[HiFiHawaii808]

Those are to go from 4.4mm output to RCA input. Like connecting your DAP to a single ended amp.

You can go BAL to SE, but never the other way around.

Got it. I was just wondering why there were so many cables out there with 4.4mm. Your explanation clarifies the issue.

edited to note: I am going to avoid those cables with RCA and balanced terminations. Same reason I avoid anything with 3.5mm balanced. I can see my son looking at the plugs and trying it because it fits. I try to avoid any combinations that could accidentally cause ground problems.

 

[zen87192]

Does anyone know if the white power light on the button changes to a different colour at any time to indicate something? Or does it just stay white when powered?

 

[bluestorm1992]

Does anyone know if the white power light on the button changes to a different colour at any time to indicate something? Or does it just stay white when powered?

Just stayed white all the time for me. Does yours change to a different color?

 

[zen87192]

No... Just asking in case I get a coronery seeing the C9 displaying a different fault code colour... like to be prepared.

 

[lucasratmundo]

I'm getting some background hissing with U12t in the C9. Any other U12t owners experiencing the same?

 

[bluestorm1992]

I'm getting some background hissing with U12t in the C9. Any other U12t owners experiencing the same?

What is your source? I know that if you use SP2000 and with high gain of C9, you are likely to get hiss with IEMs. Switching C9 to low gain solves the issue.

 

[lucasratmundo]

What is your source? I know that if you use SP2000 and with high gain of C9, you are likely to get hiss with IEMs. Switching C9 to low gain solves the issue.

Yes, this is exactly my setup: SP2000 + C9. Using low gain solved the issue. Thanks!

 

[lucasratmundo]

What is your source? I know that if you use SP2000 and with high gain of C9, you are likely to get hiss with IEMs. Switching C9 to low gain solves the issue.

@bluestorm1992 Do you know if low gain stops the Odin from hissing too? I'm considering getting an Odin soon but I've been reading some mixed experiences with the Odin and C9.

 

[bluestorm1992]

@bluestorm1992 Do you know if low gain stops the Odin from hissing too? I'm considering getting an Odin soon but I've been reading some mixed experiences with the Odin and C9.

Better to consult Alex @twister6 about this. Also, @HiFiHawaii808 is getting C9 soon and he has Odin as well. I remember Alex mentioned that the iFi IEMatch will help the pairing with Odin.

Edit: I can also report that Sultan is not a great pairing with C9, while SP2000 alone is an extremely good pairing with it. Not about the hiss issue, just the synergy.

Traillii is a very very good pairing with C9; it benefits so much from it. I am gonna try out MMR’s new flagship and QDC V14 as well. V14 had reported to be a very good pairing with C9.

 

[Whitigir]

Those are to go from 4.4mm output to RCA input. Like connecting your DAP to a single ended amp.

You can go BAL to SE, but never the other way around.

No, even the DAP with balanced, it just can not automatically go from balanced to single ended. You will essentially short out the Negatives L and R toward ground. It is only possible to use it this way if and only when the DAP itself has a differential stages that can automatically switch from balanced out to SE out when it detects a short. I know the Ibasso Dx220Max can do so, and by far is the only DAP

 

[Kiats]

@Andykong Thanks to you and your team at Cayin for making it possible to quickly send out a replacement C9 for my DOA one. Much appreciated.

Quick Q, @Andykong : any ETA for the replacement C9? Zepp has been asked but no response. Guess they’re too busy with shoppers over the Easter weekend. Thanks!

 

[bluestorm1992]

Have any reviewers done a comparison with this and the WA11? I'm wondering if it is worth the upgrade (noting that there is no DAC in the C9.

Got some time to give you a quick reply.

I will say C9 is a significant upgrade from WA11. To me C9 has three clear advantages over WA11:

1. C9 can deliver wonderful performance with both IEMs and headphones. WA11 is not really designed to be used with IEMs.
2. C9 has a much better versatility. It has two timbre (tube!/SS) and two classes (A/AB) and has both 3.5 and 4.4 for input and output. On the other hand, WA11 is relatively restrictive as it only has one mode (SS) and only has a 4.4 output.
3. Even for the SS mode alone, C9 performs better than WA11. I used to have WA11 to drive Diana V2. Although it had plenty of power, the background distortion of WA11 was so significant. (This is with LPGT as the dedicated source). I ended up selling it to get a Broadway Amp which is a significant step up. I hold on to the Broadway Amp until I acquired C9. I found the performance between C9 and Broadway to be almost identical in driving the V2, so I sold the Broadway and have been keeping C9 as the driver for V2.

A final quick point is that the DAC in WA11 is really bad based on both my subjective listening experience and measurements. So, unless you really cherish the ability to have an all-in-one device, I don’t think WA11 will be able to compete with C9. Of course, C9 is also more expensive, so this is something to consider.

 

[infinitejustice]

@bluestorm1992 Do you know if low gain stops the Odin from hissing too? I'm considering getting an Odin soon but I've been reading some mixed experiences with the Odin and C9.

Odin is my go to iem, and I use SP2k ss (also have cu but ss is my daily driver), and C9.

sp2k is aready amazing with Odin, no hiss. I use C9 with it usually in tube+class A mode, low gain, 6v LO from sp2k ss, I don’t hear any hiss. (Odin+stormbreaker cable)

As for improvement, to be honest Odin pairing with sp2k is already excellent. Adding C9 does not improve stage or detail or anything like that I do it for the change in tonality, the tube in c9 makes it a little more smooth and a tad warmer. Low end, bass, mid bass hits a little harder.

C9 effect is much more prominent with other iem, but for Odin, only slightly. More like changing flavor, to an already excellent highly detail and transparent pairing.

 

[Whitigir]

C9 is worth every pennies

 

[xand]

Better to consult Alex @twister6 about this. Also, @HiFiHawaii808 is getting C9 soon and he has Odin as well. I remember Alex mentioned that the iFi IEMatch will help the pairing with Odin.

I suggest you try Odin...