HIFIMAN Goldenwave Serenade Review: Dynamic Sound and Stunning Design DAC/Amplifier

Experience the powerful, dynamic sound and elegant design of the HIFIMAN Goldenwave Serenade DAC and headphone amplifier.

Introduction to HIFIMAN Goldenwave Serenade

Recently, HIFIMAN acquired Golden Wave, opening doors to craft higher-quality flagship DAC/amplifiers and audio electronics with fresh ideas to enhance appeal and elegance. The HIFIMAN Goldenwave Serenade combines the Himalaya PRO R2R DAC, a new FPGA algorithm, and precision resistors with 0.01% accuracy, boasting a THD of -6 dB and a minuscule 0.0012%.

This device is a full-fledged DAC and amplifier solution, capable of powering headphones, connecting two line outputs for stereo systems, adjusting volume, decoding high-resolution audio, and more — all powered by its internal R2R DAC.

Build Quality and Design of HIFIMAN Goldenwave Serenade

From the front, the Serenade is striking — a sturdy yet sleek metal chassis with a beautiful glass front panel, a retro-style small display, a large analog volume knob on the right, and three headphone outputs on the left. It’s compact, slim, wide, and quite long, weighing a hefty 3.9 kg, reflecting its robust build and premium craftsmanship.

Up top, there are three buttons controlling input selection, output settings, brightness, and standby mode. The amp is built around a legendary FET operational amplifier with a discrete analog LPF circuit, delivering precise low-noise sound. Notably, coupling capacitors were removed from the signal path to eliminate nonlinear distortions caused by electrolytic capacitors, ensuring a full bandwidth and pure output.

Innovative Internal Components

At the heart of the Serenade lies HIFIMAN’s proprietary HYMALAYA PRO technology powering the R2R DAC. Supported by a new FPGA processor and 0.01% precision transistors, this DAC outperforms the PCM1704 in all respects. The R2R DAC’s nonlinear distortion ratio of 0.0012% (-6 dB) promises remarkable output signal accuracy.

Powering the DAC and headphone amplifier is an oxygen-free copper wire wound toroidal transformer, contributing to the device’s substantial weight and providing stable, clean power.

With the Golden Wave acquisition, HIFIMAN added balanced XLR outputs, unbalanced RCA headphone outputs, and extensive inputs including coaxial, optical, network, and USB. You can even connect an analog input if you want to hook up a separate DAC. The OS can be upgraded via microSD, though no major firmware updates have been needed so far since the Serenade performs flawlessly. The headphone amplifier operates in Class A with a fully discrete transistor design, inheriting the noble tonal qualities of the Prelude AMP.

Connectivity and Format Support

The Serenade supports digital inputs including PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD up to DSD256 via USB. Coaxial and optical inputs handle PCM up to 32-bit/192kHz and DSD DoP64. Wired LAN supports PCM up to 768kHz and DSD up to DSD512. Network input is ideal for streaming, with streaming services like Tidal offering high-res files that take full advantage of this.

Powerful Amplifier Performance

The Serenade is designed as a high-end DAC/amplifier, mainly for desktop users with extensive headphone collections. Its high output power and Class A headphone amp paired with the Himalaya PRO R2R DAC provide:

• Balanced output up to 4000mW at 32Ω (~4W), perfect for ultra-sensitive headphones.
• Up to 760mW at 300Ω, which is impressive for high-impedance headphones.

The unbalanced headphone output also delivers excellent power, with 2800mW at 32Ω and 510mW at 300Ω, more than sufficient even for unbalanced setups.

With a THD+N of under 0.07% for the headphone amp and DAC output voltages of 4.5V (XLR) and 2.2V (RCA), channel separation is an impressive -120 dB, with a signal-to-noise ratio around -110 dB. The frequency response stays flat from 20 Hz to 20 kHz within 0.1 dB deviation.

The high-quality toroidal transformer (50 W with an iron core and nearly 30,000 µF filtering capacity) helps maintain low distortion. The multi-stage, low-noise, high-speed voltage regulation circuit ensures clean and responsive power delivery. Plus, a rear fuse protects the device from electrical surges or shorts.

User-Friendly Operation

You can select outputs via a dedicated selector on the front. Switching between DAC/headphone amp, preamp (DAC with adjustable volume), or pure DAC mode (volume fixed at 0 dB or 100%) is simple. Just remember to pause playback when switching outputs since DAC mode instantly plays at full volume.

When used as a DAC/preamp for stereo systems, power on/off clicks are audible but expected. Volume control is fully analog in DAC mode, bypassing any controls for direct line output. Only one output can be used at a time, so headphone playback won’t interfere with speakers — a neat feature keeping your listening clean.

The Serenade runs warm but not hot during use, allowing you to safely place other devices on it without risk.

USB DAC Performance

An essential test for any DAC/amplifier combo is USB DAC performance. The Serenade shines here with zero latency and glitch-free playback from start to finish. Whether enjoying music, movies, or gaming, audio is synchronized perfectly with no dropouts.

Sound Quality and Headphone Pairings

I've tested the Serenade with a wide range of headphones:

• Over-ear: HIFIMAN HE1000SE, Audeze LCD-5, Kennerton Thror, Spirit Torino Super Leggera, Crosszone CZ-8a Enhanced, HIFIMAN Audivina, Sivga Peacock, Underwood LSA HP-1.
• In-ear monitors (IEMs): Sennheiser IE900, Soundz Avant, FIR Audio e12 Electron, Letshuoer S15, Sivga Nightingale, Campfire Bonneville, Campfire Cascara, Spirit Torino Twin Pulse Beryllium.

The Serenade delivers massive power — even with the HE1000SE, I never needed to crank volume past halfway. It produces untamed dynamics, strength, and drive. For IEMs, there's slight hiss and low hum due to high impedance, but it’s easily masked by music and does not grow louder with volume increase. Noise remains very low and mostly noticeable only in complete silence.

For speakers, I paired the Serenade with a Keces s300+ and Pylon Audio Diamond 30 MkII. The Keces amp produces a faint hum only audible in total silence, likely unnoticed by most listeners. Other amps like Burson Funk, SMSL AO200, or Cyrus One Cast showed no noise increase when used with the Serenade. It handles IEMs better than most amps with similar power, offering lower noise floors than competitors.

Sound Characteristic

The Serenade is remarkably transparent yet adds a touch of warmth and excitement. It offers:

• Deep, rich bass with tight control, fabulous for electronic, jazz, and classical music.
• Musical and pleasant mids with smooth textures and natural instrument timbres.
• Crisp, airy highs that remain smooth without harshness, preserving detail.

"The HIFIMAN Goldenwave Serenade delivers transparency with warm bass, musical mids, and shimmering treble for a smooth yet detailed soundstage." — Audio Enthusiast

The soundstage is expansive and holographic with excellent depth and isolation of effects, producing a highly immersive experience.

Bass and Midrange Nuances

Whether the bass is slow and rumbling or tight and fast, it sounds equally impressive. Tracks like Closure in Moscow’s "Neoprene Byzantine" highlight the Serenade’s ability to handle contrasting bass lines and percussion with clarity.

Vocals come forward with natural presence. Instruments such as guitars, harps, and violins resonate authentically, both in headphone and stereo setups.

High Frequencies and Texture

Treble is smooth and polished, typical of R2R DACs, yet brilliantly clear and expressive. Cymbals shimmer with sparkle, and drums are tight and energetic without overload.

High-frequency focused bands like Infant Annihilator sound detailed and fatigue-free through the Serenade, even on open-sounding headphones like the HE1000SE. The DAC’s resolution and nuance elevate every instrument and vocal.

Gaming with the Goldenwave Serenade

Gaming is a strong suit for the Serenade due to its zero-latency USB DAC, precise stereo imaging, and soundstage. Enemy footsteps and directional sounds are accurately placed, improving spatial awareness.

Multiple headphone outputs (4.4mm balanced, XLR, 6.3mm) and line outputs allow seamless switching between gaming headphones and stereo speakers without cable hassle.

No driver or software installation is necessary for most platforms, ensuring easy plug-and-play use. Optical and coaxial inputs also support lag-free audio from consoles.

Comparisons with Other DAC/Amps

• Versus FiiO K9 PRO ESS: The Serenade offers higher output power, lower noise, and a warmer, more dynamic sound compared to K9 PRO’s flatter, sharper ESS signature. K9 PRO is more studio-accurate but less musical.
• Versus Keces S3: Serenade delivers a softer, more musical, and deeper sound with higher output power and Ethernet input, while Keces S3 sounds brighter and tighter but less full-bodied.
• Versus Aune S9c PRO: Both have similar inputs/outputs, but Serenade stays cooler and has richer bass and a smoother high end. S9c PRO uses digital volume control; Serenade uses analog with high damping.
• Versus Detonray Listening M1: M1 is more compact with warmer, bass-heavy sound, while Serenade provides a holographic, natural soundstage with more separation and detail.
• Versus HIFIMAN EF600: EF600 is more practical industrial design, but Serenade boasts a refined, elegant look, lower noise with sensitive IEMs, and warmer, richer sound.

Value and Final Thoughts on HIFIMAN Goldenwave Serenade

HIFIMAN has delivered a comprehensive listening solution with unique, vibrant, and dynamic sound paired with an elegant design. The Goldenwave Serenade is a powerful DAC/amplifier with great value for its price, capable of driving most headphones with minimal noise on IEMs.

Its combination of XLR and RCA outputs with adjustable volume makes it user-friendly for stereo systems. Thanks to optical, coaxial, USB, analog, and network inputs, it suits all listening preferences and even gaming.

Overall, the Serenade stands as one of HIFIMAN’s most complete DAC/amplifiers to date—a true contender for your audio setup’s crown jewel.

Pros:

• Excellent build quality
• Superb sound with dynamic, musical character
• Multiple inputs and high-end outputs, including balanced XLR
• Powerful output for headphones and IEMs with minimal noise
• Robust toroidal transformer for stable power
• Wide, spacious soundstage with precise instrument separation

Cons:

• Gets warm during operation
• Slight background noise when no music plays on sensitive IEMs

Conclusion

Are you ready to elevate your music experience with a DAC/amplifier that delivers both stunning design and dynamic, transparent sound? The HIFIMAN Goldenwave Serenade is a versatile powerhouse suited for any audiophile seeking warmth and clarity across headphones, IEMs, and stereo systems.

FAQs

• What headphone impedances does the Serenade support?
  It can comfortably drive headphones from ultra-sensitive IEMs up to high-impedance models of 300Ω with ample power.
• Can the Serenade be used as a preamplifier?
  Yes, it features a preamp mode with adjustable volume for line outputs.
• Does it support high-resolution audio formats?
  Absolutely. It supports PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD up to DSD512 via network input.
• Is the volume control analog or digital?
  The volume knob is fully analog, providing smooth and precise control.
• Is the Serenade suitable for gaming?
  Yes, it offers zero-latency USB DAC performance and excellent stereo imaging, ideal for immersive gaming audio.

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