The Sound
There’s nothing that modern Nathan can do to quit loving a smooth, textured sound signature. Nothing. Which means that I’ve fallen in love with the C5. It sounds like a million bucks. It’s got a bit of the warm magic heard in the excellent TENTO PortaDAC 1866, but lacks the same amount of chalk. It’s a modern (and portable) take on the warm, and comfy, listening chair. My favourite part? Its incredibly beautiful high-end ring.
Specifically, transient mids melt into highs, and highs spit smooth, extended tones, and never, ever, tinkle too much, or too loudly. This makes any chime music, electronic, or otherwise, sing so sweetly you’ll never want your batteries to run out. I suggest checking out Vangelis’s Albedo 0,39 again. If you enjoyed it backing Carl Sagan’s cosmically deep voice, you really owe it to yourself to check it out through the C5.
It smooths out peaky, squawky earphones. Highs are extended but not bitey. You could say that they play second fiddle to the extensive, warm, mid-section. Yes, that means your old Etymotic ER4 can be taken out of its closet. But it’s not just squeaky earphones that the C5 benefits; even milder bitey earphones — take for instance Ultrasone’s IQ — mellow out enough, become listenable enough even when spouting cymbal and chime heavy music.
The C5’s midrange is more expansive and focused than its neighbors. It’s both fair and unfair to say that it dominates bass, insinuating itself into upper bass with its wide stage, and doing the same thing to highs. Since most of the C5’s sound stage is defined within the midrange, the effect is sometimes eerie: voices float around your head, supported by a mystical array of instruments, whose positional freedom really is second to none. And yet, the stage isn’t wide for width’s sake. It isn’t stark, or dizzy. It follows suit: extended, but ultimately urbane. Prettier than it is overweening, it puts you in the sweet spot, and never screws with your head.
As for bass, it’s there, it’s just not overly stressed in the big picture. Mids meld into it so well that you stop listening for it and just enjoy what you hear. Instrument separation down low is good, but again, trends toward the natural than the extravagant. Speed, cleanliness, etc., are all very good. But you’ll probably be wowed more by the C5’s gracious midsection than by the bass.
That is, until you slide your finger across the bass boost. By the numbers, the bass boost packs about 5dB of extra punch. It kicks most in the lower mid bass and down, obviating bloom. I much prefer it to Vorzüge’s VORZamp DUO boost, whose 12dB is too much. Cayin nailed it.
As per normal, bumping up the bass slightly alters the dynamic range, punching everything up a notch, while compressing the sound stage into a meal just as wide, but flatter than before. Again, since the bass boost hits the right low notes in the right way, the effect is totally awesome. One thing to watch out for is that bass boost also effectively boosts apparent sound pressure of your music — which means that your sensitive earphones will, at low volumes, will demonstrate a greater rift in left and right channel balance.
That pluck aside, I can’t recommend the C5 enough.
In fact, I’m ready to say this: if you can’t afford a PURE II or a Portaphile Micro, the C5 is a great alternative. It is similarly sonorous. Sure, it hisses more, and has a much less well-developed gain section. But what it returns for a fraction of the price is stupendous. Oh, and can either the PURE II or the Micro charge your other portable devices?
Thought not.
The Meh
Aside from its pukey-looking plastic ass and poor choice in translucent cap and poor box quality, there’s not much to complain about. I mean, I do wish left/right balance at low volumes was better and that the battery lasted another five hours. That, and the gain should be much lower for safe listening through sensitive earphones. But that’s about it.
The Conclusion
But let’s get one thing straight: the C5 is a good amp. It is a surprisingly good amp— one that raises my eyebrows every time I plug in. It is a good extension to and already good system, or a great start to a great portable system. That it sports functionality beyond the basic amp circuitry is a blessed relief for the heavy snapchatter.
I’ve never been this impressed by a sub-200$ amp.
Well done.
Arnold Pangilinan
Waddayanow, I just received mine today. This review totally made more excited to use it. Just few minutes now and I will be home…
Headfonia_L.
Enjoy!
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I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts. It’s a great amp.
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Still waiting for your thoughts. I hope you enjoy.
Arnold Pangilinan
Oh apologies, I almost forgot. 🙂
The first 2 days I used it with AKG Q701, I thought it was crap… Then I let it burn in for couple more days and used it with Oppo PM-2, Senn Momentum and V-moda M-100. With the M-100, I was surprised with the boomy bass. In fact, the bass was so prominent that it started to shake my head. 🙂 With the Senn Momentum, it was wonderful. Very detailed and also full. A bit warm but very musical. I like this pairing. With the Oppo PM-2, the small soundstage seemingly became bigger. The soundstage of this bad boy is the best I’ve heard from any portable amp. In fact, it probably is better that other desktop amp. It also respond differently with different DAP. With the FiiO X5, the highs are prominent and a bit uncontrolled. I like this pairing with the PM-2 because of the polite treble of the PM-2. But for my other headphones, the Hidizs AP100 is the better pairing. The highs are smooth but still detailed. I think Hidizs DAP being warm is not only due to the DAP amp. I think the DAC was also designed to be on the warm side and musical. IDK, I am not an expert on this but the characteristics or difference of X5 and AP100 remain the same when paired with the C5. So, If you have the AP100, C5 and M-100, you can try this pairing and be prepared to be rocked! 🙂 Very warm pairing. Very boomy!
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Thanks for your thoughts. I love the C5/AP100 pairing, too, though I believe firmly that the AP100 needs no amp.
Arnold Pangilinan
Yes, the AP100 amp is very capable but the C5 brings it to a different level in terms of soundstage and I though treble is better with the C5. I was almost always wanting a bit of treble presence with the AP100. The C5, although has still a smooth treble, brings more presence IMO.
Krzysztof Nowaczyk
What sources have you used with it?
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I’ve used:
RWAK100
iPhone 6
iPod shuffle 1G
Linnenberg Vivace
Nguyễn Công Bằng
Will you make a review between this and ifi micro idsd ? It’s quite famous now.
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Nguyễn Công Bằng: I’m sorry, but the two devices are completely different: one a DAC, one just an amp. I don’t see how they compare at all, or how I would even compare them. I also don’t have the iDSD.
Jort
How does it handle the 300Ohm Sennheiser HD650?
Jort
Nathan, or anyone else? Just ordered my HD650 for Christmas, how is the combi with Cayin C5 of which Nathan is so enthusiastic about?
Headfonia_L.
It’s christmas and stuff, have some patience. From what I’ve read the combo is pretty good
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The C5 has plenty of gain for the HD650. It’s a slightly warmer signature, so the mating of the two will either meet or not meet your preferences. Personally, I prefer to mate it with brighter headphones like the DT880. That said, it’s a great mate with warmish phones like the Master & Dynamic MH40.
Juan Luis Quiroz Guevara
This or algorhythm picollo??
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What sort of sound you looking for? What’s your earphone of choice? Do you value size? Give some details.
Juan Luis Quiroz Guevara
I need the best value for the money for my fiio x1, momentum on ear and future Fidelio x2.
KopiKia
Good pairing with the Dita Answer? Can this be used as a desktop amp/dac when I’m at home?
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It has good power for home, and its output is tip top. The Dita Audio runs perfectly from it. That said, you shouldn’t need an amp for the Dita unless you are running a sorely inadequate source.
KopiKia
Yeah, I was planning to use it mainly as a desktop amp with occasional portable use, but then I decided that I would probably be better off looking for a dedicated desktop setup. Thanks for your response!
Juan Luis Quiroz Guevara
Cayin C5 its a good pairing with X3SG?
Headfonia_L.
I couldn’t tell, sorry. Nathan maybe?
Aman Kumar
Any idea how it does with T90?