Cayin C9: Dual Nutube, Fully Balanced Class A/AB Portable HeadAmp
Feb 11, 2021 at 2:21 AM Post #1,066 of 6,204
N8 line out is far better than sp2k fake line out. Cleaner, better separation and soundstage. Bass heavy tracks become blurred on sp2k but retain instrument separation on n8.

I believe dx300 has true line out on 4.4 balanced with a very high 7v output

7V line out? that's the highest output level I have read so far, please make sure your amplifier can accept line input at this level because you try it out, or at least try it at very low volume and move up gradually.

By the way, when I said "pseudo" line out, I thought I was very brave already. :wink:
 
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Feb 11, 2021 at 2:24 AM Post #1,067 of 6,204
SP2k is a good DAP but what I am finding is in line out mode it starts to struggle because it has the amplifiers still in play. Essentially line out is just setting the volume to max.

I use the DD hifi 2.5 and 3.5 double connection to 4.4 which essentially provides a ground but I also tried a 2.5 to 4.4 straight connect. There was no difference I could tell in blackness or sound quality.

It's not that bad, just the n8 is noticeably better I matched volume as best I could. The sp2k sounds great if you hear it first, but switch to n8 and a veil, is lifted.

The problem with n8 is I don't like the interface and I do use streaming.

I personally think sp2k is overpriced when you consider alternatives like dx300 are a third of the price in Europe

May I suggest N6ii with A02, while stock last only. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
 
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Feb 11, 2021 at 2:30 AM Post #1,068 of 6,204
Base on the description you provided, this is not a pre-amp output. Apparently this is an attenuated LPF output so that you can used it in "alternative" scenario such as car audio. No voltage gain is mentioned and is unlikely included based on the application they quoted. I'll classify this as variable line out, IMHO.

I'll be looking forward to more impression from you on mix and match C9 with different source in different connection and in different setting/mode, arithmetically, you have over 50 combinations to deal with, if not 100. :wink:

PS: I take 1 day off only, and we have 8 new pages in this thread, ... you guys just won't stop at all. :beerchug:
And I have 12 pairs of IEMs.
Too many combinations, too little time......
The sweetest pain of audiophile. :)

20210211_164225.jpg
 
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Feb 11, 2021 at 2:32 AM Post #1,069 of 6,204
I have seen a lot of people with such tendency and it puzzles me a lot.

If they are interested in buying C9 and want to know whether it is good or not, nothing can replace doing a demo by themselves.

Couldn't agree more. If you are in doubt, please wait for a demo in person. That's always my advice to customer inquiries.
Sadly, without CanJam, AXPONA, Munich high-end, HK High-end AV show, .... we have a very hard time to facilitate a demo, so my next suggestion is to wait for more reviews and user impression if you are in doubt.
 
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Feb 11, 2021 at 2:45 AM Post #1,070 of 6,204
I am not sure what case is best for C9, it vents a lot of heat especially in Class AB and Tube mode.

The Nutube won't generate a lot of heat during operation, but it will draw more current, and therefore heated up the circuit in Class AB mode when compare to Solid State mode.

Class A probably will generate more heat, in regardless tube or SS mode.
 
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Feb 11, 2021 at 2:45 AM Post #1,071 of 6,204
I see, we need to JUSTIFY our price with a measurement report. So Schiit sells more unit after they published the report? 30% increase in sales? or 3%? You got to give me some figure so that I can convince my management to take the risk of publishing something that a large percentage of worldwide consumers will be confused and misunderstood.

I suggest you don't bother. lol. I know about ASR and think it's great he exists, but I agree the only reason he's helpful is the independent measurements, and obviously I don't care enough to wait.
 
Feb 11, 2021 at 2:47 AM Post #1,072 of 6,204
I know it must have been Burn-In changes. At the moment I am in love too much with Class AB and Solid States!!!

That dynamic, bass slams and punchiness, that soundstage, imaging, body, textures are all to die for!!! It is almost like I am listening to my desktop but I can stand up and walk around when needed!!

Also, the amp overall sound better after 20 minutes, not just KORG tubes LOL!!! Don’t let that bother you though. It just sound great as soon as it is cranked up, just better after some minutes

The discrete components probably takes longer to enter optimum condition when compare to Op-amp based circuit.
 
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Feb 11, 2021 at 3:14 AM Post #1,075 of 6,204
Almost I think! Need to do more testing first. I actually haven't had the time to even go back to my Broadway Amp; been too busy with IEM pairings.

Edit: I actually think that C9 is a no-brainer option if you want to enjoy V2 on-the-go. Hugo 2 is not even close to its power in driving full-size headphones.

I think headphone pairing is relatively straightforward, once we have impression with Utopia/Stella, HD800, ZMF VC, Empyrean, Diana, HE1000v2, HEDDphone, ... we know what C9 the strength and limitation of C9 already. It's the mix and match with different IEM (in different setting/mode) that remain a lot of uncertainties.

So please, share your observations with IEM paring, I am sure that will offer a lot of insight to the readers of this thread.
 
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Feb 11, 2021 at 3:20 AM Post #1,076 of 6,204
I am doing it through 3.5 to 3.5 mm IC, and I have tried both the Pre-in mode and line-in mode of C9. The effects are quite similar: You get mostly Hugo 2 sound signature plus a lot more power in the output. The sound did become slightly more analytical, I think partly due to me using the SS mode of C9.

In addition, I have found that the degree C9 (even in line-in) changes the signature of the source vary from source to source. For example, I have always found Hugo 2 to have a dominant sound signature (in a good way), so what C9 does is mainly giving it more power. If I use a source like LPG, the change in sound signature is much more noticeable.

If you are using LPG in 3.5mm line out, your observations is kind of anticipated. I believe Hugo 2 line out is a only a fixed voltage output from phone out, maybe with a different output impedance? So this is more like a pseudo line out in my previous list, but the LPG 3.5mm line out is probably an unamplified clean line out.

I have checked this. Hugo 2's line-out mode is really just setting its volume/output power to max. RCA and phone out all share the same source in the back, just different output formats as I understand it.

Probably not setting volume or output power to max, just a predetermined output level.

When you said different output format, do they share the same output impedance? Did Chord provide any information along that line?
 
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Feb 11, 2021 at 3:27 AM Post #1,077 of 6,204
And I have 12 pairs of IEMs.
Too many combinations, too little time......
The sweetest pain of audiophile. :)

You better start with an Excel worksheet :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
 
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