Cayin C9ii: Dual Nutube Prtable Headphone Amplifier (Gen5 3x Timbre, Anode, NFB, Pre/Line)

[The jedi Baritone]

The DAC on the N7 was designed from ground up by Cayin model led after a very high-end full blown DAC using discrete components and implementing the bitstream technology. This is a very advanced DAC that is better than the DAC on the N8ii, I have both of this and compared them as source material driving the HifiMAN Shangri-la Jr. Now the DAC on the Cayin N30LE is a whole new ball game combining some of the good things from N7 with further enhancements.
I currently drive C9ii. With the DAC in N30LE AP using the balanced line out mode, hence the pre-amp and power amp on the C9ii are used completely, this allows me to fully enjoy All the innovations and enhancements to the pre and power amp of the N30LE AP. For me this is Ecstacy...sooo awesome

So what is your opinion on C9ii ?
Is it as good sounding as N30le? Or using it as an amp for N30 do you lose quality?
Is it as clean, clear , detailed , resolute as N30 or less ?
I am just curious as how does it sound .
Thanks in advance for answer !
George

 

[ECKHUAAA]

So what is your opinion on C9ii ?
Is it as good sounding as N30le? Or using it as an amp for N30 do you lose quality?
Is it as clean, clear , detailed , resolute as N30 or less ?
I am just curious as how does it sound .
Thanks in advance for answer !
George

It is quite a bit better than the N30LE amp, more detail, more holographic, more dynamic, it it has such a massive current drive that allows you to go from almost silence to the loudest within a music without distorting while retaining imagery, details, sweetness...and it has this very easfull presentation that is relaxed but very impactful, just like the way the ZMF Caldera is also designed and sound is rich and full bodied, detail retrieveal that is not analytical but musical. Now I use it in Hyper-mode, LFB, H Anode, H gain and Classic tube mode. Give it about 40mins to an hour to warm up....and you will not want to turn it off! Irrespective of the music genre.

 

[Andykong]

@Andykong I went to the customer service of cayin to ask some qns about the synergy of N7 and C9ii, I was told that C9ii is meant for high-end daps and while it works with N7, N7 has better synergy with C9. I am a bit disappointed and I came upon this. So I am confused on whether to get the C9ii now since the customer service at Cayin actually advice against it. Sighz. If Andy is reading this, can you confirm the synergy for between N7 and C9ii or is it true that N7 and C9 has better synergy like what the customer service said.

I just bought the c9ii but the cayin customer service is really bad.

They cannot be bothered to help me with the enquiries I have.

They just give redundant answers and ask me to read the user manual.

Aside from bad customer service, the c9ii is a really good pairing with any source.

This is a very interesting situation, can you provide more detail regarding your communication with the "Cayin Customer Service"? Which country and by what channel? Did you enter a local retail shop, talk to one of the shopkeeper and he told you that he is a formal representative of Cayin Audio?

For the record, we are in the middle of 75th National Day celebration, the country is having a 7 days nation wide vacation, so Cayin Customer Service is temporary not in service. Our office will resume operation on 8th October 2024. You can contact our service team via service@cayin.cn.

Can't comment on the service quality before I figure out the legitimacy of the Cayin Customer Service, but I stand by my advice that N7 is one of the best source to C9ii in the sub $2000 price range, and the only DAP that offers preamp output for C9ii Dual input mode. I am using this combo during this vacation.

 

[Tabikinoya Cephas]

This is a very interesting situation, can you provide more detail regarding your communication with the "Cayin Customer Service"? Which country and by what channel? Did you enter a local retail shop, talk to one of the shopkeeper and he told you that he is a formal representative of Cayin Audio?

For the record, we are in the middle of 75th National Day celebration, the country is having a 7 days nation wide vacation, so Cayin Customer Service is temporary not in service. Our office will resume operation on 8th October 2024. You can contact our service team via service@cayin.cn.

Can't comment on the service quality before I figure out the legitimacy of the Cayin Customer Service, but I stand by my advice that N7 is one of the best source to C9ii in the sub $2000 price range, and the only DAP that offers preamp output for C9ii Dual input mode. I am using this combo during this vacation.

@Andykong It is the customer service from Cayin Douyin store.

 

[McCol]

The C9ii appears to be in UK retailers and I'm itching to try it. However waiting for a house purchase to finalise before I can commit!

The N7 to me is one of the most under rated DAP's that has been produced by any company. I've been using my N7/C9 combo for over a year and it is truly stunning. I've had a couple of DAP's that were supposed to be of higher standing than the N7 but for me they can't match it's musicality

 

[Andykong]

@Andykong It is the customer service from Cayin Douyin store.

Are you referring to this account?

So you didn't meet the Cayin Customer service in person, you chat with him through Douyin? That's good, that makes the exchange trackable, can you please PM your dialog with the Cayin customer service to me, I'll follow up and try my best to provide an explanation.

 

[Tabikinoya Cephas]

Are you referring to this account?



So you didn't meet the Cayin Customer service in person, you chat with him through Douyin? That's good, that makes the exchange trackable, can you please PM your dialog with the Cayin customer service to me, I'll follow up and try my best to provide an explanation.

Yes, this is the douyin store. I have private msg you the screenshot of the chat.

 

[Andykong]

The C9ii Protection case is now available. They are semi-rugged design and is available in Blue and Black.

More details from the Cayin website (HERE) and our Aliexpress store.

The suggested retail price is US$79.09, please contact your Cayin dealer for local retail price and date of availalbility.

 

[WDitters]

The C9ii Protection case is not available. We offered two colors and they are semi-rugged design in two colors.

More details from the Cayin website (HERE) and our Aliexpress store.

The suggested retail price is US$79, please contact your Cayin dealer for local retail price and date of availalbility

WOW!!!

 

[AudioSep]

The C9ii Protection case is now available. They are semi-rugged design and is available in Blue and Black.

More details from the Cayin website (HERE) and our Aliexpress store.

The suggested retail price is US$79.09, please contact your Cayin dealer for local retail price and date of availalbility.

Am I the only one who thinks it's ridiculous?

 

[McCol]

Am I the only one who thinks it's ridiculous?

I think it looks pretty smart perosnally but we're all different!

 

[ahossam]

Looks much better than the first C9 case or even the N30 case, that one looks ugly for a limited edition products.

I missed previous C9, but this time I'm going to get the C9ii.

 

[maggie17fan]

The C9ii Protection case is now available. They are semi-rugged design and is available in Blue and Black.

More details from the Cayin website (HERE) and our Aliexpress store.

The suggested retail price is US$79.09, please contact your Cayin dealer for local retail price and date of availalbility.

It looks like it would be harder to use the volume knob?

 

[ECKHUAAA]

Am I the only one who thinks it's ridiculous?

It's beautiful and anything to protect and improve heat dissipation is welcome
I am getting one

 

[ECKHUAAA]

Looks much better than the first C9 case or even the N30 case, that one looks ugly for a limited edition products.

I missed previous C9, but this time I'm going to get the C9ii.

I wish there is a blue version for the N30LE case also