New tube-amp by Cayin

[MTL]

Anyone heard of Cayin products yet?

For further information:
http://www.cayin.de/index_haupt.htm (only available in German, I'm afraid...)

 

[bigears]

Looks....
[size=medium]like a Photographic Camera !!![/size]
from the good old days,

hehehe

And for a change is from Europe.... hum

Are any reviews available?
[size=medium]
If i rembember from the bible...
CAYIN killed ABEL

[size=large]Is not true !!![/size]
(b)ABEL(fish) KILLED CAYIN
(at least the translation, hehehe

[/size]

from Altavista babelfish translation service,
from German to English:

Universally applicable: Not only an excellent Kopfh?rverst?er
to use but also as R?envorstufe or Vollverst?er. F?Lautsprecher
with high efficiency should be sufficient 2 x 2,2 Watts in the Ultralinearbetrieb. By switches to the R?seite of the Ger?s the EL-84 Endstufenr?en can be operated alternatively in the triode mode.
A preliminary stage exit permits also the enterprise with a zus?lichen Endverst?er.
The Kopfh?rimpedanz is adaptable in four steps of 6 - Ω 300.

Techniche Details

Verst?er generally
R?enbest?ung: 2x EL84 (6N14), 1x 12AX7, 1x 12AU7
Geh?efarbe: Black
Front screen: Silver
MA? ?r all B x H x T: 130 x 230 x 300 mm
Weight: 7 kg
Capacity: 60 Watts

Kopfh?r Vollverst?er Preliminary stage
1 entrance: AUX AUX AUX
1 exit: Handle Cable clip/banana RCA
Entrance sensitivity: 220 mVs 320 mVs -

Feed impedance: 22 kΩ 22 kΩ 22 kΩ
Circuit: Class A Class A Class A
Foreign clamping us distance: 88 railways 85 railways 82 railways
Distortion factor (THD): 1% @ 1 kHz 2% @ 1 kHz 0.8% @ 1 kHz
Channel balance: <0.5 dB <0.5 dB -
Verst?ungsfaktor: - - 14 railways

UGH !!!
Awful translation

 

[DHT 2A3]

A -slightly- better translation, from Google language tools:

Universally applicable: Not only an excellent headphone amplifier to use but also as tube preliminary stage or full amplifiers. For loudspeakers with high efficiency 2 x 2,2 Watts in the Ultralinearbetrieb should be sufficient. By switches at the back of the equipment the El-84 of output stage tubes can be operated alternatively in the triode mode. A preliminary stage exit permits also the enterprise with an additional power amplifier.
Headphone impedance is adaptable in four steps of 6 - 300 O. techdet.gif (10515 byte) amplifier generally tube assembly: 2x EL84 (Ñ14), 1x 1ÀX7, 1x 1ÀU7 housing color: Black front screen: Silver mass over all B x H x T: 130 x 230 x 300 mm weight: 7 kg of capacity: 60 Watts of headphones full amplifier preliminary stage 1 entrance: AUX AUX AUX 1 exit: Handle cable clip/banana RCA entrance sensitivity: 220 mVs 320 mVs - feed impedance: 22 kO 22 kO 22 kO circuit: Class A Class A Class A foreign clamping us distance: 88 railways 85 railways 82 railways distortion factor (THD): 1% @ 1 kHz 2% @ 1 kHz 0,8% @ 1 kHz channel balance: < 0,5 railways < 0,5 railways - amplification factor: - - 14 railways

 

[LFF]

I feel that thing will be calling me Dave and asking me questions.

 

[skullguise]

Actually, this has been around, and got pretty good reviews. I DO believe it was the topic of debate at one point here, regarding the possible sonic abilities, warranties, and general build. Do a search....

One sold on Audiogon several months ago, not sure of price ($500-ish??).

 

[HiGHFLYiN9]

Rameish and N@Z both shared some favorable impressions about the amp here: http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=33013

Uncledan has some nice pics of the inside here: http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=43980

Some impressions on the HA-2 from Jazpresso: http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=56995

Northern Oak's initial impression post: http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=41521

 

[Ferbose]

I in fact almost bought one a few days ago.
Unfortunately, the Spark dealer in Taiwan is out of stock.
Spark (Cayin) is a Chinese company and their product accepts 220 V.
The Taiwan version would run on 110V-120V and be usable in US.

 

[tk_suki]

The Dynamic Audio in Akihabara has one, maybe not exact but looks darn close. They are not real keen on photos(was warned once b4), most stores dont care but one of the clerks there does at this one.

Had just a quick listen, first impressions were favorable, for a $500 tube amp. Yes had speaker i/c but did not give them a listen. Just a few cans, including my R10s. Not in the mkt for this type of item so unlikely to be motivated to kill time trying to discover if a worthy product any time soon.

Spark has a larger PP amp 735A or something with HP out that recall matched well with CD3Ks but runs for about $700 20w-35w approx.

 

[bigears]

mls64, hi

tanks for the (much better) translation,
and the hint to Google language tools.
Seems that altavista will no longer can count on me
for ask their translations...

highflyin9 info was very useful also.
I checked the threads and did some search
and there are more impressions that i expected.

Anybody knows how much does it sells in europe?

thanks

 

[bigears]

Well price is on the high side...
Does not reach 900 euros, but is more than 850 euros.

Europe´s price has nothing to do with
the price of this product in China ...

For that price... "no way Jose ! "

Ah, but for a day...
i had hope to find a bargain

Cayin HA-1A Headphone Amplifier
(03 January 2005 - 04 January 2005)
R.I.P.

 

[archosman]

I've got one that has probably 10 hours on it. I got my RKV shortly after recieving the HA-1 and have spent more time with it. Too many amps... should probably sell it...

 

[bigears]

archosman, hi

Audio Valve RKV versus Cayin HA-1
Can you do a comparation of those two tube amps?

Since both are in a similar price, should be interesting.
Yes i know that it has been done before.
Still i nice to hear other people experiences
and points of view.

 

[archosman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigears archosman, hi Audio Valve RKV versus Cayin HA-1 Can you do a comparation of those two tube amps? Since both are in a similar price, should be interesting. Yes i know that it has been done before. Still i nice to hear other people experiences and points of view.

Very quick one until I have a little more time...

The HA-1 gets loud... and I mean real loud. It's got juice to spare. If memory serves the volume knob is at roughly 7 o'clock. By the time I reached between 10 & 11 it was too loud. I think the whole knob runs from 7 to 5 o'clock. I really need to get some better tubes for it. The ones I had in it would "ring" and make a tinkling sound from time to time. For a moment I thought I was going crazy and hearing something else since at the time I got it I was recovering from a cold. I put about 10 hours on it and stuck it back in the box.

The RKV really floored alot of people at work when I let them listen to it. But the funny thing is to me it didn't have a huge tube sound to it. If you do some research you'll find that tuberolling doesn't have alot of effect on the RKV. I actually found my MG OTL more "musical" which could be both a good thing and bad. In that aspect I felt the OTL colored the sound, but I found 2 Mullards and a G.E. that really made my 600s sing. I'm kind of embarrased to an extent since I have quite a few nice amps that are sitting around gathering dust. I've been using the WooAudio 3 and an Ray Samuels XP-7 (w/797s) lately and the OTL, RKV, Cayin HA-1a, and Dared have all been just sitting there. I seem to gravitate from amp to amp for a period and in one aspect the same thing has happened with some phones as well. After hearing the RS-1s on a Stealth I finally picked up a few and found I really liked them. Likewise I've been gravitating back to the 600s the past 2 weeks! I've got a great pair of 3KWoodies that are just sitting there. Probably about time I pick them up for a spin as well.

Both the same price? I got the Cayin from the Tuner guy for I think around $375 and bought the used RKV off Audiogon for $700... which just like the RS-1s I got looked brand new. Currently I'm using a slightly modded Philips 963 to Headphile IC (Black Gold) to the WooAudio 3. Been pretty impressed with the Woo. I originally thought it outdid the MG OTL but I've come to the conclusion that it's a much more refined sound and a great value.

 

[Ferbose]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigears Well price is on the high side... Does not reach 900 euros, but is more than 850 euros.

That's a rip off.
The Taiwan version with upgraded components and 120 V modification only sells for $400 in Taiwan.
Maybe German version has even better components.
But 500-550 Euro sounds more resonable to me.

 

[gundam91]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferbose That's a rip off. The Taiwan version with upgraded components and 120 V modification only sells for $400 in Taiwan.

Where in Taiwan can I find one of these? I would be curious to hear one the next time I go back.