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Doubletwist review 20186/12/2023 Of course, what’s under the hood should count the most, but as they say – you only get one chance to make a first impression. Design.įrom my previous experience of reviewing N6, N5, i5, N3, and now N5ii, I find that Cayin always tries to come up with an original design which makes them stand out from the crowd of saturated DAP market. Also, included were 2 extra Hi-Res Audio stickers. Either way, this cable will be easy to spot among all your other usb-c and micro-usb cables, though the cable jacket felt not as solid. You should also expect to find usb-C to usb cable for charging, data transfer, and usb-dac connection, though it was “apple” white, instead of a “traditional” black usb cable. Once a magnetic cover is lifted, you will find a user guide in the pocket under the cover, and the DAP wedged in a secure foam cutout, right next to the storage pocket with accessories. The actual storage box underneath the sleeve is all black, with a company name and audio waveform logo in silver. Flipping it on the back reveals detailed highlights of the design which is quite impressive. Hi-Res Audio sticker in the lower left corner is the only touch of color in there. In case of N5ii, the outside sleeve is all black with a front featuring a glossy outline of the DAP with a focus on a volume wheel. I appreciate that, thus wanting to highlight it in my unboxing section. Many companies put a lot of thought into packaging. But does it perform like one? I spent the last month using N5ii DAP (w/2.1en firmware), and here is what I found. N5ii is a crossover between N5 and i5, which looks like a “hybrid” on paper. ![]() I remember when Cayin told me about their original plan of keeping N-models as non-Android based, while i-models will be Android based. It’s a space where audio enthusiasts want something small and compact on the go, but with more power and more features to set it apart from entry level models (like Cayin N3) and without high expectations of summit-fi performance, something which Cayin is overdue for (how about the next flagship model?). This new release enters a space in mid-fi market which is currently the most saturated when it comes to DAPs. ![]() Along with a sticker price of $369, Cayin packed N5ii with lots of goodies, pushing the envelope of its price/performance ratio even further. After receiving my review unit and placing it next to N5 and i5, I thought of calling it “iN5ii” □ There is no other way for me to describe the new N5ii DAP from Cayin but to call it as a crossover between these two models, picking up a balanced output and dual uSD cards from N5 and a nearly identical Hiby GUI and customized Android 5.1 with a touch screen and a similar volume wheel from i5. When I saw N5ii spec for the very first time, I was a little surprised to find it having more in common with i5 than original N5. Manufacturer website: Cayin, for sale on MusicTeck and Amazon. The product was provided to me free of charge for the review purpose in exchange for my honest opinion. PROS: neutral-bright tonality, balanced output, dual uSD card support, Bluetooth and WiFi support (w/Google Play installed), very compact solid design, battery life.ĬONS: limited Android experience, custom digital out cable.
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