The Cayin RU6 DAP / DAC is utterly frustrating, but sounds incredible

[lattiboy]

Unusable on my iphone because of power restrictions over lightening, no external volume control from any device, doesn't play nice with the BlueSound node, no line out, and kind of bulky. That's all the bad, and it is kind of a big list.

The good? It’s by far the best sounding headphone DAC / amp I’ve ever heard.

My speaker system is the focus of my audio hobby. Vandersteen and Canton speakers, various SET amps, enormously powerful vintage amps, ect. My most "hi fi" headphone setup was the Meze 99 Classics with a Topping DX7 DAC/Amp (I found the Meze's uncomfortable and sold them). My IEM experience topped out with the Audeze Isine 10 with the V2 lightening DAC. None of this is to brag, but I feel the need to mention all of this so people don't think I'm some audio rube who is easily impressed.

All of that BS out of the way I am sitting here and listening to [Al Green's "Lay It Down"](https://tidal.com/browse/track/2450492) and outside of a very specific tube setup running a pair of 110lb a piece Canton CT-120 speakers, I've never heard it sound this good. Ever. I am bowled over by how amazing this sounds. It's crazy to switch from the THX Onyx to the Cayin RU6. The Onyx puts in an admirable effort, but my god the Cayin is in a different league. Impossibly rich bass and mids as smooth as silk. Highs are just perfect; you don't notice them unless you're supposed to.

One of the best female vocal recordings I've heard in a long time is ["St. Loius Gal" by Cecile McLorin Salvant](https://tidal.com/browse/track/19360228). On most setups her high-note slides are really tiring on the ears, but with exceptionally good equipment it sounds like you're getting a private concert. The RU6 absolutely nails this feeling of intimacy without feeling claustrophobic.

No, you don't have the absurd resolution or detail that you can get with a Topping where you can hear every atom in the recording, but it is so much more enjoyable to listen to and my Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80ohm (which are sterile by design) come alive in a way I didn't think they ever would. I'm running it in high gain mode and have the volume between 80-95 and it is sublime. I'm probably at the very limit of efficiency the RU6 could drive, but even with the volume at literally 100 on a track mastered more quietly (like [Black Country New Road's incredible song "Concorde"](https://tidal.com/browse/track/201105436) , I don't notice any real distortion.

I would love if anybody has recommendations for comfortable headphones that are more efficent in the $100-400 range. I am very close to pulling the trigger on a pair of DT880 Premium 32ohms, but open to other suggestions.

I WANT to use the Cayin with my stereo setup, but it shits the bed with the new Bluesound node and my Raspberry Pi running Volumino. I have to figure this out, as I need to hear the RU6 at low gain and half volume coming through a 250wpc amp into my Vandersteen Treos.

I can hardly believe this thing costs $250. Simply the best deal in audio IHMO.

Here's a huge playlist of my test tracks and personal favorites:

(https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/11a76e60-6f4a-44ef-ada7-fee8fc854be9)

 

[PianotunerNJ]

I have that Denon receiver in my theater.

I’m listening to my Sony 1AM2 headphones, High-Res Tod Rundgren, they are very nice to my ear. As my handle suggests, I’m a pro piano tuner if that’s worth anything to you. I paid like $300 at BestBuy a couple of years ago. Driving them with my Fiio M11 in balanced mode and I’m very happy with them. They also sound excellent driven by my SMSL M500 on my desktop system.

They come with a carry bag and wires for a standard headphone jack with mic, and a 4.4 balanced. The frequency range is very wide if I remember correctly and I admit I have not sampled but a handful of headphones, but I feel good about the fidelity/price ratio here.

Best part is they are super comfortable and surprisingly light for the size.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sony-1...-res-headphones-black/6211544.p?skuId=6211544

 

[lattiboy]

I have that Denon receiver in my theater.

I’m listening to my Sony 1AM2 headphones, High-Res Tod Rundgren, they are very nice to my ear. As my handle suggests, I’m a pro piano tuner if that’s worth anything to you. I paid like $300 at BestBuy a couple of years ago. Driving them with my Fiio M11 in balanced mode and I’m very happy with them. They also sound excellent driven by my SMSL M500 on my desktop system.

They come with a carry bag and wires for a standard headphone jack with mic, and a 4.4 balanced. The frequency range is very wide if I remember correctly and I admit I have not sampled but a handful of headphones, but I feel good about the fidelity/price ratio here.

Best part is they are super comfortable and surprisingly light for the size.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sony-1...-res-headphones-black/6211544.p?skuId=6211544

Thanks! They’ve got a pair for $130 refurb on eBay, think I might bite. One thing I read is big heads might not love it. I have an enormous melon. Any feedback on that?

 

[PianotunerNJ]

No, my head is probably pretty average human sized, which means small for an American, lol.

It’s a flexible set. I can’t vouch for the mechanical quality of a refurb, but I recommend them with confidence.

I find them to be extremely comfortable for long sessions. But, I use wireless over the ear phones pretty often while I’m puttering around the house or on phone calls. So, when I’m listening to music critically, I go wired to the Sonys, but they’re lighter and more comfy than the wireless all day.