The Sennheiser HD 800 S – 300Ohm, dynamic driver – is a notorious headphone when it comes to driveability. I feel it sounds best at High gain without the P+ mode, in CLASS A and on tubes. It brings the best body, energy, smoothness, bass impact and vocals to the table, without going the HD 800 S becoming too energetic on the top end. In CLASS AB with P+ mode activated you get a more energetic and tighter, focused Sennheiser, but it is less refined. I can see HD 800 lovers preferring this setting over the softer, more analogue sounding CLASS A setting, without P+ mode.
The Audeze MM-500 – 18Ohm, Planar Magnetic – studio headphone is a Headphone that I have been using a lot, and not in the studio at all. I do tend to use it with one of my higher end tube amps like the Envy and Headonia, but I also like it from the EarMen Tradutto stack. It’s not the type of headphone I would recommend using with a DAP, but on paper it shouldn’t be a problem at all for the N8ii. After a lot of changing, I settled for the following configuration: Low gain, CLASS A and in Tube mode. It brings enough energy to the MM-500, keeping it musical and extended without going overboard on the liveliness. I really feel the MM-500 sounds best in this config, but to be honest I still prefer listening to it on the before mentioned amps, as it’s missing some sweetness and addictiveness from this combo.
The Hifiman Susvara – 60Ohm, Orthodynamic – is difficult to drive and I usually plug this headphone in to the Headonia or OOR to get my preferred sound signature. A lot of people don’t seem to like the Susvara because of its measurements, but I personally feel it’s one of the very best high-end headphones on the market. Make sure to plug it in to a good amp and let your ears decide. Anyway, back to the N8ii. The closes I have gotten to how a perfect Susvara is supposed to sound it in High gain, CLASS AB mode with the P+ mode activated. It to me is the only way to make the Susvara sound energetic, fast, and authoritative. But then still it isn’t fully there, and what I miss here is the musicality, smoothness, and extension of the Tube mode. It’s a good combo, but it’s not the best Susvara. Acceptable but not recommended, if you ask me.
Earphones
Switching to earphones, I had no issue with any of the ones I hooked up to it. The Cayin N8ii drives them all to perfection, and it is perfectly silent always (no noise, even in tube mode).
The Unique Melody Maven Pro – 30Ohm, BA + EST drivers, in CIEM version – only arrived last week, but I have been using it daily. With the N8ii I prefer listening to it in Low gain mode, in CLASS A with the Tube output. The synergy between the N8ii and Maven Pro is excellent, and you get great energy, extension, impact, speed, and extension. The presentation is tight and detailed, as well as smooth and musical. IT’s a lovely combo with deep hitting bass, good extension on top and all of it with tube smoothness all over it. Very musical, very engaging, very recommended.
The Sennheiser IE 900 – 18Ohm, Dynamic – to me sounds best in Mid gain, in Tube mode in CLASS A. You get lovely extension, a powerful yet musical presentation and great extension everywhere. I really love the timbre, layering and note extension here. The treble section is energetic and lively but never sounds hot. Bass is super impressive in depth, presence, speed, and impact. If you prefer an even more energetic and spicey sounding IE 900, without tube smoothness and warmth, the solid state option is the one to go for in the CLASS A mode. I already knew I liked the IE 900, but the N8ii has made me fall in love with it all over again. It’s incredible what Sennheiser has done here with only one driver.
The Vision Ears VE8 – 22Ohm, BA driven, CIEM version – has already become a classic and I don’t know a lot of people that don’t like it. Right now, I’m using it with the beautiful Effect Audio Cleopatra II cable, and it still absolutely rocks. It’s very easy for the Cayin to drive the VE8 and volume goes down remarkably compared to before. The preferred mode here is: Low gain, Tube, CLASS A. It’s quite special but with this IEM the difference between A and AB isn’t that obvious. It’s very clear however that the Tube mode is the better one, as it delivers musicality, airiness, extension, and smoothness to an excellent tubed VE8. Great bass, addictive mids, highs that are musically smooth but sparkling and a high level of musicality. What’s not to like? Great combo.
The recently reviewed Lime Ears ANIMA – 16Ohm, Dynamic, BA, EST driven – to me sounds best in Medium gain, CLASS A and with the Tube output activated. I have been witching between solid state and tube a lot, but in the end, I prefer the smoothness, and note extension over the PRaT, vocal forwardness and energy of the solid state output. For you this might be the other way around, and I can perfectly understand that as the ANIMA already is very extended, layered, and spacious sounding.
It’s safe to say that we after testing many different ear- and headphones can clearly see a pattern here, leading us to the following conclusion.
End Words
After months of testing, it’s very easy to stay that Cayin has created a seriously good high-end DAP. Not only does it have excellent build quality, the internal design, versatility, usability and sound tuning also are spot on. At the moment, apart from the SP2000T and perhaps the SP3000, I don’t think there is any other DAP that comes close to the N8ii’s overall performance.
The Cayin N8ii offers a multitude of different sound combinations, making a DAP that basically works with everything you hook up to it. The N8ii surely isn’t cheap but is an absolute pleasure to use and to listen to, it’s that simple.
The Tube output in combination with the CLASS A setting is magical if you ask me, and for most of the ear- and headphones I used, this combo/setting for sure is the one to go for.
It took Cayin a few good years to come back with an upgrade of their reference N8 portable player, but they really have outdone themselves with this Mkii. The only possible point of improvement I can think of is the inclusion of a Hybrid mode, just like in the SP2000T, but that’s about it.
The Cayin Audio N8ii DAP easily replaces the “old” N8 on our list of Best DAPs, and I with pleasure put our Recommended Award label on it. Well done, Cayin.
The full list of technical specifications can be found on the last page. Click here.
Page 1: Cayin, N8ii Intro, N8ii A Closer Look Pt. 1
Page 2: N8ii A closer Look Pt. 2, N8ii Sound Pt. 1
Page 3: N8ii Sound Pt. 2, Comparisons, Synergy Pt. 1
Page 4: Synergy Pt. 2, Conclusion
Page 5: Technical Specifications
Rocket
Any possibility of comparing this with DX 320?
Lieven
Unfortunately that one is in another country
CLAUDIO
I think the N8ii deserves better comparation with other DAP like ibasso dx320, Fiio m17, SP3000 (if possible), sony wm1zm2 (if possible) and previous model like wm1z, cayin n8 and SP2000. It’s very expensive and your review allow us to take pick an option in the DAP market bwcause in my situation i don’t have any chance to test this products first!! Even a comparision with a C9 combo would be great. I have the M17, SE180 (sem3), wm1am2, n6ii r2r and the sa700 ane with the c9 those DAP sound fantastic. But probably i will señl almost all my dap to get cash and buy the sp3000 or the n8ii.
Lieven
As you know we are a team of reviewers. The DX320 and M17 are in another country. IAK still needs to send over the SP3000, but in that review, the N8ii will be compared. For me WM1Z and N6ii R2R are not really relevant anymore, and Sony doesn’t send over the newest version, so that’s not going to happen. The C9 is dead, must find a way to repare it. SE180 is in a different continent. I specifically chose the SP2000T and not the SP2000, you know Nutubes and all.
Anyway, thank you for your comment, let’s be constructive and not negative