GUI.
While N3Pro’s interface was nearly identical to their flagship N8 since both were based on Linux OS and used the same size display, it was a bit laggy and limited which Cayin decided to address in N3U, one of the reasons they switched to Android OS and Snapdragon SoC. However, since they decided to optimize the DAP for maximum audio performance without wireless access, using the latest Android OS and the most powerful Snapdragon processor wasn’t necessary. That was why they picked the Snapdragon 425 while running the older heavily optimized Android 8.1 OS (SRC bypassed). With Android running in the background and no access to Bluetooth, wi-fi, or streaming apps, the N3U’s custom Hiby interface is still very clean and resembles the N3Pro interface layout.
The Home screen has a clear layout when browsing songs by Folders (to access microSD card or attached USB OTG storage), Class List (Recently played songs, tagged My Favorites, or custom Playlist), All (every song in alphabetical order, also giving you access to shuffle-all playback or select songs to add to Playlist), Artist (every artist in alphabetical order), Albums (all albums in alphabetical order), and Genres (based on ID3 tags). You also have access to Equalizer where you select either a regular Graphic 10-band EQ (31Hz, 62Hz, 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, 1kHz, 2kHz, 4kHz, kHz, 16kHz) with pre-amp gain to compensate for a boost (so you eliminate the distortion) and +/- 12 step adjustment (in 0.5 increments) of each band which is reflected in a graphic curve above it. You can save and import your presets, or use the provided 8 genre-specific presets.
A new addition to N3U is a 10-band Parametric EQ. Each band can be enabled/disabled individually, and you have a choice of 3 filters (low shelf, peaking, high shelf), along with the center frequency adjustment, gain adjustment, and Q-factor bandwidth adjustment. There is also a pre-amp gain adjustment to compensate for a boost (so you eliminate the distortion), and every adjustment gets reflected graphically on the log scale screen above it. If I understand correctly, the GUI of PEQ is still a work in progress, so we could expect more visual improvements.
The Home screen also has links to System settings and Audio settings, you no longer need to swipe up the screen like you had to do in N3Pro. Plus, at the bottom, you have an area for the currently playing song with an artwork thumb (if one is embedded), and the name of the artist/song followed by play/pause and skip buttons and a link to the play queue. By tapping on the song name you will get to the Playback screen. To return to the home screen, press the down arrow in the upper left corner of the Playback screen or press the home touch button at the bottom of the screen.
In the Playback screen, you have a more expanded view of embedded artwork if one is available. The artwork could be swiped to display lyrics (if embedded) and detailed song info. The whole playback screen is just the HibyMusic interface. Thus, expect to see detailed file info below the artwork window, a shortcut to playback mode, a play queue, a swipe-through timeline to advance through the song, and play/pause/skip touch buttons. Don’t forget, just like in HibyMusic, at the lower left corner of the artwork screen, there is a “shirt” icon you can tap to switch between 3 different playback control touch interfaces. In the upper right corner, the 3-vertical dots shortcut will lead you to options of adding to the playlist (currently playing song), bringing up EQ, showing album info, and properties of the song.
The Notification bar at the top displays all the relevant info at a glance, including small icons showing volume level, gain, digital output setting, timbre mode, sampling rate, and battery status with a percentage. When you swipe the Notification bar down you have access to gain setting, BAL output selection (PO or LO), SS/Tube mode, Tube timbre (Modern or Classic), and a link to Audio settings. Plus, you can control the brightness setting and go to System settings (gear icon). And since we are running Android in the background, typical of your Android DAPs you will see currently playing songs along with its playback controls in the Notification bar area.
The Audio settings screen will have a PCM filter setting (6 filters), DSD filter setting (2 filters), Gain (L/M/H), BAL out (PO/LO), Line Out setting (L/M/H), Timbre setting, Tube Timbre setting, DSD gain compensation, Channel Balance, and Max volume limit setting. The System settings screen will have a USB setting (charging device, transferring files, audio in w/usb power, audio in w/o usb power), Display (brightness, sleep timeout, font size, and pulsar Home button light enable/disable), Lockscreen buttons (to disable volume and play/next/prev when the screen is off), Audio setting (as described above), and System (language/keyboard, fw update, factory reset, and above device).
Considering the compact size of N3U, it is very easy to hold it in one hand and navigate the touch screen with a thumb. And no matter which screen you are on, tapping the home button always brings you back to the main “home” navigation screen. Also, please keep in mind, that while N3U GUI and navigation is faster than N3Pro, it won’t be as fast or as responsive as your smartphone or some other latest DAPs with 665 Snapdragon.
Page 4 – Sound Analysis and Pair up.
Page 5 – Comparison, Wired/Wireless connections, and Conclusion.
Twister6 Reviews 
How does cayin n3 ultra compare soundwise to ibasso dx300 or dx320 wirh amp13. I want a more compact player butj like the tube sound alot.
cheers Jonathan
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I have dx320 with amp14 now, tonality should be the same as amp13. Based purely on the tonality, N3U in Classic Tube mode still has warmer and more textured sound. Dx320 w/amp14 mids sound more revealing. Also, N3U soundstage has more depth while both have the same L/R width spread. Of course, keep in mind, dx320 is a modular android device, so completely different functionality.
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Tell me how the 10-band equalizer works in this dap, does it narrow the stage and cause distortion? I own a shanling m7, the equalizer is similar to the m9. When I just turn on the equalizer, it seems to make the image more compressed and, most importantly, it makes the sound quieter. In the end, I can’t compare with and without an equalizer because the volume levels are different. I heard that Sony dap and Lotoo gold toch are good in equalization. Which dap equalizer really works?
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I’m not too familiar with the latest Shanling daps, thus can’t comment on it. Hiby used to write software for many manufacturers, including Cayin, Fiio, Shanling, etc until FiiO and Shanling decided to use someone else. I can only speak for Cayin DAPs I tested and their fw/sw which is written by Hiby. In N3U just like other Cayin daps just by enabling EQ you don’t change the sound. I have N3U in my hand now, playing a song, and turned on and off EQ and PEQ without any changes; you can’t even tell a difference in sound. Then, depending on the song mastering if you start boosting some eq bands, pushing them to the max, you could get some distortion. Then, you use pre-amp setting to lower the input so you get more headroom for eq band boosting/adjusting… So, as far as N3U goes and its EQ/PEQ algorithm by Hiby, there are no issues I encountered.
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I am afraid they use some “obsolete” cheap hardware, so I really wonder when this device set in DAC mode behind a smartphone, the connection is compatible with UAC 2.0, so with still active hardware button (FF/Play/RW) ? a little device like Qulooz MBU1 can manage it perfectly.
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from audio playback perspective, there is nothing obsolete. I have SP3000T with the same dual JAN6418 tube config and it picks up noise and ringing when tube is enabled and wifi/bt is on with sensitive iems. So, for pure audio performance, Cayin nailed it by getting rid of all the wireless stuff. Now, regarding Snapdragon 425 and old Android OS, it would probably be an overkill to use 665 and Android 13 on a device without any wireless capability, no streaming, no BT, and then putting a ton of work to optimize the OS by disabling 80% of its functionality 🙂 Plus, draining the battery faster… With remote playback control in USB DAC mode, are you referring to wireless Bluetooth or wired through OTG cable connection? I’m not aware of too many DAC devices that support this protocol wired. But as part of the BT wireless profile, similar to how you can control the playback remotely from your wireless headphones, it is supported. If that feature is important to you and at the top of your priority list, N3U doesn’t support it. This DAP is all about the sound quality, mainly in Classic Tube mode with a design that tricked down from their $5k flagship N30LE.
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Thank you for you answer
I was just refering from a wired DAC mode setup. the recent Quloos MBU1 manage to keep their hardware button activated like in BT DAC receiver mode…
I am not really sure to be interested in any Vacuum tube solution, but as the N3Ultra is a rather “cheap” device, it could be like a chance to give a try to such tech, before investing in more high end DAP if I am convinced that it’s a real step up for some of my IER Z1R&M9 from my usual NW-WM1A/Z.
Hardware button of the DAC are necessary for me on the way, as I need to ba able to play Streaming music (online and offline).
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Will the sound of the SP3000T in tube mode be similar to the N3Ultra?
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Just from a sound perspective, not too far off. But obviously, these DAPs have a very different set of features.
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I am curious about the difference between SP3000t and N3ultra, as well as the difference between SP3000t in OP mode and SP3000.
If possible, could you talk about these differences?
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I covered SP3k vs 3kT difference in my 3kT review I just posted. And as I mentioned in another reply, from the tonality/sound perspective the difference between 3kT and N3U (both in Tube modes) is not too far off, but they do differ in functionality and the set of features.
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wie klingt die N3u im Vergleich mit N8II ? Ich habe ein N3u aber ich interessiere mich an N8II Kann mir jemanden was sagen nur über Klang mehr nicht
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Had to use Google translate 🙂 Based on a sound alone, N8ii will be more revealing, not as smooth or as analog as N3U. NuTubes don’t have the same tonality as this JAN6418 vac tubes. But with N8II you are getting solid state and dual nutube, class a and ab amp mode, P+ power boost, cleaner and more detailed tonality, fast android performance with streaming of all the apps. N8ii is a great DAP, but N3U Classic Tube tuning is still very unique.
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