STEREO GUIDE test verdict
More of a high-end DAC than a nostalgic Discman: The Cayin CP6 impresses with its neutral, high-resolution sound, tube option, and tremendous versatility. Minor shortcomings with the app and firmware only slightly detract from the excellent overall impression.
Pros
- Utmost neutrality and transparency
- CD Playback and Ripping to a USB Flash Drive
- Shock-resistant CD drive
- Solid battery case with metal buttons
Cons
- Without a bag, it's a bit bulky to carry
- Bluetooth and the app need updates
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Sound9.8
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Usability / Connectivity9.6
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Price/Performance9.3
They say the dead live on—and that’s not just true of vinyl records these days. Now that vinyl has long since regained its cult status and even the compact cassette is making a surprising comeback, the CD is also finding a new generation of music fans. So it’s no wonder that products like the We Are Rewind cassette player—most recently even released in a limited-edition Pink Floyd version —or the Cayin CP6 portable CD player have already piqued the interest of STEREO-GUIDE readers as new releases. Now, this unusual newcomer, with its integrated tube output stage, had to prove in testing whether its retro charm is backed by genuine hi-fi quality.
First Impressions and Usability
Right from the moment you unpack it, the Cayin CP6 makes it clear that the only thing it has in common with the feather-light Discman players of past decades is the silver discs. Weighing in at around 720 grams, this portable CD player is quite hefty. This is due not only to the solid aluminum housing and the large battery, but also to the sophisticated electronics, which include a discrete headphone amplifier and a genuine tube stage.
The player feels just as high-quality as you’d expect. The thick-walled metal housing feels exceptionally rigid, and all the buttons are also made of metal and offer a precise actuation point. I particularly like the knurled volume knob on the top. It’s easy to adjust and gives the CP6 almost the character of a classic studio component.
The color display also makes a good impression. It has high contrast, is sufficiently bright, and remains easy to read even from an oblique angle. However, the control logic isn’t immediately intuitive. Instead of a separate setup button, you have to press and hold the large Timbre/Menu button for a while before accessing the settings menu, which consists of twelve items in total. You then navigate using the volume dial and the skip buttons. Once you’ve gotten used to this somewhat unusual logic, operation is a breeze.
More than just a portable CD player
The Cayin CP6 isn’t just a nostalgic Discman with slightly better sound. Rather, its aluminum case houses a full-fledged mobile high-end DAC complete with a discrete headphone amplifier, a Bluetooth interface, and a genuine tube output stage. Ultimately, CD playback is just one of several sources.
At its heart are two carefully selected Raytheon JAN6418 NOS pentodes, which were originally developed for military applications. Unlike many devices that merely advertise the use of a single tube, the Cayin actually features a full-fledged tube stage. At the touch of a button, you can switch between three sound profiles at any time: In addition to a neutral solid-state setting, you can choose between the two tube modes, Modern Tube and Classic Tube. We’ll take a closer look at the differences later in the listening test.
Equally unusual is the fully discrete, balanced four-channel headphone amplifier. The menu allows you to switch between Class A and Class AB operation. Additionally, high- and low-gain stages as well as several digital filters are available. The latter allow for fine-tuning of the digital signal processing. One minor drawback, however, is that the gain setting automatically resets to “Low” after every restart.
Wide Range of Connectivity Options
The Cayin also proves to be remarkably versatile when it comes to connectivity options. For headphones, it features both a standard 3.5-millimeter jack output and a balanced 4.4-millimeter Pentaconn jack. Both connectors are also available as line outputs, allowing the CP6 to be easily integrated into a stationary hi-fi system.
It also features coaxial and optical digital outputs for connecting external D/A converters. The USB-C port makes the CP6 a high-quality USB DAC that can be used with computers and smartphones.. A practical solution is the additional USB-C port, which is intended exclusively for power supply. This allows the player to be operated stationary via the power adapter without unnecessarily draining the battery.
Also a high-end DAC
In everyday use, the Cayin is likely to serve as a high-quality D/A converter more often than as a CD player for many users. During testing, the connection worked flawlessly with both the iPhone and the MacBook Pro. Inside the CP6, two Cirrus Logic CS4308P D/A converter chips operate in a dual-mono configuration alongside a powerful XMOS XU316 USB processor. It supports PCM signals up to 32-bit and 384 kilohertz, as well as native DSD up to DSD256. An ESS ES9821Q is also used as an ADC for digitization tasks. Via USB, the CP6 supports the following formats: PCM 16–32-bit / 44.1–384 kHz; native DSD64–256; DoP64–256
Bluetooth and App
The CP6 also features modern wireless capabilities. Bluetooth 5.4 supports virtually all major high-resolution codecs, including LDAC, aptX Adaptive, and aptX HD. The player functions as both a receiver and a transmitter. However, we still encountered connection issues during testing. On my iPhone, the CP6—which was presumably ready to pair—didn’t even appear in the list of available Bluetooth devices. My esteemed colleague Florian Goisl from the AUDIO/stereoplay testing lab could see the Cayin on his Android device, but he was also unable to connect. A software update should certainly resolve this issue soon.
Related: At the time of testing—when this was one of the first devices available in Germany—the accompanying Cayin Control app did not yet seem fully polished. Although an iOS version was now available, some menus still appeared partially in Chinese. On several occasions, firmware updates aborted about halfway through the installation. Only a hardware reset using the recessed reset button on the bottom of the device restored proper operation. In our view, there is still room for improvement here.
CD Ripping and Everyday Life
Finally, one of the most unusual additional features is the built-in CD-ripping function. Music can be transferred directly to a storage device connected via USB-C as lossless WAV files. However, our testing revealed that this feature—like some menu items—is poorly documented and could use some fine-tuning in terms of both the software and the documentation.
In contrast, mobile use went off without a hitch. The battery life of up to seven and a half hours cited by the manufacturer proved to be quite realistic in testing. The Cayin handled even longer listening sessions without any noticeable signs of fatigue.
Sound Test of the Cayin CP6: High-End on the Go
In terms of sound, the Cayin CP6 delivers an impeccable performance. It combines exemplary balance with a remarkably high degree of transparency. It’s not just its absolutely neutral vocal reproduction that stands out; it also hits the mark perfectly in both the bass and treble. The CP6 doesn’t overdo it at either end of the audible frequency spectrum, yet it delivers both the necessary punch in the bass and excellent detail in the treble. Above all, it consistently avoids any form of gimmickry.
For example, on Tori Amos’s “Swimming Pools” from the album *Trevor Horn – Echoes: Ancient & Modern*, her voice can be followed with wonderful clarity and freedom throughout the soundstage. At the same time, even subtle reverberations and the tiniest sonic details emerge effortlessly. With orchestral recordings such as Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 (Ivan Fischer/Budapest Festival Orchestra), the Cayin impresses with its outstanding delineation of individual instrumental sections. Woodwinds, strings, and brass remain clearly separated at all times, without the sound ever coming across as analytical or sterile.
When the program switches to Yello’s “The Expert” or Dire Straits’ “Money for Nothing,” the CP6 showcases another strength: Its bass extends deep, yet remains exceptionally dry, precise, and well-defined. The impact comes not from artificial emphasis, but from control.
Depending on the music genre and your personal taste, you can customize the sound using the various solid-state and tube timbre modes.
Subtle Sound Customization
It’s worth noting that the differences are significantly more subtle than one might expect given the terms “tube” or “transistor.” Yes, the Classic Tube mode sounds a touch smoother and less clinical than pure solid-state operation. However, given the rather subtle differences, I wouldn’t describe it as having a distinctly warm tube sound.
Furthermore, the changes aren’t limited to the midrange and treble. Those who place particular value on bass that is as precise, tight, and deep as possible will likely prefer Solid-State mode, especially when listening to rock, electronic music, or modern pop productions. The tube modes, on the other hand, tend to add subtle sonic nuances without altering the player’s fundamental character.
The differences between Class A and Class A/B are similarly subtle. In pure Class A mode, the sound reproduction feels a touch more organic and fluid. At the same time, it gains a slight improvement in fine dynamics. At its core, however, the Cayin remains true to its distinctly neutral and transparent sound character.
The differences between the switchable digital filters are even more subtle. For die-hard audiophiles, it may well be appealing to explore the various filter characteristics. However, they hardly alter the CP6’s fundamental sonic signature. The differences are more akin to variations in the mastering of the same recording than to those between completely different devices.
USB stands for maximum sound quality
The source has a relatively significant impact on the final sound quality. CDs sound truly excellent on the CP6. But it’s especially when playing high-resolution audio files from a computer, music from a smartphone, or streaming via Bluetooth that the CP6—this versatile portable player—really shines. With high-resolution audio via USB, the playback shines with exceptional detail and extreme naturalness, plus dynamic drive from the deepest bass all the way up to the highest overtones.
No matter how you use it, Cayin’s versatile portable player impresses with its exceptional neutrality, high level of detail, and impressive vitality.
Thanks to switchable gain levels, it effortlessly drives even demanding headphones like the Beyerdynamic T5p and more than lives up to the “Dynamic” in its brand name. In my listening test, however, the CP6 paired particularly well with very airy and finely detailed electrostatic headphones like the Fosi i5 or the AMT over-ear HEDD HEDDphone D1 (review coming soon). It is precisely these combinations that benefit from the Cayin’s tremendous transparency, wide soundstage, and ability to make even complex recordings sound completely effortless and natural.
Another positive aspect that stood out during the listening test was how resistant the CD playback was to shocks. Users of the first portable CD players from the 1980s and 1990s could only dream of such a feature.
Conclusion and Alternatives to the Cayin CP6 Portable CD Player/DAC
There aren’t many portable CD players on the market right now anyway, even though a certain nostalgia trend is emerging. But the Cayin CP6 isn’t content to just play CDs. In our test, it proved to be an excellent USB DAC that, thanks to its output stage—which can be switched between tube and transistor modes—competes with high-end headphone DACs when paired with demanding high-end headphones. And here, it truly stands out sonically with its exemplary neutrality, fine resolution, and remarkable transparency. In one respect, however, the Cayin RU9—designed purely as a portable headphone amp and DAC—leaves it in the dust: Unlike the Cayin RU9, the CP6 can’t simply be slipped into a pants or jacket pocket. Anyone who wants to use it on the go with its generously sized battery will need a shoulder bag, such as the compact leather one available in Cayin’s accessory lineup.
Cayin CP6: Technical Specifications
- Manufacturer’s recommended retail price: 1,000 euros
- Type: Portable CD player with vacuum tube circuitry
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 16.7 × 2.9 × 15.1 cm
- Weight: 720 g
- Special Features: Transistor and tube amplification, USB input, S/PDIF output, Bluetooth with LDAC, AAC, and Apt-X HD, variable gain (High/Low), Class A and Class A/B operation, CD ripping, max. resolution 32-bit/384 kHz; DSD256 (USB In), plays CDs and CD-Rs
- More at: cayin.com
