This DAC makes every song come alive with clear vocals, bass, mids, highs.
With some phones PO isnt enough like my samsung s23 ultra, so you need to change to LO output and then it expands this wide soundstage with amazing details and bass.
But with Ipads for example it needs to be switched to PO or else your Iems or headphones will blast your ear drums.
The Cayin RU7 has added an entirely new dimension to my commutes. I formerly listened to largely news talk podcasts, largely due to the dismal sound of Bluetooth precluding serious listening. But The RU7 completely replaces the Android audio system with an exceptionally well-engineered and constructed miniature DAC with a very clean and powerful analog amplifier section.
This is a DSD transcoder, rather than a simple DAC, Cayin feels that the DSD output is superior to linear PCM. I cannot argue with the results. The sound is as analog as an R2R but retains the resolution of multibit conversion. The sound is as close to a high end R2R as I've heard.
The downside of this performance is that the RU7 will murder your phone's battery in cold blood, but you can adjust the settings to mitigate the power draw. The bit rate settings are key. My almost new sample was already set at DSD256 which is the highest resolution and the most processing which requires more power. Adjusting the bit rate to 128 or 64 will help with battery life.
The bitrate settings are also useful in tuning the sound of the RU7, with the higher settings being the smoothest sounding, but often a bit too unengaging. Lowering the bit rate will help in that instance, increasing detail at the cost of some smoothness. Different settings will suit different tastes and genres. I use DSD128 most of the time as I find it the best balanced, but experiment to find your ideal setting.
The unit does run quite warm at times, no surprise given the hundreds of discrete resistors and components, but it is never uncomfortable to touch. This is a great sounding dongle that shows you just what one of the world's best tube amp makers can do in the dongle market. Best sounding dongle DAC I've heard and well worth the price.
I have been an audio junkie for as long as I can remember. I have watched components get smaller and simply better when it comes to sound reproduction.
I had read about the RU6 and almost bought it but then I read the RU7 was coming so I waited as I read the RU6 just sucked battery power like crazy.
I have a plethora of desktop and Bluetooth dongles but most of them are what you find on Amazon and work pretty well for what I need them to do.
I decided to "upgrade" to the RU7 so I can use it with my PC and my phone plus, I wanted a bit of a "sound upgrade" on my phone. I seem to have become a bit more discerning (spoiled) when it comes to sound reproduction since my desktop DAC/AMPs are pretty decent. I wanted something portable, sounded really good, and just easier to move around.
The RU7 sound is just crazy good for how small it is. I can plug it into my phone then my PC/Laptop and so forth. The sound is just amazing for the size. It rivals my desktop DAC/AMPs for under 500.00. No joke. What I have been noticing is I am using this little guy more as a desktop replacement. It's just too convenient. I put on a pair of IEMs (or headphones) and just listen to my music and of course, Teams calls if it's on my work laptop. If I need to move it to another system, or my phone, I simply unplug it from one and plug it into the other.
From a sound perspective, it's just really good. The bass, mids, and treble are all done very well for something that fits into your hand. Like, surprisingly good. I love the screen. It has balanced and 3.5. It has drivers for my laptops and desktops and it didn't break the bank.
Some of you might be wondering about the battery draw and I was concerned about that as well. It does draw power from the device. My laptops are almost always plugged in but my phone is not. I have a newer phone and I had it running last week for about 2 hours off my phone, plugged into the balanced port. I was streaming music and noticed, after about 2 hours, that my phone was down 13% from a full charge. So, yeah...something to pay attention to. If you are playing music "locally" from your device you might get less of a draw from the battery.
Open Box. I bought the open box version from Music Teck and as always it shipped fast and looked good as new when I got it. Andrew and his team always answer any questions I have and do a great job when it comes to support. I wish I could afford some of the higher-end stuff from Music Teck but, when I have the opportunity (and the money) I head to Music Teck first. Just a great company to buy from.
Overall, the RU7 was what I was looking for. I have a terrific DAC/AMP that's portable, sounds fantastic, and can be moved around my devices with no issues at all. With how good these dongles are becoming, I wonder just how good the next generation of dongles will be. Do they really replace these large desktops setups? Guess we're all about to find out. For now, I'm just going to enjoy the RU7. What a great dongle.
Prompt delivery and replies for some aftersale query I had with the unit. Audioteck is an amazing seller! My second time dealing with them and there will be more!
I sifted through too many comparison videos and reviews looking for something more natural and perhaps analogue sounding to replace my basic Fiio BTR5. Huge upgrade in sound quality. Also steps up my Fiio K7 Pro's sound using the line out on the Ru7. Very pleased with it!
I’ve been fortunate to experience a range of IEMs across different price brackets—everything from the lofty Traillii Ti and UM Amber Pearl to the more budget-friendly (and often polarizing) KZ models. My journey with Campfire Audio began when I got the chance to listen to the Ponderosa, an all-BA IEM with an engagingly bombastic sound signature. It instantly hooked me, and I dove deeper into their lineup, falling for the Moon Rover’s unique charm and the Bonneville’s gorgeously immersive mids.
When I heard about their collaboration with Alessandro Cortini, my interest was immediately piqued. After patiently awaiting its release, I can confidently say the Clara has exceeded all expectations.
With its four-driver configuration, the Clara delivers an exceptionally cohesive and dynamic sound. The bass is authoritative and impactful without overpowering the spectrum. Vocals are forward with impressive depth and texture, while the treble is delightfully airy, free from any trace of sibilance. The tuning strikes a fine balance between musicality and tonal accuracy, making it a versatile performer across genres.
It’s a phenomenal all-rounder that handles everything you throw at it with finesse. Bravo to the team at Campfire Audio and Alessandro Cortini for creating something truly special.
And as always thanks for MusicTeck for their outstanding service.
small gripe of no L/R indicators and doesn't say what way they are supposed to go (none of my IEM's have the 2 pin notch so took a bit to figure out orientation)
I don't think any of my IEM's are particullarly sensitive so a cable shouldn't change their sound and I didn't notice a difference
build is fantastic and looks nice though
👉🏻Pros:
😊 Semi custom black acrylic shells with machined aluminum faceplates fit comfortably in my ears and offer excellent ambient isolation.
(Fit is subjective)
😊 Unassuming 2 pin black SPC cable terminated 4.4mm pairs very well sonically.
😊 Very easy to drive.
😊 Reflects the tuning nuances of source devices, but not device fussy.
😊 Well layered mid and sub bass.
😊 Smooth, rich and detailed mids.
😊 Exquisite natural vocals.
😊 Precise airy highs with outstanding micro detail.
😊 While not extremely expansive, the intimate stage fills the head, has a dead silent background, and precise imaging and layering.
👉🏻 Cons:
😔 Semi Custom shell design may present fit challenges for some.
😔 No tolerance for poorly recorded source files.
I owned the original VE EXT back when it was first released.
I really liked the strong bass presence and exceptional detail.
They weren’t exactly V shaped but pretty strong U shape tuning.
Unfortunately I found the highly energetic mids and highs fatiguing during lengthy listens.
It was a hard choice, but I sold them a couple months later.
I was immediately interested when I saw the EXT MKII was being released.
Revised semi custom shell with smaller nozzle diameter
A more refined low frequency range with greater accuracy and detail.
Enhanced mids and vocals clarity and a more balanced presentation.
I couldn’t resist, and have no regrets.
The MKII is without a doubt more refined and better balanced.
I would say it still has a mildly U shaped signature.
The mids energy is deceptive. The super quiet background has virtually no noise, and that makes it easy to push the volume high, without noise or distortion.
At high volumes I can still fatigue over long listening sessions (I am mids sensitive)
There is really no need to push the volume high, every note and nuance of the music is there at moderate volumes.
At moderate volumes it is very easy to engage and drift into the music for lengthy multi hour listening session with no hint of fatigue.
The EXT MKII is definitely a positive improvement over the OG EXT. At least it is for for my preference.
This one’s a keeper and will be with me a very long time.
Well done Vision Ears! 👍🏻
Thank you Andrew and Grace for the always excellent customer service, and providing a source for high quality audio gear.
I received the amplifier and was impressed with the build quality. I was very pleased when I heard the first notes and have been satisfied with my purchase ever since. Music Tec is a great company to do business with.
This little dap sounds incredible. One of the most beautiful sound I ever heard from a little dap. Hard to put it down. Easy to drive hps using the 2.5mm or the 4.4mm output this dap rocks! I've tried with some of my hps like the denon d9200, hifiman ed. X, and just wow...ridiculous good. The bt sennheiser momentum 4 sounded great also, will be bringing it to the gym. It didn't play well with the focal utopia. Also for some reason the denon d7000 3.5mm jack adapter did not work well. It must be easy to drive then. Overall it's a great experience. The UI can be a bit slow at times.