Cayin N5ii Android based Master Quality Digital Audio Player

[thrgk]

Just out of curiosity, what is the benefit if having the actual MP3s vs streaming from Spotify or Google music? Both let you download to listen offline. I'd be like $200 to download all my songs and Spotify is only $5 a month and 320kbps. Thanks

 

[Signal2Noise]

^
Well, if Spotify or Google Music were , for some reason, to cease to exist then those download-for-offline-listening tracks would cease to be playable. Benefit of personal tracks are DRM-free, listen whenever, wherever, and from whatever source. You don't "own" anything you've streamed or kept a playlist of from a streaming site.

 

[thrgk]

I guess but Spotify or Google music doubtfully will be going anywhere and they allow offline listening. I see what you mean though you never "own" anything. I guess it's like renting vs buying a house.

^
Well, if Spotify or Google Music were , for some reason, to cease to exist then those download-for-offline-listening tracks would cease to be playable. Benefit of personal tracks are DRM-free, listen whenever, wherever, and from whatever source. You don't "own" anything you've streamed or kept a playlist of from a streaming site.

 

[Slater91]

I guess but Spotify or Google music doubtfully will be going anywhere and they allow offline listening. I see what you mean though you never "own" anything. I guess it's like renting vs buying a house.

They may not go anywhere as companies, but they could remove the artist, album or song you want - so you would have no more access to it. Just as Netflix does with their catalogue. That's something that happens all the time and it's a clear disadvantage vs other means of obtaining music (e.g. LP, CD, MP3/FLAC, etc).

 

[seanwee]

I never said the challenge was easy! Haha. Call me a dreamer but I just want to be able to carry that sound with me wherever I go. Cayin seems to have enough savvy to innovate alongside trends, as evidenced by their announced flagship DAP being powered by frickin' tubes. They also don't have a DAP line (N6?) inbetween the $500 - $2500 range.... jussayin!

Heck, I'd be all for a d-s solution that could fool me. Something to compete with the HiBy?

Im listening to the N8 right now and I think you'll like it. I know its not an R2R design but its signature resembles the Audio GD R2R sound.

 

[PopZeus]

Im listening to the N8 right now and I think you'll like it. I know its not an R2R design but its signature resembles the Audio GD R2R sound.

Yeah, I'm very curious to hear how the N8 is received. It's far too much for me to buy, but if the tube tech trickles down to a lower cost model/line of DAPs, I'm so there.

 

[Slater91]

Yeah, I'm very curious to hear how the N8 is received. It's far too much for me to buy, but if the tube tech trickles down to a lower cost model/line of DAPs, I'm so there.

Personally, I'd be curious to try a portable amp with this tube tech. That would be really interesting.

 

[MyPants]

As much as I like this change, the $499 price puts the N5ii squarely against the DX150 which may or may not be the best move.

Honestly speaking, as good as the N5ii sounds, I found that the DX150 was noticeably better.

HOWEVER, if the revised audio path of the N5iiS can put it on par with the DX150, it would be a good alternative for people who want dual msd slots.

This is my immediate reaction as well. I'm sure the price increase is necessary to amortize all the sudden added work needed to bring N5iiS to market, but that large a price increase puts the player in kindof a new tier of competition.

That being said, I really appreciate all the detail in the explanation. You'd NEVER see that from most companies, they'd just replace the unit, call it an upgrade, and never acknowledge the supply issue.

 

[Music Enthusiast]

Hi,

On my new Cayin N5ii (FW 3.3) when I pause and then press play on a track - there is a small pop sound on all tracks about half a second after playback resumes - it is very annoying.
I hope this is something that Cayin will eliminate in the next FW? Problem occurs whether using touch screen play/pause or physical play/pause button. Doesn't matter if tracks are on SD card or internal memory.

 

[Max Choiral]

del

 

[Max Choiral]

There are two R2R DAP scheduled to launch in 2018, HiFiman R2R2000 is based on PCM1704U and L&P LP6 is based on AD5790, so they should receive the award right away, let's offer a big round of applause to these brands for the insanity award.

From technical discussion purpose, The R-2R ladder DAC which is a binary-weighted DAC that uses a repeating cascaded structure of resistor values R and 2R. This improves the precision due to the relative ease of producing equal valued-matched resistors (or current sources). So R2R is not complicated if you can settle with 16bit only. But if you want higher resolution, the level of precision will increase exponentially. The AD5790 is rated at 20bit, and the PCM1704U is rated at 24bit (upt o 96kHz only). So is it really that attractive if we are limited to 20bit or 24bit, and then down convert all other signal before the actual DAC? In addition, DSD signal will need to convert to 20bit or 24bit PCM.

We're not measuring quality of recording based on just bitrate, are we? Moreover, are you sure you can discern down converted file from original in blind test with aligned volume?
R-2R ladder DAC is worth giving a shot and it could play very well on behalf of Cayin's innovative approach. Try to bring up this topic for discussion on a meeting.

That would take a fair bit of researching though. I have heard the Audio GD R2R-11 and R2R-7 and love their sound a lot though I think a DAP with equivalent SQ would be hard to achieve due to the nature of R2R dacs. They take up a lot of space and generate a lot of heat. Even if Cayin does pull it off I think they WILL have to charge a pretty penny still due to the RnD costs.

Hmm, you have a point here about space and stuff. However, for portable solution we can choose R-2R ladder DAC that is not too power hungry. Here is an example of alternative custom board for Hifiman HM-603 based on AD1866R in balanced option.
It doesn't generate a lot of heat, 6 hours of play on default battery.

 

[darkcamel2018]

Hi I am a newbie and have a few basic queries about the N5ii / s

1. Can they be controlled via an app on a phone? I would like to connect the DAP to a DAC, my Music fidelity v90 via coax and control it from the sofa via my android phone or tablet. Is this possible?

2. Can it play DSD to my DAC via DOP? If so how?

3. How does it compare to a Hiby R3? sound-quality wise / interface?

Thanks in advance.

 

[seanwee]

Hi I am a newbie and have a few basic queries about the N5ii / s

1. Can they be controlled via an app on a phone? I would like to connect the DAP to a DAC, my Music fidelity v90 via coax and control it from the sofa via my android phone or tablet. Is this possible?

2. Can it play DSD to my DAC via DOP? If so how?

3. How does it compare to a Hiby R3? sound-quality wise / interface?

Thanks in advance.

1. No, HiBy link is not available on the N5ii due to lack of bi-directional Bluetooth.

2. I believe Cayin sells a type C to optical cable that can be used for that purpose.

3. The N5ii is full android vs limited apps on the R3 so you'll have more app flexibility on the N5ii. Sound quality wise the two are in different leagues entirely. The N5ii simply blows the R3 out of the water.

 

[originalsnuffy]

Well as much as I'd like one more firmware to really stabilize this device, it runs circles around the HiBy R3.

Its not just that it sounds better than the HiBy. It sound "right". Clean, musical, just about every check box is filled out with this device. It marks the beginning of high end as far as I am concerned.

The amazing sound value right now is not the HiBy. Its the Shanling M0. Scary how good it is; not at the level of the Cayin N5II for sure but surprisingly good in its own right.

 

[Mayth]

Hi. It's been a week I haven't used my N5II.

Starting it again, I have to relog to Spotify through Facebook. And surpriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiise, no more playlists saved, as usual.

My storage indicates "TF Card 1 : 96.6g / 119.1g available...

When I try to set the Spotify storage to the TF Card, I have this "the app will now restart, it may take long" and nothing seem to happen. Zzzzz