Cayin N3Ultra Vaccum Tube Digital Audio Player
Enjoy 3 different timbres with solid state and vacuum tube output modes
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| In order to avoid inteference with the vacuum tubes, the N3Ultra does not feature Wifi or Bluetooth. Streaming apps cannot be installed on the N3Ultra. The N3Ultra may be used in USB DAC mode with a phone or computer which supports streaming. |
Vintage Tubes, Cutting-edge Sound
The N3Ultra uses a fully-customized operating system, streamlined to focus solely on audio applications.
Cayin has crafted a device that provides an authentic and minimalist experience, allowing users to enjoy the timbre of vintage JAN6418 vacuum tubes.
Vacuum Tube Sound On All Analog Outputs
The N3Ultra is equipped with two Raytheon JAN6418 military-grade miniature direct-heated pentode NOS vacuum tubes.
The N3Ultra offers both single-ended 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm Headphone and Line level analog outputs, each capable of producing both vacuum tube and solid-state timbre. Custom-molded shock absorbing silicone housing holds and shields the JAN6418 vacuum tubes from external shock.
Choose from Three Timbres
Instead of using the miniature pentode tube as an audio buffer, N3Ultra adopts Cayin's Gen 3 vacuum tube technology and employs a two stage timbre circuit for the JAN6418 tubes. Three timbre options can be selected from a pull-down menu based on your personal preference.
- Classic tube timbre: Lush, warm and full bodied sound with rich overtones.
- Modern tube timbre: Lively soundstage, well extended with impressive linearity.
- Solid state timbre mode.
Versatile Outputs with Line Out Mode
On top of a dedicated 3.5mm single-ended line out, the 4.4mm balanced output can be configured into Phone out or Line out.
Maximum compatibility with external amplifiers with configurable output voltage levels:
- 3.5mm: 2.1V (High), 1.6V (Mid), 1.0V (Low)
- 4.4mm: 4.2V (High), 3.2V (Mid), 2.0V (Low)
Line Out is fixed voltage line level output that bypasses the volume control and headphone amplification stage. This allows the N3Ultra to serve as a high quality source for an external headphone amplifier or hifi amplifier.
Solid-state, classic and modern tube timbres are available on all analog outputs including 3.5mm and 4.4mm line output.
- Classic / Modern / Solid-state Triple Timbre for Phone / Line Outputs
- Military Grade NOS Vaccum Tube JAN6418 x2
- Dual AK4493S DACs in Mono Mode
- Snapdragon 425 with Direct Transport Architecture (Sample Rate Conversion bypass)
- DSD512 / PCM 768kHz/32bit format support
- Dual femtosecond ultra low jitter oscillators
- 4-CH JRC Electronic VOlume
- Fully customisable 10-band parametric EQ
- Phone and line-outputs, 3.5mm single ended and 4.4mm balanced
- Digital audio output (USB and S/PDIF)
- Hi-res USB Audio DAC
- 4.1" TFT Multi-touch screen
- Supports up to 1TB MicroSD
- QC 3.0 fast charging support
- N3Ultra digital audio player
- N3Ultra silicone protective case
- Tempered glass screen protector x 1
- USB-C cable x 1
- User manual
- Hi-res label x 2
Product Information
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| DAC | AK4493SEQ x2 (Mono Mode) |
| MCU | Snapdragon 425 |
| Vacuum Tube | Raytheon JAN6418 x2 |
| System | Customized Android 8.1 |
| Timbre Circuit | Gen3 Vacuum Tube Audio Circuit |
| Lossless | DTA bypass Android SRC |
| Vol. Control | JRC NJW1195A 4 Channels e-volume |
| Storage | TF x1 (support up to 1TB) |
| LPF | Dual Op-Amp x2 |
| Memory | 2GB RAM |
| FPGA | Re-clock, De-jitter, Re-shaping DDC |
| Battery | 3.85V 4500mAh (17.3Wh) |
| Head Amp. | Parallel amplification, 4 pieces of low noise Op-Amp, 2 amplifiers in parallel |
| Display | 4.1" (720 × 1280) TFT multi-point touch screen |
| Phone Out | 3.5mm (Single-Ended), 4.4mm (Balanced, Shared) |
| Bundled Player | Cayin Music App |
| Line Out | 3.5mm (Single-Ended), 4.4mm (Balanced, Shared) |
| Physical Control | Volume knob, Power On/Off, Playback control |
| Digital Interface | USB Audio (in and out), SPDIF Coaxial (USB-embedded) |
| Colored LED | Playback Sampling Rate, Home, charging indicator |
| USB | Type-C, USB3.1, OTG Storage, Digital Audio QC3.0 (PD2.0 not supported) |
| Chassis | Sandblasted CNC-machined Aluminum |
| Dimension | 125 x 65.5 x 19.5 (mm) |
| Weight | ~204g (≤10g) |
N3Ultra Battery Specification
|
Battery Duration (approx.) |
Condition |
Screen off, 320, mid gain, volume 30, playback 44.1KHz WAV files |
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Output |
3.5mm (Single-Ended) |
4.4mm (Balanced)
|
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|
Timbre |
Solid-State |
Modern Tube |
Classic Tube |
Solid-State |
Modern Tube |
Classic Tube |
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|
Headphone |
11.8 Hr |
9.4 Hr |
9.2Hr |
9.7 Hr |
8.1Hr |
7.6 Hr |
|
|
Line Out |
13.5Hr |
10.8Hr |
10.5Hr |
13.2Hr |
10.6Hr |
10.3Hr |
|
|
Charger |
Standard Charger (5V-2A) |
Quick Charge QC3.0 |
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|
Charging Time (approx.) |
3.5 Hr
|
0-100%-2 Hr 20-80%=1 Hr |
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Digital Output Specifications
| Connector | USB Audio Out | USB Audio DAC | S/PDIF* |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCM | up to 32Bit/768kHz*; | up to 32Bit/768kHz*; | up to 24Bit/192KHZ; |
| DSD | up to DSD512 (Native) or DSD256 (DoP) or PCM88.2kHz (D2P) | up to DSD512 (Native) or DSD256 (DoP) | up to DSD64 (DoP) |
| Notes | *64 kHz sampling not supported | Asynchronous USB Audio Class 2.0. Supported by Windows (drivers required), MacOS, Android (partial), iOS | *Connector: Embedded into USB-C (75ohm). Proprietary cable adapter required. |
Headphone Output Specifications
|
Output |
3.5mm Single-ended |
4.4mm Balanced |
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|
Timbre |
Solid State |
Vacuum Tube |
Solid State |
Vacuum Tube |
|
Power Rating (@ 32Ω) |
250mW |
600mW |
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|
Output impedance |
0.50Ω |
1.00Ω |
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|
Freq. Response |
20Hz-20kHz (±0.2dB) |
20Hz-20kHz (±0.6dB) |
20Hz-20kHz (±0.2dB) |
20Hz-20kHz (±0.6dB) |
|
THD+N (1kHz, 32Ω, A-Weighted) |
0.008% |
2.0% |
0.008% |
2.0% |
|
Dynamic range (A-Weighted) |
120dB |
113dB |
121dB |
113dB |
|
SNR (20Hz-20kHz, A-Weighted) |
120dB |
113dB |
121dB |
113dB |
|
Channel separation (1kHz, 32Ω) |
77dB |
76dB |
116dB |
92dB |
N3Ultra Line Out Specifications
|
Output |
3.5mm Single-ended |
4.4mm Balanced |
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|
Timbre |
Solid State |
Vacuum Tube |
Solid State |
Vacuum Tube |
|
Output Level |
High: 2.1V Medium: 1.6V Low: 1.0V |
High: 4.2V Medium: 3.2V Low: 2.0V |
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|
Output impedance |
100Ω |
200Ω |
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|
Freq. Response |
20Hz-20kHz (±0.2dB)
|
20Hz-20kHz (±0.6dB) |
20Hz-20kHz (±0.2dB) |
20Hz-20kHz (±0.6dB) |
|
THD+N (1kHz, 47kΩ, A-Weighted) |
0.004% |
2.0% |
0.004% |
2.0% |
|
Dynamic range (A-Weighted) |
122dB |
113dB |
125dB |
113dB |
|
SNR (20Hz-20kHz, A-Weighted) |
122dB |
113dB |
125dB |
113dB |
|
Channel separation (1kHz, 47kΩ) |
100dB |
96dB |
122dB |
98dB |
N3Ultra Format Support
|
Format |
Bit-Rate |
Sampling Freq.
|
Remark |
|
|
DSD
|
DSF |
1bit |
2.8MHz - 22.6MHz |
Native, DoP, D2P (88.2KHz). Supports DST encoded DFF and SACD-ISO |
|
DFF |
1bit |
2.8MHz - 22.6MHz |
Supports DTS encoded/ WAV
Supports CUE and LRC
64kHz Sampling not supported
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|
SACD-ISO |
1bit |
2.8MHz |
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PCM
|
WAV |
16 bit - 32bit |
32kHz - 768kHz |
|
|
AIF/AIFF |
16bit - 32bit |
32kHz- 768kHz |
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FLAC |
16bit - 24bit |
32KHz- 192kHz |
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M4A (ALAC) |
16bit - 24bit |
32kHz - 192kHz |
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APE (Fast/Normal/High) |
16bit - 24bit |
32kHz - 768kHz |
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APE (Extra High) |
16bit - 24bit |
32kHz - 192kHz |
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APE (Insane) |
16bit - 24bit |
32kHz - 192kHz |
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WMA Lossless |
16bit - 24bit |
32kHz - 96kHz |
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WMA |
16bit - 24bit |
32KHz - 96kHz |
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MP3 |
8bit - 16bit |
32KHz- 48kHz |
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AAC |
8bit - 16bit |
32kHz- 48kHz |
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OGG |
8bit - 16bit |
32kHz - 48KHz |
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OPUS |
16bit |
32kHz -48kHz |
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