Cayin N6iii: Nothing is Impossible with Gen2 User-replaceable Audio Motherboard

[drftr]

+1

Does it sing though like a great tube or R-2R player does? I kill for anything supa-dupa toe-tapping rhythmic kinda machine.

drftr

 

[Ichos]

Does it sing though like a great tube or R-2R player does? I kill for anything supa-dupa toe-tapping rhythmic kinda machine.

drftr

Each one with its own advantages and disadvantages. Let's wait to see what the R-2R card brings to the table. As for tubes, it depends on the implementation, not all tubes sound the same. Howerer, if you like tubes as much as I do, then nothing can beat the real thing. Solid state design can mimic tubes but it is not tubes!

 

[drftr]

Howerer, if you like tubes as much as I do, then nothing can beat the real thing

It's just that long-term travelling and tubes don't go together very well, so I will have to live with the next best thing (that doesn't remind me about transistors ).

drftr

 

[Ichos]

It's just that long-term travelling and tubes don't go together very well, so I will have to live with the next best thing (that doesn't remind me about transistors ).

drftr

Tubes in DAPs or portable DACs don't have much problems with travel. They can be enjoyed everywhere

 

[immortalsoul]

Hi, for those of you that are looking to buy a Cayin N6iii, I have one for sale at a great price. Thank you!
https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/cayin-n6iii-dap.89907/

 

[officeboy20]

How does the Cayin N6iii compare with Sony WM1AM2?

 

[aier8Robert]

Man, Cayin’s really leveling up with the N6iii. Love how they’re still pushing modular design.

 

[drftr]

Tubes in DAPs or portable DACs don't have much problems with travel. They can be enjoyed everywhere

In this part of the world, yes. But not in the other 75% of countries where other people throw around your backpack in public transport. And being in the middle of nowhere means you can't get it replaced or repaired either.

drftr

 

[WDitters]

Hey guys, got a few updates to share regarding the R202 (and RU9)!

Unique Melody (UM) will be bringing both the N6iii with the R202 motherboard and the RU9 to CanJam Shanghai. You can find them at Booth C7 — so if you’re attending, don’t miss the chance to try them out in person!

Now a quick update on the R202 motherboard:
The hardware design has been finalized — what you’ll be hearing at the show is essentially the near-final version. After the show, we’ll collect feedback, conduct final testing, and make some last tuning refinements.

If all goes well, we’re aiming to start mass production shortly afterward, with a domestic launch planned for late June, followed by an international release in July.

Any idea about the expected price? I heard an indication of $599 but that seems high … That would mean some €630-€650 including EU VAT

 

[Tristy]

Any idea about the expected price? I heard an indication of $599 but that seems high … That would mean some €630-€650 including EU VAT

Probably the same as the other boards surely?

 

[WDitters]

Probably the same as the other boards surely?

Those hover around €400-€440 here in EU

 

[Gold Fox]

Any idea about the expected price? I heard an indication of $599 but that seems high … That would mean some €630-€650 including EU VAT

We haven’t officially announced the pricing for R202 motherboard yet, so I can’t share exact numbers at the moment.

What I can say is that our suggested retail price in the U.S. will be lower than $599. That said, as you probably know, once it reaches the EU region, things do get a bit more complex due to VAT, import costs, and distributor pricing structures...

 

[Gold Fox]

N6iii Firmware v1.6 Update Announcement

New Functions and System Optimization:
1.Added new functional and UI adaptation to support the R202 Audio Motherboard;
2.Other bug fixes and optimizations.

I am not able to get Hiby Music updated to 2.1.5 … It keeps complaining that there’s another application installed that prevents it from installing … Even doing a factory reset and then immediately updating Hiby Music does not work …

Firmware Update
Cayin will release firmware updates to enhance and optimize N6iii as deemed required. Users can update the firmware through OTA or local updates. To manually download the firmware, please visit the SUPPORT center on our official website and please make sure you select “Personal Audio” on this page.

Attention
Please make sure the device has not less than 30% battery power, otherwise please charge up the player before you proceed to a firmware update.
Please make sure your N6iii has more than 2GB of storage before the firmware update.
Do not operate the device during a firmware update.
During a firmware update, the device will turn off and reboot automatically. If the device does not reboot 3 minutes after being turned off, please press and hold the POWER BUTTON for 3 seconds to boot up the device, the device will resume the firmware update process.
Please delete the firmware file from the TF card or internal storage after you have completed the firmware update process
OTA Update Procedures
Connect the N6iii to the internet via Wi-Fi.
Enter the Settings menu, and then proceed to “System” -> “Wireless Update”.
Press “Check for updates”, and the system will check for new firmware.
Press “Download” when your DAP detects new firmware. The N6iii operating system will download the new firmware as instructed.
Press “Install now” after the firmware is successfully downloaded.
Press “OK” at the pop-up dialogue, and the system will start installing the new firmware.
Local Update Procedures
Download the latest firmware update package from the SUPPORT center of Cayin’s official website, you should receive a compressed file as a zip file which is used for the N6iii firmware update.
DO NOT decompress the zip file.
Copy the firmware file into the root directory of the N6iii internal memory or TF card, and insert the TF card into the N6III before you proceed to the next step.
Enter the Settings menu, and then proceed to “System” -> “Wireless Update”.
Press the “┇” icon on the top right corner of the screen.
Select “Local updates” in the pop-up menu.
Proceed to the directory where the firmware file is located, and then select the firmware file.
Press “INSTALL NOW”.
Press “OK” at the pop-up dialogue, and the system will start installing the new firmware.

 

[WDitters]

N6iii Firmware v1.6 Update Announcement

Hiby Music update issue resolved!

Update: Seems that 23 June is more or less going to be the China release date @Gold Fox? I suspect most resellers still have to agree margins, pricing and conditions with Cayin, so first ordering possibilities will probably be late June, early July.

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/5AqB2oDNYK0fiYY7ai7jSQ

 

[xoxiax]

Hi folks!
I've been reading all the impressions shared here and definitely this Cayin N6iii is tempting me. There are very few options of good dacs not built as enormous bricks that can at the same time deliver an acceptable power output and high quality signal. I already have a Lotoo Paw 6000 and i wanted to upgrade, my initial thought was looking for a second hand Lotoo Paw Gold Touch (v1, the gt2 is out of my budget), but now the Cayin is deviating me from my purpose. I want to pair it with my Audeze LCDi4 and my Meze Empyrean, something that my LP6K does very good thanks to it's signature although far from their full expression as a consequence of what i perceive as a lack of power. I'm not expecting the LPGT or the Cayin n6ii to give me the full potential of both headphones, but the extra power of the Cayins looks promising for improving the lp6k. That said, i'm afraid of it being too warm for my already warm cans.
¿Has anyone tried both and can compare them? Will they be an upgrade considering the already warm nature of my headphones? And has anyone compared the LPGT against the N6iii?
Thanks in advance for your answers!