Cayin N6iii

N6iii: Nothing is Impossible

The All-new Gen2 User-replaceable Audio Motherboard. After the shocking 30th Anniversary release of N30LE and Pearl 30 series CD transport, DAC, and integrated amplifier, Cayin’s main focus in 2024 has been on refreshing
and upgrading its classic product lines. Despite a slower release schedule in an increasingly competitive market, Cayin’s dedication to serving the niche HiFi community remains its strength and challenge.

In February 2024, Cayin launched the “888” 8-series 3-piece suit (Streamer, DAC, HeadAmp), a major upgrade of the desktop “666” 6-series 3-piece suit; March saw the release of the N3Ultra, the third generation of our entry-level DAP (illustration); and in September, the C9ii replaced the groundbreaking C9 since early 2021. Within weeks, the C9ii earned widespread recognition from users, partners, and the media, just as its predecessor did, becoming yet another standout product.

When Cayin’s dealers thought we had an unusually busy year and the C9ii would be our final 2024 new product, Cayin decided to surprise everyone. The upcoming launch of the N6iii, a new generation of fully modularized DAP, holds even greater significance for Cayin.

Back in 2014, Cayin’s first venture into the portable player market was with the N6 DAP. Cayin was a new kid in town at that time. When an unheard brand released a strange-looking DAP, we were teased by many DAP early adopters, but the N6 DAP thread had gathered the first online community for Cayin portable users.

In 2019, Cayin introduced the N6ii DAP, the industry’s first DAP featuring an Audio Motherboard concept: a modular audio circuit board that allows users to swap out the complete DAC and analog amplification circuitry. The N6ii is a product that balanced cutting-edge design with portability, offering users the ability to experience different sound profiles with interchangeable audio motherboards. We can safely claim that, after five years of reflection, innovation, and evolution, this innovative approach made the N6ii one of Cayin’s most celebrated and successful DAPs.

Builds on the Past and Paves the Way for the Future

On top of observing the sales and user/reviewer feedback, we can also measure a product’s success by industry recognition and leadership. The N6ii Audio Motherboard builds on the past and paves the way for the future of portable audio. Firstly, we must credit HiFiman for their vision and contribution as we all know they pioneered swappable amplifier cards since the renowned HM-801. The concept was further elaborated by several brands such as FIIO and iBasso and quickly became a well-perceived solution among the portable audio community.

The N6ii, however, went further by allowing users to swap out the entire audio circuitry, from DAC to analog headphone amplifier. This approach expanded Cayin’s R&D workload significantly, but the goal was to offer users a unified platform where they could seamlessly enjoy different audio technologies. Cayin firmly believes that all Audio Motherboards should be an independent solution in their own right. We never intend to develop (or market) a new Audio Motherboard to replace an existing Audio Motherboard, or to serve as a direct upgrade from a particular Audio Motherboard, we try to be as non-redundant as possible. Each of the six audio motherboards offered a unique and specialized function, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in a DAP.

We market the N6ii as a DAP with “Unlimited Possibilities”, and the market validates our vision. The N6ii received raving reviews from reviewers and users, and the interaction has continued for years. Even today, discussions about the different N6ii motherboards continue, with each audio motherboard offering a distinct focus and character.

The user-replaceable audio motherboard concept has since been embraced by other brands. Major players in the industry like Astell & Kern (AK) and L&P launched portable players with similar concepts, further expanding the range of personalized options in the niche HiFi market. This collective effort has brought more diversity and choice to HiFi enthusiasts, advancing the entire industry.

The N6ii and Gen2 Audio Motherboard Design Considerations

Five years later (from 2019 to 2024), out of the blue, the N6iii Engineering prototype struck like lightning. It surfaced in the CanJam SoCal suddenly and within a month, we are here to announce the long-awaited, highly-anticipated fully-modularized DAP officially. Just like the N6ii, the N6iii continues the innovative approach of using user-replaceable audio motherboards, with each board optimized to match the DAC’s characteristics and
designed for maximum analog circuit performance. The focus remains on showcasing distinct personalities and musical styles, rather than cramming every possible feature into a “Swiss Army knife” player. Two key design goals were set at the start of the N6iii project. First, despite the trend of mega-size DAP, Cayin wanted to retain the portability and handling comfort of the N6ii.

Second, Cayin received a lot of feedback from N6ii users asking for a quick release “tool-free” mechanism so that they can swap out audio motherboards conveniently. These two requirements posed significant challenges for the N6iii’s design and structure.

The N6iii features a 4.97-inch display, noticeably larger than the 4.2-inch screen on the N6ii but well within the one-handed operation limit. To avoid getting bulkier, Cayin eliminated any structural extension around the chassis, giving the front an all-screen appearance. To minimize the width of the DAP, the playback control buttons, and volume knob are tucked beneath the screen. The curved sides improve grip, ensuring that even with a slightly larger screen, the device remains comfortable to hold. As a result, the N6iii delivers a superior visual and control experience, while its size increase is minimal. In today’s era of ever-larger DAPs, the N6iii retains excellent portability.

One of the N6iii’s most significant design breakthroughs is the development of a new quick-release locking mechanism to swap the audio motherboards swiftly. Fortunately, we have dealt with a similar problem when we develop C9ii and we can modify the “tool-free” quick-release latch into a three-point locking mechanism with a self-locking push-button system, completely doing away with the need for screws. You can watch the video below to see how incredibly easy it is to switch audio motherboards on the N6iii.

The N6iii also has a unique antenna design. In earlier models like the N6ii, the antenna was integrated into the upper back section of the device, with relatively low signal gain to avoid interference. In more recent models (N8ii, N7, N30LE), Cayin adopted an external ring antenna placed on the top of the device, providing high gain and interference-free audio circuitry for a better online streaming experience. For the N6iii, due to strict size limitations, the antenna has been moved to a semi-exposed area, right beneath the top panel of the N6iii DAP. While this placement results in a slightly lower gain than the external antenna design used in N7.N8ii and N30LE, it offers a significant improvement over the previous N6ii without increasing the length of the DAP. It offers excellent streaming performance with minimal interference with analog audio processing.

Five years after the N6ii, the N6iii brings major upgrades in its main processor, RAM, operating system, and numerous improvements to meet the growing demand for streaming services. That’s a wrap on the N6iii’s core design: details of what will be applicable regardless of which Audio Motherboard you are going to use with the DAP. Now, let’s move on to what makes each model unique: the audio motherboards.