Cayin C9: Dual Nutube, Fully Balanced Class A/AB Portable HeadAmp

[bigbeans]

hmmmm potentially silly question

So would a prospective consumer of C9 know what equipment is safe and what isn't? I shudder to think if my R8 and Cayin C9 got damaged due to a mismatch.

Edit: Clarified below.

 

[Whitigir]

hmmmm potentially silly question

So would a prospective consumer of C9 know what equipment is safe and what isn't? I shudder to think if my R8 and Cayin C9 got damaged due to a mismatch.

I repeat this again, the C9 is an amplifier. It CAN NOT Damage the source. If any potential problems, you will be able to tell right away

1/ If the source is too powerful, the C9 will clip and distort.

2/ If the source is shorted to ground, You have no sound from a channel or both...there is no freaking way to get around it


To believe the C9 can damage your source is just plain silly, period.

 

[bigbeans]

Gotcha, thanks! Sorry whitigir, it seemed strange flagship from iBasso had issue, hence my silly question haha.

 

[mungster]

hmmmm potentially silly question

So would a prospective consumer of C9 know what equipment is safe and what isn't? I shudder to think if my R8 and Cayin C9 got damaged due to a mismatch.

If any one device is shorted it will be only a isolated incident with that device. That doesn't mean people have to worry about if a device will be a mismatched and if there is potential damage to their equipment. Sometimes you will have a defective device that is shorted due to a QC issue.

 

[twister6]

The DX300 ran fine for over a month. The week I start using the C9 the DX300 amp blew. Got the new amp and the DX300 worked fine again. I started using the C9 and again the amp blew within a week. It seems to be an issue with the C9 but I don’t know for sure. Paul from iBasso said it is possible that the C9 is grounding the negative side of the balanced circuit, which would blow the op amps for the negative side.

I see you have other sources in your sig, did you use any other DAP with C9 and have you seen any issues with it?

I have been using DX300 w/C9 during my C9 review without a problem, and now prepping for DX300 review and using it more with C9, still all good.

 

[Whitigir]

Gotcha, thanks! Sorry whitigir, it seemed strange flagship from iBasso had issue, hence my silly question haha.

Flagship or not, defective happens. That is why we have warranty .

 

[Shecky504]

I see you have other sources in your sig, did you use any other DAP with C9 and have you seen any issues with it?

I have been using DX300 w/C9 during my C9 review without a problem, and now prepping for DX300 review and using it more with C9, still all good.

I have but only briefly. I don’t want to risk damaging anything else at this point.

 

[twister6]

I have but only briefly. I don’t want to risk damaging anything else at this point.

Maybe a good time for Andy to step in with his take on this.

 

[bluestorm1992]

Maybe a good time for Andy to step in with his take on this.

@Andykong and @Paul - iBasso are not too far away from each other. (Zhuhai and Shenzhen), perhaps they can send out demo units to each other to test this out.

 

[Whitigir]

Unless @twister6 has his dx300 damaged as well by connecting to the C9, then they need to check it out. I have used Dx300 line out with C9 and I am fine. So do others.

I can not think of any specific instances where any working amplifier can damage the source ? Unless using bad cables, which would damage both.

 

[KickAssChewGum]

May I ask if someone could give their views on these 4.4mm to 4.4mm interconnects to connect a C9 to an N6ii A02 please? Not many to choose from out there unless one custom makes them which then gets very expensive. if you have any recommendations of your own please let me know. Thanks for your time.

https://penonaudio.com/penon-totem-audio-cable.html

https://zeppelinandco.com/products/...player-tws-hum-tara-ic?variant=29593493209160

https://www.lazada.sg/products/44mm...ect-cable-by-infinite-cables-i1449040483.html

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08KTJ4...colid=24PFG2R6A5UX&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-4mm-Ma...&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&redirect=mobile

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audiocra...trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851&redirect=mobile

I can attest to the Penon Totem interconnect being a great match between the N6ii/A02 and C9.

 

[Whitigir]

Ok, honestly, I have used all DAPs line out or phones out (including DMP Z1) to amplifiers of all kinds including 950V Stax amplifiers, my Yamaha A-S3000 amplifier, my DIY amplifiers...If working amplifier can damage the source such as DAC or DAP with properly made cables, then I am either very stupid .... or very lucky

I can not think of any instances that when properly connecting between pieces, you can potentially damage the source by the amplifier at all

 

[twister6]

Unless @twister6 has his dx300 damaged as well by connecting to the C9, then they need to check it out. I have used Dx300 line out with C9 and I am fine. So do others.

I can not think of any specific instances where any working amplifier can damage the source ? Unless using bad cables, which would damage both.

Nothing is damaged, except for almost damaging my ears after I forgot to switch back to PO from LO after using DX300 w/C9 and plugging in IEMs the next day

 

[Whitigir]

Nothing is damaged, except for almost damaging my ears after I forgot to switch back to PO from LO after using DX300 w/C9 and plugging in IEMs the next day

Same here LOL... that damn Neutron auto play on plugged detection

 

[Andykong]

Well, I received a replacement amp for my DX300 last week and all was back to normal using my C9 with 4.4mm balanced output. Until today The same issue occurred where the amp is blown again. @Andykong Any thoughts on what keeps blowing the DX300 amp? I am using the DX300 in High Gain using Line Out to a Cayin C9 in High Gain on 4.4mm balanced output and after 1 week the DX300 amp sounds blown and unusable. I may be forced to sell my C9 unfortunately since the DX300 is my daily driver.

I repeat this again, the C9 is an amplifier. It CAN NOT Damage the source. If any potential problems, you will be able to tell right away

1/ If the source is too powerful, the C9 will clip and distort.

2/ If the source is shorted to ground, You have no sound from a channel or both...there is no freaking way to get around it


To believe the C9 can damage your source is just plain silly, period.

Maybe a good time for Andy to step in with his take on this.

My limited technical understanding agree with Whitigir, I can't think of any scenario that an amplifier can damage its source equipment when there is no feedback loop in the signal path. The fact that Shecky504 can used his DX300 with C9 for several days also ruled out a short circuit problem in C9. If the C9 is having a short circuit when connected to his DX300, it shouldn't last beyond 10 minutes.

We have borrowed a set of DX300 and conduct some test in our factory after we received Shecky502's email complaint. So far our testing set is working perfectly alright. Will report after we have complete our test.