Questyle CMA18 Portable / CMA18P

Questyle is a highly consistent brand that has only produced bangers and not a single bad apple. This brand used to be a bit obscure in the Western market (probably due to a lack of distributors and the absence of proper marketing), but its fame was actually catapulted by the M15 portable dongle DAC Amp. The much higher-end CMA 15 and CMA 12 Master generally received positive responses. While I am not a “fanboy” per se, I found them to be excellent products without any significant flaws.

However, none of them necessarily blew my mind. That was until I got my hands on this super weird and exciting product Questyle has been cooking and has recently released: the Questyle CMA 18 Portable. By the way, the CMA 18 P is not to be confused with the CMA 18 Master. The 18 Master is Questyle’s current desktop flagship and an evolution of the CMA 15, while the 18P is somewhat of an evolution of the M15.

Disclaimer: I am an audiophile and a reviewer who works with Mr. @Sajid Amit of Amplify Audio Reviews. Amplify generally covers high-end IEMs, Accessories, DAC Amps, and Headphones, with occasional reviews of some budget products. Check out our video reviews at: https://www.youtube.com/@amplifyaudioreviews



Specs:

AKM 4493SEQ (departure from the ESS sabre chip used in the M12 and M15, which were more budget-oriented devices)

Equipped with four sets of patented PCT-class current-mode SiP chips.

Peak power of 1W @32 ohms. Questyle uses bespoke current mode amplification, so power figure numbers differ from traditional amplifiers.

Supports up to PCM768kHz/32bit and DSD512 playback. Questyle, interestingly, has dropped MQA support this time.

Price: $699

Connectivity Options and features:

USB-C, Optical/TOSlink, and Bluetooth inputs (aptX-HD + LDAC).
Vinyl to Digital recording function.
3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone outputs and line outs.



Battery Capacity:

4300 mAh (runtime: up to 10 hours. Takes around 2.5 hours to charge from 0 to 100 percent)

Build Quality and aesthetic observation:

The CMA 18P is a weird stunner, for sure. It is surprisingly compact and thin despite housing a fairly large-capacity battery. The outer body features sandblasted aviation-grade aluminum surfaces with silver high-gloss buttons and side panels. It boasts custom Corning glass coatings on both front and back panels. I quite like the gradient dot design, which adds an element of subtle beauty to the transparent front panel, which showcases the beautifully intricate PCB like an aquarium.



There is no OLED status screen, and in typical Questyle fashion, all current statuses are conveyed via tiny LEDs. There are separate LEDs representing different inputs, and four separate LEDs briefly light up, indicating volume level increase/decrease or charge level (via a single power button press). 4 more LEDs further down indicate whether the SiP modules are operational. There is also a separate LED indicating USB connection status. All of these might sound exhausting and troublesome, but it actually took me less than 10 minutes to get used to, and I personally love this unique Morse code ‘esque approach instead of yet another dull, monotone screen.



Sound :

The CMA 18P is quite different sonically from the CMA 15 and M15. It sounds significantly wider and three-dimensional than both. Soundstage has not been the strongest suit of Questyle products before. Yet the exact opposite happens here. The only portable DAC Amp under 1000 USD that can compete with 18P’s staging is the Aroma Audio Air. Both iFi Gryphon and Chord Mojo 2 sound noticeably “closed in” in comparison, especially the Mojo 2.

Bass response is top-notch. It's quick and super snappy and reaches deep. The overall bass response has this textured, hyper-layered vibe to it, which I find to be quite rare in DAC Amps under $1000.

The midrange is sweet and romantic, a characteristic I found missing in previous Questyle products. The vocals sound lush and euphoric. DITA project M, for example, is an IEM I do not associate with lush vocals. It is rather crystalline in nature. But when paired with the CMA 18P, vocals become one of its primary strengths.



Treble response is a massive improvement from the previous 15 lineup. I no longer notice the digital sheen, a total killjoy that somewhat ruined the M15’s treble for me. CMA 18P’s treble is slightly velvety and mellow but without being overly warm. This works well with energetic sets like the Project M, FATFreq Grand Maestro, and Craft Ears Omni. However, I will not recommend pairing the likes of FATFreq Scarlet Mini or Symphonium Titan to it, as these sets are already very subdued in the treble.

Detail retrieval and micro and macro dynamics are standouts, as usual; it is a Questyle product, after all. Imaging and instrument layering are truly holographic, and combined with massive staging capabilities, they create a vast soundscape. Given its small footprint, the output power is rather impressive. I had zero trouble running the Hifiman Arya Organic to its full potential in high gain.



There are a few cons, though. Thanks to the gorilla glass coating around the device, CMA 18P is highly slippery and must be handled cautiously. Accidental falls can result in cracks. Glass is glass, and glass breaks. I would highly recommend buying the leather case separately for additional safety. The unit runs a bit warm, but it is tolerable. I also wish the USB/optical inputs were on one side and outputs on the other. There is some hiss with overly sensitive IEMs (Campfire Audio Ponderosa and Flipears Artha, for example), but it's faint and not noticeable when tracks are being played. Battery life is good and remains consistent. I did not measure the exact run time, but the unit can be comfortably used for a day or two before needing to be charged again.



Bluetooth is generally an afterthought in such devices (iFi Gryphon's terrible Bluetooth performance, for example). CMA 18P’s BT implementation is as perfect as it gets. BT sound from the CMA18P easily outclasses flagship-level dongles like the Cayin RU7, L&P W4, and Questyle M15. I am not kidding; it is really that great. Bluetooth range and stability are both top-notch.

Comparisons:

iFi Gryphon: The Gryphon is significantly warmer but still provides ample clarity. 18P is a few notches above the Gryphon. It has a more coherent and organic sound signature. 18P’s technical prowess outclasses the Gryphon’s with ease. Gryphon cannot drive planars properly despite the big power numbers on paper, a con 18P does not have. It still cannot drive the Susvara or Abyss, though

Chord Mojo 2: I think the Mojo 2 is an equal performer but less versatile and not impressive in terms of staging capabilities. You can pair the Mojo 2 with the Poly and turn it into a streaming device. Pairing the CMA 18P with the WiiM mini essentially does the same thing.

Shanling H7: The H7 is too large and too warm. However, it does offer MQA decoding, which is a plus if you are into that. I appreciate the H7 and enjoyed its sound when I owned one, but the CMA18P is a much better pick in value, form factor, and performance.

iFi Diablo: I struggled to like this iFi product. Diablo is a bit dry and soulless, the opposite of what iFi devices tend to be. It lacks versatility, and the battery life is terrible. However, it can power stubborn headphones like the Susvara and HE6SE, which is an advantage.

Earmen Angel: Angel is an exceptional value at a now-discounted price of $399. It is a bit heavy and bulky, though. The CMA 18P is significantly better sound quality wise but in case you are on a tight budget, I cannot recommend the Angel enough.