OVERVIEW

The Noble Audio Kadence are an 8-BA driver per ear IEM. They are a reference-type monitor with what I perceive to be a very slightly boosted upper mid, which as explained below is a great thing. The treble is extremely detailed, as is the bass. There is some sub-bass roll off, but the bass is very textured and articulate. I recommend this IEM if you like an analytical sound.

Note that I found the Kadence to be very tip-dependent. I ended up using the double-flanged silicone to provide the best balance of bass and treble, but also found the red core silicone tips to be good. I also got good results with Spinfit CP100, with slightly less bass and slightly more treble than the other tips.

Soundstage/Imaging

The soundstage on the Kadence is somewhat narrow, but musical instruments and voices can be easily isolated and identified from the rest of the song. The separation is excellent, but the overall presentation remains coherent. You hear everything with this IEM.

Bass

The Kadence provided deep and accurate bass when demanded by the track. EDM and rap were respectable, though the lack of deep subbass means you may want to look at a different IEM. That said, I was strongly considering that this could be an all-rounded if you prefer analytical, reference tuning, even with EDM and bass (as do I). The best part of the bass was its texture and articulation of notes. I heard bass notes within bass notes that I had not heard before.

I compared the bass to that on my Sennheiser IE900 and was quite surprised that the Kadence nearly matched the IE900 in quantity and depth. Ever so slightly the IE900 went deeper and was more impactful due to the dynamic driver. The Kadence was much more articulate and textured. If you enjoy articulate bass but are alright with slightly less subbass and do not want impactful DD bass, I recommend the Kadence.

Mids

The mids are exceptional on the Kadence. This IEM focuses on the human voice to my ear. This focus results in extremely realistic vocals, including picking up on subtleties like lip smacking, vibrations and crackling in human voices, and gave me chills on some tracks. If you listen to vocal heavy music, such as folk or country, I really recommend this IEM.

Treble
The treble on the Kadence is phenomenally detailed, open, and airy. At first, I thought that it was harsh or shrill, but after about five minutes I realized how wonderful it is, with each note carefully defined and picked out of the mix. Any sense of shrillness went away, and I was able to focus on other parts of the music, like the bass. I am particularly sensitive to sibilance, but I absolutely love the treble on the Kadence and the mids and the treble kept me coming back for more.

UPDATE: I managed to determined that the issue causing the intermittent disconnection of the N7 from my PC when used as an external DAC was the USB-C cable that Cayin included with the device. Using different USB-C cables I was able to get the device functioning as an external DAC. However, it is somewhat glitchy as the option to disable USB charging when used as a DAC does not work, and the charging continues even when that option is selected. I have updated to 4.5 stars, with the .5 star deduction for the included cable issue and not being able to disable USB charging.

I received a discounted Cayin N7 from MusicTeck in exchange for agreeing to provide a detailed, honest review of the device. I was already considering the device before I purchased it from them.

My experience with MusicTeck was great from start to finish; I received near immediate responses to questions, shipping was extremely quick, and I found their website to be easy to navigate and have some really high end products.

OVERVIEW

Overall, I am very pleased with the N7 and would recommend it to anyone looking for a well-made DAP that has a fun sound, exceptional bass and mids, but may not mind some software frustrations when trying to use the device as an external DAC. For me, that is not a significant issue, but I deducted a star because it may be an issue for some, particularly since it is supposed to have that functionality. Otherwise, I did not deduct points for the other “Cons” noted above, and only note them for your consideration.




TANGIBLES

The Cayin N7 comes with a yellow leather case (the marketing materials refer to it as orange, but it is in fact yellow), a hefty USB C charging cable, a tempered glass screen protector, a pre-applied protector for the back of the unit, and a 3.5 to 2.5mm female adapter and a 4.4 to 2.5mm female adapter. If you want the sea green leather case (referred to in the marketing materials as blue) you need to pay an additional $89.00, and for dust covers for the unused 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs you need to pay an additional $14.99. I found the dust covers more useful than the female adapters and would have preferred those were included. Regardless, they are a nice touch, and plug the unused jacks. I do not mind the yellow case. I actually really like the gold accents on the volume knob, jacks, and back of the leather case.



The unit itself feels very solid in hand, and its rounded edges make it feel soft despite its heft. I only use it with the case, which seems to be a decent quality leather. The leather case has a magnetic closure, which is sturdy and allows for access to the volume control. Though the output jacks are at the bottom of the device, you can flip the screen vertically and this allows you to run the cords from the "top" of the device. This is somewhat frustrating because the home screen button then takes up space at the "top" of the device, which seems awkward, but it is better than having the headphone cord run out of the bottom of the device, which seems more awkward if lying down while listening.

The user interface is Android 12, which is very fast and very user friendly if you are already familiar with Android’s OS. What I found particularly useful was the drop down menu accessible from the home screen that allows for changing the amplifier type from A to AB (the overall difference between the two being that I perceive AB to push the mids forward and add some detail, which A relaxes the presentation), the output selection, and other sound-related settings.

Though I am fairly skilled in setting up computer audio, I must say that I am presently disappointed in the ability to use the Cayin N7 as an external DAC because it keeps disconnecting itself from my computer. I downloaded the required USB driver, confirmed that it was installed, and used the installed taskbar application as instructed to check the device status. Intermittently, the device shows as not available. I have tried to have the device identified within Audirvana, within Qobuz, and just as a Windows output device, and continue to get the same result. My device manager reports that the device was requested to install, though the device shows as installed as evidenced by the application noting the device being connected, but then it intermittently disconnects according to both device manager and the application (as well as within Audirvana and Qobuz). For this reason and frustration, I am deducting a star. I will continue to tinker and reach out to support as needed, and will update if appropriate.

INTANGIBLES

The sound of the Cayin N7 is robust and tends to a livelier, fuller presentation than both the Mojo 2 and iBasso DX240, though not as dynamic as the Hugo TT2. Previously, my go-to portable device was the Mojo 2, as I found it to have great clarity and a level of musicality that I felt was a good balance. I tend toward the analytical sound, and usually find there is a tradeoff between good detail retrieval and musicality. However, the Cayin N7 caused me to sell my DX240 and Mojo 2, as it struck the balance so well that I no longer found the Mojo 2 necessary, having previously felt the need to pair the Mojo 2 with my DX240 in order to get the desired balance. With the N7 I found great detail retrieval and clarity, yet a very full and fun sound. It was not as good as the TT2, but that is probably not a fair comparison. It was better at musicality and dynamics than both the Mojo 2 and Hugo 2, however.

What I first noticed with the N7 was the immense soundstage and exceptional imaging. At first, I reviewed using both my SE846 and IE900, and heard sounds outside of my head and could easily pick out instrument placement across a very broad stage. I found it even better than when using my full size HD800S, which are known for an already wide soundstage. I then used my Noble Kadence IEMs, which have a narrow soundstage. I found the soundstage respectable with the Kadence, though not as wide and surprising as the N7 created with the SE846 and IE900.



Bass

With the N7 I felt that there was excellent control over the bass, regardless of whether using IEMs or the HD800S. I never felt that it sounded like it did not have a grip on the bass, whereas with the DX240 I felt it seemed to have loose control at times. The HD800S demonstrated solid depth and weighty notes, and what I found most exceptional was the bass from the Kadence, which is considered a reference monitor. I would not say that the N7 is warm or dark, but I would say that it provides great bass extension and control, which adds to the sense of richness of its sound.

Mids

I found the presentation of the mids to be on par with the bass presentation. I felt as though I was listening to a larger system than the small device sitting on my desk, regardless of which IEM I was using. In fact, the fullness of the sound – which I attribute to the bass and mids – was so impressive that I found myself preferring my SE846 over my IE900, whereas with both the DX240 and Mojo 2 I much preferred the IE900 for their fuller, dynamic driver sound. The N7 was able to add a weight to the SE846 such that it became a much richer listen, while still preserving detail retrieval and clarity.

Treble

I am typically sensitive to treble, but I felt that the N7 didn’t do anything offensive with it. I found it well extended. Take this with appropriate weight because the IEMs I used and the HD800S all have good extension as well. In short, nothing put me off about the treble, nor did it particularly impress me.

Last Gripe

My last gripe with the N7 is that it appears that the advertised DSD 1-bit conversion may only be realized when stored music is played through the onboard player. In playing streaming music through UAPP it seemed that the upsample feature on UAPP only recognized the internal DAC of the N7 as capable of 192 khz. When the device was connected to my computer, it recognized the DAC as capable of 768 khz and DSD. Previously, when using my Mojo 2 with UAPP through the DX240, UAPP recognized the Mojo 2 as capable of outputting 768 khz. After some digging on the settings on the N7, the best I could determine was that the DSD settings were only available in the Cayin onboard app, which does not allow streaming. I had assumed based on the marketing materials that the N7 converts all music, whether stored or streaming, to DSD. That does not appear to be the case as near as I can determine. Regardless, it still sounds great.

BACKGROUND
I have been a long time Head-fier, turned forum lurker, and it has been on my list of to-dos to get back into participating in the forum. To establish some credibility here, the reader should know that I have amassed a modest collection of headphone, IEM, and nearfield equipment that I enjoy on a daily basis. I have slowly escalated the size and quality of my collection over the years as part of lifestyle creep and the on-going search for better sound. The list of current items includes: Chord Hugo TT2; Chord Mojo 2; Shure SE846; Sennheiser IE900 and HD800S; Peachtree Audio Nova150; ATC SCM7v3; and iBasso DX240. I also have a modest but respectable home audio set up in the $12,000 range. Historically, I have owned a number of portable and nearfield devices, including the Chord Hugo, Hugo 2, and Mojo, various PSB speakers, DALI Oberon 1 speakers, and KEF speakers, and various IEMs as far back as the Westone W3 and W4. With more time on my hands working from home to enjoy my equipment, I thought now was as good a time as any to re-engage in the forum, and what a better way than to write a review of the iBasso DX240.

A bit on my theory on reviews - I have read all types, and observe that there is a general "way" of doing reviews that includes the presentation of the item (e.g., packaging), its physical attributes, and sound analysis, which usually includes bass, mids, treble, soundstage, and various other established, but subjective, descriptors of sonic characteristics. However, I am generally not one to follow trends or do things "because that is the way we have always done them." Additionally, I admit that even after over 15 years in this hobby, I do not have a full understanding of the precise meaning of terms like "decay" or "attack," or how one writing a review can reliably communicate their subjective perception of those or any other concepts to a reader. All this said, what follows borrows from some of the more standard reviews, includes what I consider to be the basic information that an average product user on this forum might want to know about an audio product, explained in a way that I understand and that I hope the reader will find useful. Consider this a "lowest common denominator" review of sorts - with information and impressions I think we all can understand, whether objective or subjective.

OVERVIEW
I purchased the DX240 with the Amp8 Mk II from a fellow Head-fier for use when I travel as well as when I am resting in bed. I historically used my Samsung phone paired with my Chord Mojo 2, but desired something dedicated to only audio, hence this purchase.

Overall, I enjoy the DX240 on its own but much prefer it combined with my Chord Mojo 2. I realize that this somewhat defeats the purpose of a dedicated DAP since pairing it with an external DAC bypasses the renowned DAC within the DX240, but I still very much enjoy the form factor, user interface, and combined sound of the DX240 and Mojo 2 over my Samsung phone/Mojo 2 combination. On its own, the DX240 with the Amp8 Mk II has a rich sound that is not particularly analytical. Details are at times lost in the overall musicality of the playback, but there is still a lot of detail retrieval going on with this DAP. If I had to provide an overall characterization of the sound, it would be slightly warm, but not in a way that loses the lush mids and resolute treble.

I was hoping that I could dispense with my Mojo 2 with the purchase of the DX240, but was left wanting in a few areas that caused me to keep my Mojo 2 to pair it with the DX240 via the USB C OTG output. On its own, the DX240/Amp8 Mk II combination, when powering my SE846 or my IE900, sounded less controlled than the Mojo 2. While I recognize the power of the DX240 is respectable and more than enough for these IEMs, I often felt like I was listening to a hi-fi setup that had an amplifier that did not have enough power to control the speakers in a confident way. At times the bass felt soft or uncontrolled - not flabby, bloated, or muddy, just ever so slightly loose. This, coupled with my preference for a more analytical sound, led me to pair the DX240 with my Mojo 2, resulting in a more resolving, clearer, controlled, and slightly more analytical sound than the DX240 on its own.

FORM FACTOR, USER INTERFACE, AND OTHER TANGIBLES
I absolutely love the size of the DX240 as it is just slightly larger than my Mojo 2. It feels good in hand, the material of the casing has a confident feeling to it, and by itself it isn't too heavy for use when I travel. Mine is the green color, which I find intriguing and unique, with gold accents. The only complaint that I have with the build is that the volume dial sometimes skips increments when turned, and the dial feels somewhat cheap in material and firmness when turned. Otherwise, this is a solid device.

Being an Android phone user, I was already accustomed to the Android 11 user interface. However, the device comes with APK Pure loaded, which means you need to use that to download Google Play to then download Tidal, etc. You can stream from Tidal, Qobuz, etc., and I downloaded UAPP. I deleted APK Pure due to its constant suggestions of other apps that I should download. If you are familiar with Android, you will like this DAP.

One thing to note is that the screen is not as large as other DAPs, but it has a high resolution, both in size and pixels per inch. I really like the quality of the screen despite its smaller size.

I have a leather case from a third-party, the design of which is very similar to the iBasso-branded case. I do not like that the case interferes with the range of motion that my fingers are able to express at the top and bottom of the screens since the screen takes up the entire front of the device, edge-to-edge. For instance, when I try to swipe down from the top of the screen, the case prevents me from doing so. It also interferes with the navigation at the bottom of the screen. As the design is the same as the iBasso-branded case, I cannot imagine that the iBasso case would fare much better. As a result, I use the DX240 without the case.

Last, the battery life is not that great when paired with an external DAC, even when streaming only 44.1 tracks. I find 6 hours or so when I use it with minimal screen time when paired with my Mojo 2. To be fair, this is on an 80% charge, which is limited by the optional battery saver feature. So, extrapolated perhaps 8 hours is a more fair assessment of what it might be on a full charge.

INTANGIBLES
Overall, the DX240 with Amp8 Mk II is a musical, engaging, and fun DAP with a slightly warm sound. The detail retrieval is decent to good, resolution is sufficient, and there is no muddying of any one frequency by the other. However, if you prefer a more resolving, detailed, or analytical sound, I recommend something different for you. In my case, that is pairing the DX240 with the Mojo 2, which affords more detail while still keeping some of the warmth and richness. I have read that the stock Amp1 that comes with the DX240 is more "in your face" than the Amp8, but I have not yet compared the two for myself. I will update once I do.
Bass
I find the bass to be the one ever so slight weakness in the sound of the DX240 with the Amp8 Mk II. To be fair, I am probably being overly critical because the DX240 puts out an overall natural sound that is fun to listen to. But, I often felt like I was listening to a hi-fi setup that had an amplifier that did not have enough power to control the speakers in a confident way. At times the bass felt soft or uncontrolled - not flabby, bloated, or muddy, just ever so slightly loose. I tried the DX240 with both my very linear SE846 and the slightly bass-heavy IE900 and reached similar conclusions. I would recommend using the DX240 with a more linear and analytical IEM if you want more controlled bass.

Mids
The mids of the DX240 are what, for me, define the richness of its sound. I could hear trembles in voices that I had never heard before, despite having some pretty decent listening equipment. For instance, in listening to the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses" I was confused for a moment into thinking that there was a defective reverberation in one of my IEMs due to the shimmer on Jagger's voice on some passages. I compared the track on my reference near field system, and realized that it was always present, I just had not paid attention to it! The ability of the DX240 to capture nuances in the timbre and texture of the mids, especially with male vocals, is pretty sensational, and is what really defines this piece of equipment for me.

Treble
The treble is well-defined, resolute, and sparkles. It is not harsh, even when paired with the IE900, which has been characterized by some as having a sharp treble. I do not find the treble to be particularly special or noteworthy, it is just there and is well done.

CONCLUSION
I really enjoy the DX240, but wish that it would have kept the promise I had for it in my mind to be an all-in-one device so that I could part with my Mojo 2. The reasons it did not are more subjective to me than due to any intrinsic fault of the DX240 - my preference for a more analytical sound being the primary reason for me hanging onto the Mojo 2. The only true minor faults I find with the DX240 are its sometimes uncontrolled bass notes and APK Pure (which is removable). Otherwise, I really enjoy this device even on its own, but even more when paired with my Mojo 2. Even though I am bypassing the internal DAC, somehow it is able to still convey its richness through the Mojo 2 better than when I pair my Mojo 2 with my Samsung phone. For the present time, I am content with this pairing and recommend the DX240 to anyone looking for a well-built device that likes a mid-centric presentation with a lush sound and moderate detail retrieval.

I was debating for awhile between these and the W3s and IE8s. I settled on these based on what I had read of the 3s being muddy and the IE8s being not as detailed.
 
I like to keep reviews short because I hate reading lengthy reviews.
 
So, these have forward mids, good bass when you listen carefully, but lacking on subbass until you turn volume up a bit. Treble is sparkly at times, but rolls off and sounds better with an amp.
 
I would say these tend to analytical, with some warmth esp. when amped.
 
Overall, great. And if you are a recovering basshead like me they are a good choice.

I purchased these from Best Buy, having read good things about Sennheiser during my search for a cheap pair of IEMs for the gym. I ended up exchanging them for the CX400-IIs because I was disappointed with the 300s. They did not perform like a base model should.
 
I was displeased with the lack of clarity and separation. And I realize the for under $100, I cannot expect too much, especially from a single driver. However, these were not much more pleasing than my Sony IEMs that I got from Target for $30.00. Spring for the extra $20 and get the CX400-IIs. The difference in clarity and separation is immense between the two similar models. Also, the soundstage on the 400s is broader, and the sound is more dynamic. The 300s sound flat.
 
On the plus side, the size of the 300s and 400s are the same, and they fit wonderfully in my ears. They are very discreet and comfortable. Not clunky or awkward at all.