Cayin N6iii Portable Music Player

Description

The new Cayin N6iii portable music player features a 5” all-screen display, larger than the N6ii’s 4.2” but still compact and ergonomic for one-handed use. By eliminating chassis extensions and neatly placing playback buttons and the volume knob under the screen, the N6iii balances enhanced visuals with portability. Curved sides improve grip, ensuring comfort despite the larger display, while maintaining the device’s portability and sleek design.

The N6iii features a semi-exposed antenna below the top panel, offering better performance than the N6ii. Though it provides slightly less gain than external antennas on models like the N7 or N8ii, this design enhances connectivity without increasing size.

The new N6iii introduces a quick-release 3-point locking system for easy, tool-free audio motherboard swaps, inspired by the C9ii. Its Gen2 Audio Motherboard, featuring Cayin’s latest audio technologies, is larger for enhanced performance but not backward-compatible with N6ii boards, balancing innovation with portability. Each motherboard tailors the N6iii to unique listening preferences.

The C201, E203 and R202 motherboards for the Cayin N6iii differ in design and sound performance.

The C201 features 8x Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips, delivering a clean and transparent playback with a slight smoothness to the highs.

The E203 uses dual ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chips, offering a more analytical, precise sound with enhanced clarity and dynamic range, catering to those seeking a highly detailed and neutral listening experience.

The R202 features both a 24-bit R-2R ladder DAC and a discrete 1-bit DAC, each using ultra-precise 0.1% thin-film resistors for native PCM and DSD decoding. While R-2R Mode provides a rich, smooth sound, 1-Bit Mode offers a more natural rendering with a clear soundstage.

C201 Motherboard

• DAC: (8x) CS43198
• Volume Control: (4x) NJU72315
• Amplification: (4x) OPA1622 (Parallel for two channels)
• Parallel Connection: Synchronous 4x DAC Chip
• Headphone: 3.5mm + 4.4mm Balanced
• Line Out: 3.5mm (Dedicated) + 4.4mm (Shared)

E203 Motherboard

• DAC: ES9039SPRO
• Op-Amp Circuit: (11x) OPA1612
• Headphone Amp Circuit: OPA1612 + Four Channels Discrete Output Stage
• Amplification Modes: AB Class / A Class / Hyper
• Output Functions: SE 3.5mm PO + BAL 4.4mm PO

R202 Motherboard

• DAC
  • Fully discrete 24-bit balanced R-2R DAC built with 192 x 0.1% ultra-precision thin-film resistors (48 x 4 configuration)
  • Fully discrete 1-bit balanced DAC built with 128 x 0.1% ultra-precision thin-film resistors (32 x 4 configuration)
• OP-AMP IC: (4x) OPA1612 + (2x) OPA1662
• Headphone Amp Circuit: (4x) INA1620 Dual-channel op-amps
• Output Interface: SE 3.5mm PO + BAL 4.4mm PO