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

[RTodd]

I can only comment on Cayin's approach to line out, for obvious reason.

To certain extend, there won't be any black and white answer because there is no standard in DAP line out, everyone is doing their own version of line out. Line out in home audio has a fairly standardize practise, I prefer to stick with that standard if possible.

In home audio, line out is fixed level un-amplified output from your source: CD player, DAC, phono amp, ... etc. Single-ended line out should be 2V to 2.2V, Balanced line out should be 4V - 4.4V. There shouldn't be any "gain" control in line out because they are supposed to be unamplified signal. There shouldn't be volume control because they are supposed to be fixed level signal.

Cayin implements the line out of our DAP under the same principles. Unless we stated the line out as shared line out or shared output with phone out, it will be fixed level un-amplified output from the DAC circuit (buffered output from LPF). The only feature that we added to our line out was choice of L, M, L level. In order to allow our DAP to pair with headphone amplifier with very high gain, we have attenuated our line output level to around 50% and 75% of the standard line output level.

If you have following our previous discussion along on this subject (HERE), you probably aware that there are a lot of "variation" of line out from DAP. C9 is flexible enough to work with most of them satisfactory, but if you are searching for an ideal line out source for C9, I'll suggested you start with something that is UNAMPLIFIED (i.e., no gain in the signal) and FIXED LEVEL. (i.e., no volume control).

Thanks Andy that helps me understand better.

 

[bluestorm1992]

Seems that I have reached the endpoint of my IEM journey with my recent purchases (Mason FS, P6 Pro, SK...), except perhaps getting the Traillii sometime in the future. Getting a bit bored and then pick up my Diana V2 + C9, now with the new mate P6 Pro as the R2R DAC source. WOW!

Maybe time to (re)explore the second rabbit hole - headphones. C9 is the enabler.

 

[SQ13]

Seems that I have reached the endpoint of my IEM journey with my recent purchases (Mason FS, P6 Pro, SK...), except perhaps getting the Traillii sometime in the future. Getting a bit bored and then pick up my Diana V2 + C9, now with the new mate P6 Pro as the R2R DAC source. WOW!

Maybe time to (re)explore the second rabbit hole - headphones. C9 is the enabler.

maybe checkout the new closed back planar from Kennerton, Rognir. i have not heard it yet but looks good.

 

[bluestorm1992]

maybe checkout the new closed back planar from Kennerton, Rognir. i have not heard it yet but looks good.

Thanks! That’s on my radar too.

 

[soundblast75]

Thanks! That’s on my radar too.

Should be getting them if everything goes according to plan

 

[bluestorm1992]

Should be getting them if everything goes according to plan

Nice!!! Look forward to your impressions. Especially interested in their pairing with C9.

Here in the US, it will take 1-6 weeks from order to receive one.

 

[soundblast75]

Nice!!! Look forward to your impressions. Especially interested in their pairing with C9.

Here in the US, it will take 1-6 weeks from order to receive one.

Yeah, my story with this is complicated lol
But should be shipped directly from them in St Peters.
I am waiting to hear about 4.4 adapter

 

[xand]

Interesting, why 40mm? why not 50mm for full size can?

Single dynamic drivers - are perhaps best made of 40mm of Beryllium in a full sized can

Focal Utopia use 40mm beryllium drivers:

https://www.focal.com/sites/www.foc...ent/utopia_specification-sheet-newpack_en.pdf

 

[jmills8]

Focal Utopia use 40mm beryllium drivers:

https://www.focal.com/sites/www.foc...ent/utopia_specification-sheet-newpack_en.pdf

Looked great , but sounded average.

 

[Andykong]

Focal Utopia use 40mm beryllium drivers:

https://www.focal.com/sites/www.foc...ent/utopia_specification-sheet-newpack_en.pdf

ZMF is 50mm.

 

[Sajid Amit]

Hi everyone. My first time on this thread. I have recently reviewed the iFi Hip DAC, if it's of interest to anyone. I have a brief comparison to the DF Cobalt here.

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ifi-audio-hip-dac.24211/reviews#review-25877

Please do share feedback if any since I am starting out with reviews!

Reviewing mostly for fun.

 

[SBranson]

Almost a week into my C9 and no matter what I listen to I am just utterly amazed at what this does to my Elysium/M8/Eletech.

Tonight digging through the almost 800bg on my card, I had a listen to two versions of "Hide an Seek" by Imogen Heap.

This one by a local a capella quintet:



Such beautiful harmonies and with the C9 they are rendered so perfectly that the timbre of each voice and how they combine is so clear and sweet. I can follow any of the singers individual lines and then pull focus back to hear them harmonize and just play with the music..

Then of course the original:



I have never really heard what's actually going on here. I had thought it was a vocal track with some synth in the back but hearing it tonight that I heard that it's all vocal tracks that have been manipulated.. Just amazing hearing all the layers and tones and timbres. Just phenomenal..

I really feel like I've finally arrived...

 

[xand]

ZMF is 50mm.

Yep, but ZMF verite drivers aren't made of beryllium - they instead use beryllium vapor deposed onto a plastic/polymer driver.

Sound pretty good to me too.

 

[SBranson]

Seems that I have reached the endpoint of my IEM journey with my recent purchases (Mason FS, P6 Pro, SK...), except perhaps getting the Traillii sometime in the future. Getting a bit bored and then pick up my Diana V2 + C9, now with the new mate P6 Pro as the R2R DAC source. WOW!

Maybe time to (re)explore the second rabbit hole - headphones. C9 is the enabler.

Please no more talk about the Diana V2... I just managed to keep myself from chasing that so I don't want to hear how good it sounds... please..

 

[woodcans]

Almost a week into my C9 and no matter what I listen to I am just utterly amazed at what this does to my Elysium/M8/Eletech.

The C9 really helps the Ely shine. I am surprised this combo isn't mentioned more often.