Cayin iDAC-8 Dual Timbre Digital to Analog Converter

Cayin iDAC-8

Now available in silver or black

The Cayin iDAC-8 is a fully balanced, high-performance digital to analog converter with unique vacuum tube and solid-state dual timbre components, allowing you to choose between a range of sound profiles to suit your preferences.

Dual AKM DACs

The Cayin iDAC-8 is equipped with high-performance DAC chipsets, the AK4191 plus dual AK4499EX. This DAC chipset configuration allows for a fully balanced operation, ensuring high-quality digital-to-analog conversion of your music data. It processes high-resolution audio formats, including DSD512 decoding and PCM up to 32Bit/768kHz, providing exceptional audio quality and fidelity.

What makes this configuration noteworthy is that each channel of the Cayin iDAC-8 is powered by its own AK4499EX chip — one for left, and one for right. This design ensures that the Cayin iDAC-8's chips always operate in mono mode, which maximizes the potential of the AK4499EX chipset within a fully balanced circuit. As a result, the Cayin iDAC-8 delivers exceptional audio performance, taking full advantage of the capabilities of the AK4499EX DAC chipset for both channels.

Dual timbre

The Cayin iDAC-8 features two distinct timbre circuits: one based on vacuum tubes and the other on solid-state technology.

In the vacuum tube timbre circuit, the 6H16B-B Dual-Triode tube provides a warm and rich sound in your music. The tube is paired with two triodes, works together simultaneously to increase the power for driving current and minimize noise levels. A fast-switching MOSFET from Vishay serves as the second stage for voltage following.

The solid-state timbre circuit utilizes high-performance dual-channel operational amplifiers. These op-amps from Texas Instruments are low-noise and deliver precise audio reproduction.The clean sound from this setting provides the utmost of accuracy and transparency.

The balanced configuration in a tube and solid-state timbre circuits involves two tubes or op-amps per channel. The single-ended setup uses only one tube or op-amp per channel. This balanced and single-ended timbre circuit configuration in the Cayin iDAC-8 offers you flexibility; you can choose between different tonal characteristics and performance levels based on your preferences.

Dual analog outputs

You can select the desired output mode to match your amplifiers at the push of a button.

Pre Out: variable output (with volume control) suitable with power amplifier and active speakers.

Line Out: fixed level output (bypassing volume control) suitable for use with integrated amplifiers that have their own volume control.

Ultra Low Noise Power System

The iHA-8 features an in-house designed toroidal power transformer for noise-free audio performance, with quality rarely found at this price point. It's a testament to Cayin's engineering prowess.

Precision Volume Control

Volume control plays an important role when Preamp mode is engaged.  On top of providing a precise adjustment, it is the key to transparent and accurate playback.

The NJW1195AV volume controller in iDAC-8 adjusts volume via a 4-channel low noise, low distortion resistance ladder circuit that offers good inter-channel consistency and a highly accurate audio experience.

While controlled electronically, the volume is adjusted purely in the analog domain.

Design

The new Cayin i-Series features an L-shaped aluminium cover plate, precision mould extrusion, CNC precision machining, fine sandblasting, and anodized surface treatment. The DAC has a uniform texture, designed to be durable over time. The left and right side panels are designed as ridged heat sinks — the resulting extra surface area enhances heat exchange and improves heat dissipation capacity.