Packaging and Accessories

As with every other HIFIMAN product we've reviewed, the EF400 was shipped directly from HIFIMAN's HQ in China. The company also hosts a web store for direct sales to consumers so we begin with a look at the shipping packaging which this time is thankfully on the stealthier side owing to the absence of HIFIMAN-branded packing tape as well as HIFIMAN logos on the box. There's a simple sticker on the side which mentions the EF400 is inside but it is less likely to get any unwanted attention. The product box inside came with plenty of bubble wrap for added protection and we see the switch over to a plainer product box design has extended from HIFIMAN headphones to sources too. Two wrap--around stickers are all you get here, and there's a smaller one at the top on the front to confirm the set voltage of the unit to match your region. The company logo, product name, a render of the EF400, and salient features are seen on the front too. Some product specs are on the side in English and Mandarin, with more renders on the back to better illustrate what you get with the EF400. You'd have to tear the sticker to access the contents placed neatly inside, including an accessory box surrounded by foam and a warning sticker to not change the operating voltage. The EF400 itself is in the bottom compartment surrounded by more foam for added protection and comes inside a fabric pouch too.


The accessory box contains a QC sticker and a power cable, that's it! I got the EU cable for some reason here so I opted to go for a matching UK cable I have already, making sure it is also rated to provide 10-16 A off the 230 V AC mains. The absence of a power supply means the EF400 has one integrated and then there's the part where you don't get any USB cable at all! I feel HIFIMAN should have included one given it's not like people have USB cables in abundance, but at least this is easy enough to procure by yourself.