[WoodyLuvr]

Thought it pertinent to create a dedicated thread to allow us to follow and discuss the soon to be released CMA18 Portable DAC/AMP that debuted at CanJam London 2023. Hopefully, @Questyle will set us straight regarding any incorrect information that we might have, as well as provide us updates as we march towards the device's hoped for launch by the end of the year.

Big thanks to @vsg28 @rocketron @ostewart @Ben86 @majid for giving us the 'heads up!' and the first details about the device. Here is everything that we know thus far (please feel free to offer any corrections and/or updates).

Brand: Questyle Audio Engineering
Model Name: CMA18 Portable
Device Type: Portable DAC with Headphone Amplifier
Release Date: Q4 2023
Price: USD $500-800
DAC: AKM AK4493SEQ
ADC: Cirrus Logic CS8422-CNZR
HeadAMP: CMA SiP x 4
Output Power: 2 W x 2 Channel
Battery Life: ~10 Hours
Standby: ~60 Hours
Audio Input: Analog (3.5TRS & 4.4TRRRS) / Optical / USB-C / BT (LDAC/aptX)
Audio Output: 3.5TRS / 4.4TRRRS / BT (LDAC)
Other: MFi certified

Pics provided by @vsg28

UPDATE - 23 AUGUST 2023

A nice pic and brief review by Berkhan from Headfonia

I also got to listen to their newest portable DAC/AMP, even though the sound tuning wasn’t final yet. Looks great though and worked perfectly with my Samsung Z fold 4.

Another cool pic from here

 

[WoodyLuvr]

~~~ RESERVED ~~~

 

[WoodyLuvr]

~~~ RESERVED II ~~~

 

[CMA Fifteen]

Does a display exist to check the status?

From the pictures that have been released, it looks like it will be quite cumbersome to use.

For this reason, I purchased the XDUOO XD05BAL with a display instead of the Topping G5.

I think the presence of a display is very important in a portable product.

 

[WoodyLuvr]

Does a display exist to check the status?

From the pictures that have been released, it looks like it will be quite cumbersome to use.

For this reason, I purchased the XDUOO XD05BAL with a display instead of the Topping G5.

I think the presence of a display is very important in a portable product.

Good question! No idea, but am also curious what sort of light indicators it may sport. Doubtful that it will offer a display perse as it appears to be following the standard and rather classic "plain Jane" design of many popular portable/transportable desktop bricks (still even today) where the money is all poured into the conversion, amplification, and battery circuit (e.g. Quloos MUB1, iFi Audio xDsD Gryphon/Diablo/Diablo-X, FiiO Q5, Chord Mojo 2, Topping G5).

Good luck with your XD05BAL; I sincerely hope you have better luck with XDuoo than I did... my XDuoo XD-05 Plus Black Edition + 05BL Pro disappointingly died on me after 4 months of use (more here). I also battled an initially minor channel imbalance (favoring the right channel) from 9 o'clock to 9:30 on the pot that was below listening level but slowly creeped up to 10:30 position which I could hear.

BTW: I elected to Op-Amp roll here is what I ended up with: Post 1 Post 2

 

[VisalEziomi]

I'm waiting for a release date, impression and comparison to Xudoo XD05 pro , Mojo 2 .

 

[waveSounds]

This is what I've been waiting for.

An audio panacea (at least for my needs, that is) to streamline and declutter everything into one single device that can do it all, and do it whether I'm at a desk, taking a stroll, or on the toilet.

I'll be waiting with bated breath for more announcements/info on this little guy.

 

[LinstantX]

Curious. Hopefully in the future there will be comparisons with qls mub1.

 

[ducnsh]

60 hours battery life? It is so amazing, hope that the noise floor cannot be audible on sensitive IEMs

 

[NehPets]

60 hours battery life? It is so amazing, hope that the noise floor cannot be audible on sensitive IEMs

60 hours Standby seems feasible; 60 hours @ 2W/channel - not so much.

 

[ducnsh]

60 hours Standby seems feasible; 60 hours @ 2W/channel - not so much.

Ah, it is Standby time? I surprisingly thought that it was playing time haha

 

[NehPets]

Ah, it is Standby time? I surprisingly thought that it was playing time haha

Pure speculation on my part.

 

[speCD]

Any news on the release date? I couldn’t wait anymore so I bought a m15, lol

 

[rocketron]

Any news on the M18 ?

 

[Aramaki]

CanJam SoCal 2023, wow (form factor, features and hopefully cost if around $500).