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

[Andykong]

Thought fir sure you knew I was just pulling your leg Andy. Any Cayin is all good in any thread you are in

Sure, and I was trying to pull you to the ground after I have slipped and floored when you pulled my leg.

 

[Andykong]

A small tidbit ...

Today, a friend of mine were singing praises for a combo he just tried, L5Pro + VentureCraft SounDroid Vantam, mentioning that the Vantam made the L5Pro sounds really good, and he wanted me to hear it. After 1 min of listening, I told him if he can do a blind test and tell me which is which; he accepted.

For the first setup, I used the L5Pro+Vantam combo. After 30s or so, he said switch ...

For the second setup, I (sneakily) used the Cayin N5. After 30s or so, he said stop...

I asked him which is which and he replied, 1st setup is without the Vantam and 2nd setup is with Vantam ...

Lesson learned:

1) A huge win for N5!!! He preferred it over L5Pro+Vantam (which he prefers over the vanilla L5Pro), subjectively of course...
2) The differences between mid-fi and hi-fi setup is not so huge, to the point that one may not be able to tell the differences at all

In anycase, coming from the L5Pro+Vantam, he conceded that N5 is a very good sounding DAP...

... but he still don't like how it looks, LOL

This is a very interesting test, I am interested to know his reaction when you disclose the actual result to him, bet him can't smile after that. Did he spends more time to audition the N5 after that?

Visual appreciation is indeed a big issue on portable gear, they are, to certain extend, men's accessories, we just have to live with the fact that while headfi was a dream of high fidelity, sound performance is not always the top priority.

By the way, what was the headphone used in the blind test?

 

[regit]

This is a very interesting test, I am interested to know his reaction when you disclose the actual result to him, bet him can't smile after that.

Visual appreciation is indeed a big issue on portable gear, they are, to certain extend, men's accessories, we just have to live with the fact that while headfi was a dream of high fidelity, sound performance is not always the top priority.

 
I regret I had no camera or cellphone with me
 
On another front, I have a question for you Andy. I am trying to connect the N5 to my desktop amp (beyerdynamic A20). When ever I tried to play a song, it will quickly revert to pause.
 
I would seems that both is having a circuit breaker and since both is not getting a close-loop from the other end, neither is engaged. If this makes sense to you. Tried this set as "phones" and "lineout", same issue.
 
Any suggestion?

 

[Andykong]

I regret I had no camera or cellphone with me

On another front, I have a question for you Andy. I am trying to connect the N5 to my desktop amp (beyerdynamic A20). When ever I tried to play a song, it will quickly revert to pause.

I would seems that both is having a circuit breaker and since both is not getting a close-loop from the other end, neither is engaged. If this makes sense to you. Tried this set as "phones" and "lineout", same issue.

Any suggestion?

That's very strange, I have tried N5 line out in several occasions, while it is not the best of its kind, it certainly can function smoothly with all the headphone amp I tried, be it desktop or portable.

You are using a 3.5mm to 2xRCA adapter cable? Do you have a replacement cable to try out with? I am under the impression that this is a grounding issue and the cable might be the cause of the accident.

 

[regit]

That's very strange, I have tried N5 line out in several occasions, while it is not the best of its kind, it certainly can function smoothly with all the headphone amp I tried, be it desktop or portable.

You are using a 3.5mm to 2xRCA adapter cable? Do you have a replacement cable to try out with? I am under the impression that this is a grounding issue and the cable might be the cause of the accident.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll source for another cable and give it a try again.

 

[samuelboy]

Theoretically, lithium batteries devices contain a capacity gauge that can tell the amount of energy stored. However, this sensor tends to be inaccurate after several charging/discharging cycles, we can calibrate the gauge by doing a full discharge non-stop , followed by a also, non-stop, full charge. I have seen some battery expert recommend to recalibrate the battery gauge in every 30 discharge cycles,

Maybe you can try this and see if the battery readings become more linear across usage, I doubt this is the main cause, but there is no harm to try.

Actually, many of my 25 cycles (yes I keep count to estimate total runtime) are full charge/discharge. Partly due to convenience, I just plug in my Porta Pro which is also undergoing burn-in and loop continuously till battery flat (unfortunately so because I'm not always around to stop it at ~20% per your advice).  

 

[alwass89]

After a few days delay because of the blizzard in New York City, my balanced cable for my headphones, my new N5 (with a perfect middle button now) and the dignis leather case finally all arrived! I am really enjoying the N5 using the balanced cable. It opened up the soundstage a bit, and enhanced the layering and detail in the music. I thought the N5 sounded good on its own, but the balanced option really pushes this DAP over the edge against other players in this price range.
 
Below is a picture of what will (hopefully) be my portable rig for a while
 

 

[nmatheis]

Sexy!

I've got an N5 on the way along with a balanced silver cable for my FLC8S. It'll be my first balanced experience. I'm stoked!

 

[Mr Trev]

Sexy!

I've got an N5 on the way along with a balanced silver cable for my FLC8S. It'll be my first balanced experience. I'm stoked!

Awwww, Nik! Not in public!!!

 

[PinkyPowers]

After a few days delay because of the blizzard in New York City, my balanced cable for my headphones, my new N5 (with a perfect middle button now) and the dignis leather case finally all arrived! I am really enjoying the N5 using the balanced cable. It opened up the soundstage a bit, and enhanced the layering and detail in the music. I thought the N5 sounded good on its own, but the balanced option really pushes this DAP over the edge against other players in this price range.

Below is a picture of what will (hopefully) be my portable rig for a while

You can balance those Sonys? Usually when the cable connects to only one side like that, it's impossible to make them balanced unless you mod the headphones in some way.

So that cable is four-pole on both ends? I wish my M2s were like that.

 

[regit]

After a few days delay because of the blizzard in New York City, my balanced cable for my headphones, my new N5 (with a perfect middle button now) and the dignis leather case finally all arrived! I am really enjoying the N5 using the balanced cable. It opened up the soundstage a bit, and enhanced the layering and detail in the music. I thought the N5 sounded good on its own, but the balanced option really pushes this DAP over the edge against other players in this price range.

Below is a picture of what will (hopefully) be my portable rig for a while

That wine colored case is really sweet! It took me a while to decide and I went for the safer option, black. You are making me doubt my choice.

Enjoy the balanced setup. It hisses a fair bit on my 846 yet I keep going to the balanced. I really think it is that good. Andy mentioned that the initial impression is that balanced not make much of a difference but to me, easily 20% north.

 

[alwass89]

You can balance those Sonys? Usually when the cable connects to only one side like that, it's impossible to make them balanced unless you mod the headphones in some way.

So that cable is four-pole on both ends? I wish my M2s were like that.

Yes, the MDR-1A headphone is wired for balanced. The cable that comes with the headphones (without the in-line microphone and remote) has 3.5 TRRS on the side that pugs into the headphones and 3.5 TRS on the side that plugs into the DAP.
 
 

That wine colored case is really sweet! It took me a while to decide and I went for the safer option, black. You are making me doubt my choice.

Enjoy the balanced setup. It hisses a fair bit on my 846 yet I keep going to the balanced. I really think it is that good. Andy mentioned that the initial impression is that balanced not make much of a difference but to me, easily 20% north.

Yeah, the only reason I got the wine is because the black was unavailable from Amazon or e-bay. I gotta say that I'm loving the color of the case though. And I agree 20% is a good number to show the improvement using balanced. I hear no hissing with the Sony's.

 

[MontMozart]

Sexy!

I've got an N5 on the way along with a balanced silver cable for my FLC8S. It'll be my first balanced experience. I'm stoked!

nmatheis...where did you get your balanced silver cable for the FLCs?  
 
 
Thanks,
Z

 

[nmatheis]

nmatheis...where did you get your balanced silver cable for the FLCs?  


Thanks,
Z

FLC is getting into the cable business with a new line of single-crystal pure silver cables with various connectors and terminations. They should be up for sale on LMUE soon. I'm getting one with 2.5mm balanced termination a bit ahead of schedule to test with the N5 and PAW 5000.

I just emailed Teo at LMUE to see when they'll be listed for sale.

 

[alwass89]

People with the Dignis case, do you take the N5 out of the case everytime you want to charge or hook it up to the computer?