Cayin RU7: 1-Bit Resistor Network Dongle DAC /Amp

[Polky74]

It's been a while since I listened to it compared to other more recent dongles... but it's always a pleasure to listen to it. Then when coupled with very technical IEM like the Sliivo SLT-6 it brings out its "magic" even better.

 

[Polky74]

@Andykong
This morning I connected the RU7 to the phone and it turns on (because it is recognized) but the display remains off. Is there a way to do a hard reset and see if that fixes it or should I send it in for service? Thank you.

 

[Gold Fox]

@Andykong
This morning I connected the RU7 to the phone and it turns on (because it is recognized) but the display remains off. Is there a way to do a hard reset and see if that fixes it or should I send it in for service? Thank you.

Sad to tell that Andy will no longer be replying to these questions, as he has now returned to being an audiophile rather than consultant. But I’m here to help you!

Could you PM me your email address so I can have our aftersales team follow up with the diagnosis?

 

[BBHT]

Cayin Ru7 users I'm curious if your RU7 will play this track?

My unit won't play it without cut outs and skipping. I've come across a few electronic tracks that seem to throw it and it's ability to decode and convert to DSD.

99% of the time it's just fine but now I'm wondering if mine is half toasted or if it's just a generic flaw.

Note the track in full digital download or cd version all throw the Dac the same but even the compressed preview on bandcamp makes it fail to play.

 

[okan]

Cayin Ru7 users I'm curious if your RU7 will play this track?

My unit won't play it without cut outs and skipping. I've come across a few electronic tracks that seem to throw it and it's ability to decode and convert to DSD.

99% of the time it's just fine but now I'm wondering if mine is half toasted or if it's just a generic flaw.

Note the track in full digital download or cd version all throw the Dac the same but even the compressed preview on bandcamp makes it fail to play.

I don't think your ru7 is defective. Looks like there is an issue with the track. I am hearing cut outs with both ru7 and dc elite. It is same with mac mini's speaker also.

 

[BBHT]

I don't think your ru7 is defective. Looks like there is an issue with the track. I am hearing cut outs with both ru7 and dc elite. It is same with mac mini's speaker also.

Yet it plays fine on the mojo2, astell & kern HC4 and questyle m15i

At least it's good to know my Ru7 hasn't cooked yeah!

 

[okan]

Yet it plays fine on the mojo2, astell & kern HC4 and questyle m15i

At least it's good to know my Ru7 hasn't cooked yeah!

I just tried with my iphone now. I am wondering if those clipping like sounds is part of the track. They are noticibale especially till 1:10. With dc elite I am hearing those clipping sounds, no cut out. However, with RU7 there are obvious cut outs. You are right, with this track something is off with ru7. Insteresting

 

[BBHT]

I just tried with my iphone now. I am wondering if those clipping like sounds is part of the track. They are noticibale especially till 1:10. With dc elite I am hearing those clipping sounds, no cut out. However, with RU7 there are obvious cut outs. You are right, with this track something is off with ru7. Insteresting

Yeah I think the frequency cut off on the sample that's removed the mid and upper register combined with the sample click that sounds like a really big DC offset jump just throws some DACs for some reason.
But in fairness if the artist intended that as character to his soundscape then it's a fail on the DACs part.

I also have this track on vinyl and can confirm the pops are part of the track and not an encoding issue.

 

[jsmiller58]

I just tried with my iphone now. I am wondering if those clipping like sounds is part of the track. They are noticibale especially till 1:10. With dc elite I am hearing those clipping sounds, no cut out. However, with RU7 there are obvious cut outs. You are right, with this track something is off with ru7. Insteresting

The clipping sounds are very audible playing on my iPad’s speakers.

 

[BBHT]

I guess it's the dsd conversion that's at fault. With dsd there's only two states louder or quieter than the previous bit. So maybe a massive DC offset spike just sends it shooting off out of tolerance in some fashion and the Ru7 has a cheeky quick reset to get back on track.

I'm going to try onkyo player and do the dsd conversion in software and on the dap player then send it (pre-converted) to the RU7 and see if it still throws it

Edit: nope... Even converted to 5.6MHz before the RU7 it still doesn't play

Won't play until 2:16 then it's fine.

Update: I've been playing dsd converted files through the mojo2 and with the dsd conversion set to 0db on red lined recordings sometimes you get an unexpected drop for like 750ms that I suspect was the waveform clipping so I set the dsd conversion to -3dB and sure enough the drop outs don't occure.

So I'm starting to see it's how a "system" converts to dsd and filters that effects if there's clipping and therefore drop out in sound output.

 

[MD Rohit]

Ru7 and BQEYZ Frost

 

[staymetal]

I actually love the sound of the Cayin RU7 . I find it wide open with the soundstage representation, analog sound smooth and never harsh depends on the recording of course. But specifically the soundstage of this thing is on another level the way the instruments are separated but also with the entire dimension width height and depth and nowhere near other DACs I own including iBasso DC03 PRO & DC04 PRO , HiBy FC4 , Creative G6 , HiBy FC6 & Onix Alpha XL1 or SMSL SU-1 desktop DAC , . Lineout mode is extremely useful , as I actually managed to pair it with a Topping L30 II desktop amp and another Topping NX7 portable and the results were phenomenal. One con only which i need to mention here is the short clip sound when changing song , but it is really not an issue for me at all ,rather just a small annoyance , nitpicking.

 

[BBHT]

I actually love the sound of the Cayin RU7 . I find it wide open with the soundstage representation, analog sound smooth and never harsh depends on the recording of course. But specifically the soundstage of this thing is on another level the way the instruments are separated but also with the entire dimension width height and depth and nowhere near other DACs I own including iBasso DC03 PRO & DC04 PRO , HiBy FC4 , Creative G6 , HiBy FC6 & Onix Alpha XL1 or SMSL SU-1 desktop DAC , . Lineout mode is extremely useful , as I actually managed to pair it with a Topping L30 II desktop amp and another Topping NX7 portable and the results were phenomenal. One con only which i need to mention here is the short clip sound when changing song , but it is really not an issue for me at all ,rather just a small annoyance , nitpicking.

Yeah there's something quite magical and right about the amount of body to every element in the soundscape. It's bold yet still capable of delicate and as far from thin and digital as you can get.

To be honest I use it far more than my mojo2

 

[staymetal]

Yeah there's something quite magical and right about the amount of body to every element in the soundscape. It's bold yet still capable of delicate and as far from thin and digital as you can get.

To be honest I use it far more than my mojo2

I usually buy audio DACs as a hobby and I test them and then either sell or give away to friends and relatives, I almost never stay with the same DAC for a long time perhaps a few months or 1 year . I can say that HiBy FC6 and Cayin RU7 have something magical in the way they represent sound . I mean they are not your typical DACs they have a special character in their sound which is distinguishable. I am also waiting for Mojo next portable dac

 

[BBHT]

I usually buy audio DACs as a hobby and I test them and then either sell or give away to friends and relatives, I almost never stay with the same DAC for a long time perhaps a few months or 1 year . I can say that HiBy FC6 and Cayin RU7 have something magical in the way they represent sound . I mean they are not your typical DACs they have a special character in their sound which is distinguishable. I am also waiting for Mojo next portable dac

I find the mojo2 will pair and exploit a little more talent out of capable iem's. It's got an extra push for high frequency resolve than the RU7. But with the mojo2's dynamic extremes you do miss a little bit of the upfront body the RU7 serves up.
I find the mojo2 needs an albums worth of warm up from cold to settle into it's best performance then it's got a correctness you can respect.
Mojo2 Portable yes... Mobile not so much... Fuppin ports and stuff sticking out of it everywhere and it's so heavy you list to whichever side it's pocketed
Good though