Cayin CS-55A Integrated Amplifier

Meet the Cayin CS-55A

An integrated amplifier from Cayin

The Cayin CS-55A is a beautifully handcrafted valve amp designed to deliver the wonderful sound of the original classic valve amplifiers with features and build quality not dreamed of in the 1960s and 1970s.

Cayin was founded in 1993 and is devoted to the design and production of high-end audio equipment. They specialise in valve amplifiers and base their designs on the iconic Saul B. Marantz Models 7 and 8 of the 1960s, which were famous for their sweet, natural and exceptionally musical sound. Their CS-55A model is a fine example of their craft and is handcrafted with point-to-point wiring and with a wide bandwidth EI output toroidal transformer to provide the current to bring the music to -qualitylife. The sweetness of valves with their sonic warmth and aesthetic glow will highlight the true analogue, atmospheric experience of listening to vinyl. 

This very special amplifier allows the listener to choose between KT 88 power tubes and EL 34 family tubes, enabling them to create their preferred listening experience.

From a rated high quality 40 watts per channel on Class A/B mode,-quality, there is a lively but sweet classic valve sound.  It has good detail in the midrange and presents good images in the treble.

Like many current pentode/tetrode amps, this one has a choice of operational modes: ultralinear triode. Rather classily, these are selected via the remote control. The choice of mode gives flexibility in the matter of output power, with 40 watts on offer in ultralinearmode, but only 18 watts in triode mode. But what may matter more to most listeners is that it always slightly changes the basic sound due to the different impedances and distortion signatures.

Auditioning this amp in triode mode, you will be very taken with its presentation. It's particularly good with voices, and that, of course, is a big plus with any hi-fi kit. In a similar vein, it communicates melodic lines well, and one is always clearly aware of the tune when listening; succinctly put, it's musical!. But there's more to this amp than just sounding nice. It has good detail across the midrange and into the treble and presents very good images, too, with clearly defined lateral placement and stable, plausible depth; you could say this amp makes the direction and focus of a piece of music very clear.

The CS-55A comes with a high-quality inbuilt phono preamplifier for direct turntable connection. For digital listeners it has a high-end 32-bit 384 kHz DAC for seamless streaming.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Frequency response: 5 Hz – 44 kHz (± 3 dB)
• Total harmonic distortion (THD): 1% (1 kHz)
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 92 dB
• Input Impedance: 100 kOhm
• Vacuum tube: 4x KT88, 2x 12AU7, 2x 12AX7
• Dimensions: W x H x D: 360 x 180 x 334 mm
• Weight: 17 kg
• Accessories: Remote Control
• Input Terminals: CD, Aux, Phono, USB
• Circuit: Class AB PP
• Colour: Silver
• Sensitivity: 270 mV
• Output Impedance: 4 Ohm, 8 Ohm
• Power Output: 2 x 40 Watt @ 8 Ohm (Ultra linear), 2 x 22 Watt @ 8 Ohm (Triode)
• Consumption: 270 Watt

*This information has been obtained from the manufacturer's website. We advise that features, specifications & price are subject to change from the manufacturer without notice.

E&OE