Description
The new Cayin iDAC-8 is a fully balanced, high-performance digital to analog converter with unique vacuum tube and solid-state dual timbre components, allowing you to choose between a range of sound profiles to suit your preferences.
The Cayin iDAC-8 is equipped with high-performance DAC chipsets, the AK4191 plus dual AK4499EX. This DAC chipset configuration allows for a fully balanced operation, ensuring high-quality digital-to-analog conversion of your music data. It processes high-resolution audio formats, including DSD512 decoding and PCM up to 32Bit/768kHz, providing exceptional audio quality and fidelity.
What makes this configuration noteworthy is that each channel of the Cayin iDAC-8 is powered by its own AK4499EX chip — one for left, and one for right. This design ensures that the Cayin iDAC-8's chips always operate in mono mode, which maximizes the potential of the AK4499EX chipset within a fully balanced circuit. As a result, the Cayin iDAC-8 delivers exceptional audio performance, taking full advantage of the capabilities of the AK4499EX DAC chipset for both channels.
The Cayin iDAC-8 features two distinct timbre circuits: one based on vacuum tubes and the other on solid-state technology.
In the vacuum tube timbre circuit, the 6H16B-B Dual-Triode tube provides a warm and rich sound in your music. The tube is paired with two triodes, works together simultaneously to increase the power for driving current and minimize noise levels. A fast-switching MOSFET from Vishay serves as the second stage for voltage following.
The solid-state timbre circuit utilizes high-performance dual-channel operational amplifiers. These op-amps from Texas Instruments are low-noise and deliver precise audio reproduction.The clean sound from this setting provides the utmost of accuracy and transparency.
The balanced configuration in a tube and solid-state timbre circuits involves two tubes or op-amps per channel. The single-ended setup uses only one tube or op-amp per channel. This balanced and single-ended timbre circuit configuration in the Cayin iDAC-8 offers you flexibility; you can choose between different tonal characteristics and performance levels based on your preferences.
Selectable dual output mode.
Pre Out: variable output (with volume control) suitable with power amplifier and active speakers.
Line Out: fixed level output (bypassing volume control) suitable for use with integrated amplifiers that have their own volume control.
The iHA-8 features an in-house designed toroidal power transformer for noise-free audio performance, with quality rarely found at this price point. It's a testament to Cayin's engineering prowess.
Volume control plays an important role when Preamp mode is engaged. On top of providing a precise adjustment, it is the key to transparent and accurate playback.
The NJW1195AV volume controller in iDAC-8 adjusts volume via a 4-channel low noise, low distortion resistance ladder circuit that offers good inter-channel consistency and a highly accurate audio experience.
While controlled electronically, the volume is adjusted purely in the analog domain.
The new Cayin i-Series features an L-shaped aluminium cover plate, precision mould extrusion, CNC precision machining, fine sandblasting, and anodized surface treatment. The DAC has a uniform texture, designed to be durable over time. The left and right side panels are designed as ridged heat sinks — the resulting extra surface area enhances heat exchange and improves heat dissipation capacity.
| Cayin IDAC-8 Dual Timbre Digital Analog Converter Specifications | |
| I2S |
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| USB DAC Input |
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| AES/EBU |
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| Coaxial |
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| Optical |
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| DAC | AK4191 Digital ΔΣ Modulator, 2x AK4499EX (Mono Mode) |
| Volume Control | NJW1195AV 4-channel electronic controlled analog volume |
| Display | 3.12″ 256 x 64 OLED Dot-matrix |
| Digital Inputs | I2S, USB Audio, Coaxial (RCA), Coaxial (BNC), AES/EBU, Optical |
| Analog Outputs | Balanced: XLR x2, Single-ended: RCA x2 |
| Vacuum Tubes | RCA: 6H6b-B x2, XLR: 6H6b-B x2 |
| Output Modes | Fixed level: Line Out, Variable level: Pre Amp Out |
| Power Management | 29,200uF Nichicon Filtering Capacitors + LDO + Regulators |
| Physical Controls | Power On/Off, Source, Timbre, Line/Pre, Menu/Volume Knob |
Specifications
