Cayin CS-100DAC/Preamp: USB DSD512/PCM 768K, IS2, AES/EBU, RCA/BNC SPDIF Inputs - Demo Full warranty

Kaplan Design is an Authorized Cayin Dealer!  Purchased from the USA Importer!  Full Warranty! Great build quality and Digital Filter options at this unbelievable Low hrs Demo Unit.
My Asking Price is very fair! however, I will consider ALL Reasonable Offers! Will not include Shipping or waive PayPal Fee of 3%, With that said ALL SELLERS pay Audiogon a 4% Transaction Fee.
Please fully read my ad before contacting me. - Thank you.

OBMR: Original 1/4" Thick double Box & Flexible Styrofoam Packing:     
In The Box:  New Power Cord, Generic USB A to B Cable, (2) Fuses, (1 Pair) white fabric Gloves, and Remote!  
Transaction Fees:  PayPal add 3% Fee    
Shipping: UPS or FedEx Insured. 

Less than 150 hrs of use! 
reviews

Of diminishing returns

I've long since understood that as my system grow, and indeed my spending power stronger, (youngsters don't become jealous as it comes with age and work), the fact of diminishing returns will become a fact.

Now when I spend a few grandi expect a little change to the good, or indeed just a difference, to my system. But as ever as one goes through life what becomes expected suddenly changes, life way of keeping one on your toes I assume.

So to the point of this review. I bought this DAC as I was using my CD players input to drive my Chronolog server to pre amp. Expecting a better control of the system as a whole.  he sellers did wax lyrical about other things the Cayin would do. I should have known better than treat his comments with such contempt, he had after all never stirred me wrong over many years.

But the Cayin DAC arrived and for the first time in many years my system, which had always sounded darn good, suddenly came alive, not just the control, but a curtain had been drawn away from my speakers. Where had all this music been hiding for god sake.

Not only did the filters, (something I was not bothered with, so researching was not done), they worked and are now used. But one thing that really surprised me was the quality of the onboard pre amp, which is something I didn't need. It is simply all one needs in said device.

So if you are looking at buying a pre amp this will give you something to look at, and indeed if you are buying DAC and Pre Amp, look no further as this is nearly as good as it can get.

One then has the choice of Valve or transistor output on both pre out and DAC out, and the difference is stunning, with this you can have such fun, as with valve (Vacuum Tubes) you still have control of the signal but bring extra depths within the bass with beautiful roll-off, smooth mids keeping the top end open and clear. Transistor brings an upbeat bass, still tight as one would expect, mids very slightly up in the mix with top-end sparkle. Two pre's in one, almost.

I almost think this is my Best Buy, although I always think that about everything I buy. The one thing I can honestly say is it is most certainly the most economic buy I have ever done.

Just a word of warning if you are buying this as a preamp, there will be the limitations of inputs, digital-only, but plenty of them.

This wonderful device has more than taken the wind out of my diminishing returns argument,

"

- RB - 

"

Oh my word !

Just cannot begin to explain how good this DAC is - Cayin was a new brand to me, but I will not be a stranger anymore - if this astonishing DAC is anything to go by then I simply cannot wait to go for a full system ! This DAC has it all - poise, grace, texture, dynamics, and an uncanny ability to truly keep you routed to your seat - until this purchase, my digital listening attributed perhaps only 20% of my time (rest being Vinyl), now it a real competition!

"

- SW - 

       

Digital Filters

PCM Filter:

APODIZ, BRICKWALL, FAST-L, FAST-M, HYBRID, SLOW-L, SLOW-M

DSD Filter:

IIR47K, IIR50K, IIR60K, IIR70K

Choice of Vacuum Tube and Solid State Analog Output

• Outstanding digital audio capability with ESS Saber ES9038Pro, PCM 16-32Bit                      decoded up to 32Bit/768kHz

• DSD: DSD64-512 (Native Mode), DSD64-512 (DoP mod)

• digital inputs: AES / EBU, BNC, RCA, Toslink and I2S via mini HDMI

• Analog output: single-ended at 2.1V and balanced at 4.3V 

• Comprehensive digital interface: I2S, USB Audio, AES/EBU, BNC and RCA S/PDIF Coaxial output

Design & Technical Features 

Designed with ES9038PRO DAC chipset from ESS. Dual DAC used and each DAC chip works in MONO mode that four channels of I/V conversion circuit combined the true Balance Output Circuitry to achieve the best audio performance of the DAC Chipset.

Deploy discrete components and premium grade specialized op-amp in I/V converter circuit.

Two pieces of high precision, low noise, low jitter oscillators from American Accusillicon to serve as the master clock of ES9038Pro.

Equipped with single-ended RCA and balanced XLR audio output, both support Vacuum Tubes and Solid-state timbre selection.

Two separate power transformers for separate power supply to Digital Circuit and Analog Circuit. Digital circuit, DAC part, and Analogue circuit are powered by separate winding and multi-winding of low noise LDO Regulation power supply.

Support I2S digital audio input through HDMI-A connecter, compatible with Cayin iDAP-6 Digital Transport, N8 and N6ii Digital Audio Player.

Optical, AES/EBU and Coaxial interfaces all support DoP for DSD decoding.

Built-in high-resolution Asynchronous USB AUDIO transmission accepts and decodes
Hi-Res digital audio bitstream from your computer via USB interface.

RCA and XLR connecter supports LINE OUT and PRE OUT mode.

Built-in 7 PCM filters and 4 DSD filters.

Extensive mute protection circuit, minimize impulse noise or noises generated at changing of operational stages.

Special designed low leakage, high-efficiency toroidal power transformer are used.

Finest sandblast aluminum alloy chassis and panel, shielding external interference
with aesthetics.

AMOLED Display Screen with GUI (Graphical User-Interface

Dimensions:  17.32 x 15.43 x 4.96 (WxDxH) Inches

Weight: 26.45 (Unit Weight! - Not Shipping Weight)

Manual included on a Thumb Drive.                 
Serial Number:  CS-100DAC 53720032 - 120Volt Unit Version 1.0-20180806  Firmware 3.1.0      

(2) Sets of Analog Outputs: RCA (Single-Ended) and XLR Balanced Outputs - 1 Fixed and one variable Selected via the remote! works as a Digital Preamp 
 
Remote features: on the fly Tube Outputs or Solid State via (Timbre button), Source - toggles through Digital inputs.  Filter - changes the various Digital Filter options see images.   
 
The CS-100DAC is a reference-grade digital source in Cayin’s lineup. It features two ESS ES9038Pro DAC chipset and can native decode up to DSD512 and 32 Bit/ 768kHz. 7 PCM digital filters and 4 DSD digital filters to fine-tune the sound signature for different music genres or even specific music files.           

Set of (4) 6922EH triode Electron Harmonix vacuum tubes into the signal path, (2) for XLR Outputs/(2) RCA Outputs.  this will allow users to switch between Solid State and Vacuum Tube output with a single button push.  This timbre function is available to both single-ended and balanced connection

Rated 8/10 to be conservative:  (4) small nicks 1/64 x 1/64" rear top cover right of center {Please see Image 3 and enlarge it}. Factory Blemish 3/8" length x 1/16 thick mark [not raised up] top right-hand corner of the Faceplate! Difficult to see I believe it's under the clear coat.      
        Cayin's D / A converter flagship, with its high-end ESS Saber ES9038Pro in native mode, handles up to 32-bit / 768kHz and DSD512 and DoP256. On the back of the solid, contemporary designed housing, (6) six digital inputs: USB audio, AES/EBU, BNC/RCA Coax SPDIF, Toslink and I2S via mini HDMI. Switching between the vacuum tube or semiconductor buffer stage for the RCA and XLR outputs allows the user to switch the sound of their CS-100DAC to their liking. This also applies to many different filter characteristics.

RCA and XLR outputs with fixed level and controlled volume expand the application possibilities. You can also use the Cayin CS-100DAC for the direct control of power amplifiers or active speakers. A high-quality all-metal remote control and the smart user interface with 3.95-inch AMOLED display so make operation a pleasure. The magazine AUDIO ruled in issue 5/19 on the Cayin CS 100DAC:

News Release 

May 10, 2018, High End, Munich – Cayin, is a renowned audio manufacturer from China, is proud to announce their top of the line Digital to Analogue Converter/Preamp, CS-100DAC at High End 2018 (H12, Hall).

Bin Liang, CEO of Zhuhai Spark Electronic Equipment Co., Ltd., (Also a Contract Manufacturer of Melody and Other Brands of Hi-End Audio Electronics) the parent company of Cayin, said “While the digital capability of CS-100DAC is remarkable, the analog section is also a state-of-the-art implementation. On top of the regular high-quality solid state output, Cayin has incorporated a set of four 6922 triode vacuum tubes into the signal path, this will allow users to switch between Solid State and Vacuum Tube output with a single button push.  This timbre function is available to both single-ended and balanced connection and is applicable to line output and preamp output of CS-100DAC.  The 6922 is an extensive triode tube family with lot of low-cost high-quality choice, users can fine-tune the sound signature according to their preference or system synergy”.

 To deliver a natural and musical playback, we have installed two extremely low-noise high-precision Crystal Oscillators into CS-100DAC. With RMS phase jitter as low as 0.075ps (0.000 000 000 000 075 seconds), these are the lowest jitter solution Cayin has implemented so far.

With a 3.95” full-color AMOLED display, the input, output and operation status of the CS-100DAC is clearly visible.  An IR remote control is supplied as standard, allowing user to select the source, adjust volume, and change timbre and digital filters at a distance.

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