A dongle with a Line Out?? The Cayin RU7

Purchase the RU7 here (among other places)
shop.musicteck.com/products/cayin-ru7-dongle-dac
Here is the article posted on the headfi forums on the RU7. I highly recommend reading up on this!
www.head-fi.org/threads/cayin-ru7-1-bit-resistor-network-dongle-dac-amp.968064/
Here is information on the Discrete 1-Bit behind the RU7:
www.head-fi.org/threads/cayin-n7-a-voyager-of-unexplored-frontier.966860/page-24#post-17422765
00:00 Introduction
00:55 In the Box
02:10 Technical
04:10 Line Out Mode
05:20 Features
06:50 Build
07:45 Sound
08:05 w/Meze 109 Pro
09:55 w/Focal Radiance
10:50 w/IEMs
13:15 w/Meze Elite
14:45 w/ZMF Atrium Closed
16:18 Volume Level
17:00 Line Out Experience
19:00 Final Notes
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[@heyguyslolGAMING]

Tyvm for the vid. Those close back Atriums look so gorgeous. I wanted to go stabilized w/ my Caldera's but Im a bit sensitive to weight even tho Zach's chassis design is very good at weight distribution. I ended up going w/ the Redheart Caldera's which were a nice compromise w/ beauty and weight. Besides I live in south Texas and our humidity is perfect for non-stabilized zmf's. If I lived in a more dryer cooler climate then stabilized would be a no brainer outside of storing them between sessions.

[@Stephenwongdirectimaging]

I love my meze 109 pro + ru6 + good headphone cable . Listening it every night. Updated Oct 1 to RU7

[@RESURRECT2]

How do you feel about the update? Better?

[@Gambit33]

Good review. I saw another reviewer and even head-fiers claim this is a R-2R DAC, when it's not. I have the RU6 and really enjoy using it, but I'm thinking about buying the RU7 too.

[@Skeeb23]

Yeah, both technologies are very similar from what I read and I can see why people label it as R2R. Lots of discussion on headfi of the comparison to the RU6 too. Thanks for watching!

[@tonipinto228]

Compralo , yo tengo el 6 y este es mucho mejor

[@Baboya]

4.4mm to dual xlr cable for balanced dacs works great probably better than the RCA version

[@mickouzz]

Hi and thanks for the video, so I just bought my first "serious" headphones, the focal celestee, and I tryied a dac (moondrop dawn) and was very disapointed, compared to my laptop dac it was overall brighter but also it destroyed the bass, and the dynamic feel, that simply wasnt there anymore, very analytical sounding and exhausting overall, I heard about the RU6 that sounded apparently very "natural" or "organic", so I wanted to know is you think that the RU7 is in the same vibe and would do the job for me. Thanks!

[@Skeeb23]

Thanks for the question. I will be sampling the RU6 next week and plan to do a quick video on the two! If you can hold out, I'll have a better answer then.

[@mickouzz]

@@Skeeb23 I am in no rush, now I prefer to wait and get the right tool :) thanks again.

[@DJ_BROBOT]

Also, I did bring see the Moondrop being highly rated anywhere so I think if you get a better dac you will see better results. Moondrop ain't known for dacs for a reason. Iems, yes...dac and headphones, no.

[@N3ukenInD3K3uken]

5:21 Kids don't forget to microdose when looking at the *lsd* screen

[@Skeeb23]

That's what happens when my broll comes out blurry for some reason. Ha

[@akeluify]

thats at 8:25

[@tc9929]

Thanks for the nice review! So it doesn’t enhance the soundstage in general?

[@Skeeb23]

For me it wasn't something I noticed. I compared mostly to the Go Bar and that wasn't something I felt stood out.

[@Hijynx87]

@@Skeeb23maybe because go bar is also a warmer source. Did you use x space on it?

[@abhishekrohera]

Will this work with a helix car dsp? Via the line out I was thinking of getting a fiio dap like the m11s and using it with SPDIF mode via a 3.5mm to rca cable Which will approach will be better and better audio quality

[@Skeeb23]

I'm not comfortable fully recommending the RU7 for that, though in theory, it should work. You may want to reach out directly with Cayin or on the headfi thread for that question. Does RU7 lineout sound quality outperform dedicated dacs in the $200-300 range? In what regard would you be querying outperformance? The RU7 is not exactly a fully linear robo DAC and you'd be sacrificing significant connectivity options compared with standalone desktop DACs at that price... www.head-fi.org/threads/cayin-ru7-1-bit-resistor-network-dongle-dac-amp.968064/

[@Sarmat52]

Зачем цап пускать на цап? В этом нет смысла. На цап должна идти цифра, для этого тебе не нужен cayin.

[@pistopit7142]

I have Dragonfly Cobalt. Would it be worth upgrading to RU7?

[@Fahad1999win]

Awsome! Can you recommend something like this in budget under $80 for soundstage/high frequencies?

[@Skeeb23]

Honestly that price range is going to be tough. What you could do is check out the iFi Uno. It's not as small/compact as the RU7 but it does have a few tricks up its sleeve. I've also covered it in a video from a while back.

[@FabioKasper]

I wonder how this compares sound-wise against Modi MB 2?

[@Skeeb23]

I had the Modi as my first true desktop DAC and loved it! Excellent DAC for the price.

[@tomvu9353]

@@Skeeb23Yes I wonder how it compares as well

[@lokrj]

Do you think it's worth getting if i mainly listen to Spotify Premium? I do have offline flac files but most of the time i listen to Spotify. One thing holding me back is, on Android, unlike Tidal, Spotify doesn't have bit-perfect mode, so the songs coming out are unnecessarily upsampled by Android. I'm concernced if it will affect the sound quality that much. But it's not a problem if I'm listening to flac though, since the player used (UAPP) supports bit-perfect mode. Hence, my other question, is it possible to retain the sound characteristic of the dongle even if they are upsampled when listening to Spotify?

[@Skeeb23]

I think so, to your last question. The RU7 is excellent. And streaming services can always be switched if you are really concerned about it.

[@amanieux]

what difference between a line out and a headphone output raised at 1.4v ? output impedance ?

[@jsuno23]

OLED or LSD? one for viewing and one for having visuals.

[@ArefinGamingandWork]

I have got a serious question for you. Do you think these delivers the same energy, feel, enjoyment as the 300 usd desktop amp dac combos if connected to desktop pc?

[@Skeeb23]

It absolutely can...and in some cases beat out those. Synergy is very important first of all. So not all HP/IEM may sound as great on this RU7 as another AMP/DAC. Price does not dictate quality in this hobby as much as some may think.

[@kumarvikas629]

Which hits Bass deeper RU7 or BTR7? Deciding between two.

[@Skeeb23]

I have not listened to the BTR7. I did a bit of reading up on it after your question. I suppose one thing worth noting is the PEQ you can get on their app if you need more in the bass region out of your music. Though on Android there are many apps that can also do that with either device.

[@akibo5591]

Btr7 bass enhance is deeper. I used Btr7 in past and now i am using Ru7.

[@Hijynx87]

@@akibo5591do you like the ru7 more? Is it worth getting an ru7 if I already have a btr7 and qudelix? Mainly for iems, but also edition xs and fiio ft3 headphones……koss kph40/ksc75 too.

[@Hijynx87]

@@Skeeb23if you can get the peq to work lol. I can’t figure it out on my iPhone 11 Pro. It’s like part of the options are off screen and I can’t drag them over

[@pistopit7142]

Can you switch off the disply on this DAC while it is connected to the phone?

[@Skeeb23]

You can set the timeout of the display so it can shut off quicker while playing. A feature to just turn it off, no, it does not have that.

[@Nordi1_0745]

Hello can Go Bar be connected to an external amplifier such as RU7? Thanks

[@Skeeb23]

I suppose you could...but I question why you would want that?

[@Nordi1_0745]

@@Skeeb23 So as to drive my K701. Do you prefer RU7 or iBasso dc04 or Questyle M15?

[@Skeeb23]

@@Nordi1_0745 I have no experience with those other two to give you an opinion. Only that the RU7 is an excellent DAC/AMP

[@Hijynx87]

@@Nordi1_0745ru7 is warmer more analogue , questyle being more nuetral. Dc04 pro is good for its price, but I’ve never personally tried it.

[@MohamedSamir-gn3hg]

Can the balanced output drive the Aeon Noire comfortably?

[@Skeeb23]

Yes. It drives the E3, albeit high gain, so definitely yes.

[@Nooborghini]

LSD screen? you mean LCD Screen

[@nikokomac3185]

please tell me which have more smooth and bassy more forgiving sound cayin ru7 or ifi go bar?

[@Skeeb23]

Well, I think the RU7 is smoother simply because it is tighter then the Go Bar. I do find the Go Bar bassier though and you get the bass button right on the device for more of it in a pinch.

[@nikokomac3185]

hello...is also good for gaming and movies no delays?

[@Skeeb23]

Sure if you're using this through your phone, laptop or any kind of mobile device the only delay you may have is when you first start up the track/movie/game. I would imagine through PC it would be just as good as well.

[@Hijynx87]

I think it’s usb class 2, so console is out of the question. Just fyi, pc/mobile gaming should be great.

[@Reeeepicheep]

Mine has noise issues. QC check?

[@Skeeb23]

Hmm, have you reached out to Cayin for troubleshooting?

[@Reeeepicheep]

@@Skeeb23 I did an Amazon replacement order, hoping that one will work out. Will update my comment if that's case.

[@Reeeepicheep]

@@Skeeb23 The replacement unit has the same issues. Playing "The Night King" on High Gain, you can hear serious noise in the background. Crackles and pops too. Unreal. Using supplied cable directly into iPad Pro playing Roon. Not doing anything wrong here lol. Bought this hoping to use it in line out mode but I'm getting noise issues even just on the device itself. Don't think I want to go through additional support. Just need a desktop DAC.

[@Skeeb23]

@@Reeeepicheep damn. Well i don't have an apple product to test that. When I get my ru7 (friend is borrowing) I'll test it out on that track and see what I find. May not help you but it's got me curious. Oh and why high gain? What are you playing them on for high gain?

[@Reeeepicheep]

@@Skeeb23 Since that track has a very quiet and slow opening with just single piano notes reverberating, it's a good test track to see if there is noise that you otherwise wouldn't hear on a busier track. I was using my Raptgo Hook-X planar IEMs and Focal Clear headphones. Both needed high gain.

[@arijitgayen644]

Half priced lotoo paw s1 also has line out. Chill.

[@VirusForPrez]

I'm sure the SMSL M300 se @119$ blows this > 1-Bit Discrete Resistor Network DAC < out of the water , ... (edited)

[@Skeeb23]

No idea..but this isn't an R2R.

[@jalee1910]

For me this is mainly made for on the go and minimalist user and I won't be surprise if some of the cheaper desktop dac will sound better den this.

[@Skeeb23]

@@jalee1910 100% right on that. The on the go is a huge part of portability. I especially think IEM lovers benefit the most. It does contend though, make no mistakes there.

[@petermartin9494]

I have the RU6 and it blows a much more expensive desktop DAC out of the water.