Cayin CS-55A - A true all-rounder

Cayin was founded in 1993 and are devoted to design and production of hi-end audio equipment.They specialise in valve amplifiers and base their designs on the iconic Saul B. Marantz Models 7 and 8 of the 1960's 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 wide bandwidth EI output toroidal transformer to provide the current to bring the music to life.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 to run KT 88 power tubes or EL 34 family tubes to design their own appropriate favourite listening experience.

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

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

Like many current pentode/tetrode amps, this one has a choice of operational modes: ultralinear or 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 ultralinear mode, but only 18 watts in triode mode. But what may be of more significance to most listeners is that it invariably slightly alters the basic sound, due to the different impedances and distortion signatures involved.

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 similar vein, it communicates melodic lines well and one is always clearly aware of the tune when listening, succinctly put ,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.

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 (Ultralinear), 2 x 22 Watt @ 8 Ohm (Triode)

• Consumption: 270 Watt