[davidmolliere]

There are quite a few flagship DAP announcements lately, N8ii is definitely the most exciting!

 

[normie610]

Cayin will debut a N8ii prototype at Guangzhou International Headphone Expo next month (11-12 Sept 2021).

Highlights of N8ii features:

1. Fully-Balanced Dual Timbre

Our Vacuum Tube/Solid State Dual Timber feature shook the world back in May 2018. We solved the microphonic problem with innovative techniques and for the first time, facilitates choice of vacuum tube and solid state timbre in a portable DAP. Unfortunately we can only install one Nutube 6P1 in our N8, so the vacuum tube is only available to Single-end headphone output. We received loads of comment and request to make the vacuum tube timbre available to balanced output as well, and we have explained repeatedly that the Nutube 6P1 is a double Triode tube by design, it can used as left and right channel of stereo amplification, we cannot achieve true balanced amplification with only one Nutube 6P1.

Naturally, when we start our N8ii project, one of the priority requirements is to upgrade the Dual Timber feature to support balanced output. While we have implemented Dual Timbre with two Nubute in C9, the fully-balanced Dual Timbre system in N8ii is even more challenging because we have to take care of a 5" OLED screen at the same time.

So have we managed that? Yes, and we'll show you the result, with proud, at Guangzhou show next month.

2. Dual Output Mode

This is a unique feature that only available in N8. We alter the operation voltage of headphone amplification to increase output power, handling capability and sound signature of the circuit and allow users to choose between standard P mode and High Output P+ mode through a pull down menu. We'll keep this feature in N8ii and better still, we upgraded the headphone amplification circuit to fully-discrete design. As a result of that, the P+ mode in N8ii will offers more dramatic different from the standard P mode.

3. Dual DAC Architecture

The N8ii is designed around a pair of current mode DAC chipset that we have never used before. To the best of our knowledge, this DAC chipset has never been used by any portable DAP so far. The AKM fire is one of the hardest hit to our industry and Cayin started to look for new DAC solution almost immediately. We have spend a lot of resource to learn, experiment and find tune the supporting system of this new DAC chipset. Our engineer are still doing that while we speak, and we are confident that the final deliverable will offer a brand new experience that can rival any TOTL DAC implementation in DAP.

The original N8 was announced at Munich High-End 2018 and that is slightly over three years already. I can still remember the day I hold the N8 for the first time, telling the press that we had developed the first vacuum tube based DAP that sound exceptionally well. In fact it still does, the N8 is still regarded as one of the best sounding DAP today. We have been working on N8ii for well over a year. We don't have a predefined deadline. When Cayin works on a new flagship, we are more concern on the engineering and performance considerations, We are NOT going to roll out a flagship product until we are confident that it meet our requirements and expectations. Cayin has established an impeccable performance history on DAP product development. All three DAPs in our current line up, N8, N6ii and N3Pro, are innovative, well-informed, and well-received. We have displayed class-leading engineering from each and every product and we are confident that the N8ii will continue the Cayin legend.

We'll provide more information about N8ii after the Guangzhou International Headphone Expo, so please stay tuned.

Subbed! (again)

This looks to be the most interesting DAP release this year. Hopefully battery life will be above 10 hours and the UI will be smooth with no or minimal glitch. I’ve been spoiled by R8 in this regard.

 

[jmills8]

Subbed! (again)

This looks to be the most interesting DAP release this year. Hopefully battery life will be above 10 hours and the UI will be smooth with no or minimal glitch. I’ve been spoiled by R8 in this regard.

10 hours , what a life one sits alone for 10 hours ?

 

[Quadfather]

10 hours , what a life one sits alone for 10 hours ?

I listen to mine 4 hours +. I use my Sony as I case mail.

 

[normie610]

10 hours , what a life one sits alone for 10 hours ?

Yours?

 

[jmills8]

Yours?

2 hrs on the go , like walking , in trains , in a bus.

 

[Imusicman]

I was on the look out for a used N8 BB but I’m definitely waiting for this now

 

[dadracer2]

I am still a bit dizzy with excitement at the thought of a balanced triode based hifi system that you can hold in your hand. I will need to go for a lie down in darkened room for a while....

 

[KickAssChewGum]

Cayin will debut a N8ii prototype at Guangzhou International Headphone Expo next month (11-12 Sept 2021).

Highlights of N8ii features:

1. Fully-Balanced Dual Timbre

Our Vacuum Tube/Solid State Dual Timber feature shook the world back in May 2018. We solved the microphonic problem with innovative techniques and for the first time, facilitates choice of vacuum tube and solid state timbre in a portable DAP. Unfortunately we can only install one Nutube 6P1 in our N8, so the vacuum tube is only available to Single-end headphone output. We received loads of comment and request to make the vacuum tube timbre available to balanced output as well, and we have explained repeatedly that the Nutube 6P1 is a double Triode tube by design, it can used as left and right channel of stereo amplification, we cannot achieve true balanced amplification with only one Nutube 6P1.

Naturally, when we start our N8ii project, one of the priority requirements is to upgrade the Dual Timber feature to support balanced output. While we have implemented Dual Timbre with two Nubute in C9, the fully-balanced Dual Timbre system in N8ii is even more challenging because we have to take care of a 5" OLED screen at the same time.

So have we managed that? Yes, and we'll show you the result, with proud, at Guangzhou show next month.

2. Dual Output Mode

This is a unique feature that only available in N8. We alter the operation voltage of headphone amplification to increase output power, handling capability and sound signature of the circuit and allow users to choose between standard P mode and High Output P+ mode through a pull down menu. We'll keep this feature in N8ii and better still, we upgraded the headphone amplification circuit to fully-discrete design. As a result of that, the P+ mode in N8ii will offers more dramatic different from the standard P mode.

3. Dual DAC Architecture

The N8ii is designed around a pair of current mode DAC chipset that we have never used before. To the best of our knowledge, this DAC chipset has never been used by any portable DAP so far. The AKM fire is one of the hardest hit to our industry and Cayin started to look for new DAC solution almost immediately. We have spend a lot of resource to learn, experiment and find tune the supporting system of this new DAC chipset. Our engineer are still doing that while we speak, and we are confident that the final deliverable will offer a brand new experience that can rival any TOTL DAC implementation in DAP.

The original N8 was announced at Munich High-End 2018 and that is slightly over three years already. I can still remember the day I hold the N8 for the first time, telling the press that we had developed the first vacuum tube based DAP that sound exceptionally well. In fact it still does, the N8 is still regarded as one of the best sounding DAP today. We have been working on N8ii for well over a year. We don't have a predefined deadline. When Cayin works on a new flagship, we are more concern on the engineering and performance considerations, We are NOT going to roll out a flagship product until we are confident that it meet our requirements and expectations. Cayin has established an impeccable performance history on DAP product development. All three DAPs in our current line up, N8, N6ii and N3Pro, are innovative, well-informed, and well-received. We have displayed class-leading engineering from each and every product and we are confident that the N8ii will continue the Cayin legend.

We'll provide more information about N8ii after the Guangzhou International Headphone Expo, so please stay tuned.

This is probably the most exciting of the MANY recent head-fi announcements, in my opinion. Cayin’s C9 is perhaps the single best audio upgrade I have ever purchased, closely followed by the R01 board for the N6ii. This is a company operating at the very top of its game and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in this industry. The thought of what their new flagship might be capable of is something to get truly excited about!

 

[aaf evo]

This is probably the most exciting of the MANY recent head-fi announcements, in my opinion. Cayin’s C9 is perhaps the single best audio upgrade I have ever purchased, closely followed by the R01 board for the N6ii. This is a company operating at the very top of its game and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in this industry. The thought of what their new flagship might be capable of is something to get truly excited about!

And they don’t outdate their products every 8 months like other competitors!

 

[jmills8]

And they don’t outdate their products every 8 months like other competitors!

But we buy every totl that is pushed.

 

[aaf evo]

But we buy every totl that is pushed.

Mostly true. I just canceled my DX300 Max order after they pulled that Ti edition stunt.

 

[Sigurhead]

hpe hype hype!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jmills8]

hpe hype hype!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best you just ignore and live a life.

 

[Podster]

N8 flying to Japan.

Ooh and that sexy plane lighting As always Andy ads the wise decision to try it out and see if it meets ones personal preference