moves especially close to the microphone, where they convey a wonderfully emotional sense of intimacy and proximity.
Given these characteristics, the Serenade Jr pairs particularly well with very open and detailed headphones, such as many of HiFiMan’s own planar magnetic models. Above all, the resulting sound is melodious, never fatiguing, yet at the same time detailed and supported by a very convincing soundstage. The particularly dense and dynamic low end further enhances the listening experience. Pairing with the Grado was also very good, while we found the combination with the Grell OAE2 slightly less successful. The OAE2 already has a particularly relaxed and non-aggressive sound, so it may be better suited to a more open and transparent-sounding DAC/headphone amplifier. Output power proved more than sufficient to drive every headphone we own except the HE6v2, which, although capable of reaching more than adequate volume levels with an amplifier of this type, still seems far from delivering its full potential. Volume control is extremely precise and performs very well, remaining perfectly balanced even at the very beginning of its range, meaning that highly sensitive headphones can also be used without any problems.
Comparisons
Let us now compare the Serenade Jr with HiFiMan’s other EF-series DAC/headphone amplifiers. The EF400, EF500, and EF600 all use an R2R Himalaya DAC developed by HiFiMan. More precisely, each of them uses two modules in a “dual-mono” configuration: the EF400 uses two HYMALAYA R2R modules, the EF500 uses two HYMALAYA LE modules, and the EF600 uses two HYMALAYA PRO modules. All of them reproduce the characteristic sound associated with this type of DAC, although with some differences. The EF400 is particularly musical and, if we may use the term, “analog-like.” It lacks flexibility, offering only a USB input, and on paper it is the least technically accomplished of the three, yet many listeners love it precisely because of its timbre. The EF500 sounds more open, clean, and bright. The EF600 is technically superior thanks to its HYMALAYA PRO DAC and delivers a highly dynamic sound, enormous power, and excellent detail. All three allow users to switch between OS (oversampling) and NOS (non-oversampling) modes, with clearly audible differences.
Looking at the specifications alone, the Serenade Jr appears very similar to the EF500 in terms of the technical solutions used, since they employ exactly the same DAC, and one might therefore expect them to sound alike. In reality, however, this is not the case at all. The tuning of the two units is very different, and consequently so is their sound: the EF500 is more precise and “airy,” especially in OS mode, while the Serenade Jr is extremely melodious, musical, and unquestionably more refined. The EF600, which is priced similarly to the Serenade Jr, offers a more dynamic presentation, a wider soundstage, and impressive output power from its headphone amplification section. Nevertheless, the Serenade Jr’s musicality may lead many audiophiles to prefer it, especially when paired with neutral or slightly bright headphones. Personally, we can say that, because of its ability to convey emotion, we ultimately prefer the Serenade Jr.
Below you can see the model next to the Serenade WiFi, which we will review in depth soon. The difference undoubtedly lies partly in power, with the bigger brother becoming the obvious choice when driving extremely high-impedance headphones, although such cases are rare. The DAC implemented in the Serenade WiFi is superior, but in terms of tonal character the two devices are similar, with the Sr version offering greater resolution and a slightly wider soundstage. The Serenade WiFi also provides a few additional options thanks to the RCA inputs visible on the rear panel and Wi-Fi connectivity. However, the price difference is substantial, and considering the exceptional value for money offered by the Jr version, we would recommend it to anyone who does not need all the additional power of its bigger brother and has a more limited budget. In short: while the Serenade WiFi is the superior unit, the Jr is nevertheless an excellent product and will not disappoint audiophiles looking to pair it with mid to high-end headphones.
Conclusions
In conclusion, the Serenade Jr is a DAC/headphone amplifier combo that we liked enormously. We listened to it for hours with great satisfaction using all kinds of headphones, enjoying its dense, warm, and extremely natural sound. Although its price is unfortunately not within everyone’s reach, we can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a DAC/headphone amplifier with these characteristics.
@amplificalo The HiFiMan Serenade Jr is an R2R DAC and headphone amplifier developed in collaboration with Goldenwave, currently priced at around €700. It is the most affordable model in the Serenade range and combines an audiophile-grade R2R DAC, a powerful Class A headphone amplifier, network streaming capabilities, and preamplifier functionality. At its core are two Himalaya LE R2R DAC modules in a dual-mono configuration, paired with a fully balanced amplification stage built mainly with discrete components. Power output reaches 3W into 32 ohms from the balanced output and 2W from the single-ended output. Connectivity includes USB, optical, coaxial, Ethernet, balanced XLR and RCA outputs, plus XLR, 4.4mm balanced, and 6.35mm headphone outputs. The unit supports up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256 via USB, while LAN playback reaches 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512. Build quality is excellent. The Serenade Jr is large, heavy, and solid, with a distinctive bright-red metal chassis. The front panel is clean and practical, with a large LCD display, volume knob, three headphone outputs, and controls for input, output mode, and display brightness. The only real ergonomic drawback is the power switch, positioned on the rear. We tested the Serenade Jr with several headphones, including the HiFiMan Sundara, Arya, Arya Organic, HE6v2 SE, HE600, Edition XV, Grado SR80E, HE-R9, and Grell OAE2. Its sound is immediately recognizable: slightly warm, dense, musical, and highly refined. Bass is powerful, textured, and well controlled, with excellent impact and depth. The midrange is probably the most impressive part of the presentation, sounding natural, smooth, and highly musical. Upper mids and treble are clean but never aggressive, making the Serenade Jr very easy to listen to for long sessions. Detail retrieval is very good, even if some more transparency-focused DAC/amps may offer greater analytical precision. The soundstage is fairly wide, with excellent positioning, separation, and directional accuracy. Vocals can sound especially intimate and emotional. The Serenade Jr pairs particularly well with open and detailed headphones, especially many HiFiMan planar models. It also works very well with sensitive headphones thanks to its precise volume control. Power is sufficient for almost everything we tested, although the demanding HE6v2 still benefits from a more powerful amplifier. Compared with HiFiMan’s EF series, the Serenade Jr has a more refined and musical presentation. The EF500 sounds more open and airy, while the EF600 is more dynamic, offers a wider soundstage, and provides much more power. However, the Serenade Jr stands out for its natural timbre and its ability to deliver an engaging, non-fatiguing listening experience. The Serenade WiFi is technically superior, with a more advanced DAC, greater resolution, a slightly wider soundstage, more power, RCA analog inputs, and Wi-Fi connectivity. However, it is significantly more expensive. For listeners who do not need the extra power or additional features, the Serenade Jr offers excellent value for money. Overall, the Serenade Jr impressed us greatly. Its dense, warm, natural, and musical sound makes it an excellent match for mid- to high-end headphones, especially neutral or slightly bright models. It is not inexpensive, but for those looking for a refined R2R DAC/headphone amplifier with strong power output and network functionality, it is an easy product to recommend. Read the full review on Amplificalo.it/en @HIFIMAN #hifi #headphones ♬ audio originale – Amplificalo
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