We’ve said it before, and recent product launches continue to reinforce the point: the compact disc—and the CD player—is making a remarkable comeback. The new Cayin CP6 is one of the latest examples.
The Cayin CP6 cd-player is designed for both portable and desktop use. Thanks to its built-in rechargeable battery, it offers up to 7.5 hours of playback on a full charge, while at home it can simply be connected to the mains.
One of the most distinctive features of the CP6 is its tube-based output stage. That may come as no surprise, as Cayin has long incorporated vacuum tubes into several of its digital audio players.
For the CP6, the company has chosen miniature Raytheon JAN-6418 pentodes, originally developed for military applications. To minimise the effects of shock and microphonics, the tubes are suspended in a specially designed silicone damping system. According to Cayin, the CD transport also benefits from this vibration isolation.
Choose Your Sound
A dedicated selector switch allows users to choose between tube and solid-state sound signatures. Another switch lets listeners select between a Class A output stage and the more power-efficient Class A/B mode, which is particularly useful when operating on battery power.
The CP6 is more than just a CD player. It also functions as a standalone USB DAC, with digital-to-analogue conversion handled by a pair of Cirrus Logic CS4380P DAC chips. Its DAC supports PCM audio up to 32-bit / 384 kHz as well as DSD256 playback.
Headphone users can choose between a standard 3.5 mm output and a 4.4 mm Pentaconn balanced connector. The fully balanced headphone amplifier delivers up to 2 × 1,300 mW of output power and is designed to drive headphones with impedances ranging from 8 to 600 ohms.
Built-In CD Ripping
A particularly useful extra is the built-in CD ripping function. When connected to a computer via USB, the CP6 can rip audio CDs to WAV files at the press of a button.
The Cayin CP6 is priced at €998. An optional leather protective case is also available for those wishing to give the player some additional protection.