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

[NJoyzAudio]

Why a separate battery tray? Just get a battery charger and spare batteries, and swap batteries.
I have two sets of batteries, charged, but have not had the need to do that, I just charge C9 when not in use is sufficient for my use.

gto88

Its 100% personal choice
For me its easier, faster and safer to travel with 4 additional batteries charged, waiting to be swapped out via the tray then carrying individual cells, and fumbling around to swap them out. Safer that even in battery carrying cases for the 18650, in the tray no chance of shorting out the cells
Also the tray doubles as a charger so that eliminates carrying that also
But again its personal choice/taste, and how I preferred to use my C9 when I had it and just replicating the same for the C9ii

 

[tomfox]

gto88

Its 100% personal choice
For me its easier, faster and safer to travel with 4 additional batteries charged, waiting to be swapped out via the tray then carrying individual cells, and fumbling around to swap them out. Safer that even in battery carrying cases for the 18650, in the tray no chance of shorting out the cells
Also the tray doubles as a charger so that eliminates carrying that also
But again its personal choice/taste, and how I preferred to use my C9 when I had it and just replicating the same for the C9ii

Charging outsider The Tracy is ok, but to get the unit working you must first Connect it with a charger. Swapping trays is easier

 

[anthony9574]

Anyone have a comparison between the C9ii (or even the original) and a desktop amp like the HA-3A/HA-6A? I'm assuming a portable amp of this size won't come close to the power or soundstage of a full size amp but i'm curious how these mini tubes compare.

 

[Midian27]

Anyone have a comparison between the C9ii (or even the original) and a desktop amp like the HA-3A/HA-6A? I'm assuming a portable amp of this size won't come close to the power or soundstage of a full size amp but i'm curious how these mini tubes compare.

Have a Cayin HA-300MK2 at home. I am currently on vacation and can only say out of memory for now.
Of course the C9ii can't really compete with the Desktop one. But as you I didn't expected it to do.
But I am actually pretty impressed by the Cayin C9II, I expected the gap to be greater, it does an absolute great job.
I can ich say more in about 2 weeks.

 

[NJoyzAudio]

Anyone have a comparison between the C9ii (or even the original) and a desktop amp like the HA-3A/HA-6A? I'm assuming a portable amp of this size won't come close to the power or soundstage of a full size amp but i'm curious how these mini tubes compare.

anthony9574

I compared the C9 (OG model, I now own the C9ii, and can state what I wrote earlier still applies) to the HA-3A and another Desktop amp I had at the time here:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/cay...ss-a-ab-portable-headamp.943135/post-17906689

The C9ii is a great amp which will be less "fussy" than a std tube desktop amp.
But you do loose the abilty to tube roll and some other features
What you gain is a great portable amp that will help bring out the best in portable gear and drive almost ANY headphone and definitely all but a few IEM's

But as I wrote earlier its not going to change a bad IEM/Headphone to your ears into something great unless its a lack of power holding back its potential.
And you MUST pair great IC's and cables to your devices to maximize what the C9ii can do.
As to IC's I wrote in an earlier post, and then a follow up post what I'm hearing with IC's from various companies

But all I wrote is IMO and YMMV

Hope this information helps

 

[Midian27]

anthony9574

I compared the C9 (OG model, I now own the C9ii, and can state what I wrote earlier still applies) to the HA-3A and another Desktop amp I had at the time here:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/cay...ss-a-ab-portable-headamp.943135/post-17906689

The C9ii is a great amp which will be less "fussy" than a std tube desktop amp.
But you do loose the abilty to tube roll and some other features
What you gain is a great portable amp that will help bring out the best in portable gear and drive almost ANY headphone and definitely all but a few IEM's

But as I wrote earlier its not going to change a bad IEM/Headphone to your ears into something great unless its a lack of power holding back its potential.
And you MUST pair great IC's and cables to your devices to maximize what the C9ii can do.
As to IC's I wrote in an earlier post, and then a follow up post what I'm hearing with IC's from various companies

But all I wrote is IMO and YMMV

Hope this information helps

anthony9574

I compared the C9 (OG model, I now own the C9ii, and can state what I wrote earlier still applies) to the HA-3A and another Desktop amp I had at the time here:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/cay...ss-a-ab-portable-headamp.943135/post-17906689

The C9ii is a great amp which will be less "fussy" than a std tube desktop amp.
But you do loose the abilty to tube roll and some other features
What you gain is a great portable amp that will help bring out the best in portable gear and drive almost ANY headphone and definitely all but a few IEM's

But as I wrote earlier its not going to change a bad IEM/Headphone to your ears into something great unless its a lack of power holding back its potential.
And you MUST pair great IC's and cables to your devices to maximize what the C9ii can do.
As to IC's I wrote in an earlier post, and then a follow up post what I'm hearing with IC's from various companies

But all I wrote is IMO and YMMV

Hope this information helps

Thank you, that's a very good explanation/comparison.

 

[Andy tan]

Even though you may not agree, this to me is Cayin C10.. We have taken C9 and turned it up to 11.. Too many permutations and combinations...

Guys ..how you get this emoji headphones sticker?

 

[Midian27]

Guys ..how you get this emoji headphones sticker?

There is a head-fi category at the emoji section. The one of the site, not the local one of your smartphone.

 

[Andy tan]

got it!

 

[zolom]

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19TBDPFJnJ/

 

[Hunetly]

anthony9574

I compared the C9 (OG model, I now own the C9ii, and can state what I wrote earlier still applies) to the HA-3A and another Desktop amp I had at the time here:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/cay...ss-a-ab-portable-headamp.943135/post-17906689

The C9ii is a great amp which will be less "fussy" than a std tube desktop amp.
But you do loose the abilty to tube roll and some other features
What you gain is a great portable amp that will help bring out the best in portable gear and drive almost ANY headphone and definitely all but a few IEM's

But as I wrote earlier its not going to change a bad IEM/Headphone to your ears into something great unless its a lack of power holding back its potential.
And you MUST pair great IC's and cables to your devices to maximize what the C9ii can do.
As to IC's I wrote in an earlier post, and then a follow up post what I'm hearing with IC's from various companies

But all I wrote is IMO and YMMV

Hope this information helps

Thanks for sharing, I am recently upgrading from c9 to c9ii.
Hope is a good move

 

[whattodo]

you MUST pair great IC's and cables to your devices to maximize what the C9ii can do.

Do you have recommendation?

 

[bflat]

Thanks for sharing, I am recently upgrading from c9 to c9ii.
Hope is a good move

I would look at it this way - if you miss the C9, set your C9ii to NFB off, High Anode, Modern. Now in addition to C9 sound you have quite a few more options to enjoy.

 

[Hunetly]

I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you’re right. Thanks for the insight!
That's a great perspective.

I would look at it this way - if you miss the C9, set your C9ii to NFB off, High Anode, Modern. Now in addition to C9 sound you have quite a few more options to enjoy.

 

[NJoyzAudio]

Do you have recommendation?

whattodo

It is personal choice/taste/budget here, but as I've invested into the C9ii, my IEMs, cable to the IEMs, I'd be crazy not to optimize the IC but doesn't mean you have to do what I did so will give you a range, but don't expect the bargain IC to perform at the same level as TOTL.
But to me was still better than the stock IC (which FYI isn't bad, its just that you can improve with this change)
I've had and reviewed (and provided links earlier) to the 2 IC reviews I've done for the C9 and the C9ii
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/cay...ss-a-ab-portable-headamp.943135/post-16615751
and here
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/cay...imbre-anode-nfb-pre-line.973711/post-18444904
I've had custom IC's made from Plussound and they are still in my rotation but latetly I've been using the Eletech Euclid IC more.
I've also ordered a Eletech Sonnet of Adam 6 wire (grounded) IC for the C9ii as I think this will help remove some background static as well as improve the stage.

Bargain Basement
GUCraftsman Silver IC
Though small gauge wire its a true 6n OCC silver, not a SPC (which I personally don't care for) or lesser quality silver I've found from some other lower cost IC's
Available on Amazon, today's price is $36

I've also had GREAT experience with the Plussound X8 IC's (and price can vary depending on what wire type you choose - Range is $199 to $1300)
https://www.plussoundaudio.com/cust...ries-Custom-Cable-for-Interconnect-p250248594

Really having great experience with Eletech's IC's
https://elementechnology.com/collections/accessories/products/proadapt-series-interconnects?variant=39308592283747
Again dependent on the wire you choose, Aristotle IC sounds to me much better than the stock Cayin and bonus its grounded, The Euclid was much better IMO than the Aristotle, the Sonnet of Adam did what I was looking for - The range is going to be from about $249 -$800
Would recommend at min the grounded versions.

There are also IC's from PW Audio, and other cable makers which I've seen IC's go for as high as $2000+
I have borrowed and tried many of them, but I've had great results with the ones mentioned above, especially the Euclid from Eletech and just keep coming back to these mentioned above as recommendations

Hope this helps, and the above is IMO, and YMMV