The Cayin Universe: A Guide to the Brand’s Best Gear
Trying to understand the Cayin product lineup can feel a bit like trying to read a map of the Tokyo subway system. You see a sea of letters and numbers — N, C, RU, iHA, iDAC, etc. — and you know it all connects somewhere, but how? It’s an entire universe of incredible gear, but it can be intimidating to navigate.
Don't worry. We've got the map.
Cayin is a brand with a dual identity: they are masters of old-school tube amplification and, at the same time, pioneers in the world of cutting-edge digital audio players. Their product lines reflect this, offering a solution for every type of music lover. Let's decode this universe, one galaxy at a time.
Contents
Your Music, Anywhere: The Portable Universe
This is where Cayin has become a modern legend. It's all about taking true high-end sound with you.
Digital Audio Players — The N-Series
This is the flagship fleet. The N-series players are not just "MP3 players"; they are portable powerhouses designed to drive serious headphones. This is where Cayin’s soul truly shines. We’re talking about groundbreaking models like the N8ii with its switchable tube and solid-state amplification, and the N7 with its revolutionary 1-Bit DSD DAC.
Who is it for?
The serious listener on the go who refuses to compromise on sound quality. This is your main music source, your desert-island player.
Dongle DACs — The RU-Series
Think of these as pocket rockets. The RU-series, like the beloved RU6 and RU7, are tiny USB-C DAC/Amps that you plug into your smartphone to bypass its mediocre internal audio. They are a massive, game-changing upgrade in a ridiculously small package.
Who is it for?
Anyone who uses their smartphone for music and wants it to sound ten times better without carrying a separate player everywhere they go.
Portable Amps — The C9-Series
This isn't just another portable amp; it's a statement. The C9s are essentially no-compromise desktop systems shrunk down for your bag, designed for the absolute summit of portable audio. Their genius lies in giving you total control: with the flick of a switch, you can choose between the rich, holographic warmth of KORG Nutube vacuum tubes and the clean precision of solid-state. But it doesn't stop there. A second switch lets you flip between pure, rich Class A and powerful, efficient Class AB amplification.
Who is it for?
The ultimate audiophile who demands the power to perfectly tailor their sound to any headphone, anywhere.
The Desktop Command Center: Power for Your Headphones
Creating the ultimate personal listening station at home or in the office is where Cayin’s legacy comes to life in a new light.
Headphone Amplifiers — The iHA & HA-Series
This is the heart of Cayin’s desktop lineup. The iHA series (like the iHA-6) often represents pure, powerful solid-state amplification, while the HA series (like the HA-300MK2) is where you find their stunning tube and hybrid designs. These are no-compromise machines built to drive even the most demanding headphones on the planet with authority and grace.
Who is it for?
The dedicated headphone enthusiast who has a serious pair of cans and wants to unlock their absolute full potential.
The Alchemist's Bench — The Soul-Series
We’ll be real with you: this is where things get truly special. The Soul series, like the Soul 170i, is Cayin’s playground for innovation. These amplifiers often feature the ability to switch between different types of vacuum tubes on the fly, allowing you to fundamentally change the sonic character of your system with the flick of a switch.
Who is it for?
The audio tweaker, the experimenter, the listener who loves having ultimate control over their sound. It’s your personal sound laboratory in a box.
The Source Code: Desktop Digital Hubs
Power is nothing without a clean signal. These devices are the brains of your digital desktop system.
Desktop DACs — The iDAC-Series
The iDAC-6MK2 is a perfect example. This is a pure Digital-to-Analog Converter. Its only job is to take the digital 1s and 0s from your computer or streamer and translate them into a pure, clean, and musical analog signal before sending it to your amplifier.
Who is it for?
The listener who has already invested in a great amplifier and wants to feed it the highest quality signal possible from a digital source.
Digital Streamers — The iDAP-Series
The iDAP-6 is the perfect partner to the iDAC: it’s a dedicated digital transport. It doesn't convert the signal; it simply fetches your music files — from a local network, a hard drive, or a streaming service — and delivers them to your DAC in the most pristine, bit-perfect way possible.
Who is it for?
The modern audiophile who has a library of digital files and uses streaming services. It’s the ultimate digital librarian for your Hi-Fi system.
Back to the Roots: Classic Hi-Fi Treats
As you surely know, if you’ve read our dedicated article on the story of Cayin, before they conquered the world of personal audio, Cayin was a titan in traditional Hi-Fi.
Disc Players — The MINI-CD-Series
In an age of streaming, a dedicated, high-quality CD player is a statement. The MINI-CD MK2 is a beautiful, compact machine for those who cherish their physical media collection and believe in the ritual of listening to an album from start to finish.
Who is it for?
The physical media purist, unbothered by the latest trends.
Adapters — The PH-Series
The PH line isn't just a collection of generic adapters; these are high-class audio tools designed to solve all kinds of compatibility problems without the slightest loss of signal quality. While a cheap adapter can become the bottleneck in your expensive system, Cayin uses the same quality materials and precision engineering as in their amplifiers to guarantee that the signal path remains pure.
Who is it for?
For the audiophile who is building a complex system and understands that in sound, every detail matters — right down to the smallest connector.
Discover the Many Cayin Galaxies
As you can see, the Cayin universe is vast, but it's not chaotic. There's a clear philosophy: create a world-class product for every type of music lover, whether you're a modern streamer with a smartphone, a dedicated headphone guru, or a vinyl-spinning purist.
Brand: Cayin
Headphone output: 3.5mm jack, 4.4mm jack
DAC chip: AK4493SEQ
Brand: Cayin
The lowest frequency, Hz: 10
The highest frequency, kHz: 80
Brand: Cayin
Headphone output: 4.4mm jack, 3.5mm jack
DAC chip: R2R
Brand: Cayin
Headphone output: 4.4mm jack, 3.5mm jack
Power output: 0.213, 0.138
The best way to navigate this universe, apart from this guide? Come visit us in Dr.Head’s Dubai showroom. We'll be happy to help you find the Cayin product that’s right for you — or even put together an entire setup.
