Today, we are looking at the new Cayin N3Ultra DAP aka portable player. It retails for $529 USD.
Disclaimer: Cayin sent us the N3Ultra for this review. As always, this article reflects my unbiased opinion.
Cayin
Cayin Audio is a world-renowned audio manufacturer founded in 1993, marking its 30th Anniversary last year. As a premium Chinese high-end audio brand, Cayin has primarily focused on desktop HiFi equipment, covering every chain in the music reproduction path from CD players to speakers. However, the essence of their reputation lies in their tube amplifiers. Cayin’s product range spans from around $100 to just below $10,000 per item, answering various requirements and budgets. To date, Cayin has developed over 500 products, earning more than 70 awards.
“We deliver music diligently, and we are prepared to go a long way for that.”
In 2013, Cayin ventured into personal/portable audio, launching a series of Digital Audio Players. The N-series DAPs are designed to provide a high-quality audio experience on the go.
Recently, Cayin has increasingly focused on the portable market as well, with successful units such as the N5ii, the N3Pro, the N6ii, the C9, the RU6, RU7, the reference N8/N8ii, and the 1-bit N7. If you’re still interested in finding out more about the company, then you can do so here.
Today, we’re looking at the newest addition to Cayin’s portable line-up, N3 Ultra. The N3 Ultra is a very interesting DAP that comes with three sound flavors in one device, with Cayin reflecting their tube-amp know-how as well as solid-state circuitry to combine the best of both worlds.
Cayin Audio N3Ultra – Triple Timbre Digital Audio Player
The Cayin N3 Ultra is the latest addition to Cayin’s portable DAP line-up, combining years of expertise in both vacuum tube and solid-state audio design. As a part of their N-series, the N3 Ultra continues Cayin’s tradition of implementing and combining different audio technologies in a portable form.
Building on the legacy of previous models like the N3Pro, N8, and N30LE, the N3 Ultra offers a unique “Triple Timbre” design. This 3-in-1 feature allows users to switch between three distinct sound signatures almost instantaneously: the warm and tube-like ‘Classic,’ the hybrid ‘Modern,’ and the linear ‘Solid-State.’ The Classic and Modern profiles are powered by Cayin’s third-generation tube circuit, featuring Raytheon JAN6418 Pentode NOS Vacuum Tubes, while the Solid-State mode utilizes traditional solid-state amplification for a different sound flavor. Given Cayin’s extensive experience in high-quality tube amplifiers, the N3 Ultra is a particularly exciting release for enthusiasts.
Cayin’s journey into tube-based portable audio began in 2018 with the N8 DAP, the first of its kind to integrate the KORG Nutube 6P1 double triode vacuum tube into a portable format. This innovation opened up a new era in personal audio, bringing the characteristics of vacuum tubes to a portable device. Since then, Cayin has continued to refine the tube circuitry in the following models, such as the N30LE and N8ii, with each iteration further improving the implementation.
We’re going to take a close look at Cayin N3 Ultra today. Let’s discover all about it. The N3 Ultra retails for $529 USD and can be purchased through Cayin’s official Aliexpress Store.
Specs & Highlights
- x2 AKM 4493S DACs in Dual Mono Config.
- x2 Gen3 Tube Circuit with Raytheon JAN6418 Pentode NOS Vacuum Tubes
- x2 Accusilicon AS318 Femtosecond Oscillators
- FPGA – Re-clock, De-jitter, Re-shaping DDC
- Four-Channel JRC NJW1195A Resistance Ladder Volume Controller
- Snapdragon 425 CPU, 2 GB RAM
- Android 8.1 Based Cayuin’s Custom OS – No 3rd Party App Support
- MicroSD Support up to 1TB + USB 3.1 OTG (16 GB System-Reserved ROM)
- 10-Band Parametric EQ with Share Feature & AutoEQ Compatibility
- 3.85V 4500mAH Lithium Battery + Propriety PSU with LDOs
- 7.5h 4.4mm Vacuum Playback | 11.5h 3.5mm Solid-State Playback
- Quick Charge 3.0 Support, %20 to %80 in 1h
- 4.4mm BAL 600mW @32-ohm
- Capacitive Home Button with Sample Rate Indicator LED
- Dedicated USB Controller for USB DAC Mode ASIO+WASAPI
- USB C + Coax + LO + PO
- 204g
Packaging & Accessories
The N3 Ultra comes in elegantly designed packaging that immediately conveys a sense of quality worthy of a 30-year-old company. The exterior of the box is black, featuring the “N3” in chrome font and “Ultra” in gold. The simplicity, elegance, and tidiness of the design align with Cayin’s usual design language. Cayin’s logo can be seen in chrome on the top side.
The player is securely nestled within a foam insert in this minimalist yet elegant-looking box. The N3Ultra is only available in black, and Cayin offers three optional cases for the N3 Ultra, which we’ll detail below. The player itself features a timeless black and rose gold color combo. Beneath the DAP, a separate compartment houses the accessories, including a 1.5m USB-A to USB-C cable with gold-plated connectors, a dark grey silicone case, a custom-cut tempered glass protector with curved edges, and a user manual, along with a couple of Hi-Res Audio stickers.
The USB-C cable is of high quality and capable of both charging and data transfer. I also appreciate the inclusion of an excellent quality tempered glass protector, which offers far superior screen protection and touch feel compared to standard thin-film manufacturers usually include. Given that these DAPs are proprietary designs, finding compatible tempered glass protectors can be challenging, especially if you live in a remote area, so I appreciate Cayin; however, it would have been beneficial if they had included an extra one.
As mentioned above, Cayin offers three optional leather cases for the N3 Ultra, all of which complement the design and tube openings, quite well. The blue and green cases can be seen here, while the violet case can be viewed through this link here.
Design & Build Quality
The N3Ultra has a rectangular aluminum body with a cubic design and sharp edges, giving it a sturdy and modern appearance, much like Cayin’s amps. The DAP is 2 cm thick and features a 4.1-inch TFT multi-point touchscreen display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. The screen is positioned slightly higher for ease of use, with a home button in the form of an LED indicator just below. This capacitive button supports basic navigation functions such as going back, returning to the home screen, and more, and works in tandem with the touchscreen controls, improving ease of use.
Continuing with the controls, the top of the device houses a power button. On the right, you’ll find a volume control pot and physical buttons for start/stop, as well as next and previous tracks, all accented in rose gold. On the left, two laser-cut windows reveal the vacuum tubes suspension-mounted inside. These windows emit a warm, sweet glow – often referred to as ‘tube glow’ in the hobby sphere, which is a signature feature of Cayin’s desktop tube amplifiers and gives the DAP a unique ambience/character. At the bottom of the unit, there are four connectors: PO, LO, SPDIF, and a USB-C port.
One of the most striking design elements of the N3Ultra is its asymmetrical side panel design. The side with the tube windows has sharper lines, while the side with the controls has softer contours. This deliberate design detail enhances the comfort of use, especially for right-handed users. The gold-plated accents around the outputs at the bottom add an extra touch of luxury, just like Sony DAPs.
Overall, I was very impressed with the build quality, the compact size, the sandblasted finish on the metal chassis, the tactility of the keys, and the precision of the volume wheel. It’s clear that Cayin has put a lot of effort into the design and construction of the N3 Ultra. It really does feel like a high-end DAP.
The review continues on Page Two, after the click HERE or by using the jump below.
Page 1: Cayin, N3Ultra DAP, Packaging & Accessories, Design & Build Quality,
Page 2: OS, UI & Technology, Signal Path & PSU
Page 3: Cayin N3Ultra Sound Impressions, Sound Modes, Comparison vs. DX180, Last Words
