Questyle M12 (ESS ES9281AC) USB-C dongle dac/amp, with MQA and line-out.
Apr 10, 2021 at 12:44 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 9

xand

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Questyle M12 claimed specifications:

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Ships with (note - no lightning adaptor in box):

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Product photos:

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Seems to be available already - at least in Singapore. Unfortunately the only output is 3.5mm - but that might be enough.

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I have never owned any Questyle products, but I like the brand: all their products tend to review well, and Focal chose a Questyle QPM player as the mobile source for their 40th anniversary headphone box: https://www.focal.com/en/symphonie-40th I would probably have bought it without testing except - no streaming.


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ES9281AC specs, from: https://www.mouser.sg/new/ess-technology/ess-tech-usb-audio-codecs/
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Not sure if this is the datasheet: https://www.esstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/ES9281A_PRO_PB_v0.2.3.pdf
 
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Apr 10, 2021 at 1:18 PM Post #3 of 9
I might demo it (but only using a Zeus XR).

Am likely to do that only when I can compare it against a L&P W2 - hoping to listen to the one which @justanut bought but it hasn't shipped (no stock). hehe.

Hoping to see the W2 within the next 2 weeks... then can hop on down to do a comparison!
 
Apr 10, 2021 at 8:20 PM Post #5 of 9
No sure I like the sound of that automatic gain detection using headphone impedance, since impedance doesn't always directly reflect in sensitivity. I'll rather has a hardware gain switch or app adjustable gain setting. There is also notion from LG user that the automatic gain adjustment on the smartphone don't always give them the best result and they resolve to using an impedance adapter to cheat the output to high gain,

Anyone knows the price? There are already a few decent ES9281C based type-C adapter in the market around $70 (or just over $100 for dual DAC adapter). I like Questyle DAP, but hopefully this won't be priced too far away from the competition.
 
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Apr 11, 2021 at 12:06 AM Post #6 of 9
No sure I like the sound of that automatic gain detection using headphone impedance, since impedance doesn't always directly reflect in sensitivity. I'll rather has a hardware gain switch or app adjustable gain setting. There is also notion from LG user that the automatic gain adjustment on the smartphone don't always give them the best result and they resolve to using an impedance adapter to cheat the output to high gain,

Anyone knows the price? There are already a few decent ES9281C based type-C adapter in the market around $70 (or just over $100 for dual DAC adapter). I like Questyle DAP, but hopefully this won't be priced too far away from the competition.
Same thoughts on that auto gain detection... same issue with LG phones in the past, resorting to all sorts of bypass (detaching one ear cup etc.) to force it into high gain.

It costs around $99USD
 
Jun 18, 2021 at 8:12 PM Post #8 of 9
Does anyone know where or when the Questyle M12 is going to be available for sale in the US?
I got mine and im in the U.S. I got mine from hifigo. Really great little dongle.
 
Jun 18, 2021 at 8:16 PM Post #9 of 9
I am very curious to try connecting it to a speaker amp, and see if it will switch to line out in this case. If i am thinking about it right, i dont believe it will, but i could be wrong.
 

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