Cayin N7.
This is my first Cayin device, and what an experience!
I must to say that my preferences are DAPs and IEMs.
In my collection are Astell&Kern SP2000 Cu, Kann Alpha, FiiO M17 and Shanling M8.
Astell SP2000 was my favorite player…
On IEMs side, Empire Ears Odin, Legend Evo (sold), Sony IER-Z1R, Campfire Andromeda, 64 Audio Fourté, QDC Anole VX and Kinera Nanna.
My favorite is Odin
…
Since Cayin N7, even more.
Also important to say, I love jazz!
Almost 90% of my Flac Hi Res and DSD collection is on this genre.
Cayin N7 is so unique DAP. It’s beautiful, and well designed, with useful buttons and volume wheel. SP2000 wins on industrial design and materials, but N7 stands strong.
But the important thing, how it sounds?
A M A Z I N G ! !
The sound has a strong personality, it’s bold, powerful, highly detailed and with a superb imaging.
But the fist aspect that catches attention, is the natural timbre of instruments and a huge soundstage, wide and deep. Even with Odin, an IEM that doesn’t posses a wide stage.
Bass.
N7 has a strong bass expression, it’s well balanced on all frequencies with high levels of detail. Counter-bass artists like Christian McBride provides a lot of nuances on his improvisations. N7 posses the ability to shows every aspect on McBrides explorations. The rip of strings are powerful and natural, an analogue feeling.
N7 push Odin boundaries to another level, with more body on bass and mids.
Mids.
On mids, N7 preserves the natural feeling of each instrument timbre, it’s not a melted mid experience as A&K, but quite enjoyable. All the details are there, ready to fly thru your favorite IEM. Piano
sounds delicious, as an example, DSD album Midnight Sugar from Yamamoto Trio has a lifelike expression on each piano note.
Also, flamenco guitar’s are a revelation on N7, beautiful acoustic feeling, so natural. Réquiem from Vicente Amigo can transport you to another dimension with a variety of guitars and voices plenty of texture, both, female and male.
About DSD tracks, doesn’t need special volume compensation and sound superb. N7 design is impressive on DSD files.
Highs.
Highs are extended and controlled, N7 can mitigate that crazy horse called Fourté from 64 Audio. No problem here, highs extend away in a very enjoyable experience.
Not so airy but you get body on cymbals. Also you can enjoy all the energy of Miles Davis or Christian Scott trumpets
, a little bit rounded but without losing information.
N7 it’s a true marvel, great user experience with streaming service as Qobuz preserving his unique sound signature.
It’s hard to say that N7 is superior than A&K SP2000, I prefer to declare they are different.
Paired with EE Odin, N7 without doubt it’s the choice for me. You can feel all the energy from jazz improvisations, truly dynamic and expressive.
