Cayin iHA-6 _(Z Reviews)_ A 789 Alternative FFFFFF 

Z: A 789 Alternative! me: yay!!! Z: 700$ me: noooo! :(

My god that those relay clicks

At Low current mode, the amplifier will output at a higher voltage, and this should works better with high impedance dynamic headphones as they need more voltage swing. When you switch to high current mode, the amplifier will output at a lower voltage, but at a higher operation current, this is good for planar headphones because they don't need voltage swing (flag impedance across complete audible frequency range) but the magnetic structure of the planar drive simply "eat" current for living. So the button optimise the iHA-6 for two different genres of headphones instantly.

Key information left out of this review is the fact that the SE outputs are (low) 10 ohm output impedance and (high) 120 ohm output impedance. Why the fuck anyone would need to use the high SE output on anything other than an HD800 or ADX5000 is beyond me, and for anything less than 50 ohms (like most headphones) the low SE output isn't ideal either - nevermind trying to run balanced armature IEMs off of it with anything other than a 4pin xlr adapter or attenuator. I own this amp and absolutely love it, but you should warn people NOT to use the high SE output because it will totally screw up the intended frequency response for regular headphones (especially dynamics, planars don't change as much). Moreover, the SE outputs are absolute fucking GARBAGE compared to the 4pin xlr balanced out (

I like my cans warm, my amps warm, my DACs neutral.

Z, Monolith Amplifier Review next? Also have you seen the Topping DX7S? Curious if you'd been looking at that as well in the future.

“Quick minute”... sure Z, sure…

This has been on InnerFidelity's wall of fame for a while now.

Guys, while this amp is great, make sure you pair it with a warm or neutral dac, not a bright one because this amp is already a little bright to be honest. Plus, from what i remember the se didn't sound as good as balanced of this one . Cheers.

AFK Khans! :D I've been waiting for the review! I own a pair with my SMSL-SU8 and THX 789!

Glad you got around to of my favorite amps. I've had one for a long time since it had glowing reviews from Tyll from Innerfidelity and Carrowin from head-fi. You can get them for as cheap as $400ish used or about $500 is new if you know where to shop for it.

This was originally over $1000. I bought this after CanJam NYC 2018 and paired it with HE-500s. I'll eventually go back to it. It's a Planar king.

Yay...Rupert Neve. I just bought a 9 year old secondhand Musical Fidelity M1 HPA. It's different enough compared to the Rupert. Difficult to describe the sound...but I am going with tiny warm, sweet and open(more seperation and forced depth). But not as detailed as the Rupert. I am considering the Cayin HA-1A mark 1....fully tube amp at 800euro

YOLO, wildcard

I have this amp. It is fantastic with the hifiman arya and iFi Neo. Wonderful stuff. High current mode is for planar magnetic...at least, that's what I read somewhere.

Monoprice firmware is finally up on the website

Hey Zeos, i need a video for speakers, the same way you did with gaming headphones. I got so educated from that, need the same for speakers

current switch actually changes the amplifier class from class AB to kind of class A

Watching the camera move so much is so annoying!

Zeos i have been enjoying your reviews in recent times but there is not much detail here at all. Dare i say a lazy review? For those wanting the works in a review have a look at headfi (project86)/innerfidelity (john grandberg). A lot discussed. There are some limitations to the output impedance of the single ended inputs, low impedance has an output impedance of 10ohm from memory. Balanced input (4 pin xlr) for headphones is less than 1 ohm output impedance. Overall a powerful, very well priced, honest, typical sounding solid state amp

Hey z so Ik this is really off topic but have you thought about reviewing the zmf classics

Just glancing at my 789 from time to time while watching this, and smiling ominously...

Hi! I do have to ask, Which would you say is better, the Johunheim 2, or the iHA-6? I’m using an edition XS and do want an amp I’d never really need to upgrade from.

Cayin do some nice valve amps ... and the upcoming iDAC-6 mk2 DAC/Streamer looks like one to keep an eye on.

“Quin-sent” you should have looked up how to pronounce it as well.

thighs "THIGHS" i approve ;) .

uhhhh i see the empyrans they are coming closer

Hi Z, recently, your reviews are about more expensive equipment than in the past... no more 100$ amp/dac 😬🥺😱 Rising the bar!!!

Hold on, is it me or the Khan is awfully look like a black version of DT990 pro? Edit: I found out 5m later that it is a modded 990 pro, I'm curious how do they sound?

I'm wondering if Zeos missed the mark in this review... Isn't the iHA-6 designed for HPs that are hard/difficult to drive? e.g. Susvara, HE6, LCD4, 1266, and another other planar? I'm thinking the Hps used in this review may not have taken advantage of the power/current that the iHA-6 has over the THX stuff.

I hope one of the things that Cayin is going to let you play with is the tube amp they're selling on Musictek. That thing is gorgeous.

The value of Quiescent Current is the thing that distinguishes Class A from Class AB. You know this.

Get a new caaamera my eyes do ouchie :(

Hey why no videos from canjam NYC??

The Cayin Y-M-C-A!!!🎶

Heya boss watched your videos for a while now but I am new to the sound game. Is there a product or setup you would suggest for someone who is just getting into this. Hard question and not sure you'll respond but I appreciate it regardless!

Considering how expensive the Cayin stuff I've seen before (N6II and N8) is, the price surprised me in a positive way

I've got a question, do I need amp&dac with hi res sticker in order to play 16, 24 bit flac files the proper way ? I mean, is a simple dac&amp like fiio q1 capable of playing flac files even though there isn't any high res audio reference. And same question goes with headphones.

SMSL SP200 THIS COMING NOV!!!!!!!!

I'm sure they meant quiescent current. Which is a biasing factor.

Haven't seen a negative review from you in a while. It's been a "buy this" fest.

789 has been 700-800 on eBay. Massdrop gave us a chance and if you didn't get one tough! You got to wait. If they do it again. $350.00 is pretty awesome. I have been looking and the Rupert Neve pronounced Neeeeve by the way. Is interesting but around 500 to 600. The under 1000 is making allot of tasty choices. I am going to wait. Time is on my side yes it is. I missed the 1st Massdrop on the 789, nah, I lied, I saw it and did not buy it like thousands who did not. I am still waiting. Running a Spark now. It is fine. But yeah I want a 789. Curious about the other Monoprice that needs that firmware update Zeos has. About 500 something for that too.

OMG you dissed le zep again :x

What are those nuggets you use for comfort and what are the holy shit headphones you reference, not the klipsch and empyreans?

Random question: is there a 4 pin male to 4 pin female adapter or 0.5-1 ft cord on the market? I'm paranoid that I will wear out the the xlr connector on my 789 and Jotunheim due to swapping and I'd like to find a way to minimize this. I have a 6 ft male to female and it's too long.

What's the best amp/dac under a 100 in 2019? I have a pair of rp40s headphones

Surprised you didn't mention anything from questyle in this review.

Ebay equals SCAM

But does it have a smooooth volume knob?

Astell and Kern L1000 review please master Z! Before I commit to buy it. 😁

hi i love Your content is very much pls do review about cheap headphone like superlux hd660 or hd330 or hmd660

Hey Z I know this is off topic, but what site would you recommend for a replacement cable for Meze 99Classics?

nEEve Long "e"

Z, with these alternatives to the 789 I wouldn’t mind knowing how they work with the 909.

where's the klipsch hp3 review? hurry up and post it already!

quiescent?

Hey what's the headphone that he pulls put at around 14mins? The open wooden one that sat on the wooden headphone stand.

How is the soundstage of this Z? Is this so narrow and flat sounding?

thx 887 best

You seem very conflicted if this is worth the price, what would you recommend at that price? What dac pairs well with it? I know the idac6 exists but it's tube buffer...

this guy or a questyle cma400i

Not even close.

Cayin, Ifi Audio (higher end), and Queststyle are all the sweet spots of high end audio for me. Honestly you get better inputs/outputs, better preamps setups, better build, etc. The 789 is fantastic for max performance on a budget but the next step up is even sweeter. Once you get above that things seem to get weird and silly.

How about the Aune S7 / Pro ?

You know i'm starting to die inside every time you review something. I have bought almost everything I own based off your reviews and I have been trying to step up in quality, begging massdrop for a 789 and never can get one. Then you put out this video and I click on the links to buy it and it is sold out and unknown when it will be back. at this point I about give up. There is an SMSL combo on massdrop right now ballanced dac and ballanced amp duo not combo two seperate units and I am considering them at this point as together they are $350 and I want an upgrade from my Aune X1S

what anti-virus you have ? Kaspersky prooved to be the best for me ( as long as you dont uncheck the license info when remove and try trial again )

Is there a discord?

Sold out on amazon 😂

So does Zeos have 2 789 there? If yes why??

do i need a dac with an amp like this or the 789?

Does this *effectively power* the 600 ohm 880?

Should I get this over the a30 pro?

Hurry up and do that Sony amplifier.....

Wish I could watch more of your reviews but so many are just too long.

I bought this amp because I have a wire for dual 3 pin XLR. There are a few tube amps made the same way.

love the reviews are you on instagram

This is bat shit crazy Z.

i have their tube headphone amp HA-1A, its really amazing. would send it to you, but i live in germany and it weighs 15 pounds.

damn

Another HP amp? lol! OK, not a big interest of mine. I have a couple of old vintage amp/receivers that can drive almost any headphone well and are a lot less than this costs. Of course, they're beastly in size and weight, lol! So, if you're into desktop solutions DO NOT pay any attention to yours truly. Take it away Z-reviews!

For that price it should have a built in dac and even then it's really expensive.

M has better thighs!

cayin n3 a flop and this box is soooo ugggly 👎 video ok 👍