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The new mid -range - Cayin N6III
...is as good as the old flagships.
It could go on like this, or something like that. I could have titled this article "Flagship Killer," but for one thing, there are already several new flagship DAPs that reach a whole new level of sound, and for another, the title was a bit too sensational for me.
He would still have been right, as I'll show later in this blog. But let's start from the beginning...
What is it about?
It's about the new Cayin N6IIIAnd while there have been a ton of great Head-Fi product releases this year, this DAP (Digital Audio Player) is something very special to me.
The N6III is the successor to the highly successful Cayin N6II – one of the first DAPs with interchangeable audio boards. This meant that the entire audio section of the device could be replaced with another one with different components and/or inputs and outputs by simply loosening one screw (or was it two?).
This made the N6II very flexible in terms of both sound and application, and extended its lifespan. Many of our customers are sure to still use an N6II today, because it was and still is a great device!
Memories
The N6II was also the first DAP (alongside the N3Pro and N8) that we offered in our shop, and even back then it held a very special place in my heart due to its extremely good price-performance ratio, as I also used the N6II privately as a DAP for listening to music.
Up until then, I had been using an Astell&Kern SP1000M for personal use, which was almost twice as expensive as the N6II, so the switch was a shock for me. The N6II sounded significantly better than the SP1000M and also offered an open Android system and interchangeable audio boards. Absolutely unbeatable at the time!
The coronation
Cayin crowned the N6II with the sixth board, released virtually "out of nowhere" after five audio boards – the first audio board of its kind with an R2R DAC. At that time, the size was absolutely unthinkable.
The board was a hit and Cayin released the DAP as a special model N6II-Titanium with R2R board as standard.
A beautiful and great-sounding device that was unrivaled in its class and even outshone its "big" brother, the N8. (The N8 was discontinued shortly thereafter and later replaced by the N8II.)
Here is our blog about the N6II-TI
The discontinuation of production of the N6II came as a shock to many, as there were few alternatives in this price range—and certainly none that sounded as good. A successor was hotly debated in the forums, but Cayin vehemently denied that a successor would be released anytime soon.
The "new guy"
And so it took quite a while until Cayin closed the "gap" in their portfolio. However, not with the long-awaited N6III, but with the higher-priced N7. Cayin N7 also integrated a type of R2R technology (1Bit DSD DAC) and is still an excellent device in terms of sound and price.
So the surprise was all the greater when the new N6III was recently and completely unexpectedly introduced. I was overjoyed!
We immediately ordered a few units, but for weeks I couldn't bring myself to test the device. My expectations were too high, and my fear that the N6III might struggle to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor was too great.
Now I've finally gotten around to opening the box – and taking a few unboxing pictures. And as I write this blog, I'm listening to the sounds of music the N6III conjures up in my ears.
Unboxing
As is typical for Cayin, the N6III comes in a sleek black cardboard box, which, thanks to its matte finish and copper print, looks extremely classy and modern. The graphic and packaging designers at Cayin know their job!
Like its packaging, the device comes in classic black and is enhanced by gold buttons and volume controls. A functional, modern, and timeless design.
On the bottom there are separate 3.5mm outputs for line-out and headphones, as well as a combined 4.4mm balanced output.
The USB-C port for charging and connecting to other devices, as well as the MicroSD card slot, are located on the top right. The volume controls, forward, back, and play/pause buttons are located on the top right. The power button is on the left side of the device.
The audio module on the N6III is larger than on the N6II, offering more space for more and better audio components than ever before. While the N6II required a screwdriver to replace the board, now you simply press two opposite buttons on the bottom of the player and pull the board out. This can even be done while the player is running.
All in all, you can tell from the device design that a lot of thought has gone into usability.
Sound check
Of course, we are especially interested in the sound the N6III is capable of and this is where things get really exciting!
Test equipment
To evaluate the N6III, I chose the incorruptible Annihilator 23, a flagship IEM with reference tuning. "The Anni23" has captivated many audiophiles since its release because its wonderful, coherent tuning is of the highest standard - nothing is exaggerated, nothing is omitted.
Let's go
For a long time, Cirrus Logic was known primarily as a provider of "cheap" chips and components in the computer sector. Even I wasn't aware that they produced very respectable DAC chips quite a while ago.
The CS43198 chip included in the C201 is no stranger to audiophiles, as it's a low-power, high-quality DAC developed by Cirrus Logic based on the CS4398. It's widely recognized and widely used in the audio industry. In the C201, Cayin uses eight CS43198 chips that form a "parallel fully differential matrix DAC" design.
8!!! DAC chips in a DAP or on an audio board.
That's a tough one to swallow. In recent years, there have been designs with 2, 3, and finally 4 DACs (e.g.AK SP3000), but 8 almost sounds like inflation. Or like "shooting sparrows with a cannon."
No matter. I overcome my initial reservations, plug the Anni23 into the N6III, and press "Play."
Oh you 😵😵😵I pause and wonder what's wrong here. I keep listening, and slowly it dawns on me: The price tag is wrong. What I'm hearing can't possibly be that cheap.
Let's put it this way: DAPs have made an incredible leap in recent years: The sound has improved significantly, while prices have remained relatively constant. Or to put it another way: Devices that are more mid-range or lower mid-range, like the N6III, are at least at the level of high-end devices that cost two to three times as much just a few years ago.
This is especially true for Cayin and Hiby, who are engaged in a real internal competition to see who can deliver better sound for less money. By the way, Cayin and Hiby belong to the same parent company, or rather, conglomerate.
The N6III is probably the pinnacle of this competition so far: I have never heard/seen such sound quality (and build quality!) from a DAP in this price range!
How does it sound?
The "sound" of the N6III is, as is typical for Cayin, more on the warmer, emotional side, but retains a certain reference character.
The N6III sounds airy and three-dimensional with excellent micro-detail. In an ensemble, the instruments and singers are very easy to locate and clearly distinguish from one another, without compromising the composition as a whole. Coherence is probably the right word here.
Voices sound wonderfully natural and are clearly defined without being too prominent.
And when things get really intense with a soundtrack or other piece of music, the N6III delivers a punch that's usually only available from the "biggest" DAPs. The N6III is a true dynamic powerhouse!
Conclusion
With the N6III Cayin continues its tradition of great DAPs that constantly challenge the establishment and explore new boundaries. Never before has there been so much sound for such a fair price.
Considering the N6III's ability to offer cost-effective upgrades via new audio boards in the coming years, what's on offer here is pretty much unbeatable. In any case, I am thrilled and my initial skepticism has vanished.
More blogs on the topic
IEMs Most Wanted - Elysian Labs Annihilator 2023
Flagship without a flagship price - Cayin N7
Cayin N6ii-Titanium R2R DAP Unboxing & First Impressions