CAYIN N6ii/E01 REVIEW
Clark Kent Musicality, Superman Transparency, Oh My, My!
Tuning, as mentioned in the full review of the Cayin N6ii/A01, whether “Analytical” or or “Reference,” or “Warm,” is the hallmark of a given audio brand, though a brand may have several lines, each with its own specific tuning. In the E01 module Cayin has embraced a duality, that sees a “Warm/Transparent” tuning, reminiscent of EL34’s, “shacking up,” so to speak, with a “Reference (like)/Transparent” tuning. Said duality is, by the way, available on-the-fly—touch screen enabled. Sweet!
Does Cayin know tubes? Absolutely! Nearly two decades ago I helped a friend assemble a high-end stereo system—a tubed integrated amplifier, CD Player, and speakers. While I have completely forgotten the brand of both the CD Player and the speakers, the tubed integrated amplifier was the Cayin A 88T and it was a beauty. Heavy (as in if its proportions were extended out to the size of an actual tank, it would be heavier), extremely well made, luxuriously musical, and with exceptional transparency. Needless to say, she was a very happy camper and held on to that integrated for well over a decade.
This, of course, provides great insight to the “tuning” choice of Cayin Audio and brings us to the review of Cayin’s two-in-one E01 module as symbiotic mate to the Cayin Audio N6ii DAP.
REFRAIN: Unlike most reviews, this review will be non-sequential, as it will start with how the equipment actually sounds and not the process of physically “undressing” it and/or laying out its various accoutrement, specifications, etc. Think of this review then, as a non-linear movie—Memento, Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction, The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, etc—that, likewise, starts at the end and winds its way to the beginning.
The Sound—Clark Kent/Superman Duality
The Cayin E01 module ($499) as allied to the Cayin N6ii Class A sound, as mentioned above, is decidedly reminiscent of tubes, EL34 tubes to be precise, which are considered “mid-centric” tubes or tubes which focus primarily on the midrange. On the other hand, its Class AB sound is not that dissimilar from a solid state integrated—fast, transparent, of a solid foundation—that has embraced a wee bit of the golden glow (think Threshold Audio, Pass Labs).
Whereas the Cayin N6ii/A01 was “refined, rich, analog-like, its timbre natural,” the E01 Class A doubles down to the luxurious, tube-like, and gloriously musical. Add to that the heightened transparency, drive, and extension of its Class AB implementation and folks “we have a two-for-one winner!” A winner that combines the smooth, easiness of Clark Kent, say at home enjoying a brandy, perhaps, and the solid steel, incisive, fast, and see through abilities of Superman.
Joan Shelly’s We Be Home (Joan Shelly, No Quarter) plays and if you are a music lover first, the rendering, via the E01 Class A module will touch your heart. There is the sublime musicality, the palpable nearness, the immediacy of Joan’s voice, surrounded by the natural timbre and rich tonality of the strings accompanying. I play this track a second time simply to luxuriate, the review temporarily adjourned. The E01’s Class AB version, on the other hand, brings better transparency, dynamics, and transient speed, allowing one to see deeper into the mix.
The E01’s Class A volumetric cube—its soundstage—width, depth, layering, and separation are very nicely rendered. The E01’s Class AB soundstage, on the other hand, is slightly expanded across the cube with better transparency, separation, and positioning cues.
I return to Melody Gardot’s Your Heart Is As Black As Night (My One and Only Thrill, Verve), which was utilized in the Cayin N6ii/A01 module review. The E01 module’s Class A rendering is richer, ever more natural, more palpable, as if this song is being sung just for you. And there is transparency enough to see through to the layering and the positioning and to notice the nuance of Melody’s articulation of word and phrase. It’s E01’s Class AB rendering is yet more transparent, provides even greater insight to Melody’s articulation, as well as layering, and positioning, but abandons some of the tube richness, the mesmerizing beauty of its fraternal twin.
The Cayin E01 for the purposes of this review was paired with the Obravo EAMT-2C, the Meze Empyrean, the Final Audio Sonorous III, and the FiiO FH5 all of which were powered effortlessly and beautifully by the Cayin N6ii/E01. I would, however, allow 150 hours for burn-in prior to one’s optimum listening enjoyment.
Bass E01—Class A
Erykah Badu’s Sometimes (Mix #9) (Baduizm, Universal), a very short track, plays and the Cayin E01’s rendering of the bass across this track in Class A mode is nicely transparent, which brings good insight—detail, resolution, and microdynamics. The speed is also quite good as are weight and rumble. However, the leading edge of bass transients, while good, is not as transparent, nor as dynamic as either the A01 or its Class AB stablemate.
Bass E01—Class AB
Replay (on-the-fly switch from Class A to AB) and the bass transparency/resolution of Erykah Badu’s Sometimes (Mix #9) (Baduizm, Universal) is greater still. The bass is also tighter, faster, and the leading edge of transients more dynamic, more potent. Though the E01’s Class AB rendition cannot match the analog-like warmth of its grafted twin’s Class A rendition, it’s tonality can (should) never be characterized as “neutral, bright, or reference,” as it is, decidedly, not that.
Midrange E01—Class A
The E01’s midrange is tube-like—lush, engaging, rich—in every measure. In this respect neither the A01, nor the E01’s Class AB renderings can match the transcendent musicality of the E01’s Class A. For those familiar with the tone of a nicely executed EL34 integrated (pictured below) you will have some idea of the Cayin N6ii/E01 DAP’s sound signature. Imagine, a veritable tube amp for On-the-Go (OTG) listening, that fits in one’s pocket! Audio has, indeed, come a long way. Andy Bey and the Bey Sisters’ Since I Feel For You (Andy Bey and the Bey Sisters, Fantasy Records) plays and the tone and texture of their voices is otherworldly, their harmonies mesmerizing, the totality completely captivating. Yes, Cayin does, indeed, know tubes and musicality!
Midrange E01—Class AB
Replay (on-the-fly switch from Class-A to AB) and Andy Bey and the Bey Sisters’ Since I Feel For You (Andy Bey and the Bey Sisters, Fantasy Records) plays again and the high-hats of the drum kit, stage right, are clearly more pronounced, more dynamic, faster, and the whole more transparent. However, most of the E01’s Class-A midrange magic has been transmuted into greater resolution, better separation, and a slight expansion of the soundstage. Again, there is a goodly dollop of the musicality present from the Class-A version, that is reminiscent, perhaps, of a Pass Labs Class-A rendering.
Treble+ E01—Class A
Emmanuelle Bertrand’s Cello Concerto No. 1 Op. 33 in A minor: I. Allegro non troppo ( Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto, Cello Sonatas Nos.2 & 3, Harmonia Mundi) plays and massed violins quickly strike, then Emmanuelle’s cello and via the Cayin’s E01 the movement is sweet, engaging, smooth, with richness of tone and timbre, that has few peers across the DAP category. Catatonia sets in as one is unable to move to cue up the next track, so beautiful the music of each successive track. The textured is compelling and the landscape layered and, again, reminiscent of tubes. The E01’s Class A rendition of the midrange and the treble will be a siren’s call for music lovers, one that they will, nonetheless, survive.
Treble+ E01—Class AB
Replay (on-the-fly switch from Class A to AB) Emmanuelle Bertrand’s Cello Concerto No. 1 Op. 33 in A minor: I. Allegro non troppo ( Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto, Cello Sonatas Nos.2 & 3, Harmonia Mundi) now as massed violins and then cello enter a transmutation has once again taken place across the landscape. Greater transparency—detail, resolution, microdynamics—and extension and transient speed have replaced the textured richness of tone and timbre, the tube-like warmth, and the sweetness. But not all, as a goodly dollop remains quite reminiscent of that Class A solid state amplifier that has itself embraced a modicum of the “golden-tube-glow” in marriage to its strengths.
The Wrappings and Accessories
The containing box of the Cayin E01 is a matte black, rectangular, cardboard box with a white band that is printed with the Cayin logo and the designation, “Replaceable Audio Motherboard,” while the back sports a UPC code and the Motherboard designation—E01. The E01 packaging is clean and upscale-stylish.
When the band is removed and the box opened, its top and bottom separated, inside one finds two manuals—a User’s Guide and a Replacement Guide for installing the E01. Beneath the guides, in size-appropriate cutouts, are the E01 motherboard, the screws necessary for attachment of the E01 to the Cayin Nii, and a screw driver necessary to facilitate the attaching.
Cayin E01 Design—Look and Feel
The Cayin E01 module like its symbiotic other half—Cayin N6ii— owns a sandblasted, smooth, CNC’d, aluminum-alloy frame, that is painted matte black. Simple, clean, modular, and pragmatic.
Functionality
The E01 motherboard utilizes the ESS ES9038PRO 8-Channel, 32-Bit DAC Chipset which employs both Class A and Class AB amplification in a Dual Amp Operation (DAO) Mode, that are switchable On-the-Fly.
The E01’s Class A Mode features “low distortion,” a “silky smooth, lush” tonality with “impressive clarity and separation.” Cayin finds that its Class A mode is best suited for emotion-laded music that has both detail and macro-dynamics. I couldn’t agree more. And its Class AB Mode provides for higher efficiency and power, which Cayin has determined is best for music with a “high dynamic range and full-scale orchestra.”
The E01 natively decodes PCM up to 32Bit/384kHz and DSD256 in bit-perfect format via Cayin’s Direct Transport Audio (DTA) architecture. And it employs a single analog output—a 3.5mm single ended Phone Out (PO). The E01 is spec’d for 7.5 hours continuous playback in Class A mode and 9.5 hours of continuous playback in Class AB mode.
The Specifications
Conclusion
The Cayin E01 tuned in duality—Class A, tubed beauty and Class AB, Solid State Steel/with a dollop of beauty—is exceptionally well engineered and offers sublime, tube-like musicality as well as solid state drive and transparency in one add-on DAC module. Brilliant!
Like its sibling the A01 the E01 abets a relatively broad synergy with IEMs and Headphones alike. Though not as powerful as its A01 sibling, it is more limited in pairings, when it comes to driving the monstrously inefficient and the near monstrously inefficient. It will, nonetheless, beautifully tame the ‘efficient’ screech monsters (Class A version), while electrifying and bringing to life the living dead (Class AB version). That said, and given its Clark Kent/Superman or Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde persona, your choice, the two-in-one, tube-like/solid state E01 module as allied to the Cayin N6ii is itself an incredibly easy recommendation and another, all in the family, “HIGH-NINES” award winner, that is very highly recommended!
MUSIC—Qobuz, TIDAL EXCLUSIVELY
Alexander Tharaud—Tharaud Plays Rachmaninoff
Omar Sosa—Ballads, Calma
Patricia Barber—Verse
Rickie Lee Jones—Pop Pop
Sade—Lovers Live
Sheku Kannah Mason—Inspiration
Tracey Chapman—Where You Live
Olafur Arnalds—Island Songs
Olafur Arnalds—The Chopin Project
Melody Gardot—My One and Only Thrill
Melody Gardot—My Worrisome Heart
Eiji Oue—Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Hilary Hahn—Tchaikovsky
Mechell Ndegeocello—Bitter
Jordi Savall—Tous les Matins du MondeMaxwell—Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite
Sarah Jarosh—Undercurrent
Igor Stravinsky—Stravinsky: Le sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring)
Annie-Sophie Mutter—Mendelssohn, Brahms: Violin Concertos
London Grammar—If You Wait
Stevie Wonder—Innervisions
Miles Davis—Kind of Blue
Jóhann Jóhannsson—Orphée
Alexis Ffrench—Evolution
Dave Holland—Emerald Tears
Gidon Kremer, Daniil Trifonov, Giedre Dirvanauskaite—Preghiera/Rachmaninov Piano Trios
Joan Shelly—Joan Shelly
Magdalena Kožená—French Arias
Andy Bey—American Song
Erykah Badu—Baduism
Kronos Quartet—Kronos Caravan
ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT
Cayin N6ii/A01
Cayin N6ii/E01
iBASSO DX220-AMP1/MK II
iFi Pro iDSD
Meze Empyrean
OBravo EAMT-2C IEMs
Final Sonorous III
FiiO FH5
AudioQuest Cobalt
AudioQuest Red
AudioQuest Dragon Tail
Samsung S10
Apple X iPhone