Questyle CMA18 Portable / CMA18P

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I'd like to thank @gadgetgod for lending his unit for an audition and review. I loved it so much that I've now purchased my own.
The CMA18 Portable is a portable dacamp featuring high-quality audio performance and a sleek design. It is designed for audiophiles who want to experience their music with exceptional clarity and detail while on the go. The Questyle CMA18 Portable is a remarkable device offering huge headroom and high fidelity in a portable design. Its compact size makes it easy to carry in a bag or pocket, making it perfect for traveling or commuting. The CMA18 Portable incorporates AKM's AK4493SEQ chipset as DAC and has four sets of self-developed current-mode patented SiP chips (СС630/CA630).



The CMA18P supports a wide range of inputs including USB (type c), SPDIF (via 3.5mm), 4.4mm Balanced line input, 3.5mm SE line input, and Bluetooth with support for codecs such as LDAC, aptxHD, SBC, AAC. The CMA18P has a 4300 mAh battery which is quite a lot considering how compact and lightweight the unit is.

The Questyle CMA18 Portable features a high-performance headphone amplifier based on Questyle's renowned Current Mode Amplification (CMA) tech that delivers clean power to drive even the most demanding headphones. The device has a solid build quality and an intuitive user interface, making it easy to operate on the go.



In terms of sound quality, the CMA18 Portable delivers a transparent, detailed, and dynamic sound signature, with a wide soundstage and excellent instrument separation. It brings out the nuances in the music and provides a truly immersive listening experience. Whether you're at home, in the office, or on the move, the Questyle CMA18 Portable enhances the audio quality of your music and elevates your listening experience to new heights.

If you are looking for a portable dacamp that can truly provide an exceptional audio experience while you're on the go, the Questyle CMA18 Portable is worth considering. Its high-quality components and innovative design make it a standout choice for audiophiles who demand the best performance from their portable audio gear.

Overview:

The Questyle CMA 18 Portable DAC/Amp showcases an intriguing blend of portability and performance, offering a sleek design, versatile connectivity, and promising sound quality. Let's delve deeper into the various aspects highlighted in the review.

I would like to thank @gadgetgod and ConceptKart for sending this unit as part of the review tour.

You can purchase it from ConceptKart at the following link (not an affiliate link):
https://conceptkart.com/products/questyle-cma18-portable-dac-amp

Also, I’m not a seasoned reviewer or a seasoned audiophile, so whatever I say are purely my observations and your results may vary.

I’m not the one to usually focus on specifications and numbers. I focus more on how happy I am with the equipment’s sound and that’s it.






















Specifications:

The CMA 18 Portable presents an impressive array of technical specifications, catering to diverse audio needs. Supporting inputs via USB, Bluetooth, mini coax, optical, and 4.4mm analog line input, it provides flexibility in connectivity. Moreover, its compatibility with multiple Bluetooth codecs ensures seamless integration with various devices. Notably, the device features a headphone output power of 1W @ 32Ohms, delivering robust performance, especially with over-ear headphones.

Sound:

CMA 18p has commendable soundstage and imaging, particularly with over-ear headphones. Despite its compact size, the device delivers an immersive audio experience, accentuating bass frequencies with depth and clarity.

Vocals:
The CMA 18 strikes a balance between reference and romantic sound signatures, contributing to the natural rendering of vocals. Its ability to maintain clarity and warmth enhances the listening experience, making vocals stand out with authenticity.

Treble:
The device's refined treble performance is noted, characterized by natural extension and minimal graininess. Unlike some competitors, the device manages to deliver extended treble without causing listener fatigue, ensuring a pleasant listening experience across various genres.

Usage with Headphones:

The CMA 18 impresses with its ability to drive a wide range of headphones, from easy-to-drive models to moderately demanding ones. Despite its portable form factor, it provides ample power, elevating the listening experience with each pair of headphones used.

I particularly noted that CMA 18p paired extremely well with Planar HPs probably because of its current mode amplification.

Usage with IEMs:

While the CMA 18 excels with headphones, caution is advised for highly sensitive IEMs due to potential background noise.

It did drive moderate to extremely power demanding IEMs effortlessly.

However, for users primarily utilizing over-ear headphones, the device offers exceptional performance and versatility.

Quirks:

The battery life indicator is not accurate at all times.

I was initially disappointed that I couldn’t charge CMA18p simultaneously while playing music when connected to my laptop but later found a thread on head-fi on how to enable it.

With charging disabled in DAC/AMP mode, it drained the battery of my phone within few hours.

The back is prone to scratches and needs a case.

It is extremely slippery.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the Questyle CMA 18 Portable DAC/Amp emerges as a compelling choice in the portable audio landscape. Whether seeking advanced connectivity options or refined sound performance, the CMA 18 delivers with finesse. While not claiming absolute superiority, it presents a viable option for discerning listeners seeking a portable DAC/Amp that strikes the perfect balance between functionality and sonic excellence which is rare.

This is my review of the Questyle CMA18P that I got sent from Questyle in exchange for an honest review.

Well, where to begin? The design!

It´s gorgeous. I don´t have to tell you that. When you are holding it in your hands, it is even more obvious that the Questyle team did a wonderful job here. And it is not only beautiful to behold, it is light enough too for portable use and the size is perfect for stacking it with my iPhone 15 (I ordered this one: https://amzn.eu/d/4vPymbW for attaching it on the mobile phone´s back and it works perfectly). Yes, the CMA18P gets warm, but not hot by any means, so I never had problems putting these into my pocket together with my iPhone.

A quick look into the manual is sufficient. In fact it is very intuitive to switch between Bluetooth or USB etc.

I am loving the orange lights (there is also a red light for high gain). The “Hold” button comes in handy, too. I use it almost daily, because I won´t need the other buttons to change anything.
Why? I maxed out the volume on the Questyle and use my source for changing the volume, because the CMA18P does only have 32 volume steps. So few steps are not sufficient for finetuning the sound intensity. At least for me. I would have liked to see at least 100 volume steps (120 septs to 150 steps would even be better). So now I always have to activate my iPhone to change the volume. It would have been much nicer to just use those volume buttons. Also there is no play/pause or skip track button. In my view, the device would have been big enough to implement those buttons. But this is all nitpicking, because you will see, when we get to the description of the sound, those little troubles are all forgotten.


So let´s dive into the sound characteristics of the CMA18P!


I listened to the CMA18P with the flagship Austrian Audio “The Composer” headphones. And the first thing I immediately heard in combination with the CMA18P was the grandness of its presentation. The stage is holographic and huge. Both in width and depth. Layering is as good as it gets with a portable DAC/amp with pinpoint accuracy in the stereo image and a pitch-black background. So the technicalities are all together top notch.

The sound characteristics? Overall I would say the CMA18P (besides the intrinsic grandness) has a kind of winning sweetness to its sound. Both male and female vocals shine. I don´t hear an exaggeration of any frequency band. No added colour. The vocals stand in the middle of the stereo panorama. Beautifully rendered and clean. Not too near but also not too far away either. An engaging portrayal of the recorded music.

Bass is very nicely rendered. Plenty of power down below. But not overdone in any way. Very good extension in the sub-bass region. Bass hits hard if needed but don´t get me wrong: this is a neutral presentation that won´t bleed into the lower mids. As it should be in this price range!

The mids, as I told you above, seem to have a kind of sweetness. Certainly they are not “in your face”. But not smoothed out either. Just right. A linear interpretation. A vast stage for the most important frequency band, where the vocals shine on the stage (as well as the instruments).

The highs are nicely extended but not overdone. This device by no means is a treble heavy or harsh sounding DAC. You have all the sound information you need. But the CMA18P does not need that upper mids/ lower treble bump of some other DACs for its resolution. Quality over quantity. Extension!

What about driving power? Well, I am quite confident the CMA18P will drive every IEM you throw at it with ease. But what about over the ear headphones? It drives my Austrian Audio Composer to very loud levels. And as I know from an audiophile friend, it also drives all the similarly easy to drive FOCAL headphones without taking a sweat. But you have to know that the CMA18P won´t drive harder to drive headphones to very loud levels (talking about the DCA models Stealth, E3, Expance; but also Susvara etc.). If you are a quiet listener, then it should work. But if you, like me, love to crank up the volume from time to time, then be warned not to pair them with the beforementioned headphones that need even more juice to shine.

So if I would use the CMA18P only with the SE output, it wouldn´t have enough power to drive my Composer. When connected through the 4.4mm balanced port, there is plenty of juice. Though I do have to say that when listening to older, not as loud mastered albums, I am getting near the 100% volume on my iPhone. But those albums are rare. Most of the time I am at about 50-75% on my iPhone with the Composer (when maxed out the volume at the CMA18P and in High-Gain mode) and so I have got plenty of headroom.
That being said, I guess it wouldn´t have hurt if the CMA18P would have had more power (or a super gain button) for really hard to drive over the ear headphones like the DCA models etc.

What else? I hear no interference with my iPhone at all! And that´s really great. No matter if paired via USB or Bluetooth. This device is solidly grounded and dead silent which is quite an achievement (compared to other dongle DACs).

As I was talking about Bluetooth: This is perfectly implemented. Sounds fantastic and to be honest, on the go I probably wouldn´t even be hearing that much of a difference compared to the USB connection. When listening critically I hear a slightly warmer presentation with a touch less dynamics when paired via Bluetooth. But as you guys probably know, the iPhone only has an AAC Bluetooth connection, so AptX and L-DAC will without much doubt sound even better.

But if you want to pair the CMA18P via USB, then at this point I recommend you guys to upgrade the short USB cable. Not that there is any problem with the cables that came with the CMA18P. In fact they are really nicely crafted and you have got everything in this beautifully, minimalistic packaging you´d need (USB-C to USB-C, lightning to USB-C, long charging cable etc.). That being said, I highly recommend the (alas rather pricey) ddHifi TC09S cable or the lightning equivalent MFI09S. There shouldn’t be a difference because it’s a digital cable, I know I know, haha, but maybe there is one because of the separated cable for the power supply? Twister6 also came to the same conclusion when he reviewed this short USB cable. Just buy a ddHifi cable online, test it with your system in comparison with other cables and if you don’t think you hear a difference, just return it and get your money back. But if you (like me) hear an even more expanded soundstage, then it´s a win win situation not only with the CMA18P but with any DAC!

Oh, and I also got this really nice leather case (see pics below) for the CMA18P (a screen protector for the glass front would also have been great! You know, I do love that faceplate but it will get scratched somewhere down the road). Anyway, the CMA18P fits perfectly into the case. The buttons work through the leather as they should. I would recommend getting this case so that your beauty stays save when you are travelling from A to B. https://questyleshop.com/products/questyle-cma18-portable-leather-case

For instructions concerning simultaneous charging and audio playback, I´d like to refer to the following post from Questyle: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/que...dphone-amplifier.969449/page-13#post-17961864


And now let´s move on to the DAC comparisons:


How does the CMA18P stack up against the Quloos MUB1?

For starters, the MUB1 does have much more power. I don´t even need the super gain mode to drive my headphones to earbleeding levels. Also the volume buttons of the MUB1 have 100 steps so I used them a lot! In addition it has a play/pause button and skip track buttons and some filters and and and … But - and this is a big BUT – it doesn´t sound as good as the CMA18P. You immediately hear a loss of dynamics, the stage gets smaller, it loses on the holographic portrayal, it sounds a bit flat and also a touch too warm in comparison to the CMA18P. So that´s that. I think I won´t need to dig deeper


How does the CMA18P stack up against the (somewhat exotic) Calyx K?

Well, the Calyx K does have no buttons at all. A plug and play DAC. Very high-quality for not even half the price of the CMA18P. No Blutooth, no balanced out, interference with the iPhone, way too less power etc. But concerning its sound alone this is not as easy as with the MUB1 above. Because as the technicians of the Calyx K opted for a touch of elevated mids, you do get with this device a very touching vicinity to the singer. This DAC excels with singer/songwriter music or small chamber music where you won´t need a vast presentation and more intimacy. As said above, because of the pronounced mids you can hear the guitar strokes even better and the voices move very close to the listener. You can hear the tiniest stroke of the violin. This can be too much (and most of the time it is). But for some occasions this is very touching, too. All in all of course I do prefer the sound of the CMA18P by quite a margin (for Pop, Rock, Jazz, orchestral music, electronic, well, in fact for ANYTHING!)

Did I forget something? Oh, yes, the battery is what it is. Could be better (could also be worse). But 10 hours is more than enough for me to get through the day
Also you can use the CMA18P (with the 3,5 mm and 4,4mm inputs) to record music but I didn´t test that. Of course the device supports every possible music format you throw at it!
Edit: Of course the CMA18P has much more power when connected to my MacBook Pro! There I wouldn’t even need the balanced cable. Also not the „high gain“ mode. Gobbles of juice available here for driving my Composer.

So, I think that´s it. I would like to thank the Questyle team, especially Zach! And I congratulate you guys (and especially your technicians) for designing such a gorgeous, portable DAC. I didn´t hear a better sounding yet!


And finally here are some pics: