Comparing Two R2R DAPs: iBasso DX270 Ultra meets the Cayin N6iii + R202
Introduction
A brief and non-professional comparison of the iBasso DX270 R2R and the Cayin N6iii with R202 motherboard. These are both mid-range DAPs that include R2R resistor ladder technology as part of their digital-to-analog processing chain.
Setup
All audio tracks are in FLAC, CD-quality or better. I listened to a few songs, then switched to the other DAP and listened to the same tracks, pausing for a few hours or a day between sets of tracks. I used AFUL Dawn-X iems for listening across all sessions for consistency. Symfonium is my player app of choice.
"Sultans of Swing", Dire Straits; "Habits", Tove Lo; "Bolero", Pink Martini; "White Rabbit", Jefferson Airplane; "Shampain", Marina; "Flight of the Cosmic Hippo", Béla Fleck and the Flecktones; "I Love It", Icona Pop; "Another One Bites the Dust", Queen; "Because The Night", 10000 Maniacs; "West End Girls", Pet Shop Boys, "Tank!" Yoko Kanno and Seatbelts.
Sound Quality
Both devices sound great. They are the most technically adept players at my disposal, by a decent margin, so this can't be considered a review. I also suspect that the differences I mention could be largely mitigated with careful use of EQ. In other words, I don't believe that (or I can't tell if) one player is better than the other when it comes to resolution, detail retrieval, or accuracy.
The DX270 has an aggressive audio presentation, with punchy bass and sparkle in the treble. It has an engaging, lively tuning that grabs attention, and might be a bit pushy for some. I wouldn't say the sound is quite U-shaped but it does feel as though vocals are slightly recessed. Especially busy instrumental sections, near the end of Tank! for example, get a bit chaotic and maybe messier than the engineer intended.
In contrast, the N6iii has a more relaxed and neutral sound. As a result, mids are a bit more prominent, and female vocals are especially lush and well represented. Jazz and complex instrumental passages are parseable and musical, while retaining detail and texture.
Form Factor and UX
An interesting contrast here with no easy-to-pick winner. The Cayin has a chunkier shape, being shorter and thicker, but is more comfortable to hold and operate. It's worth noting that the Cayin is startlingly heavy the first time you pick it up, this becomes acceptable once you get used to it. The iBasso has a larger screen which is mildly useful when scrolling albums or search results. The Cayin feels a little snappier when switching apps or searching, thanks to having 50% more RAM than the iBasso.
I prefer the stiffer buttons of the N6iii, but both are better with a case to help prevent accidental presses. They both also need a case for grip, as they are otherwise heavy objects made of smooth metal and glass. The volume dial on the DX270 is too easy to turn, the dial on the N6iii is a little difficult. Just call me Goldilocks. The volume UI of the Cayin is full-screen, which is moderately annoying and should be an option setting.
Which One Wins?
The iBasso has some advantages that don't currently apply to me. It has a balanced LO plug, and an external 12V power source for a mode that can drive headphones in a class that I don't own.
The Cayin can swap motherboards, and I'm currently auditioning the T201 tube-based board. Whether being able to switch boards is of value is sort of situational and personal, but it's hard to deny that it's a damn cool trick.
I'm fortunate enough to be able to keep both. The DX270, being a bit lighter and slightly smaller, will be better for traveling. The N6iii, with its flexibility, is great for intentional listening sessions.
Okay... if I was told one of them was going to be thrown into Mount Doom, I would chose to save the Cayin. But it would be a tough choice.
Specifications
Cayin N6iii + R202
- 5" screen, 6 Gb RAM
- 350g; 126 x 77.8 x 23 mm = 225.5 cm^3
- 9000 mAh / 16 hours
- About USD 1500
iBasso DX270
- 5.5" screen, 4 Gb RAM
- 265 g; 136 x 73.5 x 19 mm = 189.9 cm^3
- 4400 mAh / 13.5 hours
- About USD 1250