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Battle of the Superdongles - Cayin RU7 vs. L&P W4
There are now countless audio dongles, all of which promise to transform our smartphones or laptops into audiophile machines for a reasonable price. The prices range from well under CHF 100 to over CHF 400, and the quality naturally varies greatly.
Today we look at two of the latest audio dongles and they come by Cayin and Luxury & Precision: The Cayin RU7 and the L&P W4.
The two predecessors RU6 or W2-131 were two of the absolute best dongles on the market at the time - the RU6 was called THE best audio dongle by many music lovers.
Expectations are therefore high when Cayin and L&P release new dongles.
But let's first take a look at the two "dongle titans"...
What immediately stands out are the different designs of the dongles and the packaging. While Cayin largely adopts the conservative design of its predecessor, the RU6, L&P to a significantly more noticeable Packaging and the W4 itself looks almost futuristic.
What's inside?
The scope of delivery also differs: While Cayin gives the RU7 a free case in addition to the obligatory USB-C cable and USB-A adapter this year, L&P prefer an additional Lightning cable so that iPhone owners don't have to buy a separate cable.
Cayin of course offer an optional iPhone cable, while L&P the protective cover costs extra. What makes more sense here is up to each individual to decide. W4 In any case, the case is more expensive than the iPhone cable from Cayin.
Nevertheless, I would generally be in favor of having both cable variants included in the delivery.
Perhaps Cayin's idea is that Apple will soon have to switch to USB-C anyway, so the annoying Lightning cable issue would be over. Who knows...
design
It is of course a matter of taste - but the new industrial design of the W4 I personally like it much better than the conservative black box that Cayin delivers and although there is absolutely nothing wrong with the workmanship of both dongles, the W4 to me it just looks higher quality.
By the way, both dongles are made entirely of aluminum - in Cayin, plastic/glass covers the entire top, while L&P plastic/glass only on the narrow display slot.
If you look at the USB-C and 3.5 & 4.4mm connectors, Cayin has the edge in terms of quality: The gold-plated connectors of the RU7, which are precisely integrated into the housing, are of higher quality than the W4, especially since the 3.5mm connector uses black plastic for incomprehensible reasons and the USB-C connector has simply been sunk into the device instead of being connected to the frame.
Given the otherwise extremely high-quality case and significantly higher price, I find this an almost unforgivable faux pas, and it just looks inconsistent! Sorry, but as a designer, I can't overlook this kind of thing. 🧐
Price
The RU7 is at CHF 289,- even slightly cheaper than its predecessor and significantly cheaper than the CHF 459,- expensive W4.If you want to W4 If you add a protective case, it costs CHF 499, which is CHF 210 more and almost twice as expensive as the RU7!
Usability
While the RU7 is operated using the volume rocker and mode button, L&P at W4 on a multi-function rotary control, as is already known from some cars - turning and pressing controls volume and sound modes, whereby the rotary control The input is confirmed with satisfying clicks - this makes operation a real pleasure! 🤩
Of course, that doesn't mean the RU7 is any harder to use. It's just as easy, just not as cool.
In terms of dimensions and weight, both dongles are pretty much identical and are definitely not an obstacle on the road.
Design and accessories aside, I think what really matters in the end (for most audiophiles) is the sound, and as expected, it's excellent with both "super dongles"!
Sound & performance
Yes, both dongles deliver the best sound possible with tiny devices like these, and I personally think they're the best dongles in the world right now. But what are the differences, and which dongle is better for whom?
In terms of pure output performance, both dongles are almost identical:
4.4mm balanced: RU7 400 mW | W4 420 mW
3.5mm single-ended: RU7 160 mW | W4 110 mW
This means almost double the output power compared to their predecessors for both dongles and definitely enough power for all existing IEMs and even many headphones.
Sound comparison
Test devices
- Cayin RU7
- L&P W4
- Unique Melody Multiverse Mentor
Both dongles offer high-resolution sound with excellent details, good soundstage, natural voice reproduction, and rich bass, to summarize.
tonality
During the W4 has a somewhat more "neutral" reference tuning and sounds a bit "brighter" and airier than the RU7, the Cayin is, as expected, "warmer" and more musically tuned.
Details and resolution
One might think that due to the brighter tuning of the W4 to perceive more details—but if you switch to the RU7, you'll find that this isn't the case. Both dongles deliver the same level of detail and resolution, but they differ in their tonality.
Voices/Mids
The voice reproduction on both dongles is overall very natural. While the RU7 voices are more integrated into the overall sound classifies, the W4 The singers tend to come more to the fore. What you prefer here is a matter of taste. Personally, I prefer the voices to stand out a bit from the ensemble.
Treble
Both dongles are capable of producing wonderfully airy highs, without any sibilance or sibilance, but with a decent amount of sparkle. Guitar strings sound like guitar strings—that's how it should be! While the RU7 is a bit more relaxed here, the W4 overall a bit "brighter".
bass
The W4 Due to its more neutral tuning, it delivers a fast, tight, well-defined bass with a focus on mid-bass rather than sub-bass.
The RU7 has a bit more rumble in the basement: His Bass reproduction is slower, more organic with slightly more sub-bass than mid-bass.
Channel separation & stage
The channel separation and soundstage are good on both dongles, although not outstanding, although the RU7 sounds a bit more spatial and therefore has the edge.
Conclusion
It is amazing what wonderful sound is possible in this mini format! I have Unique Melody Multiverse Mentor (MM) to evaluate both devices because the MM is a) my current favorite IEM and b) the MM easily exposes any weakness from the source.
Of course, even the best dongles in the world can't be compared to a full-fledged DAP (digital music player), as there are physical and financial limitations. Nevertheless, both dongles offer the best sound you can expect from a smartphone or PC/laptop, and they easily power even flagship devices like the Multiverse Mentor.
At no point did I feel like the Mentor's wonderful sound characteristics were being lost or that I was missing something fundamental, and that's saying something!
Which one for whom?
The question is not so easy to answer and depends on various factors, for example:
- What sound preference does someone have: Neutral/Reference = W4, Musical/Emotional/Relaxed = RU7
- What you want to spend (The W4 is significantly more expensive for the same performance)
- Which dongle you like better visually
- ... and others
One thing is clear: you can't go wrong with either dongle, as both are absolutely excellent companions.
Both dongles are now available from Audio Essence!
Luxury & Precision W4 Flagship dongle
