Cayin N6ii

Cayin N6ii is an Android based DAP with interchangeable motherboards priced at 1199$. Today we’re reviewing it with three different modules – A01, T01 and E01.

Sound quality for the price

Rating: 9 out of 10.

Build quality

Rating: 9.5 out of 10.

Value

Rating: 9 out of 10.


Packaging
Stellar unboxing experience.

If you’ve ever had a Cayin product at your hands then you know, that these fellas really try to deliver a good unboxing experience.

The DAP comes in a rather big box with an outer, silver shell that’s heavily texturized. Underneath that, there’s a foldable box which contains quite a nice set of accessories: USB C data cable, black leather case and the 2.5mm to 4.4mm adapter. You’re not getting a ton of stuff, but every single thing is of very high quality, and the adapter could be a life-saver if you have some 2.5mm cables lying around.

Overall, I believe that this is how it’s supposed to be with more Hi-End gear. Don’t give us a lot of accessories that are cheap or not really functional. Rather than that, I’d prefer to get a quality case and some functional things like the adapter included. Well done Cayin.


Quality > quantity when it comes to the accessories.

Build quality
Operating the N6ii is pretty much flawless.

The other thing that Cayin really focuses on is the build quality of their products. That’s also true with the N6ii, which is, quite literally built like a tank.

It’s a rather bulky player but the design and finish are outstanding. Just like with the N3Pro, it looks minimalistic, raw, and quite industrial. Matte-black finish is spot-on, and the asymmetric front panel is actually more convenient than I thought it will be (at least for right-handed folks).

As far as IO goes, starting from the bottom we’re greeted by a USB-C connector and I2S digital output. On the left side we can find a TF card slot, and on the right side, there are media control buttons, as well as the volume wheel. The wheel itself sits between 2 posts, which are protecting it from any physical damage that may accidentally occur. It is smooth and accurate, which makes it a joy to use.

On the front, we’ve got a 4’2 inch, 1280×768 IPS screen which is both bright and sharp, and it compliments an almost unlimited functionality of the Android system flawlessly.

The included leather case is black with red stitching and it’s a fantastic addition free of charge. The fit and finish are top-notch, which makes for a quality way to protect our new DAP.

Overall, the Cayin N6ii really feels like a hi-end device in the hand and its design really speaks to me. Just like the N3Pro, it offers a terrific build quality which is very well-thought and functional. Chapeau bas.

Black leather case included in the box is brilliant.

Tech
Great screen and Android system make for a good user experience.

I won’t be mentioning all the single tech aspects of the N6ii, as no one will do it better than Cayin itself on their official website, so what’s the point.

What’s worth pointing out is that it runs Android ver. 8.1 out of the box which allows us to use all the streaming services, optional music players, etc. At the same time, it’s very smooth and snappy, which is very important. Who likes to use laggy players in the first place? It’s 2021, and I won’t be accepting anything else than smooth and snappy performance, especially in this price range.

The E01, E02, and A01 motherboards support PCM up to 32bit/384kHz and 8x MQA decoding, while the T01 supports PCM up to 24bit/192kHZ and 4x MQA decoding. Don’t make these numbers fool you though, as this difference is (in my opinion) absolutely marginal.

Let’s talk wireless – N6ii has Bluetooth 4.2 built-in, with the support of LDAC (transmitter and receiver) and aptX (transmitter only). Also, thanks to HibyLink you can use your smartphone to control the DAP.

Thanks to being a chunky boi, N6ii has a huge, 5900mAh battery built in with support of the Quick Charge 3.0, which will charge the battery from 10% to 90% in 110 minutes. I wish N3Pro had it as well, but hey, it is what it is (it’s probably the only con of N3Pro anyway). Since all the motherboards are a completely different story in terms of the audio signal, the battery life varies between all of them, capping at:

• A01. 14h playback via 3.5mm / 13h playback via 4.4mm
• E01. 7.5h playback in Class A / 9.5h playback in Class AB
• T01. 8.5h playback via 3.5mm / 7.5h playback via 4.4mm
• E02. 9.5h playback phone out / 22h playback Line Out

Motherboards
We’re gonna look into three of four different motherboards.

Note : I’ll be describing all four motherboards currently available to buy, but I haven’t had the E02, which means no sound impressions of this specific one.

Click to expand...

So, the big deal about the N6ii is that it’s the first DAP to utilize interchangeable audio motherboards. We’ve seen an interchangeable AMP modules in the past (check iBasso), but this time we’ve got different DAC chips as well. That basically means that we’re getting a completely different sounding DAP depending on the MOBO we choose.

Even the motherboard’s unboxing experience is good.

Changing the motherboard is a piece of cake – you just have to unscrew two screws on the top part and slide the mobo out of the DAP. Then, just take the new one, slide it in, and screw it down. Boom, you’re done.

Inside every motherboard’s package, you’ll find some spare screws (these are tiny, so you actually can lose them!) and a screwdriver. Again, nice to see some high-quality accessories from Cayin, as the screwdriver supplied is made of metal and it ain’t your basic, 1$ plastic thing. They really want you to feel special about using this product.

Simple but quality.

A01
The A01 takes its turn.
The A01 motherboard is using a single AK4497EQ chip with OPA1622 x4 in parallel amplification to deliver more power. It has a 3.5mm line-out, 3.5mm phone out and the 4.4mm balanced output for both line out and phone out. That gives you a lot of functionality and convenience.

The sound of the A01 module can be described as full-bodied, slightly laid-back, and somehow warm. It is definitely not a neutral sounding device, nor it has a very in-your-face presentation, especially in the treble region.

The bass is thick, elevated, and full sounding, and that can be heard from the first try. It’s not the most accurate bass in the world though, but instead, it focuses mainly on mid-bass, creating that thick and powerful sound. While it may lack a little bit of detail, it provides a huge amount of fun and rumble.

The mids are natural and also full-bodied, but it’s definitely a more delicate and calm part of the sound than the bass. It shines with male vocals, due to having a slight bump in the lower-mid section. Thanks to that, vocalists sound forward, romantic, and quite natural. Mariusz Duda from Lunatic Soul has this lovely timbre in his vocal and it’s recreated brilliantly on the A01 module.

The treble is laid-back and smooth, without even a hint of sharpness or edginess. It goes great with some classic rock recordings or worse mastered music, but it lacks a bit of crispiness and that edge in acoustic and classical tracks. If you pair it with a treble-forward IEM though, such as CFA Ara, the result is quite spectacular as you’ll get a ton of information in a more forgiving fashion.

The soundstage is good but don’t expect acres of space around your head. It’s not as wide as the other two modules, and also falls short a tiny bit in terms of imaging and overall separation. It’s not a big deal though, as the A01 is (IMO) meant for the music that is not that much about staging in the first place.

Overall, I’d recommend using a neutral or even a little sharp sounding IEMs with the A01, as it’s gonna tame them a little bit, while providing some body and impact in the lower frequencies. I’m not gonna lie – that’s totally my cup of tea while listening to progressive rock, and A01 + Ara has had quite a lot of listening time during the tests. I definitely recommend this combination.

And it sings wonderfully, with rich and thick tone and natural voicing.

T01
Time for the T01.

The T01 motherboard uses dual PCM1792 chip as well as the same OPA1622 x4 found in the A01. That means that the difference in sound is all about different DAC chips, and as expected – it’s not that big actually. The T01 is also the weakest on paper, supporting only 24/192, and it decodes MQA x4, in comparison to 32/384 and MQA x8 in the other motherboards.
As I stated above, the difference between the A01 and T01 is not huge, but it’s definitely noticeable. A01 is fuller, more natural, and laid-back, while the T01 is leaner and brighter sounding, especially in the vocals area and in the treble.

The bass is quite similar to the one found in A01, but it’s slightly less emphasized and has less body. Nonetheless, it’s still a fun and thick sounding bass which will give you that great sense of rhythm and head-bobbing ability. If you’re looking for a bass-heavy DAP though, I suggest getting the A01.

The Midrange is a similar story to the lower frequencies. It is less laid-back, leaner, and more neutral sounding, but I find it simply less engaging and rich than the A01 in most cases. Where it’s the opposite, is at female vocalists. Take Fleetwood Mac for example – Stevie Nicks vocal really shines when it gets just a little bit more edge supplied by the T01, providing a more forward and inspiring timbre.

Treble is where these two really start to sound quite different. The T01 is brighter, more pronounced, and detailed than the A01, which is more smooth and delicate. If you’re a metal-head or you’re into stuff like The Weeknd or Post Malone, then you’ll definitely gonna enjoy that edge in the treble more than A01’s laid-back presentation.

The soundstage is slightly more open and spacious than the A01, but it’s not a big difference. The imaging and separation are a touch better, providing a better experience with more spacious music genres, such as symphonics or Pink Floyd stuff.

I recommend pairing the T01 module with similar IEMs as in the A01 paragraph, but the Ara by CFA started to sound a bit too forward and aggressive for my personal taste. It does wonders with the Dorado 2020 and Lime Ears Aether R though, as they definitely don’t need to be tamed.

It’s more neutral than the A01, with more treble emphasis.

E01
And the icing on the cake – the E01.

The E01 motherboard uses a ES9038PRO DAC chip as well as Class A/AB amplification. Unfortunately, it’s more expensive than A01 and T01, and also eats the battery the fastest at 7.5h with the Class A power mode.

Now we’re getting into a more interesting comparison, as I think the E01 is superior to both A01 and T01 modules in terms of raw audio performance. Tonality-wise it sits between the other two but does just about anything slightly better.

The bass is quite similar to this of A01 when using a Class A mode. It’s thick, powerful, and engaging, but has a better definition and is more accurate. The AB mode tilts towards the T01, but yet again with better detail and texture. Both provide great low frequencies though, with a fantastic sense of rhythm and that punch to die for. It pairs especially well with Vision Ears Elysium, which lacks that low-end punch and richness, because of using a single armature driver for the bass response.

The Midrange is where things are obvious – It’s as engaging and lovely as with the A01, but it also has better separation and the timbre is even more natural. Mid frequencies sound really Class A-ish, providing both warmth and striking technical performance. Doesn’t matter if you’re into male or female vocal, both sound great on E01 in both A/AB class.

Treble is more pronounced than the A01, and slightly less than the T01. Thanks to that, it sits just perfectly in-between, and that’s the best thing possible, as it’s truly a marriage of the best of both worlds. Also, the detail, airiness, and resolution beat the other two by quite a margin actually. It just sounds like it’s supposed to, neutral yet natural, detailed yet forgiving. That makes it a great company for a lot of IEMs on the market.

The soundstage is yet another thing that sits above both A01 and T01. It’s more spacious with better imaging and separation. What’s important though, is that it can also sound intimate in music that’s mastered that way, providing a great staging performance with just about every genre you’d like to listen to.

Taking all that under consideration – I definitely recommend getting the E01 if you’re after the best SQ possible, as it’s just technically superior to both A01 and T01 while still maintaining that Caying house sound – musical, smooth and engaging.

Consider the A01 if you’re into laid-back and intimate playback, or you love Campfire Audio Ara and would like to tame them just a little bit in the treble and upper midrange frequencies.

The T01 is my least favorite out of the three, and I’d consider it only if I wouldn’t want to spend more on the E01, while needing a more neutral and brighter presentation than the one found on A01.

Best of both worlds and the leader in terms of sound quality.

Summary
With their current line-up of the N3Pro, N6ii and N8 Cayin set’s the bar very high for its competitors.

Cayin N6ii is a revolutionary DAP thanks to its interchangeable motherboards. The player itself is gorgeous with the exceptional build quality, providing a flawless experience thanks to a smooth Android operating system with good hardware. At last, it sounds fantastic on every single motherboard but offers different sound signatures for you to choose from when buying, or on the go if you would decide to buy two or three different ones.

Just like with the N3Pro, I really adore trying unconventional and fresh things with their DAPs that Cayin does. They really earn their spot as one of the best on the market, and I can’t wait for the next interesting product these guys will come up with.

Highly recommended.
Gear used during this review for the sake of comparison and as an accompanying equipment:

• Headphones – Campfire Audio Dorado 2020, Vega 2020, Andromeda, Lime Ears Aether R, Vision Ears EVE20, Elysium, Meze Rai Penta
• Sources– Cayin N3Pro, Cayin N5ii, Fiio M15, Cayin N8, JDSLabs Atom stack, SMSL SU-9, Cayin N8.

I want to start by thanking Andy of Cayin for giving me a chance to hear the N6ii with both it's A01 and T01 modules thru a brief in home demo. I've had a chance to hear quite a few of the Cayin Digital Audio Players over the years and they've always impressed me!

Some history for my self, I am a happy owner of a Hifiman HM901 that I run exclusively line out into a Custom iBasso PB2 amp. Sound quality of this system has for years been unchallenged by all of the modern Digital Audio Players I've heard. Still this old vintage player has terrible battery life, no streaming support and the amp it self is twice as thick as the already large player. So my little tower is by no means a shining example of "portable" sound quality. Price was around $1500 when all components were available.

That said, I'm really impressed with the N6ii with it's T01 module. I feel it may be the first modern all in one DAP to match the quality of my transportable tower with dynamic headphones! As of the writing of this article, N6ii with it's stock A01 module is $1119 and the T01 module is avalible for $339. Bringing the total cost of the system as I am reviewing it around $1450.

Regarding the A01 module, I found it's performance was rather average when compared again'st both vintage and more modern Digital Audio Players. I'll cover it's performance briefly but will focus most of this content around N6ii with the T01 Module.
User Interface & Build Quality

N6ii runs off a custom android core and comes with Google's play store pre-installed, it's swipe down menu has a few custom audio specific audio options listed in addition to the normal options for android devices.


It's lock screen also features some meta-data that's relevant to the music your listening to at the time as well as some play back options.

For this review I did stick to using the pre-installed Cayin Music App for offline files and had success in running the Qobuz and Tidal Apps.

Physically the N6ii is well built, the side buttons and volume wheel have good tactility. Their responsive and have a sturdy feel to them, additionally each of the input & output sockets are solid without a soft feeling or any wiggle from the jacks.


Both the stock A01 and T01 cards have 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm single ended output and with each performance is best out of the fully balanced 4.4mm socket. Cayin also included a 4.4mm to 2,5mm adapter, a smart and thoroughly appreciated included accessory given the popularity of 2.5mm in balanced portables over the years.
Sound Quality

Given how drastically the sound quality changes between the Modules I'd like to start with how A01 compares to something with a similar sound signature.

Both A&K Kann and the A01 module feature a robust AKM 449# DAC chip-set that embraces the "velvet sound" in AKM's Velvet series of DACs.

In theory you'd expect A01's 4497 chip-set to bring forth a more resolving presentation over Kann's older 4490 but I felt both were more or less on par with one another. Each has a similar "romantic" presentation. Soft round lows, sweet highs and a lush mid-range. Both A01 and Kann's envelope feature an exaggerated decay and sustain with de-emphasized attack.

There's weight to the sound, body and a rich fullness but everything's heavier, softer and slower than what feels natural. "Fun" or "V-Shaped" headphones will benefit from this kind of presentation, I however don't really own or enjoy headphones with that kind of sound. I will say A01 did prove to have more headroom than Kann and handle'd harder to drive headphones with more authority and clarity overall. HD 600 saw no difference but Aeon Closed 2 did perform worse with Kann than N6ii A01.

N6ii T01 - Dual PCM1792A
Frankly to my ears I've always enjoyed the presentation and implementation of the Texas Instruments or TI PCM Dac chips. When correctly implemented they are mostly linear with a tiny bit of "air" on the top end.

I'm happy to say I feel Cayin has perfectly nail'd the spirit and majesty of the TI PCM series of Digital Audio Converters. Linear bass reproduction, perfectly natural mid-range and a slight bit of air on the top end. Overall the envelope is to my ears perfectly balanced from the lows up through the central and upper mid-range. Technically this "air" or "airiness" is to some extent an exaggeration. However I don't find that the top end has any emphasis on the attack but rather some exaggeration on the sustain and decay.

With bright headphones this can be a bit distracting but I much prefer even this slight exaggeration over the sluggishness of the "Velvet" Sound.


My long standing tower stack is composed of the Hifiman HM901 which itself features a dual arrangement of ESS Sabre 9018 DAC chip-sets. In stock form and most implementations the Sabre DACs are mostly linear in the bottom end with an aggressive presentation in the mid range and top end.

What I love and have loved about HM 901 is it's "vintage" High Frequency roll over filter, I typically don't enjoy these filters but on HM 901 it removes that slightly aggressive presentation and adds helps improve mid-range tonality.

Each of the internal AMP-Cards for HM901 were disappointing, so over the years after hearing many different amps and topologies I settled on the iBasso PB2 amp with a quad of LME 49990 OP Amps with an Energizer Linear Battery Pack.

With my Sennheiser HD 600 I was hard pressed to find a real discerning difference between my existing stack and N6ii T01.

However with my Aeon Closed 2 there was better presentation of textures in sub bass frequencies with the HM901/iBasso PB2 stack. I also felt the HM901/PB2 Stack presented a more discernible and cohesive sense of space especially for tracks where large drums or heavy bass lines are present. Which I feel is related directly the amplifiers improved control over A2C.

Tonally tho I did feel at times N6ii T01 was maybe at times just a tiny bit more energetic, maybe airier but for as many tracks as N6ii T01 was better there are tracks where it was worse.
N6ii T01 Headphone Impressions

I quite simply loved N6ii T01 with my HD 600 which I run it with a balanced ZMF Atoms Copper cable.

Overall I was impressed with both it's detail and overall staging and cohesion. Tonally quality was excellent to,

• Lows
  • Taut
    • Snappy with an even envelope
  • Textured
    • Without sounding over-emphasized or too fast
  • Full
    • Easily discernible sense of weight and body, reverb in larger instruments was apparent
• Mid-Range
  • Natural tonality
    • Smooth but not lacking texture
  • "Airy"
    • In that you could discern the literal nature of vocals - the movement of air
• Highs
  • Extended
  • Smooth
    • But not smoothed over

Overall I felt the overall transparent quality of both HD 600 and N6ii T01 made for a complimentary system. Now some who find the slight upper mid emphasis on HD 600 offensive or unpleasant will notice N6ii T01 does not tame or remove that quality of HD 600.

In contrast the A01 and "Velvet" AKM sound does help to tame HD 600's slight shout, but for my tastes I again felt HD 600 was slow and veiled with the A01 chip.

I'll also add that T01 does not help with HD 600's rolled off sub bass, tho it doesn't draw attention to nor away from it either.

Again I felt this combination as a whole was mostly transparent.

Dan Clark Audio's new Aeon 2 Closed is one of my favorite closed backs right now, while it's low impedance makes it some what easy to drive it's low efficiency does hinder bass extension when amplification is not sufficient.

In the case of N6ii T01, unfortunately I did find it's amplification to be insufficient for driving A2C at it's full potential. There was a discernible lack of authority and definition in the sub bass especially.

Which for some tracks where I find A2C to be too bass heavy the lack of authority and power is sorta of pleasant tho the lack of detail is not a worthwhile trade off.

However, I will say using the line out of N6ii T01 into my iBasso PB2 was excellent.
Conclusion
Cayin N6ii T01 is for me the first Digital Audio Player to fully eclipse my old HM901 stack, its user interface is quick and both it's amplification and analog line out stages are excellent. For any one looking for a transparent portable digital audio player I highly recommend the N6ii with T01 module!

Cayin E01 Dacamp module for N6ii - Impressions

I would like to mention in the beginning itself, that this is my own E01 module, which was purchased from

https://hifigo.com/products/cayin-e01-motherboard-dac-amp-modulefor-n6ii-digital-audio-player-dap

It's been more than a month since I got it, and I have really been enjoying the E01 module with my iems. It forms a brilliant synergy with the u12t through Labkable Takumi 2 cables! Couldn't have asked for more really! Will get on to my impressions of this impressive beast now.

I have been a A01 user and it's synergy with Solaris (with Pico power as an amp and iemtach) is something that has really curbed my itch to try different DAPs. Those mids are literally to die for imo. And its slam on the bass and impact on kicks was good enough to keep me interested. So when the E01 was announced, I was quite excited since the A01 didn't pair well with my warmer sounding u12t. So once the E01 was paired with the u12t, I just almost immediately fell in love with the chain through Takumi 2 cable (I really don't like the stock cable that comes in with u12t, it's really limiting the potential of u12t by making it sound closed and crappy).

The rest of the review is using u12t through Takumi 2 in class AB mode of the amp in E01. I am unable to use my VE BIE iem since it isn't with me so solaris (using class A mode) and u12t are the only iems that I have been able to try with this module for now.

Sensitivity

I have used E01 on high gain on class A mode with Solaris without iematch and it didn't hiss at all. So I don't think noise/hissing will be problem when pairing with sensitive iems.

Staging, Imaging, Separation and Overall tonality

Expansive, precise are probably the words to perfectly define it. The stage is huge, which really expands the powers of u12t and Solaris to another level. Holography as well as depth is excellent along with precise imaging and separation, helping me with identifying and pinpointing the instruments quite easily even in complex passages. In spite of all these achievements, it does sound cohesive and nothing really sounds out of place. Overall the A/B mode sounds quite neutral while the A mode sounds a touch warmer. The timbre on the chain is beautiful, natural and the overall sound is quite engaging.

Bass

The bass texture on both Solaris and u12t is taken to another level really. The slam is very much present along with great extension in the low ends. Especially with solaris, it does feel like it really goes very low. It produces just insane level of texture on both u12t and Solaris, esp u12t. E01 manages to maintain a fine balance between both quantity and quality and is a clear winner for me. Compared to A01, the bass does sound a little leaner but never does it sound unnatural, so transitioning from A01 to E01 wasn't an issue at all.

Mids

Ah, richly textured, detailed. Couldn't have asked for more. Vocals just sound lively on this module. A01 definitely felt richer when paired with Solaris, but seemed to lack details ever so slightly compared to E01. I prefer E01 for the beautiful balance it strikes between detailing and tonal richness. An amazing job done here again by Cayin.

Treble

Now this is the only region which gets a little tricky for me. While there is absolutely no sibilance with u12t, there is some with Solaris, esp on bad recordings, which wasn't much of an issue for me with the A01 module, which was quite forgiving that way. Hence my deduction that sibilant iems may not pair well on these. The sibilance appears to be pronounced when used in class AB mode on E01, so switching to A mode helps. But strangely, sibilance doesn't seem to be a major issue on well recorded tracks to me. Overall,the extensions are great, neatly presented without the typical badly implemented Sabre glare that I am used to. The pairing of u12t with E01 is absolutely stunning in the treble region, crisp, clear with lots of air and details. Neither too wet sounding nor too thin or glassy. Sounds perfect to me!

Differences b/w class A and class A/B mode

The class A, I presume, should be a great pairing for infusing some musicality in the chain, which was quite evident from its pairing with Solaris, while it made the u12t sound somewhat thicker, which I didn't prefer really. It sounds slightly warmer, tonally slightly thicker than A/B mode. But the A/B is simply brilliant for warmer iems, has more air and sounds slightly expansive to me compared to class A, and is an absolutely brilliant pairing for u12t (guess I have written it so many times now). Dynamics are great on this module, and the level of micro detailing is also terrific on both the modes. In short, neutral sounding to slightly brighter iems may sound better on class A mode while warmer ones may pair well on the A/B mode.
Finally, they power both my iems pretty well and it sounds squeaky clean, but I am yet to try these with hungrier headphones and can comment on that later in an edit to this write-up.

Differences between A01 and E01 class A mode with solaris

E01 sounds quite relaxed compared to A01 which was somewhat at your face. A01 sounded warmer or richer/lusher, but with somewhat smaller stage, while E01 appears to be vast and airy in comparison. Details and micro details seem to coming out better in E01 and end to end extension seemed slightly better as well. Also A01 lasts about 13-14 hours for me in high gain mode, while the E01 lasts about 7-8 hours on class A mode and between 9-10 hours on A/B mode.

Overall, this is a brilliant dacamp module which will satisfy a variety of iems imo. An absolute winner from Cayin, this one just increases my faith in this company. I just hope Cayin comes with better and better stuff to cure my itch!

Cheers,
Vishy