Cayin N5 DAP - Product Info (Post #2), Resources (Post #3) and Discussion

[VintageFlanker]

Don't worry, N5 woks with Windows 10 alright.

Microsoft has stepped up the security measurements with third party drivers installation since Window 8, Google "disable Driver Signature Enforcement/Verification" and you should find a lot of explanation and instructions to overcome the problem.

It works now. Thanks! My other (and last) complains are about a dead pixel on the screen and some buttons a bit poorly fixed. Appart from that, perfect sound, great responsive UI.

 

[Andykong]

It works now. Thanks! My other (and last) complains are about a dead pixel on the screen and some buttons a bit poorly fixed. Appart from that, perfect sound, great responsive UI.

In that case, share with us the part about "perfect sound" , headphones? choice of music?

Have to find a "good" focusing point.

 

[regit]

Sorry if I missed this being mentioned/discussed...
 
Just got the N5 player and like most of what I have heard so far. However when playing 192k/24bit FLAC files, there seems to be 1sec of shuttering/distortion every few seconds. Tried with various 192k/24bit files and the same thing happened. Does not seems to an issues with other bit/rate FLAC files. Anyone facing the same issue?
 
This is currently running the 2.0 (magic code 20) firmware.

 

[Andykong]

Sorry if I missed this being mentioned/discussed...

Just got the N5 player and like most of what I have heard so far. However when playing 192k/24bit FLAC files, there seems to be 1sec of shuttering/distortion every few seconds. Tried with various 192k/24bit files and the same thing happened. Does not seems to an issues with other bit/rate FLAC files. Anyone facing the same issue?

This is currently running the 2.0 (magic code 20) firmware.

Have tested 24/192 FLAC from 2L but didn't run into similar situation, please tell me more about the situation. Is it a "delay", mute or noise added to the playback? If this is noise added, can you hear it with another (less sensitive) IEM or a headphone? What TF card is in used, and more important, what file format (FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, ..)?

 

[regit]

Have tested 24/192 FLAC from 2L but didn't run into similar situation, please tell me more about the situation. Is it a "delay", mute or noise added to the playback? If this is noise added, can you hear it with another (less sensitive) IEM or a headphone? What TF card is in used, and more important, what file format (FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, ..)?

 
Hi Andy, it is not delay/mute, not noise like hiss (although most welcome if you can reduce hiss on a balanced 846
 
It is like when playing part of a song, there is 1s (or so) of quick "de de de", something like fast forwarding a song, and the song would continue.
 
I am using a Samsung 128gb EVO XCI formatted as exFAT.

 

[Andykong]

Hi Andy, it is not delay/mute, not noise like hiss (although most welcome if you can reduce hiss on a balanced 846

It is like when playing part of a song, there is 1s (or so) of quick "de de de", something like fast forwarding a song, and the song would continue.

I am using a Samsung 128gb EVO XCI formatted as exFAT.

I didn't have similar problem with 24/192 so far, can someone try this with his/her N5? You download 24/192 sample from 2L for testing:
http://www.2l.no/hires/

 

[x RELIC x]

I didn't have similar problem with 24/192 so far, can someone try this with his/her N5? You download 24/192 sample from 2L for testing:
http://www.2l.no/hires/

I had zero issues playing 24/192 when I had the tour unit. My card is a Sandisk 128gb FAT32 format (from X5) and I use 500x500 album art.

 

[regit]

Thanks Andy and xRelicx, I'll see if I can source a Sandisk card and format it to FAT32 and try with that. Will report back...

 

[regit]

  Thanks Andy and xRelicx, I'll see if I can source a Sandisk card and format it to FAT32 and try with that. Will report back...

Thanks guys for the pointer on the microsd card. Tried with a Sandisk card (which is in exFAT format) and everything seems to be a-ok! Time to enjoy the player

 

[capnjack]

Hi Andy, I've been trying to get a few moments in ( me the N5 / k702 combo ) and here's what I think so far - The Jam - About the Young Ideas - Paul Weller's voice seems a little too recessed for my taste. Anastasia - Cowboys and Kisses - absolutely stunning ! Eva Cassidy - Ain't no Sunshine - it's like she's in the room. Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene pt-4 - nice staging and placement. Lionel Richie - All Night Long - staging,separation and well, just about everything is where it should be on such a brilliantly produced album! The Script - Hall of Fame - bass is nicely present, underpins the track and drives it along nicely.
All tracks in flac 320mb/s or higher.
The N5's internal amp seems to be man enough to power the k702s in high gain, but I feel that if I pair it with my Aune B1 or Schiit Vali it'll really step up to the plate and hit it out of the ball park!!

Steve

 

[Andykong]

Hi Andy, I've been trying to get a few moments in ( me the N5 / k702 combo ) and here's what I think so far - The Jam - About the Young Ideas - Paul Weller's voice seems a little too recessed for my taste. Anastasia - Cowboys and Kisses - absolutely stunning ! Eva Cassidy - Ain't no Sunshine - it's like she's in the room. Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene pt-4 - nice staging and placement. Lionel Richie - All Night Long - staging,separation and well, just about everything is where it should be on such a brilliantly produced album! The Script - Hall of Fame - bass is nicely present, underpins the track and drives it along nicely.
All tracks in flac 320mb/s or higher.
The N5's internal amp seems to be man enough to power the k702s in high gain, but I feel that if I pair it with my Aune B1 or Schiit Vali it'll really step up to the plate and hit it out of the ball park!!

Steve

That sounds pretty good to me. Base on my limited experience with AKG 7 series, when they are are driven properly, they are bass shy and a bit hard on the high frequency range, so you need both power and control do it justice. I am surprised that N5 can handle it alright, N5 users can probably try out more low-impedance headphones base on your successful experience with K702.

 

[capnjack]

Thanks Andy, I forgot to mention that you need to turn the volume to about 50 in high gain to power the 702s ( my normal listening is about 20-30 with iem or v-moda m100 ).
I've just plugged N5 into my Schiit Vali and k702s are really singing now !!!
Listening to Marc Cohn - Walking in Memphis is sublime, the Vali / N5 combo just has the most awesome synergy with the k702s. The soundstage and placement is amazing !
Shawn Mullins - Lullaby is, well ditto !
Billy Idol - Catch my Fall - sounds as good as the first time I heard it live at the Milton Keynes Bowl ! Absolutely brilliant....
N5 is making me revisit all my old music again
I just replayed About the Young Idea -The Jam, listening to it with the Vali combo - Town Called Malice and there it is ! Paul Weller's voice is there front and central, not at all recessed as it was with just the internal amp on N5.
I'm not saying that the internal amp is lacking at all, just it seems to need a little more power with The Jam and that type of music ( maybe it's my age and / or ears ) ???

 

[Andykong]

Thanks Andy, I forgot to mention that you need to turn the volume to about 50 in high gain to power the 702s ( my normal listening is about 20-30 with iem or v-moda m100 ).
I've just plugged N5 into my Schiit Vali and k702s are really singing now !!!
Listening to Marc Cohn - Walking in Memphis is sublime, the Vali / N5 combo just has the most awesome synergy with the k702s. The soundstage and placement is amazing !
Shawn Mullins - Lullaby is, well ditto !
Billy Idol - Catch my Fall - sounds as good as the first time I heard it live at the Milton Keynes Bowl ! Absolutely brilliant....
N5 is making me revisit all my old music again
I just replayed About the Young Idea -The Jam, listening to it with the Vali combo - Town Called Malice and there it is ! Paul Weller's voice is there front and central, not at all recessed as it was with just the internal amp on N5.
I'm not saying that the internal amp is lacking at all, just it seems to need a little more power with The Jam and that type of music ( maybe it's my age and / or ears ) ???

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N5 is making me revisit all my old music again
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That's the best comment we can expect from our users.

I sure won't think the internal amp of N5 is lacking in your case, the K702 are mean for desktop setup in my opinion, and the Cayin N5 has over-achieved already in my humble opinion.

Keep up with your venture with Cayin N5, give it 200 hours and you'll feel more immersed into your musical world.

 

[capnjack]

Thanks Andy, I've just finished work for Christmas, so if the family allows me a bit of free time - that's not at too obscene an hour, I just might get the 200 hrs landmark done soon!
I'd just like to say Merry Christmas to all fellow head-fi'ers out there.

 

[swannie007]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well capnjack and all other head-fier's out there. Cheers from Oz.