Cayin N7 DAP Review - What does $2000 get you in a portable music player?

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  • čas přidán 5. 08. 2024
  • Cayin's N7 is the first portable digital audio player (DAP) to use 1-bit playback, in the manner of high-end Japanese CD players, rather than a conventional DAC chip. I put it through its paces.
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    You can buy the Cayin N7 from HiFiGo and support my channel at the same time:
    www.hear.audio/go/n7
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    Don't forget to read the FAQ! hear.audio/faq
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    Buying through these links supports making these videos.
    00:00 Start
    01:43 What is 1-bit Audio?
    06:33 Sound Impressions - Amplifier
    10:03 Sound with Full-sized Headphones
    12:13 Sound impressions - DAC
    15:54 Storage and Micro SD cards
    17:28 Compared to other devices
    20:16 Conclusion
    22:22 Thanks
  • Věda a technologie

Komentáře • 43

  • @asan1050
    @asan1050 Před 11 měsíci +3

    Currawong, Thank you very much!

  • @arthurkillen396
    @arthurkillen396 Před 11 měsíci +1

    Thanks for reviewing this. I have the RU7, and have had 4499 DACs, so I know what you mean about the polished sound characteristic. I've found that Yamaha music instruments have a similar experience. Not lacking in detail, but they "beautify" things a little for the listener.

  • @ronkkn4544
    @ronkkn4544 Před 10 měsíci +1

    Great review. WIll you do a (hifiman) dekoni cobalt review?

  • @chrisflynn2735
    @chrisflynn2735 Před 11 měsíci +4

    I have the N7 and use it with the Aroma A100TB amplifier as well as the Cayin C9. I get longer battery life as I'm only using line out. Most of my listening is from FLAC files and I find an almost analog sound from the N7. It pairs nicely with the C9 but really sounds best wirh Aroma TB100. I have op amp rolled with the Aroma with Muses 02 on the input and Burson Iv5's on the outputs. With this combination the sound is analog and dynamic, deep and rich.

  • @HeadphoneChamps
    @HeadphoneChamps Před 6 měsíci +1

    How does this sound compared to the Kann Ultra??

  • @blitzkreep4905
    @blitzkreep4905 Před 6 měsíci

    How would this compare to the RS6?

  • @dc-k4868
    @dc-k4868 Před 3 měsíci

    Would it pair well with Shure KSE1500?

  • @spamcan9208
    @spamcan9208 Před 11 měsíci +4

    Will you be doing a review of the RU7? I'm curious how it compares with the RU6.

    • @Currawong
      @Currawong  Před 11 měsíci +6

      Yes, that's coming soon.

    • @CoffeeXmusic
      @CoffeeXmusic Před 11 měsíci +1

      ​@@Currawongpatiently waiting for it. Looking to get a dongle soon. Can't decide.

  • @sig4974
    @sig4974 Před 11 měsíci

    Another great review thank you 👍 any chance you’ll review the HiBy RS8 in the future?

  • @nusu5331
    @nusu5331 Před 11 měsíci +1

    i wonder how far the ru7 with lets say a decent dap as source might be from it?

    • @Currawong
      @Currawong  Před 11 měsíci +1

      Not as detailed, basically. Bit more of a bloom to the sound as well. Not as much power for headphones either.

    • @nusu5331
      @nusu5331 Před 11 měsíci +1

      thank you for fast reply! that was to be expected, but seems not much of a trade off to me, as i am mostly into soundstage and dont care for details @@Currawong

  • @Reeeepicheep
    @Reeeepicheep Před 11 měsíci +2

    Cayin should make a standalone 1 bit desktop DAC for those who just want a great DAC to plug into a tube amp or something at a reasonable price. Tried using the RU-7 in this manner, but it had noise issues (even with my iPad using supplied usb c cable across two 2 units, both had noise). I could tell the RU7 dac was producing a good sound, minus the noise crackling. I know Schiit is working on 1 bit dacs. I wonder if they are the future. I did some research and read that 1 bit DACs are more susceptible to noise than multibit dacs, which would seem to be accurate based on my experience.

    • @Currawong
      @Currawong  Před 11 měsíci

      I don't think it's as simple as that. If you want a 1-bit desktop DAC, there are quite a few R2R DACs that also have DSD ladders, though you'd need something like HQPlayer to convert all your music to 1-bit during playback.

    • @Masimo_Yovanni
      @Masimo_Yovanni Před 6 dny

      iBasso D16 Taipan is your friend here.

  • @Truthtalks86
    @Truthtalks86 Před 10 měsíci

    Looking forward to the review of the RU7. I bought one and I can't seem to get it to run off of my cell phone It stutters. I tried a second cell phone and it stutters there too and they're both USB 3.0 so I'm not sure what's going on I don't know if I got it defective one or if it draws quite a bit of current? When it isn't stuttering I can tell the sound is really really smooth and I'm actually not that sure how enamored I am with that presentation I like the FC-6... a lot which is really different of course

    • @Currawong
      @Currawong  Před 10 měsíci

      It draws a lot of current.

    • @Truthtalks86
      @Truthtalks86 Před 10 měsíci

      I started using USB audio player pro and the dropouts went away. I'm glad for that, but I have no idea why . OH and I love the sound ! Definitely benefited from burn in. It's just great.

    • @scottmuhlbaier1945
      @scottmuhlbaier1945 Před měsícem

      Be careful of your phone's battery because that thing will drain it quickly. The RU7 uses a lot more power than the RU6. 13:41

  • @martinfox2244
    @martinfox2244 Před 11 měsíci +1

    Am confused by commentary. Does this use a r2r ladder dac?

    • @genotabby
      @genotabby Před 11 měsíci +1

      1 bit is different from r2r

  • @dangerzone007
    @dangerzone007 Před 11 měsíci

    What's the best portable Bluetooth DAC amp that you reviewed

  • @sleepyrhythms6668
    @sleepyrhythms6668 Před 4 měsíci +1

    500mw? You mean 5000mw? Or is it really just half a watt?

    • @Currawong
      @Currawong  Před 4 měsíci

      A portable device cannot put out 5000mW at this size.

  • @Martijn1234
    @Martijn1234 Před 11 měsíci +1

    You mention the Sony DAPs. The Sony NW-WM1AM2 is a wonderful sounding DAP as well. Very detailed but warm in presentation. You would need a Japanese or US version to have High Gain enabled though

    • @nusu5331
      @nusu5331 Před 11 měsíci

      still far to low gain after all

  • @ItsWhatever736
    @ItsWhatever736 Před 11 měsíci +8

    It's a shame that a lot of these DAPs are so expensive

    • @nusu5331
      @nusu5331 Před 11 měsíci

      try building one for cheap

    • @ItsWhatever736
      @ItsWhatever736 Před 10 měsíci

      @@nusu5331 I never said I don't get why they're expensive. There's a lot in them.

    • @ornobislam5106
      @ornobislam5106 Před 10 měsíci

      Better to use dongles with phones

  • @coreyfreeman6226
    @coreyfreeman6226 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Best micro-SD Cards are Military grade / industrial type. They have the best reliability and magnetic shielding which vastly improves music quality. The best I've tried is Micron i400 Industrial MicroSD Cards. you will hear a massive change in the sound quality.

  • @Mickice
    @Mickice Před 11 měsíci +2

    4.4 should be the new standard.

  • @traktorpro10
    @traktorpro10 Před 11 měsíci +1

    More $$$$ = more better!

  • @Another_Audiophile
    @Another_Audiophile Před 11 měsíci +1

    My only issue with these kind of players at this price is the Android. I’d rather have something that is purely and only a music player

    • @muntdouken9841
      @muntdouken9841 Před 11 měsíci +1

      They should at least be dual boot systems so you have choice and flexibility.

    • @MikeDawson1
      @MikeDawson1 Před 11 měsíci

      Agreed, I want something that doesn't also contain an operating system that will go out of date in a few years

    • @nusu5331
      @nusu5331 Před 11 měsíci

      ibasso does that @@muntdouken9841

  • @taidee
    @taidee Před 11 měsíci

    It's definitely not for me, thank you for another great review.

  • @mmorales508
    @mmorales508 Před 11 měsíci

    How much?! Hell no. You probably pay that much for electricity monthly with all that sweet gear behind you!