Hi Using Ipod classic 5.5 (wolfson) with Westone W40, really like the sound but time to change. Just wonder if Fiio X3iii or Cayin N3 is a better choice, I like wide sound stage and a slight warm sound, does not need to 100% neutral, also not a hiss fan. Or maybe there is something better in the $200 to $280 price range. thanks
Thanks for the walkthrough! On my sansa clip+ with rockbox I usually keep all my songs on shuffle but insert tracks or albums selectively. Can you do this on the N3 without disrupting the shuffling/playlist? Rockbox basically shuffles the song into a now playing playlist and you can insert the tracks into the list and keep the rest of the shuffle playlist normal. Thanks
Great walkthrough - trying to decide between this and the Fiio X1. Was leaning towards this but I read the specs on Cayin's website and they state the line out is only rated at 1 Volt. I'm thinking it may be a typo, but it is a deal breaker if true. Can you confirm or comment on what you noticed with the level when using the line out function? Thanks!
Hi Nikolaus. Got this 2 days ago. Excellent player. Seriously blown away. Do yo happen to know if there's a way to speed up the scrolling speed of file names? Its excruciatingly slow. I listen to a lot of stuff daily (not just music) and its painful.
Hi! What can you say about cayin n3 vs shanling m1? I see the same menu structure, and the difference is in the controls only. But what about a sound and personal experience?
L448 - Sorry for the late response. Yes, the GUI is very similar between the two DAPs because both companies contact out FW development to Hiby. So it does come down to other aspects of the user experience like controls, size, features, and sound. Let's take them one at a time... CONTROLS: The buttons on the M1 are raised circles and are easier to locate and are more tactile than the buttons on the N3. M1's control / volume wheel is a love it or hate it kind of thing. I like it for the most part, but the one thing its dual nature prevents is volume control while in menus. The N3's separate volume controls allow volume control at all times, which is definitely a plus. So overall, I'd say this is a tie and comes down to personal preference. SIZE: The N3 is about twice the size of the M1. Again, it's personal preference. Some really like the tiny M1, whereas others think it's too small. As you can see in the video, the N3 is still pretty small, though. One thing to point out is that the screen size is exactly the same for both. You're not getting any more screen real estate with the N3, and fonts will be equally small with both. FEATURES: I just got the full-featured N3 production model yesterday. I read on headfi that it has two-way Bluetooth and can act like a remote control for your smartphone, but I haven't had a chance to test this out yet. M1 also has two-way Bluetooth, but it doesn't function as a remote for your phone. I don't know how robust the Bluetooth connection will be in comparison yet, either. The M1 took a downturn in the last FW update and now encounters intermittent stuttering issues after a few songs when I'm streaming Google Play Music to the M1. We'll see how the N3 compares... SOUND: M1 sounds really good for being so tiny, but it can't keep up with N3 which has better extension on both ends, smoother treble, and better spacial cues. If I were listening to them as standalone DAPs, I'd easily choose N3 for sound and would only choose M1 for times when its small size would override the N3's advantage in sound. So overall, I think they're both great DAPs for the price and which you'd prefer comes down to reading over my comments, doing a bit of research on headfi or other websites, and deciding which meets more of your wants / needs. And coming soon is the Hidizs AP200. Looks like it'll be $50-100 more but is meant to compete with higher-priced mid-tier DAPs. Not sure if I'll get one in for testing or not...
I haven't used either X1 or X1ii. The early reports I read on them didn't pique my curiosity. People seem to have a lot of issues with X1ii that's making them look at alternative DAPs like the Shanling M1 and Cayin N3. That's a good thing in my book!
Hi, have a Cayin N3 and an audio technica m50x. I have some SACD DSF files and i want to know whether i should choose DoP or D2P(s/pdif) during playback from my headphone
Thanks for the review. I have my iphone7 with apple lossless music. Do you think the N3 has noticeable upgrade in SQ compared with my iphone7 paired with Fiio EX1 Gen2?
I haven't heard an iPhone 7 yet. The last iPhone I heard was the 5s, and all the DAPs I own are an upgrade vs my old 5s. I can't imagine the iPhone 7 is so much better vs the 5s that it will all of a sudden compete favorably with DAPs but again I haven't actually heard it. Adding in your IEM, I think they're good enough that you'd be able to distinguish the difference between your phone and a DAP. The difference might not be as striking as if you were using higher-tier IEM, but it should still be a noticeable improvement.
Hi! Is N3 going to be a lot better then FiiO X3-III? I had FiiO X1 1st gen and kind of used to FiiOs interface. Now that I want an upgrade, wich one should I choose? I don't have an option of listening to both of them and choosing :(
great video! i have a question though. i am currently looking for a good dap and am waiting for m2s release here in germany. still i would ask your advice on which would be the best option for around 200€ i was thinking between n3 m1 m2s but cannot decide due to lack in experience
Sorry for the late reply, bro. Super busy week! Like most things in life, it depends on what your needs, wants, and priorities are... Cayin N3 sounds a bit warmer/fuller, has low impedance output, is a bit bigger, and has both capacitive and physical buttons for control. Shanling M2s isn't as warm/full, is about 2/3 the size, has the control knob for quickly scrolling through lists, and the GUI clicks a bit more with me. However, output impedance is (intentionally) on the higher side, although that hasn't negatively impacted my listening experience. And there aren't dedicated volume buttons. All volume control is done with the control, so volume control is deactivated when you're in menus. Neither is perfect. Both have strengths and trade offs, and you've got to figure out which best suits your needs. If asking follow up questions would help, please feel free to ask. There are obviously other DAPs you could look at in this price range, but I think these are two great choices and one will suit you 👍
Of course Cayin N3. Sound is clear, strong and with the high volume. Software is good. And cheap price / expensive performance. All the specs. really good for the price guys!
Hi Nikolaus, I'm planning to buy a DAP i Still can't decide which one I'll buy.. is the Sony NW-A35 worth for it's price .. ? I like listening to rock music and edm's appreciate your answer :)
I haven't heard the A35, so I can't comment directly on those two. I did try one of their previous flagship DAPs and wasn't very impressed with the sound for the price they were asking. It sounded quite thin / weak. If that's a trend amongst Sony DAPs, then I'd avoid unless you're looking for a more delicate sound signature.
Hey there. You made a comment that gapless is "really good" with .mp3, would you care to elaborate on that? My eight year old iPod Classic is dying and majority of my music is in .mp3. Because I have a lot of albums that have songs that bleed into one another, any noticeable stutter would end up driving me insane.
Hi. With nearly all of these Chinese DAPs with Hiby GUI, gapless is flawless with WAV and FLAC. With MP3, you might have just the briefest micro-second gap. With AAC, there is a noticeable split-second gap.
Thanks for the reply. I actually ended up purchasing a Sony NW‑A35 the weekend before last. Saw multiple people online praise its gapless feature with pretty much every format available, so it was enough to push me in that direction. It's definitely pleasing me so far.
Those capacitive buttons look horrible to use, and an awkward button layout. I have a Fiio X1 (mk1) and I really like the mechanical scroll wheel. Cayin should also make their UI look better.
Does anyone know why the N3 can’t read wpl playlists? It does not recognize my playlist files on the micro SD card. 😞
Hi
Using Ipod classic 5.5 (wolfson) with Westone W40, really like the sound but time to change.
Just wonder if Fiio X3iii or Cayin N3 is a better choice, I like wide sound stage and a slight warm sound, does not need to 100% neutral, also not a hiss fan.
Or maybe there is something better in the $200 to $280 price range. thanks
Man Cayin n3 the best for the price and Fiio x3iii. I think you gonna like it. Clear and strong sound, easy menu and good software.
Headphone jack at the bottom ?!?
Thanks for the walkthrough! On my sansa clip+ with rockbox I usually keep all my songs on shuffle but insert tracks or albums selectively. Can you do this on the N3 without disrupting the shuffling/playlist? Rockbox basically shuffles the song into a now playing playlist and you can insert the tracks into the list and keep the rest of the shuffle playlist normal. Thanks
Great walkthrough thanks. Just wish the central button was capacitive button too 😕
are you still reviewing DAPs?
I can't get "Lock Screen" to work
Which is the better dap? Sony nw-a35/45, cayin n3, fiio x1ii or the shanling m2s? I listen mostly to edm and pop music. And i use iems only.
i think the central button is too hard. i owned one and video reminds me this thing.
Great walkthrough - trying to decide between this and the Fiio X1. Was leaning towards this but I read the specs on Cayin's website and they state the line out is only rated at 1 Volt. I'm thinking it may be a typo, but it is a deal breaker if true. Can you confirm or comment on what you noticed with the level when using the line out function? Thanks!
Hey did you notice any stuttering while using it for bluetooth with a phone? I can't shake mine off however hard i try.
Hi Nikolaus. Got this 2 days ago. Excellent player. Seriously blown away.
Do yo happen to know if there's a way to speed up the scrolling speed of file names?
Its excruciatingly slow. I listen to a lot of stuff daily (not just music) and its painful.
Hi! What can you say about cayin n3 vs shanling m1? I see the same menu structure, and the difference is in the controls only. But what about a sound and personal experience?
L448 - Sorry for the late response. Yes, the GUI is very similar between the two DAPs because both companies contact out FW development to Hiby. So it does come down to other aspects of the user experience like controls, size, features, and sound. Let's take them one at a time...
CONTROLS: The buttons on the M1 are raised circles and are easier to locate and are more tactile than the buttons on the N3. M1's control / volume wheel is a love it or hate it kind of thing. I like it for the most part, but the one thing its dual nature prevents is volume control while in menus. The N3's separate volume controls allow volume control at all times, which is definitely a plus. So overall, I'd say this is a tie and comes down to personal preference.
SIZE: The N3 is about twice the size of the M1. Again, it's personal preference. Some really like the tiny M1, whereas others think it's too small. As you can see in the video, the N3 is still pretty small, though. One thing to point out is that the screen size is exactly the same for both. You're not getting any more screen real estate with the N3, and fonts will be equally small with both.
FEATURES: I just got the full-featured N3 production model yesterday. I read on headfi that it has two-way Bluetooth and can act like a remote control for your smartphone, but I haven't had a chance to test this out yet. M1 also has two-way Bluetooth, but it doesn't function as a remote for your phone. I don't know how robust the Bluetooth connection will be in comparison yet, either. The M1 took a downturn in the last FW update and now encounters intermittent stuttering issues after a few songs when I'm streaming Google Play Music to the M1. We'll see how the N3 compares...
SOUND: M1 sounds really good for being so tiny, but it can't keep up with N3 which has better extension on both ends, smoother treble, and better spacial cues. If I were listening to them as standalone DAPs, I'd easily choose N3 for sound and would only choose M1 for times when its small size would override the N3's advantage in sound.
So overall, I think they're both great DAPs for the price and which you'd prefer comes down to reading over my comments, doing a bit of research on headfi or other websites, and deciding which meets more of your wants / needs.
And coming soon is the Hidizs AP200. Looks like it'll be $50-100 more but is meant to compete with higher-priced mid-tier DAPs. Not sure if I'll get one in for testing or not...
Great answer, thanks!
Hey, do you still think N3 is much better choice than M1 in terms of sound? I also need a good, stable BT connection and not bad battery life.
Cheers
Can you throw some light on how this pairs with the im02? I'm looking for my first dap which goes well with the im02s.
Sorry, but I haven't heard IM02. What's their sound signature, and are you looking to maintain that our alter it with the pairing?
Nikolaus Matheis the im02s are very sensitive and often go well with output impedance
Nikolaus Matheis the im02s are very sensitive and often go well with output impedance
cayin N3 vs. Xduoo X10.. can you give an opinion about that? since both of them are same at $150..
How can i use like DAP?
Say wha?
I think you mean DAC, digital-to-analog converter.
N3 vs fiio x1ii which is better in your opinion?
I haven't used either X1 or X1ii. The early reports I read on them didn't pique my curiosity. People seem to have a lot of issues with X1ii that's making them look at alternative DAPs like the Shanling M1 and Cayin N3. That's a good thing in my book!
Edmund Castillo X1ii sounds terrific for the price, but it is incredibly laggy. It also lacks advertised features, such as gapless playback.
The N3 is arguably better than the X3, so way better than the X1.
Hi, have a Cayin N3 and an audio technica m50x. I have some SACD DSF files and i want to know whether i should choose DoP or D2P(s/pdif) during playback from my headphone
HappyPants why is better than fiio x3?
Thanks for the review. I have my iphone7 with apple lossless music. Do you think the N3 has noticeable upgrade in SQ compared with my iphone7 paired with Fiio EX1 Gen2?
I haven't heard an iPhone 7 yet. The last iPhone I heard was the 5s, and all the DAPs I own are an upgrade vs my old 5s. I can't imagine the iPhone 7 is so much better vs the 5s that it will all of a sudden compete favorably with DAPs but again I haven't actually heard it.
Adding in your IEM, I think they're good enough that you'd be able to distinguish the difference between your phone and a DAP. The difference might not be as striking as if you were using higher-tier IEM, but it should still be a noticeable improvement.
Hi! Is N3 going to be a lot better then FiiO X3-III? I had FiiO X1 1st gen and kind of used to FiiOs interface. Now that I want an upgrade, wich one should I choose? I don't have an option of listening to both of them and choosing :(
Hey do you happen to also own the Shanling M0? I'm debating on whether to buy this or the M0 especially in terms of sound.
Does this send sound wirelessly to bluetooth headphones ?
Yup
great video!
i have a question though. i am currently looking for a good dap and am waiting for m2s release here in germany. still i would ask your advice on which would be the best option for around 200€ i was thinking between n3 m1 m2s but cannot decide due to lack in experience
Sorry for the late reply, bro. Super busy week!
Like most things in life, it depends on what your needs, wants, and priorities are...
Cayin N3 sounds a bit warmer/fuller, has low impedance output, is a bit bigger, and has both capacitive and physical buttons for control.
Shanling M2s isn't as warm/full, is about 2/3 the size, has the control knob for quickly scrolling through lists, and the GUI clicks a bit more with me. However, output impedance is (intentionally) on the higher side, although that hasn't negatively impacted my listening experience. And there aren't dedicated volume buttons. All volume control is done with the control, so volume control is deactivated when you're in menus.
Neither is perfect. Both have strengths and trade offs, and you've got to figure out which best suits your needs. If asking follow up questions would help, please feel free to ask.
There are obviously other DAPs you could look at in this price range, but I think these are two great choices and one will suit you 👍
And what about battery life via Bluetooth? N3 is a little bit better in thisvregard than M2s and M1?
Very cool. Thanks for that.
m2s or N3? sound quality and battery life
Hi Nikolaus, Do you think Cayin N3 is good pair with RHA MA750?
About Cayin N3 and Sony A35/36 which one is better?
Someone answer this pls :)
Of course Cayin N3. Sound is clear, strong and with the high volume. Software is good. And cheap price / expensive performance. All the specs. really good for the price guys!
Bluetooth doesn't connect with my 2017 Honda CR-V.
Hi Nikolaus, I'm planning to buy a DAP i Still can't decide which one I'll buy.. is the Sony NW-A35 worth for it's price .. ? I like listening to rock music and edm's appreciate your answer :)
I haven't heard the A35, so I can't comment directly on those two. I did try one of their previous flagship DAPs and wasn't very impressed with the sound for the price they were asking. It sounded quite thin / weak. If that's a trend amongst Sony DAPs, then I'd avoid unless you're looking for a more delicate sound signature.
good video!
Hey there. You made a comment that gapless is "really good" with .mp3, would you care to elaborate on that? My eight year old iPod Classic is dying and majority of my music is in .mp3. Because I have a lot of albums that have songs that bleed into one another, any noticeable stutter would end up driving me insane.
Hi. With nearly all of these Chinese DAPs with Hiby GUI, gapless is flawless with WAV and FLAC. With MP3, you might have just the briefest micro-second gap. With AAC, there is a noticeable split-second gap.
Thanks for the reply. I actually ended up purchasing a Sony NW‑A35 the weekend before last. Saw multiple people online praise its gapless feature with pretty much every format available, so it was enough to push me in that direction. It's definitely pleasing me so far.
That's great. We all have our own priorities.
Lotoo paw 5000 vs Cayin N3 anyone?
Brian santana - I've got both and prefer N3
Nikolaus Matheis Thanks bro
Those capacitive buttons look horrible to use, and an awkward button layout. I have a Fiio X1 (mk1) and I really like the mechanical scroll wheel. Cayin should also make their UI look better.
That thing is ugly and why is it so large? these things do not even have a hard drive in them and the battery life is nothing special
mon berg - Compared to what?
Video is not about anything
What do you mean?
How u connect this to PC as a DAC ?