Cayin CP6 Gives Portable CDs a Triple-Timbre Twist

Cayin has taken the portable CD revival somewhere few Discman owners would have imagined, installing genuine vacuum tubes, a powerful balanced headphone amplifier and three switchable sonic presentations inside its new CP6.

The CP6 arrives as portable disc players continue to move beyond simple exercises in nostalgia. FiiO, Shanling, Fosi Audio and others have already combined rechargeable batteries with modern DACs, balanced headphone outputs and Bluetooth, while StereoNET previously reported on the valve-equipped Shanling EC Zero T. Cayin’s response is more of a transportable digital source than a pocket player, but it is among the most comprehensively equipped examples yet.

Its defining feature is a matched pair of Raytheon JAN6418 new-old-stock vacuum tubes, configured as a dual-channel Class A amplification stage. A dedicated front-panel button switches between Classic Tube, Modern Tube and Solid-State modes.

Cayin describes Classic Tube as the smoother and more vocal-focused option, while Modern Tube is intended to produce greater openness, resolution and soundstage width. Solid-State bypasses the valves for what the company characterises as a cleaner and more neutral presentation. Cayin says the selected timbre can be applied to the headphone, line-level and Bluetooth outputs.

Digital-to-analogue conversion is handled by two Cirrus Logic CS4308P DACs operating in mono, supported by an XMOS XU316 USB processor and Texas Instruments OPA1612 op-amps. The CP6 can therefore do considerably more than spin Red Book CDs, functioning as a USB DAC for computers, smartphones and tablets with support for PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256.

For wired headphones, it provides 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced connections backed by a fully balanced four-channel amplifier. Users can switch between Class A and Class A/B operation, balancing sound character, power consumption and output according to the headphones being used.

On battery power, Cayin quotes 330mW per channel through the 3.5mm output and 900mW through the balanced connection into 32 ohms. Connecting external USB-C power increases those figures to 420mW and 1.1W respectively, while the headline 1.3W rating is achieved through the balanced output into a 16-ohm load.

Bluetooth 5.4 operates in both directions, allowing the CP6 to receive music from a phone or transmit CD playback to wireless headphones. Receive mode supports LDAC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX and SBC. Transmission is limited to aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX and SBC, meaning LDAC is not available when sending CD audio to compatible headphones.

The player can also feed a conventional hi-fi system through its balanced or single-ended line outputs, or operate as a CD transport using its coaxial and optical digital connections. CDs can be ripped as lossless WAV files to compatible FAT32-formatted USB storage, while Cayin has developed a custom anti-shock mechanism intended to maintain stable playback when the player is being moved.

A 7,300mAh battery provides up to 7.5 hours of headphone listening or 10.2 hours through the line output, although balanced and tube operation reduce those maximum figures. Fast charging through QC3.0 or PD2.0 is supported.

At 167 × 151 × 29mm and around 720g, the aluminium-bodied CP6 is portable without being especially light. It is easy enough to carry between rooms or pack for a trip, although this is probably one Discman-like revival best enjoyed sitting down rather than jogging or roller-skating.

The Cayin CP6 is available now, priced at A$1,149 | US$699 | £599 | S$979 | €998. A matching leather carrying case is available separately.

For more information visit Cayin Audio