The N6iii features a 4.97-inch display, noticeably larger than the 4.2-inch screen on the N6ii but well within the one-handed operation limit. To avoid getting bulkier, Cayin eliminated any structural extension around the chassis, giving the front an all-screen appearance. To minimize the width of the DAP, the playback control buttons, and volume knob are tucked beneath the screen. The curved sides improve grip, ensuring that even with a slightly larger screen, the device remains comfortable to hold. As a result, the N6iii delivers a superior visual and control experience, while its size increase is minimal. In today’s era of ever-larger DAPs, the N6iii retains excellent portability.
One of the N6iii’s most significant design breakthroughs is the development of a new quick-release locking mechanism to swap the audio motherboards swiftly. Similar to the new C9ii design Cayin has developed the C6iii to have a “tool-free” quick-release latch using a three-point locking mechanism with a self-locking push-button system, completely doing away with the need for screws.
The N6iii also has a unique antenna design. In earlier models like the N6ii, the antenna was integrated into the upper back section of the device, with relatively low signal gain to avoid interference. For the N6iii the antenna has been moved to a semi-exposed area, right beneath the top panel of the N6iii DAP. While this placement results in a slightly lower gain than the external antenna design used in N7 for example, it offers a significant improvement over the previous N6ii without increasing the length of the DAP. It offers excellent streaming performance with minimal interference with analogue audio processing.
After a lengthy industrial design process, they finalized the N6iii physical design with the following attributes:
- N6iii over dimension (126mm x 77.8mm x 23mm): 26.8% increased from N6ii
- N6iii battery (9000mAH @3.8V): 52.5% increase from N6ii
- N6iii Audio Motherboard PCB: ~30.9% increased from N6ii (based on C201)
The C201 motherboard includes:
- Parallel Full-Differential Matrix DAC
- High-precision Cascade Volume Control
- Parallel Amplifier
The Gen2 Audio Motherboard is not backward compatible with the first generation N6ii Audio Motherboards.
