Cayin N6ii, Unlimited Possibilities: a fully modularized smart DAP

[Andykong]

That post wasn’t meant to be used as a complaint by me, I love the N6ii, but other people were asking about it so I was giving out what information I could.

No, I am not pointing finger either, but we want to clarify that the way you "detect" background noise is not really relevant to audio performance in real live application. We can beat the test but we decided not to because we don't want to pay for the cost (downgraded audio performance)

 

[Andykong]

@Andykong Could you please be so kind to describe differences of N6II and his big brother N8? More concrete then "N6II is 80% of N8".
I own N8 and love it's sound signature both on 4.4 and 3.5 tube but now I'm looking for another one with Tidal/Spotify support.

From circuit design point of view, if you take away the following from N8, you'll arrive at N6ii+A01 design.

1. Tube/Solid State Dual Timber control in 3.5mm phone output
2. High Power High Impedance mode
3. Line amplifier for dedicated balanced line out circuit,

From components point of view, N6ii+A01 uses single piece of AK4497, N8ii uses two pieces of AK4497. The LPF of N8 use MUSES02 op-amp and N6ii uses an OPA op-amp instead.

 

[Andykong]

I remember ceo of AK saying on youtube that dual dac circuitry only pertains to device in dedicated external dac mode
and for portable direct listening there is no difference.

We can't comment on the way AK implemented their dual DAC audio circuit, but to Cayin, the biggest different is to engaged the DAC chipset in mono mode. This will enhance the SNR and dynamic range by 3dB. In contrast to the expectation of a lot of consumers, resolution is a relative minor issue between the single vs dual DAC scenario.

 

[Andykong]

I've been going back and forth on the DX220 and N6ii and appreciate the comparisons thus far. I already own the Amp8 and sold my DX200, so I was nearly set on the DX220 when I read quite a few posts saying they liked the N6ii more. Now, I'm leaning toward the N6ii instead despite the price gap, but it would seem that between the DX228 and N6ii there is a significant difference in output power. It looks like the DX228 is something like 1200mW into 32 ohms and the N6ii is something like 500mW and some change? I wonder how this will affect IEMs that are very hard to drive like my IER-Z1R. Most of mine are easy to drive and I don't use any full-sized headphones, but this is a factor it seems with Z1R. Just thinking out loud here and hopefully someone can tell me I need not worry and N6ii power is sufficient

-Collin-

Can you please clarify whether the Amp 8 is rated at1200mW per channel @ 32ohm, or total rated power of the amplifier (left channel and right channel together) is 1200mW @ 32ohm?

For the record, the balanced phone out of A01 Audio Motherboard is rated at 530mW per channel @ 32ohm, or total amplifier (left channel and right channel together) is 1060mW @ 32ohm.

 

[Andykong]

I got the exact same thing with my included screen protector for the N6II. @Andykong does Cayin expect the screen protector to do this or is it possible there are a few bad ones out there. If so, can customers get a replacement?

I believe this is not a generic problem and the "white" edge is generic across all electronic with 2.5D screen glass. You won't feel the problem with mobile phone because their temper glass screen protector is curved instead of flat, we are investigating various options to improve the screen protectors right now, we'll report our latest finding and solution later, hopefully within 2 weeks.

 

[Andykong]

I'm currently awaiting my N6ii ! I know remote control functionality is supposed to be available through the hiby music app but having never used it, does it operate in the same way as AK Connect? By that I mean as DLNA/UPnP server or renderer, using my iphone as a remote control to select source and output eg Source = Tidal->Output = N6ii?

We make a video to illustrate the HiByLink features:

 

[Andykong]

@Andykong not sure if you’re even able to answer this given the DAP was just released, but for future motherboards with balanced out, can we expect to keep seeing 4.4mm over 2.5mm?

Nope, all Audio Motherboard will adopt 4.4mm TRRRS connector for balanced output We don't have any plan to introduce an Audio Motherboard with 2.5mm balanced output.

 

[aaf evo]

Nope, all Audio Motherboard will adopt 4.4mm TRRRS connector for balanced output We don't have any plan to introduce an Audio Motherboard with 2.5mm balanced output.

Thank you so much for the clarification.

 

[Andykong]

I'm a bit disappointed to hear that actually as I was almost ready to buy the N6II. Now I'm not sure. To me soundstage is one of the most important aspects in a DAP. Can somebody speak up on this? Should we prefer DAPs with wider soundstage?

Cayin didn't look at the width of soundstage as a standalone attribute, we treat the soundstage from a 3D perspective. We believe the Width of soundstage must be in proportion to the depth of the soundstage, the music resolution must be dense enough to fill the complete soundstage satisfactory and produce a coherent picture. We don't want ultra-wide soundstage that spread everything out and break the "audio" pictures into pieces.

 

[Andykong]

The only gripes I could find so far were software related, which I am waiting for @Andykong to get back to me on. I couldn’t figure out how to disable the hardware and volume buttons when the screen was locked, and I couldn’t figure out if there was an auto shut off period if the DAP is left idle for X amount of time. There’s a scheduled shut off but I don’t see the option to turn off the DAP if it’s left alone for 30 mins, etc.

The key lock features is not available in the current firmware, I'll include this as an enhancement in subsequent firmware.

 

[leaky74]

We make a video to illustrate the HiByLink features:

Thanks Andy

Can you point the HiByLink feature at another app i.e. Tidal?

 

[SeeSax]

Can you please clarify whether the Amp 8 is rated at1200mW per channel @ 32ohm, or total rated power of the amplifier (left channel and right channel together) is 1200mW @ 32ohm?

For the record, the balanced phone out of A01 Audio Motherboard is rated at 530mW per channel @ 32ohm, or total amplifier (left channel and right channel together) is 1060mW @ 32ohm.

Hi Andy,

I did some searching and unfortunately cannot provide any additional clarity on the matter since iBass do not give any official mW ratings. That said, I still went with the Cayin N6ii because to me it looks like the better option for my use case And thank you for providing the rated power. Should be plenty as others members have told me. Thanks again!

-Collin-

 

[chungjun]

N6ii doesn't has the swap/flip playback button feature. Not sure if it is too late to add this feature back to the DAP, will check this out later.

Thank you @Andykong , that would be a useful feature to have.

Loving the N6ii thus far! And enjoying it with this lively thread, great community, and responsive communication from Cayin reps to top it off!

 

[yerim]

Has anyone experienced an issue about the n6ii when used as USB DAC where in tracks are skipping/fast forwarding a fraction of a second? I tried it with both Foobar2000 and MusicBee.

 

[Marlvin Lao]

The key lock features is not available in the current firmware, I'll include this as an enhancement in subsequent firmware.

also hope there's a shortcut for airplane mode on the notification dropdown for the next firmware update.

& what's the use for the hotspot when the n6ii doesn't even have a SIMCARD?