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

[bluestorm1992]

Can't play Angry Birds with my Dunu Lunas on Astell and Kern DAP.

AK is already behind.

DAPs like DX300 are beats in terms of functionality.

 

[fuhransahis]

I notice that the C9 gets quite warm. Are others using some kind of feet to get some airflow underneath?

I do. In fact, I actually put rubber feet on the case, assuming that if the heat causes them to leave any adhesive residue, I'd rather replace a case than mar the finish on the C9.

I put furniture feet on the bottom of mine, they go on top of the protector film that's still on so there's no adhesive residue leftover when/if I get a case later on (just remove the film).

Also doubled-up command strips to create space between the amp and DAP and keep airflow there. These also hold really well and leave literally no residue when removed.

Seems ghetto for the gear but Empy + C9 = no money left for fancy leather case

All jokes aside it does actually work well and neatly. I'll have to swap those white command strips in the middle for black ones so my OCD doesn't go too crazy.

 

[CANiSLAYu]

N6ii Titanium will be competing against AK SE180 I think ?

This is interesting as a Known Lixurious brand has brought itself down a few levels to compete to Cayin, or Cayin has brought itself up a few levels to compete against AK. Could be both

However, it is very interesting to see the direction this hobby is heading toward

FiiO had an interesting and honest post a few months back about their strategy/roadmap as relates to DAPs.

To summarize it very crudely, there’s basically no margin for manufacturers and little consumer interest in low/mid-fi DAPs. That market has been completely taken over by dongles and Bluetooth DAC/amps where you get a much better user experience on your smartphone versus a crappy SOC/screen on a cheap DAP.

So DAP manufacturers are forced to move upstream where the margins are better and there’s more consumer interest. FiiO is abandoning all DAPs under the M11 going forward as a result.

I wouldn’t be surprised if most DAP manufacturers will be in the same boat if a brand like FiiO which made its name in the budget/value arena is going to focus strictly on the high end.

 

[SBranson]

I put furniture feet on the bottom of mine, they go on top of the protector film that's still on so there's no adhesive residue leftover when/if I get a case later on (just remove the film).

Also doubled-up command strips to create space between the amp and DAP and keep airflow there. These also hold really well and leave literally no residue when removed.

Seems ghetto for the gear but Empy + C9 = no money left for fancy leather case

All jokes aside it does actually work well and neatly. I'll have to swap those white command strips in the middle for black ones so my OCD doesn't go too crazy.

I bought some cupboard bumpers but I think I might get something a little taller.

I wish the cable was a as bit longer as my M8 has the jack on the top.

 

[RTodd]

I bought some cupboard bumpers but I think I might get something a little taller.

I wish the cable was a as bit longer as my M8 has the jack on the top.

I was thinking of ordering a longer cable to.

On the heat issue recommending one of the Cayin cases. The bumpers will not be needed if heat is why you added them. The case does an excellent job dissipating the heat.

It is open with gaps between the metal fins that effectively radiate the heat fast so there is little temperature build up even after hours of listening.

Not sure what material it is made out of, the parts that touch the C9 (the black part) around the edges seems to effectively transfer the heat to the metal fins.

The fins have space for air flow around them.

Whatever is going on here it works and the whole package stays only slightly warm.

 

[SBranson]

I was thinking of ordering a longer cable to.

On the heat issue recommending one of the Cayin cases. The bumpers will not be needed if heat is why you added them. The case does an excellent job dissipating the heat.

It is open with gaps between the metal fins that effectively radiate the heat fast so there is little temperature build up even after hours of listening.

Not sure what material it is made out of, the parts that touch the C9 (the black part) around the edges seems to effectively transfer the heat to the metal fins.

The fins have space for air flow around them.

Whatever is going on here it works and the whole package stays only slightly warm.

Hmm, I listened for about 1 1/2 hours last night on tube mode and it was quite warm.. hopefully that’s normal. I’ve had lots of tube amps in the past in 2 channel so I know they can run quite hot.

 

[RTodd]

Hmm, I listened for about 1 1/2 hours last night on tube mode and it was quite warm.. hopefully that’s normal. I’ve had lots of tube amps in the past in 2 channel so I know they can run quite hot.

I am using tube mode as well class AB which may cause difference for amount of heat compared with class A. Are you using one of the cases?

 

[SBranson]

I am using tube mode as well class AB which may cause difference for amount of heat compared with class A. Are you using one of the cases?

No I’m not using the case. I kinda figure that at that price it should have been included but it was already a stretch for me to buy the C9 and the bump over $2k with the case just psychologically threw me off.. ha ha..

You’re probably right that the Class A is part of the heat thing. I’ll try AB and see.

 

[aaf evo]

I’ve used mine Tube mode class AB for hours at a time, with a case on, and haven’t had any issues with heat.

 

[RTodd]

P

No I’m not using the case. I kinda figure that at that price it should have been included but it was already a stretch for me to buy the C9 and the bump over $2k with the case just psychologically threw me off.. ha ha..

You’re probably right that the Class A is part of the heat thing. I’ll try AB and see.

You need a case, it is worth the extra money.

Class A could run hotter. I have used A also and the case still did the job.

The sound was really close between A and AB so I have been using AB to get a little more play time. 5 hours many days is not enough while I am in the office working. Eventually I will try the batteries that give an extra hour. Class A sounds a tiny bit better to me.

 

[decur]

for me,
class a + tube mode sounds much better than a/b + tube mode
class a + tube mode gets boiling hot,im too scared to wrap my c9 in a case while listening

 

[jmills8]

for me,
class a + tube mode sounds much better than a/b + tube mode
class a + tube mode gets boiling hot,im too scared to wrap my c9 in a case while listening

Hot = sounds better.

 

[RTodd]

for me,
class a + tube mode sounds much better than a/b + tube mode
class a + tube mode gets boiling hot,im too scared to wrap my c9 in a case while listening

Will try it again today with case and see, I did that last week and on my recent flights, and I do not think it was any hotter with the case than AB. I agree with you A does sound better, not much though to my ears.

Can you describe a bit more what you hear that makes it much better in A, particularly is that specific to a frequency range or across the board, is it just in the handling of the transients?

 

[Whitigir]

Will try it again today with case and see, I did that last week and on my recent flights, and I do not think it was any hotter with the case than AB. I agree with you A does sound better, not much though to my ears.

Can you describe a bit more what you hear that makes it much better in A, particularly is that specific to a frequency range or across the board, is it just in the handling of the transients?

For me, the transients is a tad slower and the bass is rounder, fuller, extending better, but also may be more blooming where the AB is tighter and faster. It should just be personal preferences. However, they don’t sound like night and days differences.

Class A + Tubes should fry an egg after 3-4 hours operation, even without any cases....Hence I have heatsinks on mine lol

Anyways, by 3-4 hours, stock batteries should be almost drained. So you don’t have to worry if you only listen for a short period and charge it up. Unless you go for larger capacity batteries and listen longer

 

[RTodd]

For me, the transients is a tad slower and the bass is rounder, fuller, extending better, but also may be more blooming where the AB is tighter and faster. It should just be personal preferences. However, they don’t sound like night and days differences.

Class A + Tubes should fry an egg after 3-4 hours operation, even without any cases....Hence I have heatsinks on mine lol

Anyways, by 3-4 hours, stock batteries should be almost drained. So you don’t have to worry if you only listen for a short period and charge it up. Unless you go for larger capacity batteries and listen longer

Finding the Cayin case solves the fry an egg issue, unless you need to fry an egg than that is a good thing.

There is something well done going on here with how Cayin designed that case. No leather here, the black material must be an excellent conductor of energy. Seems it is allowing the heat sink metal of the case to dissipate the heat at a rate that keeps up with its generation on the surface of the C9s housing. I think this is just material science and attention to detail at work here.