Cayin N6iii | Digital Audio Player
Reimagine the Boundaries of Portable Audio With Cayin's N6iii Digital Audio Player
- Fully modularized DAP succeeding the Cayin N6ii
- Constructed with Qualcomm Snapdragon 665
- User-replaceable C201 Audio Motherboard
- Dedicated 3.5mm SE + 4.4mm BAL + shared line/pre output
- Increased stability, higher dynamic range, and reduced distortion with (x8) DAC chips total
- Improved channel separation and stereo imaging due to dedicated DAC chips and multiple power supplies
- Updated UI and faster processor for smoother navigation and playback performance
New and Improved
Cayin's N6iii features a 5" display, noticeably larger than the 4.2" screen on the N6ii but well within the one-handed operational limit. To avoid getting bulkier, Cayin eliminated any structural extension around the chassis, giving the front an all-screen appearance.
To keep the N6iii compact, its playback control buttons and volume knob are neatly positioned under the screen. Curved sides enhance grip, making the device comfortable to hold even with a slightly larger display. This results in a better visual and control experience while maintaining a minimal size increase, preserving the portability that users appreciate in today’s larger DAPs.
The N6iii features a unique antenna design. In earlier models like the N6ii, the antenna was integrated into the upper back, offering modest signal gain to minimize interference. Newer models (EG. N8ii, N7, N30LE) use an external ring antenna at the top of the device, achieving higher gain and optimized audio circuitry for a better streaming experience.
In the N6iii, limited space necessitated moving the antenna to a semi-exposed spot just below the top panel. Although this location provides slightly lower gain than the external design of the N7, N8ii, and N30LE, it significantly enhances performance over the N6ii without lengthening the DAP. This placement offers reliable streaming with minimal interference in audio processing.
C201 Audio Motherboard
A major design advancement in the N6iii is its new quick-release mechanism for swapping audio motherboards. Leveraging experience from the C9ii, Cayin designed a 3-point locking system with a push-button latch, removing the need for screws and allowing for easy, tool-free swaps.
The Gen2 Audio Motherboard is not backward-compatible with N6ii motherboards. To incorporate Cayin’s latest audio technologies, the new motherboard required a larger PCB, balancing the need for more space with the goal of keeping the device portable.
Parallel Full-Differential Matrix DAC
The C201 is the first time Cayin has used a Cirrus Logic DAC chip in a portable
product. Historically, in the early 2000s, the CS4398 and PCM1792 DAC chips were dominant in the audio industry, and Cayin used them extensively in its early DAC and CD players. The CS43198 chip featured in the C201 is no stranger to audiophiles, as it is a low-power, high-quality DAC developed by Cirrus Logic based on the CS4398. It has been widely recognized and adopted in the audio industry.
In the C201, Cayin uses (x8) pieces of CS43198 chips, forming a "Parallel Full-Differential Matrix DAC” design. The core principle is that the digital audio processor in the N6iii main unit feeds each DAC individually with I2S signals. All DACs work in MONO mode, outputting differential signals (L+, L-, R+, and R-).
Four DACs form a group, and their outputs are paralleled to create a full-differential output channel. The power supply and peripheral circuitry for each DAC chip are fully discrete and symmetric, ensuring highly stable DAC performance. This design ensures precise phase alignment for all DACs, while low-jitter synchronous clock technology, and minimizes distortion in the parallel DAC output, significantly improving sound density and overall audio performance.
High-Precision Cascade Volume Control
Volume control in the C201 also features a unique cascade volume control system. It uses four Nisshinbo passive volume chips (NJU72315).
The advantage is that the control range for each stage is smaller and more precise, ensuring a smoother volume adjustment process. This ensures the left and right channels maintain consistent signal levels across the entire volume range, delivering clearer, purer sound with enhanced transparency. The Nisshinbo NJU volume chip being a passive device, is very compact. Its low power consumption and low heat generation make it an ideal solution for DAP implementation.
Parallel Amplifier
For headphone amplification, the C201 employs 4 pieces of Texas Instruments OPA1622 chips, each configured in parallel to drive the headphone load. Combined with the buffer circuits, this greatly improves control, sustains a heavier loading, and reduces output impedance. This circuit design pays homage to the headphone amplification circuit of the classic N8 DAP.
Additional Features
Long Battery Life:
The CS43198 is a voltage-output DAC, known for its low power consumption. Despite having (x8) DACs, the N6iii—equipped with a 9000mAh battery—can achieve balanced PO output for 12 hours and single-ended PO output for over 14 hours.
Low Heat Generation:
Tests show that after more than three hours of continuous operation, the surface temperature only increased by about 7 degrees, thanks to the DAC's low power consumption and the circuit design.
High-Performance Specs:
With its advanced DAC architecture, volume control, and power circuit design, the N6iii delivers impressive performance. On the 4.4mm balanced PO, it reaches 130dB for dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratio, with a total harmonic distortion of 108dB.
Comprehensive Functionality:
As the first audio motherboard for the N6iii, the C201 offers balanced performance and powerful features. In addition to PO (headphone output), it also supports fully independent line out for both single-ended and balanced connections, allowing users to connect to external amplifiers easily.
Specifications
- CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 Octa-core x64 Processor
- OS: Android 12.0, Hiby Customized OS DTA (Direct Transport Audio)
- RAM: 6GB (DDR4)
- ROM + Expandability: 128GB, up to 2TB TF card
- Display: 5.0" Sharp TFT display, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Multi-touch
- Physical Button: Independent power button volume knob
- Bluetooth: v5.0: Supports UAT, LDAC, AAC, SBC
- Digital Audio Output: S/PDIF, USB Audio In/Out
- Battery: 9000mAh 3.85V
- Fast Charge: PD2.0 (~4 hrs)
- Motherboard Installation: Quick release tool-free design
- Dimensions: 4.9" x 3" x 1"
- Weight: 10.4 oz (Excluding motherboard)
- Full Cayin N6iii + C201 specifications
- Cayin 1 Year Warranty
