Just got my RU7. Wow! This thing has it all. Analog sounding, details, depth, and space. It makes my LCD-X sound so good and easily beats my $600 iFi Gryphon, which I now use as a LO to get that extra power.
I integrated the RU6 into my 2 channel system, and it blew away my Ares II... More bass, more spaciousness, bigger soundstage and more pleasing clarity. I used a 4.4 TRRS to L/R XLR connectors, and hooked her up to my Denafrips Hades preamp, to Thallo amplifier out to a pair of KLH Model 5 speakers and two SVS SB3000 subs. I am going to play around with this, the Ares II may be going back in its box.
You should try out the new RU7, it’s a 1-bit DAC and basically improves upon the RU6. Retaining that warm smoothness while not sacrificing details whatsoever. I’ve been very impressed with it.
I believe Schitt is coming out with a new Modi Multi-bit with Unison USB implementation in the Spring '23 and this will increase the smoothness, spacial cues, etc.
Thanks for the comparison.. I have the modi multibit with the iFi SPDIF iPurifier2. Makes I bigger difference then I thought it would. My end game dac. If the ru6 had optical out I’d definitely try it.
Have compared only the RU6 and Modi 3. The RU6 images beautifully with better detail, tho some might feel the highs are a bit rolled off. The Modi 3 has a more forward, splashy presentation but flatter imaging. I favor the RU6 as a DAC that presents the illusion of a musical performance in a non-fatiguing, natural way that is very analog sounding; I also use it full time as my main living room DAC in conjunction with FLAC files, works extremely well. Just wish it supported optical.
I hope you still get questions on these older videos. You are the only audio expert on RU-vid who answers my questions and I really appreciate it, especially as I buy many of the items you review, such as focal elegia, m1060c and the red tube amp my wife stole from me. So I was wondering would you recommend the Chord Mojo 2 or the Cayin RU6? Only for use with headphones. Please advise and thanks for making great videos.
Now that a miniature R2R dac is proven, the next things Cayin should do for V2 is implement an external power supply when we do need the juice (I think R2R itself is bit power hungry tech) and provide a pure line out for high fidelity amping, a bit size increase i'll not mind to achieve this.
I could go either way. I think a battery option would be great. Set it up like the Mojo 2, where it will bypass the battery if it is plugged in and fully charged.
I've been looking at getting the RU6 for my iems as well as looking for a dac around the same price for my bedroom 2way system. This seems like the perfect solution for both actually. Does the RU6 have a line out mode or something because I've always heard amplifying a signal TWICE is a no no?
There isn’t a line out mode. I’ve heard the double amping thing as well, but I think it’s one of those things that you just let your ears decide. My ears don’t mind it.
Just for a little perspective, the new Mojo 2 no longer has a line out mode. When i asked Chord about it, they just told me to set the volume to a certain level to get the voltage right. That could probably be figured out with the RU6, if you really wanted to.
@@MrAyrit Ok well thank you for the response. I'll certainly give it some more research and thought. By the way you describe the RU6 it seems to be right up my alley. I use Tidal off my phone on my bedroom system mostly but do listen to cds from time to time as well and of course there is not a usb output on the DVD player I use as a transport but that's a whole other fish to fry. Lol Thank you for all you do. You have the most genuine and practical approach to this hobby that I've seen on RU-vid so far. (And with quality production to boot.) Also thank you for being a teacher. I imagine you being one of the greats out there. We need people like you more and more theses days. Happy listening!
Slightly unrelated, I bought the BIFROST a few days ago used (first gen) and it sound amazing!!! I didn’t want a headphone amp / just a solid dedicated DAC
@@MrAyrit i am living a pretty portable lifestyle, so I was thinking of either the Cayin RU6, the Questyle M15, or the Earmen Colibri. Ifi having a slightly warmer, narrower soundstage probably wouldn't help either eh... How about the new Earmen Coribri then? I know the HE-R9s modded by JM don't need much power, but audio synergy wise? Is the Colibri more analytical than the RU6, giving me that perfect yang for the yin of the HE-R9? Thank you so much for helping. ✌🏼
I'm also a fan of the RU6. I've been feeding it through 3.5 SE at about 88 Low gain (just before the power jump) to my Topping A30pro which i find warmer than other Topping amps. Compared to my Delta Sigma dongle the realism is shocking. Now with the release of the RU7 with a line out setting, more power and a true 4.4mm balanced output I'm thinking of trying the RU7. Any thoughts on the RU7?
Have you ever tried the ifi zen streamer? It's got a usb output so I was wondering if it would work with the ru6. I'm not sure as the usb input on the ru6 works both for power and data... If it did it could be a real good system.
I had the Zen Stream for a bit, but didnt have the RU6 at the time. I imagine it would work. I just thought the Zen Stream was expensive for what it was.
@@MrAyrit i agree. still it can be found cheaper used. and i mentioned it because it's One of the few "affordable" good streamers that has USB out so it could maybe be used with the ru6. maybe the extra One pays for the ifi could be worth it by being able to use the ru6. it could be my only dac as i could use it in my home system and also on the go.
How does the Cayin RU6 compares to the Denafrips Ares II, is the sound quality woth the $550 price difference, especially when connected to a high power amplifier for big headphones.
I have both, and hooked up the RU6 via a TRRS to XLR cable and plugged into my Denafrips Hades preamp out to their Thallo amp, feeding two KLH Model 5's and two SVS SB3000 subs. The Cayin surprisingly outperformed the Ares II in just about every area. It honestly blew me away, the sound was that much more improved. The RU6 is a keeper.
@@michaelwright1602 Brilliant, good to hear it. People go daft spending big on DACs, they are pretty near each other if they are working right. I'm glad the cheaper one worked out for you in your system 👍
How do you connect the RU6 to your amp? Or do you simply use its internal amp? I used to have one before selling it, sounds great with grado because it smooths the sound signature out. However, I do think one of the disadvantages of the RU6 is you cannot use the dac only and connect directly to your higher end amp. You always have to go through the internal amp and only amplify the signal from its internal amp through the amplifier you connect it to.
@@MrAyrit oh yeah just read your reply regarding the chord mojo output where we can match the output signal to the point where we get the best sound quality and let the other amp do all the amplifying and heavy lifting. Interesting theory, might want to try it out myself next time when I got a DAC with a built in amp.
I plugged mine into my preamp, via TRRS and XLR, and used that for output to the amp. But it sounds like you have an integrated amp, so you would have to use the RU6 to control volume.
@@MrAyrit I just wanted to jump in to say that I have been using the Cayin RU7 for a few weeks now. It is very resolving compared to the RU6 especially in DSD 256 mode. Even in DSD 64 it isn't quite as buttery smooth as the RU6 so I'll be keeping both of them. The RU7 has a big soundstage and doesn't sound tinny like the sabre dacs I've heard that drive me crazy. Also the RU7 has more power and it does a great job driving my amp in line out mode. I think it is a win win.
I do not listen loud. Maybe 70db, probably closer to 65 most times. There are often times I use a device and can barely turn the volume knob. I remember the ifi HipDac being like that. I feel like I'm blaring the Lumineers right now with the RU6 at 66 -> Quicksilver at 8 o'clock -> JM Mod Ether CX
Understood and I do have a very clean chain that is my daily driver but there is something special about the RU6 + Echo + HD6xx combo that I find really enjoyable for a change. Variety is the spice of life for this audiophile. 🙂
