First Look: Cayin N3Pro

Cayin N3Pro

Full Specs

4.5/5 - (146 votes)
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Lieven is living in Europe and he's the leader of the gang. He's running Headfonia as a side project next to his full time day job in Digital Marketing & Consultancy. He's a big fan of tube amps and custom inear monitors and has published hundreds of product reviews over the years.

14 Comments

  • Reply August 24, 2020

    Kenneth Costello

    Swing and a miss. The Tidal set up sounds really wonky.

    • Reply August 24, 2020

      Lieven

      You run it on your phone and use the BT dac of the N3Pro. It’s not the easiest but it’s a solution

    • Reply September 5, 2020

      Mark

      I don’t think they’re aiming this primarily at people who stream music. It’s more for those who still like to own their own music and play it from a micro sd card. As someone who doesn’t want to deal with Android when listening to music, I’d say it’s a hit, not a miss.

    • Reply September 15, 2020

      Steve Costello

      How are you my cousin LOL agreed with the hit and miss love those tubes really compelling Factor

    • Reply September 15, 2020

      Kevin Smith

      I dunno. I’ve had headless devices & DAPs with full Android…or some amended level of it (Vorzuge amp/Mojo/Poly combo, Hiby R6 Pro, Fiio M9). I’ve recently fallen back to devices that can stream via use of your phone as I’m never without my phone in hand.

      I’ve found overtime that streaming has various sound quality limitations whether it’s a portable device, dedicated desk top rig, or 2 channel stereo…MQA’s supposedly top tier (arguably of course). I will say…streaming has definitely improved notably.

      The user interface of a DAP seems to be behind that of the experience of a smartphone…so I don’t value ‘em in that way.

      For portable needs…I’ve found…if streaming’s chief…then a phone & headphones will likely do equal measure/duty…without adding a 3rd wheel (DAP or amp).☺️

      My main rationale to carry a DAP is the ability to carry a Hi Res library file OTG (barring storage limitations). It’s a portable format…so I don’t have a real need to carry my entire PC library.

      For now…I’ve settled on the Shanling Q1 when I want to go for a jog or cycling due to its small size format. I also have the Cayin N3 Pro. It’s a swiss Army DAP of sorts…uniquely offering solid state & tube output. Hiby link is onboard as user interface for pairing with a phone. I find this superior to a Android based DAP or any UI for that matter…along with BT coupling (for playback control and streaming). It also has the latest BT codec for wireless HP pairing & DAC output….with wifi file transfer…all for under 500 bucks. I remember having a CD player Walkman…so…not too shabby.

  • Reply August 25, 2020

    Bdoro

    What about vs N3?

    • Reply August 26, 2020

      Lieven

      That’ll be in the full review!

  • Reply September 15, 2020

    Steve Costello

    so am very interested in this I love tubes was really interested in the ibasso dx160 shangling
    M6pro. Decisions decisions please help me I want Sound stage and depth Imaging

    • Reply September 15, 2020

      Lieven

      Hmm, from our first impressions, this doesn’t look like the one for you then.

  • Reply October 13, 2020

    Steve Costello

    Then which one dap would you recommend 4 soundstage depth and imaging? Please help I see the shanling m6 for a little bit over $400 or M6 Pro for about 700
    Or ibosso dx-160 $400

  • Reply November 23, 2020

    Claudio

    You didn’t includes this DAP in you recommendation list but you keep the fiio m11 and added the m11 pro. So, the fiio m11 it’s better DAP ib your opinion?

    • Reply November 23, 2020

      Lieven

      It didn’t make the list mostly because you can’t install any streaming aps

      • Reply November 24, 2020

        Claudio

        I understand. You meant that its a good product but their competitors offers more options. But if we only talk about sound can you say it’s better sounding than fiio m11 or shanling m6? Thanks

        • Reply November 24, 2020

          Lieven

          The big advantage of the N3 Pro is that it offers 3 different sound signatures. Non of the other DAPs do this, that’s it strongest point. But to say it is better is not correct, it’s different with more options

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