Cayin iDAC-8: High-Resolution Listening Experience

The Cayin iDAC-8 is a stationary DAC designed to perfectly complement the iHA-8 headphone amplifier and iDAP-8 network audio player. Equipped with an AK4191 + AK449EX DAC and a dual timbre structure, this device is ready to bring the most spectacular details to your favourite music, decoding high-resolution formats such as DSD512 and PCM 32Bit/768kHz.

Advanced Timbre Circuitry

The iDAC-8 features a single-ended vacuum tube timbre stage, using two triodes in parallel inside the 6H6b-B tube as a cathode follower. This not only improves current drive capability, but also reduces noise, thanks to a low-resistance MOSFET from Vishay connected as a voltage follower in the second stage.

Analogue Outputs and Connectivity Flexibility

The device offers dual analogue outputs that allow selection of the desired output mode at the touch of a button, making it easy to connect to active amplifiers or loudspeakers, depending on whether Pre Out (variable output) or Line Out (fixed level output) mode is used.

Next Generation DAC Technology

Utilises AKM's AK4191 + AK4499EX chipset for exceptional digital-to-analogue conversion. Each channel features one AK4499EX, operating in MONO mode to maximise chipset performance in a fully balanced circuit.

Ultra-Low Noise Level and Precise Volume Control

The 45 W toroidal power supply transformers, designed and manufactured in-house, ensure a minimum noise level. Volume control, critical in Preamp mode, is via a 4-channel NKW1195AV ladder circuit, which adjusts volume exclusively in the analogue domain for transparent and accurate sound reproduction.

Integrated and Customisable Design

The Cayin iDAC-8 shares an aesthetic design with the iDAP-8 and iHA-8, allowing for seamless integration and customisation within the Cayin i-Series. Its compact and robust design with side panels designed as heat sinks improves thermal dissipation and operating efficiency, ensuring the best performance.

General specifications:

DAC: AK4191 Digital / 2 x AK449EX

Vacuum Tube: RCA 6H6b-B x 2 / XLR: 6H6b-B x 2

Display: 3.12" 256 X 64 OLED Dot-matrix

Output Modes:

Fixed level: Line output

Variable level: Pre Amp output

Digital Inputs: I2S, USB Audio, Coaxial (RCA), Coaxial (BNC), AES/EBU, Optical

Power Supply: 45W Toroidal Transformer

Analogue Outputs: Balanced XLR x 2 / Single-ended: RCA x 2

Weight: 4.6kg

Dimensions: 270 x 215 x 70 mm

Analogue outputs specifications (Line Out)

RCA Line Out:

Solid state: 2.2V + 2.2V

Vacuum Tube: 2.2V + 2.2V

XLR Balanced:

Solid State: 4.2V + 4.2V

Vacuum Tube: 4.1V + 4.1V

Frequency Response: 20-50kHz (+0.2dB)

THD+N:

Solid State: <0.0007% Vacuum Tube: <0.0007% Vacuum Tube: <0.0007

Vacuum Tube: <0.05% Vacuum Tube: <0.05% Vacuum Tube: <0.05% Vacuum Tube: <0.05

XLR Balanced:

Solid State: <0.0006% Vacuum Tube: <0.8% THD+N: <0.0006

Vacuum Tube: <0.8% Vacuum Tube: <0.8% Vacuum Tube: <0.8%

Dynamic Range: 

Solid State: >120dB

Vacuum Tube: >113dB

XLR Balanced:

Solid State: >126dB

Vacuum Tube: >126dB

Channel Separation:

Solid State: >116dB

Vacuum Tube: >105dB

XLR Balanced:

Solid State: >121dB

Vacuum Tube: >122dB

Output Impedance:

Solid State: 12 Ohms

Vacuum Tube: 60 Ohms

XLR Balanced:

Solid State: 24 Ohms

Vacuum Tube: 1kOhms

Analogue Output Specifications (Pre Out)

RCA Line Out:

Solid State: 6V + 6V

Vacuum Tube: 6V + 6V

Balanced XLR:

Solid State: 12V + 12V

Vacuum Tube: 10V + 10V

Frequency Response: 20-50kHz (+0.2dB)

THD+N:

Solid State: <0.0003% Vacuum Tube: <0.02% Vacuum Tube: <0.02% Vacuum Tube: <0.02

Vacuum Tube: <0.02% Vacuum Tube: <0.02% Vacuum Tube: <0.02% Vacuum Tube: <0.02

XLR Balanced:

Solid State: <0.005% Vacuum Tube: <0.02% XLR Balanced

Vacuum Tube: <0.8% Vacuum Tube: <0.8%

Dynamic Range: 

Solid State: >123dB

Vacuum Tube: >120dB

XLR Balanced:

Solid State: >124dB

Vacuum Tube: >123dB

Channel Separation:

Solid State: >122dB

Vacuum Tube: >119dB

XLR Balanced:

Solid State: >123dB

Vacuum Tube: >122dB

Output Impedance:

Solid State: 12 Ohms

Vacuum Tube: 60 Ohms

XLR Balanced:

Solid State: 24 Ohms

Vacuum Tube: 1kOhms

Digital Input Specifications

I2S:

Connector: HDMI Type-A

PCM input: 16bit to 32Bit, 44.1kHz to 769kHz

DSD input: DSD-64 to DSD512 (22.6MHz)

USB DAC input:

Connector: USB Type-B

PCM input: 16bit to 32 bit, 44.1kHz to 769kHz

DSD input: DSD-64 to DSD512 (22.6MHz) Native; DoP256 (11.2MHz)

Compatibility: Widows 10/11, macOS, Android, iOS

Operation mode: Asynchronous USB Audio 2.0

AES/EBU: 

Connector: XL3 Male

PCM input: 16bit to 24 bit, 44.1kHz to 192kHz

DSD input: DoP64 (DSD over PCM 2.82MHz)

Impedance: 110 Ohms

Coaxial:

RCA connector, BNC

PCM input: 16bit to 24 bit, 44.1kHz to 192kHz

DSD input: DoP64 (DSD over PCM 2.82MHz)

Impedance: 75 Ohms

Optical:

Connector: TOSLINK

PCM input: 16bit to 24 bit, 44.1kHz to 176.4kHz

DSD input: DoP64 (DSD over PCM 2.82MHz)