[seanwee]

From my headpie post.

I had only maybe 10-15 MN with the Cayin N8 as there were many people willing to try it. I tested with SE5U and Nerva X, both with 4.4 balanced, and compared to my WM1Z, on Flac Redbook tracks. These are very early stage and brief impressions. The player has incredible build quality, everything is super solid, well put together, knows are responsive and robust. Top marks for quality. I am not a fan of the looks, but it is is quite OK still. I did not fully test the UI, but it seem robust and fast. Sound wise, first thing that is obvious is power. It is loud and well controlled at barely 20-30% of volume, and SE5U has high impedance and not very sensitive. The tonality is warm and VERY full, sort of a tube type signature. On top of the natural tone and fullness, the key winning point is stage depth and layering. The music is incredibly fleshed out and holographic, even more so than the WM1Z. On the latest 2.0 FW, the WM1Z is more reference, and wins in clarify and precision. An interesting player to follow, with, at this stage quite a special approach to sound. From memory, the signature is at the opposite from LPG Touch.

Which output were you using on the WM1Z and which on the N8?

The WM1Z wasn't very holographic (both on SE and balanced) to me, it was just very big. The Sp1000 was holographic to me.

 

[Mimouille]

Which output were you using on the WM1Z and which on the N8?

The WM1Z wasn't very holographic (both on SE and balanced) to me, it was just very big. The Sp1000 was holographic to me.

Both 4.4 balanced. I think SP1000 is ultra clear but wasn't impressed by depth. Like most AK players.

 

[seanwee]

Both 4.4 balanced. I think SP1000 is ultra clear but wasn't impressed by depth. Like most AK players.

Did you try out the SE output of the N8? Thats the real star of the show.

 

[Mimouille]

Did you try out the SE output of the N8? Thats the real star of the show.

No, did I miss something? Why is it better? I had just brought 4.4 cables.

 

[seanwee]

No, did I miss something? Why is it better? I had just brought 4.4 cables.

LOL are you serious? The Nutubes were all the hype on the N8

 

[Mimouille]

LOL are you serious? The Nutubes were all the hype on the N8

I didn't know they where only on SE...too bad. Will try next time.

 

[Andykong]

I didn't know they where only on SE...too bad. Will try next time.

I assume this was a well-known design limitation.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/cay...25th-anniversary.879025/page-20#post-14235108

 

[Andykong]

From my headpie post.

I had only maybe 10-15 MN with the Cayin N8 as there were many people willing to try it. I tested with SE5U and Nerva X, both with 4.4 balanced, and compared to my WM1Z, on Flac Redbook tracks. These are very early stage and brief impressions. The player has incredible build quality, everything is super solid, well put together, knows are responsive and robust. Top marks for quality. I am not a fan of the looks, but it is is quite OK still. I did not fully test the UI, but it seem robust and fast. Sound wise, first thing that is obvious is power. It is loud and well controlled at barely 20-30% of volume, and SE5U has high impedance and not very sensitive. The tonality is warm and VERY full, sort of a tube type signature. On top of the natural tone and fullness, the key winning point is stage depth and layering. The music is incredibly fleshed out and holographic, even more so than the WM1Z. On the latest 2.0 FW, the WM1Z is more reference, and wins in clarify and precision. An interesting player to follow, with, at this stage quite a special approach to sound. From memory, the signature is at the opposite from LPG Touch.

Spoiler

Thank you for your detail impression. This is the first N8 impression in English and I am glad that we have a fairly good start.

The moment you picked up N8 at our booth, my colleagues alerted me right away.

 

[twister6]

Thank you for your detail impression. This is the first N8 impression in English and I am glad that we have a fairly good start.

The moment you picked up N8 at our booth, my colleagues alerted me right away.

@Mimouille , and all this time you thought that cosplayer Eros girl was checking you out at the show? Looks like she was Cayin double agent, spying on you

 

[Chik0240]

LOL are you serious? The Nutubes were all the hype on the N8

So does it mean the N8 will be even warmer on the SE? if so wouldn't it be slightly too warm? as from what I read here previously the WM1Z is already on the warm side of neutral, then the N8 Balanced even warmer, and the SE? any impression on that one?

 

[seanwee]

So does it mean the N8 will be even warmer on the SE? if so wouldn't it be slightly too warm? as from what I read here previously the WM1Z is already on the warm side of neutral, then the N8 Balanced even warmer, and the SE? any impression on that one?

Apparently the Nutubes sound more like an extremely clean solid state amp (someone posted it here a while ago). Still a pity @Mimouille didn't get to try it.

@Andykong surely you can give us your impressions right? Not as an employee of Cayin but as a fellow audiophile.

 

[PinkyPowers]

My heart is poisoned by jealousy, @Mimouille !

 

[Mike-WI]

I'll cast a vote for matte finish on the nobs, as well.

But only if it's easily doable. I don't care enough for it to cause trouble with production. I think it looks fine as is, even though I agree it could look better.

From the discussion on this it seems like a good opportunity for the company to offer customized components -- similar to when you order a cable and pay additive amounts for increased length and various terminations.
Same with various speaker finishes (eg Salk, JTR, Seaton, etc).
Create one or a few large batch runs and allow a charge (let's say +$20 or +$50 or more for very customized).
Seems that would be a niche for users and likely a high margin for the company.

Mike

 

[Cagin]

Plausible deniability Mim, say you only had your 4.4 cable on you x-D

 

[Mike-WI]

I assume this was a well-known design limitation.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/cay...25th-anniversary.879025/page-20#post-14235108

LOL are you serious? The Nutubes were all the hype on the N8

I didn't know they where only on SE...too bad. Will try next time.

I assume this was a well-known design limitation.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/cay...25th-anniversary.879025/page-20#post-14235108

I'm new to DAPs, but stepping back a bit as a potential buyer as well as just interested in DAP development, we have:

SE +/- Nutubes
Balanced - no Nutubes

I don't know much about DAPs, but all my reading about headphone amps is that you want to use the best output possible.
Ignoring any possible reliability issues with Nutubes, there is still the utility issue.
I read the prior technical explanation of why SE got the Nutube treatment, but it doesn't seem like it would be used if trying to use the optimal outputs (balanced).
Seems over compromised for a "price no object" product.
I applaud the idea, but seems tricky as I'm imagining the use cases.

Thoughts?

Mike


https://www.head-fi.org/threads/cay...25th-anniversary.879025/page-27#post-14244710
"Yes, the Tube/SS option is a pull down menu item, it will be covered later. "

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/cay...25th-anniversary.879025/page-22#post-14236650

Found a really nice pic of the N8 circuitry