Cayin
Zhuhai, Guangdong, China · founded 1993
Pioneered vacuum-tube technology in portable audio: the Cayin N8 was the world's first DAP with tube preamplification, and Cayin continues to embed KORG Nutube micro-triodes across DAPs (N8ii/N8iii), portable amps (C9/C9II), and even a pocket dongle (RU9). It carries a 30+ year hand-wired tube-amp heritage into modern digital gear.
Cayin is a Chinese hi-fi manufacturer operated by Zhuhai Spark Electronic Equipment Co., Ltd. (founded 1993 in Zhuhai, Guangdong). It began as a tube-amplifier and CD-player maker and built its reputation on hand-wired valve electronics, releasing its first FU29 tube amp in 1994. In 2013 Cayin entered the personal-audio market and now produces digital audio players (DAPs), portable and desktop headphone amps, and dongle DAC/amps. It is best known for pioneering vacuum-tube technology in portable audio, notably using KORG Nutube micro-triodes in flagship DAPs and amplifiers.
At a glance
- Type
- Manufacturer
- Founder
- Liang brothers
- Founded
- 1993
- Headquarters
- Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
- Price range
- Budget → flagship
- Makes / sells
- Digital Audio Players (DAPs), Headphone amplifiers, DAC/amps, Dongle DAC/amps, Portable amplifiers, In-ear monitors, Tube amplifiers, CD/SACD players, Integrated amplifiers, Speakers
- Known for
- Vacuum-tube amplification in portable audio (KORG Nutube), Tube/solid-state hybrid headphone amps, High-end digital audio players, Discrete R-2R and 1-bit DSD DAC designs, Class A/AB switchable output stages, Hand-wired tube electronics heritage
- Website
- en.cayin.cn
Notable products
- N8ii / N8iii — Flagship Android DAP line; N8 was the world's first DAP with tube preamplification, N8iii is a 2026 limited-run reference DAP (~$3,999) with dual KORG Nutube 6P1 triodes and AKM DAC
- C9 / C9II — Battery-powered portable headphone amplifier with tube/solid-state switching and Class A/AB modes; the C9II uses dual Nutube 6P1 triodes
- N7 — DAP with a 1-bit discrete DSD DAC architecture using 128 high-precision resistors
- N6iii — DAP with user-replaceable audio motherboard/DAC modules (E203, C201)
- RU6 / RU7 / RU9 — Dongle DAC/amps; RU6 is discrete R-2R, RU9 introduced a Nutube 6P1 vacuum tube into a pocket-sized dongle
- iHA-6 / iDAC-8 / iHA-8 — Desktop headphone amp and DAC stack components
Sources: Cayin official — About Cayin · Cayin official — History Products · Dr Head — Cayin: The Story of the Audio Player Brand With Analogue Soul · HomeCineSolutions — Cayin, the Chinese brand in hi-fi since 1993 · ecoustics — Cayin N8iii Flagship DAP Announced · Head-Fi — Cayin RU9 Nutube 6P1 dongle thread