The amp is easy to set up once the polystyrene protections around the tubes have been removed.
#Cayin a88t mk2 install
The Cayin C5-55A KT88 tube amp comes with a pair of gloves, a CD to install the DAC’s driver, a power cable, and a USB cable. Nevertheless, the remote control is still a convenient way to adjust the sound volume and select the amp’s mode (triode or ultralinear) without having to get up. It is necessary to use a screwdriver to insert the batteries (2 AAA batteries) into a removable plastic compartment. The buttons on the remote feel loose and are a bit noisy. We were a little bit disappointed by the remote control which didn’t feel on par with the quality of the amplifier despite its aluminum housing.
#Cayin a88t mk2 driver
The Cayin CS-44A KT88 tube amp comes with a pair of white gloves which should be used to carefully handle the tubes, a CD to install the DAC’s driver on a computer without an Internet connection, a power cable, a high-end USB cable, and a remote control.
![cayin a88t mk2 cayin a88t mk2](http://www.audiocostruzioni.com/r_s/ampli/cayin-88/cayin%20a%2088%20t%20dentro_small.jpg)
The Cayin CS-55A KT88’s aluminum remote control allows the user to easily switch between triode mode and ultra-linear mode.
![cayin a88t mk2 cayin a88t mk2](https://hifi-inside.com/images/phocagallery/hifi-ht/cayin/integrated-amplifier/a-88t-1-cayin.jpg)
The result is a more pleasant listening experience, as long as the loudspeakers have a high enough sensitivity rating to work with a lower amplification power. The bandwidth is larger, there are more pair harmonics, and the damping factor is reduced. On the other hand, because less electrical components are part of the chain, the sound is more transparent, the lows are more nuanced, the stereo image is deeper and more open, and the high frequency range sounds more natural. The downside is that in doing this, the amplifier doesn’t deliver as much power. By using the remote control to shunt one of the elements, the amplifier can be switched to triode mode, which means only 3 electrodes are used.
#Cayin a88t mk2 full
When using a tetrode in ultra-linear mode, the tube is working at almost full power. It is important to note that the KT88 tubes are tetrodes and are this fitted with 4 electrodes which are essential to delivering power. The Cayin CS-55A KT88 can easily go from triode mode to ultra-linear mode the difference between these two modes is the number of electrodes used by the tube. The Cayin CS-55A KT88 comes with four KT88 power tubes, two 12AU7 preamp tubes, and two 12AX7 tubes.Ĭayin CS-55A KT88: triode mode and ultra-linear mode The frequency response ranges from 5Hz to 44kHz, which is more than necessary to get the most out of high resolution digital tracks. The Cayin CS-55A KT is rated at 2×22 Watts into 8 Ohms and 2×40 Watts in ultra-linear mode. They are combined with two 12AU7 and two 12AX7 preamp tubes which are used to drive the power tubes. The output stage features four KT88 or E元4 power tubes, depending on the model. It is fitted with three bulky transformers (one input transformer and two output transformers), and a total of 8 high-quality tubes. The Cayin CS-55A KT88 is a testimony to the Chinese brand’s know-how. The Cayin CS-55A KT88 boasts a comprehensive range of connectors with 4 and 8 Ohm speaker terminals. The back of the amplifier features two RCA line inputs, a mobile magnet (MM) compatible phono input, and a USB input. Its front panel features an on/off switch, a volume knob, a source selector, and a headphone output. The Cayin CS-55A KT88 is a beautifully made tube amp.
#Cayin a88t mk2 mac
The latter is capable of handling HD audio files up to 32-bit and 384 kHz from a Mac or PC.
![cayin a88t mk2 cayin a88t mk2](https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB13raKOpXXXXa0XXXXq6xXFXXX1/Cayin-A-88TMK2-A-88T-EL34-Vacuum-Tube-Amplifier-EL34-KT88-6550EHx4-class-AB1-push-pull.jpg)
What sets the Cayin CS-55 KT88 apart other tube amplifiers is its integrated USB DAC. The Cayin CS-55A KT88 tube amplifier features an excellent headphone output, which is ideal for the Focal Stelia headphones. The Cayin CS-55A KT88 is no exception and is fitted with high-end tubes and components, not to mention its more than fair price. The brand’s philosophy and its scientific approach to sound restitution ensure that each Cayin product delivers a warm and harmonious sound, inherited from the legendary tube amps of the 70s and 80s. Does this new generation of tube amps designed to combine analog components with digital technology deliver? Does the use of tubes bring warmth and life to digitally streamed music? Here are a few answers to these questions.įor the past 25 years, the Chinese manufacturer Cayin has been specializing in high-fidelity tube electronics: amplifiers, preamps, CD/SACD players, headphone amplifiers, and even recently released an audiophile DAP, the Cayin N8, which we had the pleasure to review. This week we reviewed the Cayin CS-55A KT88, a tube amplifier priced at €1790 featuring analog inputs as well as a digital USB input for audio streaming up to 32-bit / 384kHz from a computer.