Cayin N8iii Digital Audio Player

The Cayin N8iii is a flagship reference digital audio player built for listeners who want a truly high-end portable source with Cayin’s signature blend of tube character, solid-state precision and modern Android streaming.

Designed around Cayin’s “Honouring the Classic, Beyond the Classic” concept, the N8iii combines a 6th Generation KORG Nutube 6P1 vacuum tube circuit with a new flagship AKM DAC architecture, a fully discrete balanced headphone amplifier and a highly flexible output system.

At its core, the N8iii uses a flagship AKM digital stage with dual AK4191EQ chips and four AK4499EXEQ DAC chips. This is paired with a fully balanced 4-channel discrete headphone amplifier, giving the player the control, resolution and dynamic performance expected from Cayin’s top-tier portable audio range.

The N8iii offers three distinct timbre options: Tube Classic, Tube Modern and Solid-State. Tube Classic delivers a richer, more traditional valve-style presentation, Tube Modern offers a cleaner and quieter tube sound, while Solid-State provides a neutral, transparent and highly detailed sound signature.

For further control, the N8iii includes three amplifier modes: Class A+, Class A and Class AB. It also features Standard Power, High Power and Hyper Mode, allowing users to match the player’s performance to different IEMs, headphones and listening preferences.

Power output is impressive, with up to 900mW from the 3.5mm single-ended headphone output and up to 1285mW from the 4.4mm balanced output in Hyper Mode. This gives the N8iii the strength to drive a wide range of portable and full-size headphones.

The N8iii is powered by a Snapdragon 665 processor with 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. Its customised Android 12 audio system supports DTA SRC bypass for high-resolution playback from compatible apps, while Google Play support gives easy access to streaming services.

A 6-inch FHD+ touchscreen, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, microSD card expansion up to 2TB and a large 13,500mAh battery make the N8iii a complete portable audio platform. It also supports 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone output, line out, pre-out, USB digital output, S/PDIF and I²S digital output for use in wider Hi-Fi systems.

Built from 6063 aluminium alloy with a dedicated heat dissipation design, the N8iii is a serious flagship player for listeners who want reference-level portable performance with the unmistakable musical character of Cayin.

Product Specifications

• CPU: Snapdragon 665

• Operating system: Android 12

• DAC architecture: AK4191EQ × 2 + AK4499EXEQ × 4

• Vacuum tube: KORG Nutube 6P1 × 2

• Display: 6-inch FHD+ multi-touch screen

• Display resolution: 1080 × 2160

• RAM: 8GB

• Internal storage: 256GB

• External storage: microSD / TF card support up to 2TB

• Wi-Fi: 2.4GHz / 5GHz IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

• Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0

• Bluetooth codec support: LDAC / AAC / UAT

• Battery: 3.85V 13,500mAh / 52Wh

• Chassis: 6063 aluminium alloy

• Dimensions: 157 × 88 × 25mm

• Weight: Approx. 580g ± 10g

Sound and Amplifier Modes

• Timbre modes: Tube Classic / Tube Modern / Solid-State

• Amplifier modes: Class A+ / Class A / Class AB

• Output modes: Standard Power / High Power

• Hyper Mode: Available for maximum output performance

• Volume control: Dual MUSES72320V electronic volume control

• Headphone amplifier: Fully discrete balanced 4-channel design

• Digital outputs: USB / S/PDIF / I²S

• Analogue outputs: 3.5mm single-ended / 4.4mm balanced

• Output functions: Headphone output / line out / pre-out

Headphone Output

3.5mm Single-Ended Output

• Maximum output power: Up to 900mW

• Output power at 16Ω: 425mW standard / 900mW P+ / 900mW Hyper

• Output power at 32Ω: 245mW standard / 540mW P+ / 540mW Hyper

• Output power at 150Ω: 65mW standard / 120mW P+ / 120mW Hyper

• Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz / 5Hz–50kHz

• THD+N, solid-state: 0.0008%

• Dynamic range, solid-state: 120dB

• SNR, solid-state: 120dB

• Output impedance: 0.6Ω

4.4mm Balanced Output

• Maximum output power: Up to 1285mW

• Output power at 16Ω: 1000mW standard / 1285mW P+ / 1285mW Hyper

• Output power at 32Ω: 730mW standard / 880mW P+ / 880mW Hyper

• Output power at 150Ω: 210mW standard / 250mW P+ / 250mW Hyper

• Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz / 5Hz–50kHz

• THD+N, solid-state: 0.0005%

• Dynamic range, solid-state: 123dB

• SNR, solid-state: 123dB

• Output impedance: 1.2Ω

Battery Life

• Battery capacity: 13,500mAh / 52Wh

• Playback time, headphone output, tube 4.4mm balanced Hyper: Approx. 8.5 hours

• Playback time, headphone output, solid-state 3.5mm single-ended Class AB: Approx. 12 hours

• Playback time, line out / pre-out, tube mode: Approx. 12.5 hours

• Playback time, line out / pre-out, solid-state mode: Approx. 13.5 hours

• Standard charging: Approx. 6.5 hours

• PD2.0 quick charging: Approx. 4.5 hours from 0–100%, approx. 3 hours from 20–80%