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

[Sonic Defender]

So does it sound more like one of those generic ESS/Sigma Dacs? Just what made the RU6 so unique was rationalized away with the RU7? That's too bad. It is not difficult to create a Dac with good qualities, but to convey the magic. Very unfortunate that they turned off the path

 

[Sonic Defender]

Removed.

 

[Brain Damage]

Could someone explain to me why with the same iem and gain, the RU7 (like the other dongles) sounds much louder when connected to the laptop than to the smartphone? Thank you.

The audioplayer you are using on the laptop along with the USB specs can have a significant impact on the data transfer abilities via USB and this can sometimes be better from a laptop compared to from a phone. Software has an impact too. Audirvana for example is far more efficient than UAPP so with almost all of my dongles and external dacs, the sound is fuller and louder every time from my laptop. This may help explain but there will inevitably be someone who knows more from a technical point of view.

 

[Polky74]

On PC I use foobar2000 and Uapp for smartphone.

 

[Brain Damage]

I have been listening to:

LGV40/UAPP>>RU7/LO>>ifi xCAN>>KZ AST (via Tripowin Zonie cable).

Totally addicted to the RU7. It's just a brilliant all round dongle. I couldn't agree more with posts earlier: if ESS Dacs are at say the far right end of the spectrum; the RU6 sits at the extreme left. And the RU7 sits just left of centre. The RU7 is complimentary to the RU6 as it's not similar enough to the RU6, nor is it too dissimilar. It is amazing how good the shared LO option is. Most of the dynamics and soundstage capabilities are preserved when synergised with the xCAN. What's more, the XBass boost on the xCAN adds a roar and thump to the lower frequencies without disrupting nor sacrificing the rest of the frequency range. Thunder Jackson's eponymous album has never sounded soo good.

Seriously hats off to Cayin. Loving it

 

[artkillen]

Removed.

The audioplayer you are using on the laptop along with the USB specs can have a significant impact on the data transfer abilities via USB and this can sometimes be better from a laptop compared to from a phone. Software has an impact too. Audirvana for example is far more efficient than UAPP so with almost all of my dongles and external dacs, the sound is fuller and louder every time from my laptop. This may help explain but there will inevitably be someone who knows more from a technical point of view.

Yup. It comes down to the amount of power your USB port is supplying. Just like desktop gear, change to a more robust power supply, and you can get better sound. This varies between phones, as well. Out of my gear, I've had the best results using an old Surface Pro tablet with Audirvanna, feeding the dongles. I was surprised that it sounded better than my desktop PC, but it did.

 

[gabriely]

All right, after trialing a lot of dongles (M15, RU6, RU7, FC6) over a very long period of time I've pulled the trigger on the RU7.

Just out of curiosity, is it normal that volume is different on my phone vs. on my computer? Same gain and volume setting, same track from Apple music, but on my PC it's a lot louder.

It happens to me too and I don't understand why...

Right, think I've got it. I've tested this on an iPhone 11 Pro Max and it outputs same volume as my PC. On my Android smartphone, because Android smartphones natively re-sample audio to 44.1/48kHz, that screws with the volume. If you're on an Android device and you're using, say, Apple Music, Android's AM app doesn't have a USB DAC-exclusive mode, so you get resampled. If you have something like HiBy Music and local files/TIDAL though, apps like that with USB DAC-exclusive mode will "bypass" Android resampling, and we don't get this problem anymore.

On another note, I've been spending some time with the RU7. Prior to this, I have not been a believer of burn-in on headphones, most certainly not on amp/DACs. However, listening to a new RU7 and a burnt-in RU7 (Zeppelin & Co's demo unit), it sounded like a completely different device. After some time on my personal unit, I brought my personal unit back and the differences are a lot more minor... Oh man.

 

[MidFiMoney]

Upsampling, because DSD uses a higher sample rate. DSD64 = 64 x 44.1 or 48 kHz. The bit rate is only 1-bit, not 16 bit however. Instead of a samples representing the volume level at every 1/44,100th of a second, the average of the number of 0's or 1's represent whether the waveform is rising or falling.

If you want to improve on the Mojo's soundstage, you'd probably want a Mojo 2. The RU7 doesn't (and can't) beat an OG Mojo except in convenience.

How close does the RU7 get to the OG Mojo?

 

[Patlezinc]

If I want to charge my Fiio and at the same time sending the flacs to the RU7 is this thing ok? It is said it is for speakers but can files go through this ??

Link : 2x USB-C

 

[oldkid]

I have managed to sideload Neutron Player on my Shield TV and connected the RU7 to it through my jitterbug FMJ. The amp I use for now is still the Loxjie P20 with iFi silent power. This is a proper desktop setup with no battery operated device involved.

I can stream Qobuz and Tidal to that system through Mconnect.

The sound quality has reached a new high. I definitely have a lot of fun with the shared lign out of the RU7

This song sounds like native DSD on the setup described above. RU7 on DSD256 could sound a little harsh and artificial from other sources but with the Shield it sounds full, smooth, with top notch instrument and channel separation. Really great stuff !

 

[daijobudes]

I have managed to sideload Neutron Player on my Shield TV and connected the RU7 to it through my jitterbug FMJ. The amp I use for now is still the Loxjie P20 with iFi silent power. This is a proper desktop setup with no battery operated device involved.

I can stream Qobuz and Tidal to that system through Mconnect.

The sound quality has reached a new high. I definitely have a lot of fun with the shared lign out of the RU7


This song sounds like native DSD on the setup described above. RU7 on DSD256 could sound a little harsh and artificial from other sources but with the Shield it sounds full, smooth, with top notch instrument and channel separation. Really great stuff !

Looks good, can You share how the setup looks?

 

[laleeee]

RU7 compared to RU6 has a different sound signature, more detailed, wider soundstage, better instrument focus, more power, same consumption, more definition. The only thing you lose is the magic of R2R sound that only an R2R can give you. For me it's a yes, it's worth buying the RU7 but not to replace the RU6 but to complement it.

And the dc04pro - Ru7 comparison ?

 

[558752]

How close does the RU7 get to the OG Mojo?

Smooth vs rough sounding ..

 

[Polky74]

And the dc04pro - Ru7 comparison ?

They are two excellent devices, the DC04PRO has everything a dongle must have, it plays very well, does not consume much, costs really nothing, is light to carry around, and makes all the iems you connect it look good. The RU7 is even better sounding, consumes more, costs more than double, is more demanding to carry around, and makes the IEMs you connect it look very good, it has lineout. I see the Cayin more to listen to it at home with a smartphone or even better with a PC (even connected to an amp if really needed) the DC04PRO, on the other hand, is excellent to carry and enjoy wherever you want. Musically the DC04PRO is more for dynamic music, it has a lot of slam, it has no harshness in the sound but still remains a delta-sigma, while the RU7 is much more refined in sound, soft, but at the same time very defined and with a magnificent timbre . For me they are complementary, one doesn't make you regret too much a dap on the go (DC04PRO), the other doesn't make you regret too much a desktop installation, sitting comfortably in front of your pc (RU7).

 

[MidFiMoney]

Smooth vs rough sounding ..

Yikes! I’ve never heard anyone one describe the Mojo as rough before haha. I’m quite intrigued by the RU7 so I put my order in with MusicTeck I’m hoping all of my “mobile joy” needs will be met by the W4 and RU7. I’m thinking the combo will be more portable, versatile, and cheaper than a new Mojo 2. I can’t stand the micro usb ports and I no longer consider the mojo form factor to be portable since dongles continue to improve. The W4 didn’t disappoint with its technical chops. So, I have high hopes for the RU7 on the analog and musical side.