Cayin N3 Hi-Res DAP with AKM4490 DAC, apt-X Bluetooth, and Line, USB & Coax Out for $150

[nmatheis]

I typically use the old-school directory-tree method of file-browsing, as opposed to tags.   How is the N3 in this regard?

That will work beautifully. N3 provides folder view and that's my preferred options as well.

Same here. I've loaded up the N3 with a 200Gb SanDisk card. There are only 6Gb remaining on the card, so I've got it loaded up pretty full with mostly FLAC files. My card is organized just the way I like it, so I haven't even bothered to scan it into the N3's database. I just use folder browsing to find the album I want.

I'm listening to N3 right now with iBasso IT03 and answering some questions on the Massdrop page

 

[nmatheis]

BTW, I'm taking a week long trip to Dublin to visit my daughter who's studying abroad there. N3 with 200Gb card will be my audio companion for the week. Probably take my FLC8S IEM and Cypherus CampFred earbuds along, too.

 

[MPNow]

N3 supports M3U playlist, you can create your M3U playlist on computer, copy everything to a TF card and run the playlist on N3.

 
There are plenty of media players that allow you to create M3U playlists as well. Foobar200 is what I use.

 

[rikk009]

 
​Xduoo x3 has 250mW 32ohm and it stats it can drive 8-150

 

X3 drives HD650 at the point where the drivers might explode.
 
@Cayin I am interested in the player is there some place I can buy them in India? 
 
P.S I paid for Xduoo X10 on Tomtop and even after a month they didn't ship and refunded me. I thank them. Cayin N3 is what I was looking for.

 

[riffrafff]

Is there a link for an English owner's manual, yet?

 

[irrefleumas]

Been eyeing this DAP since the announcement. I think the N series are Non-touchscreen and the i series with android system. Really looking forward for the impressions, going to use the bluetooth alot. 

 

[Lost Cosmonaut]

I'm eyeing this on Massdrop; I'm tempted, but I need more info on the sound before I pull the trigger. I was considering the x5iii but I don't think it's worth it if I have the dx80. Maybe the N3 would be a good alternative. 

 

[Dexter22]

X3 drives HD650 at the point where the drivers might explode.

@Cayin
 I am interested in the player is there some place I can buy them in India? 

P.S I paid for Xduoo X10 on Tomtop and even after a month they didn't ship and refunded me. I thank them. Cayin N3 is what I was looking for.

Like i posted in the xduoo x10 thread: both xduoo x10 and cayin must have the same power. I initially thought the xduoo having more power, but i guess its the same as cayin specified the power per channel, and xduoo apecified overall power.

 

[stellarelephant]

N3 is for pre-order now. I saw some details.

Headphone output:
output power 130mW+130mW (32 ohm)
Frequency response 20-20kHz (+- 0.3 db)
THD+Noise 0.03% (@1kHz)
Dynamic Range: 108 dB
SNR: 108dB
output impedance: <1 ohm

Line out:
output level 1.0V
frequency response 20-20kHz (+- 0.3 db)
THD+Noise 0.03% (@1kHz)
Dynamic Range: 108 dB
SNR: 108dB

Coax out:
output level: 0.5Vp-p
output impedance: 75 ohm

Features look awesome. Direct involvement on this thread of Cayin reps addressing users directly is a hugely positive sign as well...(kind of the opposite of non-existent xDuoo support lol).

But one thing that stands out to me as a potential drawback of the N3 is a pretty high THD spec for a modern hi-res player. It is 0.03% vs my X3 which is said to be 0.002%--an order of magnitude difference. Will this significantly impact SQ?

 

[originalsnuffy]

Hmmm. If NMatheis is willing to travel with this for a week that is a good sign. He has access to plenty of electronics so that is good.

Can't imagine taking the flc8s. Well actually can't imagine traveling without it.

 

[nmatheis]

Hmmm. If NMatheis is willing to travel with this for a week that is a good sign. He has access to plenty of electronics so that is good.

Can't imagine taking the flc8s. Well actually can't imagine traveling without it.

Yes, N3 is a nice little DAP. I'm going to see how I like traveling with it. And I promise not to change FLC8S filters on the plane, lol!

 

[Dexter22]

I think THD, under 1% is hard to notice. Thats for the main amplifiers I know, but not sure for portable players.
Features look awesome. Direct involvement on this thread of Cayin reps addressing users directly is a hugely positive sign as well...(kind of the opposite of non-existent xDuoo support lol).

But one thing that stands out to me as a potential drawback of the N3 is a pretty high THD spec for a modern hi-res player. It is 0.03% vs my X3 which is said to be 0.002%--an order of magnitude difference. Will this significantly impact SQ?

 

[Rade888]

New member, first post 

 
I've been looking at getting a new DAP for the past month or so and after a bit of deliberation,I ordered a N3 yesterday. Originally I was looking at getting a Cowon Plenue D or possibly the Sony NW-A35HN but saw that the N3 was available. I known about Cayin from reviews about their other DAPS and they seem to have a decent reputation on the various review sites and forums. I live in China and the N3 seems to be widely available online here so I ordered mine from Cayins Taobao (Chinese Ebay) shop. 
As a brand new product, there isn't much to go on in the way of reviews so I'm basing my decision on what I've read here, a couple of Chinese sites that I translated and price. I'm crossing my fingers that I can give the N3 a thumbs up when I get it, which should be in the next couple of days. 

 

[CayinSupport]

Is there a link for an English owner's manual, yet?

 
Yes, you can click this link to access the details about N3:  http://en.cayin.cn/products_info?itemid=106

 

[fish1050]

  avgearshop is quite a bit more expensive with the N5, so that's why I'm leaning towards CTC. Don't think I've looked at the others much, but I do hope somebody in Canada gets them (without a gawd-awful markup)
 
The M1 comparison should be interesting, but from what I've read so far, I think the N3 will win out on SQ

 

  avgearshop is quite a bit more expensive with the N5, so that's why I'm leaning towards CTC. Don't think I've looked at the others much, but I do hope somebody in Canada gets them (without a gawd-awful markup)
 
The M1 comparison should be interesting, but from what I've read so far, I think the N3 will win out on SQ

I checked the Cayin website and it lists 4 dealers in greater Toronto and one in Quebec that carry their personal audio products, but none elsewhere in Canada.  They list Altronics Stereo 2000 in Toronto where I got the great deal on my Q1 so I will pay them a visit once it is released.  So it seems Cayin's Canadian distributor needs to do a better job finding dealers to carry their product.
 
The Cayin wins hands down for power at 130 mW per channel into 32 ohms vs only 35 mW for the M1.  The N3 even has slightly better battery life at 12 hours compared to 9 to 10 hours on the M1.  It seems to also have a better build quality than the M1.  So even if they sound the same and are around the same price the N3 is a clear winner.  But as you say the N3 based on early feedback does indeed sound better. Both Cayin and Shanling are sourcing their UI's from HiBy Music so they should be pretty similar in design and functionality.