Cayin CP6 CD Player Launches With Tubes, Class A amp and Bluetooth

The portable Cayin CP6 CD Player was officially launched today (May 14) in mainland China. Its main highlight is the use of military-grade NOS (New Old Stock) vacuum tubes configured in a Class A amplification circuit. In addition, users can switch between three different sound signatures. Check out all the details about Cayin’s new release below.

Update (July 30): The Cayin CP6 is now available internationally through Cayin’s official AliExpress store.

CP6 features vacuum tubes, Class A amplification, and three sound signatures

Cayin’s new CD Player, the CP6, utilizes vacuum tubes and offers three selectable sound signatures that can be changed at the press of a button. In addition, according to the manufacturer, its amplification circuit operates in Class A.

Matched Raytheon 6418 JAN NOS vacuum tubes

The Cayin CP6 utilizes Raytheon 6418 JAN (Joint Army-Navy) NOS (New Old Stock) vacuum tubes. According to the company, the tubes are carefully selected and matched in pairs. Cayin states that the left and right channels operate independently, forming a stereo common-cathode Class A amplification circuit.

Three selectable sound signatures

The CP6 allows users to select between three sound signatures using a dedicated button. According to Cayin, these sound profiles can be used through the headphone output, Line Out (LO), and Bluetooth modes. Below is Cayin’s description of each sound signature:

• Classic sound signature: Warm and smooth presentation that recreates the retro charm of vintage CD players, featuring delicate and engaging vocals.
• Modern sound signature: Improved clarity and a wider soundstage, suitable for various music genres such as pop and rock.
• SS (solid-state) sound signature: Clean and transparent sound with fast, precise dynamic response, emphasizing the original details of the music.

Bluetooth transmission and reception support

The Cayin CP6 supports two Bluetooth operating modes: reception (RX) and transmission (TX). In addition, the device utilizes Bluetooth 5.4, providing a stable low-latency connection.

For Bluetooth reception, the CP6 supports the SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, and LDAC codecs. For Bluetooth transmission, the CD Player supports SBC, aptX, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive codecs.

Dual power supply modes

To reduce battery consumption, the CP6 features a switch that allows users to alternate between battery mode and DC mode.

When using an external DC power supply via USB-C, the CP6 can deliver up to 1100mW at 32 ohms through its balanced headphone output while also bypassing the internal battery.

Battery life optimization features

To improve battery life, Cayin allows users to switch between Class A and Class A/B amplification modes. In addition, the company states that it implemented an ultra-low current standby circuit when the CD Player is powered off.

“The device features an ultra-low current design in the powered-off state, reducing standby power consumption to the microampere level, preventing excessive battery drain during long-term storage and providing greater convenience for daily use.”

CD ripping support

The CP6 supports lossless CD ripping. However, according to Cayin, this feature is only compatible with storage devices formatted in FAT32.

Cayin CP6: Specifications

General specifications

• Amplification: 2 x Raytheon 6418 JAN NOS vacuum tubes
• Analog outputs: headphone output (PO) and line output (LO)
• Bluetooth chipset: Qualcomm QCC3083
• Chassis material: CNC-machined metal
• DAC chipset: 2 x Cirrus Logic CS4308P
• Digital inputs: CD, USB, and Bluetooth
• Digital outputs: Optical (3.5 mm Mini Toslink) and Bluetooth
• Dimensions: 16.7 cm × 15.1 cm × 2.9 cm
• Fast charging support: QC3.0 / PD2.0
• Headphone outputs: 3.5 mm single-ended (SE) and 4.4 mm balanced
• Power input: 5V⎓2A / 9V⎓1.5A
• Supports the Cayin Control app
• Volume control: JRC NJW1195A analog volume control
• Weight: 720 g

Battery specifications

• Battery specification: 3.85V 7300mAh (28Wh)
• Maximum battery life through the headphone output (PO): 7.5 hours
• Maximum battery life through the line output (LO): 10.2 hours

Battery life according to headphone output and sound mode

• 3.5 mm output in SS (solid-state) mode: 7.5 hours
• 3.5 mm output in tube mode: 6.7 hours
• 4.4 mm output in SS (solid-state) mode: 6.6 hours
• 4.4 mm output in tube mode: 6 hours

Battery life according to line output (LO) and sound mode

• 3.5 mm output in SS (solid-state) mode: 10.2 hours
• 3.5 mm output in tube mode: 8.6 hours
• 4.4 mm output in SS (solid-state) mode: 9.8 hours
• 4.4 mm output in tube mode: 8.4 hours

Bluetooth audio specifications

• Bluetooth 5.4
• Supported Bluetooth reception codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, and LDAC
• Supported Bluetooth transmission codecs: SBC, aptX, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive

Output power for the 3.5 mm single-ended (SE) and 4.4 mm balanced headphone outputs

• 3.5 mm output in DC mode (9V) at 32 ohms: 420mW
• 3.5 mm output in battery mode at 32 ohms: 330mW
• 4.4 mm output in DC mode (9V) at 32 ohms: 1100mW
• 4.4 mm output in battery mode at 32 ohms: 900mW

Note: Testing conditions were conducted using high gain and maximum volume.

Release date, pricing, and availability

The Cayin CP6 is now available internationally for US$749 through Cayin’s official AliExpress store.