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

[michaelgordon]

   
This feature will come in very handy.

If it works as I think it will work, there will be no need for a Chord Poly for my use at least.  Im thinking Bluetooth from phone to N3 with N3 USB out to mojo to headphones.  No more messing about trying to change tracks with a phone.

 

[Andykong]

If it works as I think it will work, there will be no need for a Chord Poly for my use at least.  Im thinking Bluetooth from phone to N3 with N3 USB out to mojo to headphones.  No more messing about trying to change tracks with a phone.

Yes, this will work fine, we have tested the scenario already:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/833932/coming-soon-cayin-n3-hi-res-dap-with-akm4490-dac-apt-x-bluetooth-and-line-usb-coax-out-for-under-200/195#post_13317549

 

[actorlife]

Hi Andy any idea if they will sell the n3 on amazon or ebay if yes when? Btw i like the blue color it could be shade darker of course.

 

[michaelgordon]

Yes, this will work fine, we have tested the scenario already:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/833932/coming-soon-cayin-n3-hi-res-dap-with-akm4490-dac-apt-x-bluetooth-and-line-usb-coax-out-for-under-200/195#post_13317549

 
Thats great.  You have basically saved me a fortune on having to buy a poly.  For this and no other reason i will be getting an N3 that and the fact i can BT to my BT headphone when needed and have a Cayin player again. 

 

[Andykong]

Can anyone tell me whether this will have more driving power and a better DAC than an iPhone 6, from a spec level? I made the mistake of comparing my iPhone to a Sony zx100 using the same lossless song with my rockets at the Tokyo Sony store. It got me looking at trying out an entry level DAP and seeing how much I use it.

I can't comment on the sound quality against a "competitor", if you were to compare the driving power from spec level. The rated power of N3 will be roughly 10 times higher then iphone 6:

Rated Output at 32/33 ohm
iphone 6 = 26.39 mW,
N3 = 130mW+130mW

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8554/the-iphone-6-review/11

Regarding the digital audio capability, iTune does not support DSD and last I checked, the lossless audio capability can support up to 24BIt/48kHz in PCM (thanks to the correction from originalsnuffy). The N3 can support native decode DSD64/128/256, and upto 32 Bit/384kHz in PCM (please refer to music format table presented yesterday). The numbers also suggested the N3 is superior in DAC section.

 

[Andykong]

Hi Andy any idea if they will sell the n3 on amazon or ebay if yes when? Btw i like the blue color it could be shade darker of course.

I assume you are located in US, please correct me otherwise.

Our US distributor has announced N3 availability on their website and marked the availability as "after 20 April 2017", you can either buy from him directly from his website. Musicteck probably will put the N3 on his Amazon shop after he received the N3 into their inventory, you can contact them and find out the latest progress from them.

http://www.musicteck.com/

 

[dnullify]

I can't comment on the sound quality against a "competitor", if you were to compare the driving power from spec level. The rated power of N3 will be roughly 10 times higher then iphone 6:

Rated Output at 32/33 ohm
iphone 6 = 26.39 mW,
N3 = 130mW+130mW

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8554/the-iphone-6-review/11

Regarding the digital audio capability, iTune does not support DSD and last I checked, the lossless audio capability are basically CD quality, which is equivalent to 16BIt/44.1kHz in PCM (please correct me if iTune can support higher resolution now). The N3 can support native decode DSD64/128/256, and upto 32 Bit/384kHz in PCM (please refer to music format table presented yesterday). The numbers also suggested the N3 is superior in DAC section.

Works for me, thanks!

 

[twister6]

 

Hi Andy any idea if they will sell the n3 on amazon or ebay if yes when? Btw i like the blue color it could be shade darker of course.

I assume you are located in US, please correct me otherwise.

Our US distributor has announced N3 availability on their website and marked the availability as "after 20 April 2017", you can either buy from him directly from his website. Musicteck probably will put the N3 on his Amazon shop after he received the N3 into their inventory, you can contact them and find out the latest progress from them.

http://www.musicteck.com/

 
Andy, I believe it's earlier than that

  MusicTeck website actually says available on March 20th and hopefully both from their on-line store and Amazon.  As soon as I see it up, I will make sure to let everyone know!

 

[dnullify]

Andy, I believe it's earlier than that   MusicTeck website actually says available on March 20th and hopefully both from their on-line store and Amazon.  As soon as I see it up, I will make sure to let everyone know!

Heh. That would make massdrop's exclusive launch kinda moot huh. Ugh.

Oh well.

 

[originalsnuffy]

I can't comment on the sound quality against a "competitor", if you were to compare the driving power from spec level. The rated power of N3 will be roughly 10 times higher then iphone 6:

Rated Output at 32/33 ohm
iphone 6 = 26.39 mW,
N3 = 130mW+130mW

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8554/the-iphone-6-review/11

Regarding the digital audio capability, iTune does not support DSD and last I checked, the lossless audio capability are basically CD quality, which is equivalent to 16BIt/44.1kHz in PCM (please correct me if iTune can support higher resolution now). The N3 can support native decode DSD64/128/256, and upto 32 Bit/384kHz in PCM (please refer to music format table presented yesterday). The numbers also suggested the N3 is superior in DAC section.

 
Andy,
 
I admire your professionalism in not comparing your self  to the competition.  It is probably best if that is left to the user community. 
 
The only observation I would offer is that the iphone is capable of playing back 24 bit 48 khz music files.  Of course you need to feed it an ALAC file with those specs (but no more than that).   I personally don't think that the iphone has the proper circuitry to bring out the benefits of files with those resolutions, but that is what is can natively handle.  Of course those would be user created files; you can't purchase those from Apple directly.  I have converted some hi res files on the iphone to that spec and they do play back.  Personally on that device I am not convinced that using up memory space for the higher res files is worthwhile.  Others may disagree (around here that is a given).
 
If I recall; the N3 has a DAC mode.   In that case, the iphone could function as a storage tank for higher res files that are then played back through the N3.  I have done that with my iphone with other devices.  It does require the camera connecting kit from Apple.   The good news for Cayin is that you would still end up with a N3 customer in that scenario.

 

[dnullify]

The only observation I would offer is that the iphone is capable of playing back 24 bit 48 khz music files.  Of course you need to feed it an ALAC file with those specs (but no more than that).   I personally don't think that the iphone has the proper circuitry to bring out the benefits of files with those resolutions, but that is what is can natively handle.  Of course those would be user created files; you can't purchase those from Apple directly.  I have converted some hi res files on the iphone to that spec and they do play back.  Personally on that device I am not convinced that using up memory space for the higher res files is worthwhile.  Others may disagree (around here that is a given).

With my recent experience comparing my phone to a real DAP, I'm inclined to agree. Leaving everything on my phone in 320 for casual listening in the gym and such, and getting a DAP for a hi-fi experience seems to be the logical solution.

Well, I've ordered an N3. I'll see how it goes!

 

[whitexp]

[color=rgb(33, 33, 33)] Any expectation of this dap to arrive at aliexpress with good prices.[/color]

 

[noknok23]

Btw, IPhone users: aac 256 is actually superior from mp3 320. Better algorithm. I noticed improvements from fiio m3 compare to cheap android phone. Mid-fi dap such as n3 must be much more obvious difference.

 

[crabdog]

 

[color=rgb(33, 33, 33)] Any expectation of this dap to arrive at aliexpress with good prices.[/color]

Yes but only when they're widely available and more stores have stock. Until then there will be sharks that try to rip people off.

 

[Pewterlocks]

Hi Andy,
How about us Canadians, I would love to get this to go with my NOT( which is my all time favorite). Do not want to buy from the states as we get screwed over with the exchange rate.
So how about setting us up?