The colleague asks about IEM.
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Cayin N3Ultra: an Entry-level Portable DAP that Delivers a Complete Vacuum Tube Audio Experience
- Thread starter Andykong
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ToneDeafMonk
Previously known as TheDeafMonk
Meze Advar top end needs to be tamed the N3U will be the ticket I think or the EJ07 aWonderful question...
Or anything too energetic
Dsnuts
Headphoneus Supremus
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I dont own the N3Ultra. Well not yet anyways but I do own the Ibasso PB5 amp. One of my favorite pairings IEM wise is in my review on the front page of headfi
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/tansio-mirai-x.27031/review/32982/ Assuming N3 Ultras will have comparable warmth and dynamics as my PB5..
Tansio Mirai-X has some crazy synergy with it. If your a fan of excellent bold bass. These are what I call Audiophile basshead IEMs. Take a read if your interested.
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For IEMs to pair with the N3U, I’ve had a curiosity about the Timsok TS-316 since I’m a big fan of 1DD driver configurations and that one got a lot of positive buzz when it was released.
The Sound Rhyme SR7 crosses my mind.
I actually wrote to MusicTeck for recommendations and this was their top one. It's just at the very top of my price range, so looking for other options as well. They said:
"It has superb technical performance for the price, a very solid bass performance with excellent details and soundstage. The only disadvantage of TS316 was it lacked a bit of emotional engagement in the mid-range for vocals, well N3Ultra, with its tubes, fixed that problem perfectly! N3Ultra gives more body and extra warmth to the mid-range to give more musicality to the TS316."
seanwee
Headphoneus Supremus
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Moondrop Dusk
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HA! My bougie tastes make resellers happy. Or, maybe don't trust me since I'm an inadvertent shill lol
I suppose the IE600 or IE200 would be a good match as well since both are rather V-shaped with some natural ear gain the upper mids. Pairing that sound with a tubey, rich midrange DAP makes some sense.
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N3Ultra and optional leather cases are now in stock! We started fulfilling pre-orders! Waiting ends today!
https://shop.musicteck.com/products/cayin-n3-ultra?_pos=2&_sid=4febd49f0&_ss=r
https://shop.musicteck.com/products/cayin-n3ultra-protection-case?_pos=2&_sid=10265c42e&_ss=r
https://shop.musicteck.com/products/cayin-n3-ultra?_pos=2&_sid=4febd49f0&_ss=r
https://shop.musicteck.com/products/cayin-n3ultra-protection-case?_pos=2&_sid=10265c42e&_ss=r
ToneDeafMonk
Previously known as TheDeafMonk
The one heading to the Great White North with the Green case that's the ToneDeafMonk's ship ship ship
I was thinking about the IE600 since it is on sale for $499 plus I have some rewards money at Audio46 to make the price even cheaper.
mikaik
100+ Head-Fier
Dita Project-M. A tad bright, might be more balanced with the N3U.
fish1050
Headphoneus Supremus
I was so enamored when I saw the N3 Ultra that for the first time I was willing to blow past my usual DAP budget to get one. But now I am starting to waver a little as this DAP would cost me so much I would be worried about traveling with it in case something happened to it not to mention what would happen if god forbid I ever dropped it.
Then I thought, would it make more sense to get a cheaper DAP and a desktop tube amp instead? I mean going desktop will provide alot more power which allows me to use my full sized headphones and not just my portables. Not to mention I could also connect it to my computer at the same time. Then the Hiby R4 was announced and it made even more sense. It looks to cost me about half of what the N3 Ultra would to import and I could spend the other half of my budget on the desktop tube amp. The Class A amp on the R4 should be quite nice and while not tube nice still very good sound quality for on the go and not the best listening conditions to boot. Now I can get a safer travel DAP and the best possible sound when listening at home in my man cave/home office through a tube amp. Not to mention the desktop amp would have a much longer lifespan than the N3 Ultra and it will be much easier to replace the tubes if needed.
In a perfect world I would get both the N3 Ultra and the R4 but my world is far from perfect. Some of you are lucky enough to be able change DAP's as often as I change my socks (well maybe not quite that often).
I am stuck going with the most practical solution most often over the most desired. Still very much looking forward to your posts on the N3 Ultra and the many reviews to come and I will listen vicariously through you if not with you. Unless of course it shows up at a dealer in Toronto and I can at least demo one (fingers crossed).
Then I thought, would it make more sense to get a cheaper DAP and a desktop tube amp instead? I mean going desktop will provide alot more power which allows me to use my full sized headphones and not just my portables. Not to mention I could also connect it to my computer at the same time. Then the Hiby R4 was announced and it made even more sense. It looks to cost me about half of what the N3 Ultra would to import and I could spend the other half of my budget on the desktop tube amp. The Class A amp on the R4 should be quite nice and while not tube nice still very good sound quality for on the go and not the best listening conditions to boot. Now I can get a safer travel DAP and the best possible sound when listening at home in my man cave/home office through a tube amp. Not to mention the desktop amp would have a much longer lifespan than the N3 Ultra and it will be much easier to replace the tubes if needed.
In a perfect world I would get both the N3 Ultra and the R4 but my world is far from perfect. Some of you are lucky enough to be able change DAP's as often as I change my socks (well maybe not quite that often).
I am stuck going with the most practical solution most often over the most desired. Still very much looking forward to your posts on the N3 Ultra and the many reviews to come and I will listen vicariously through you if not with you. Unless of course it shows up at a dealer in Toronto and I can at least demo one (fingers crossed).
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seanwee
Headphoneus Supremus
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There's also the fact that vacuum tubes are microphonic so any movement/vibration will introduce some ringing sound. Regardless of how well it's damped.I was so enamored when I saw the N3 Ultra that for the first time I was willing to blow past my usual DAP budget to get one. But now I am starting to waver a little as this DAP would cost me so much I would be worried about traveling with it in case something happened to it not to mention what would happen if god forbid I ever dropped it.
Then I thought, would it make more sense to get a cheaper DAP and a desktop tube amp instead? I mean going desktop will provide alot more power which allows me to use my full sized headphones and not just my portables. Not to mention I could also connect it to my computer at the same time. Then the Hiby R4 was announced and it made even more sense. It looks to cost me about half of what the N3 Ultra would to import and I could spend the other half of my budget on the desktop tube amp. The Class A amp on the R4 should be quite nice and while not tube nice still very good sound quality for on the go and not the best listening conditions to boot. Now I can get a safer travel DAP and the best possible sound when listening at home in my man cave/home office through a tube amp. Not to mention the desktop amp would have a much longer lifespan than the N3 Ultra and it will be much easier to replace the tubes if needed.
In a perfect world I would get both the N3 Ultra and the R4 but my world is far from perfect. Some of you are lucky enough to be able change DAP's as often as I change my socks (well maybe not quite that often).
