The New Questyle M15i and M12i

[someyoungguy]

hai già m15c? assomiglia a m15i? sarebbe strano se avesse più potenza di m15i, e allo stesso tempo costasse molto meno!
Come possessore di M15I non passerei a M15C, inoltre non sento nessuno dei riflessi ESS di cui parli! Solo un sacco di pulizia e dettaglio!
Colgo l'occasione per farti una domanda, hai notato la differenza tra 4,4 e 3,5? ovviamente a parte la potenza

Yes I already have the M15c. It’s the same size as the M15i but with aluminum/steel colored shell rather than black, a bit lighter too.

With both M15i and 15c I hear the balanced output as having more separation and space, but I do like the 3.5mm output too, slightly more closed in but that doesn’t mean worse to me, just different and can depend on what I’m in the mood for hearing.

 

[krafty]

I was able to listen to the 15i and 15c back to back now. To my ears I do like the 15c better. It is a little more forgiving to my ears than the 15i. It seems to be slightly warmer with slightly warmer / fuller vocals. I do mean slightly. Questyle really do seem to be getting the best out of the CS dac though - it is good. This one is a little more detailed than some of my other CS based dacs. I do like both of these almost the same but the 15c ended up more to my liking. I will say that the 15i is super clear and really gets the details more than the 15c. I could see how some people would prefer one or the other.

 

[NeoArk90]

I was able to listen to the 15i and 15c back to back now. To my ears I do like the 15c better. It is a little more forgiving to my ears than the 15i. It seems to be slightly warmer with slightly warmer / fuller vocals. I do mean slightly. Questyle really do seem to be getting the best out of the CS dac though - it is good. This one is a little more detailed than some of my other CS based dacs. I do like both of these almost the same but the 15c ended up more to my liking. I will say that the 15i is super clear and really gets the details more than the 15c. I could see how some people would prefer one or the other.

I have m15i, but already having an fc6 for when I want something warm and relaxed, as if they were two opposite things!
so I like the details and cleanliness that the m15i has, without being offensive to my ears!
I personally recommend m15c to someone who needs to get a new one, it costs less and is easier to like!

 

[michaelgreen]

Yeah the specs on their website are all the same except for the 4.4mm output, which according to the spec is more powerful on the 15c. I wrote in the USB-c dongle thread that I don’t know what to make of that though as it seems like it should be the same. On my phone volume slider I use the same volume for both, so it seems like the power output is equal. A critic might tell me the position on the volume only indicates gain not max power output, but I do find the spec difference for the 4.4mm confusing.

So you're saying the M15i and M15C are equally capable device?

What's the piont of spending the 100 extra to get the M15i then?

What is different about the specifications on the balanced output? Can you send me a link to them?

It's just really weird that the CS variant is literally half the price....

 

[michaelgreen]

Actually in terms of specifications, the M15C seems to outperform the M15i?

Looks like the M15C is a cleaner, technically superior version with a higher output amplification?

Don't get me wrong, I love the M15C's price at 125 but I'm just somewhat utterly confused as to why it's being sold for half the price of the M15i while performing better.

Luckily, I can still return my M15i, which I've just ordered last week, and will probably pick up the M15C.

Any idea when it's going to be available in Europe? Or generally available again on the store website?

 

[krafty]

Actually in terms of specifications, the M15C seems to outperform the M15i?

Looks like the M15C is a cleaner, technically superior version with a higher output amplification?

Don't get me wrong, I love the M15C's price at 125 but I'm just somewhat utterly confused as to why it's being sold for half the price of the M15i while performing better.

Luckily, I can still return my M15i, which I've just ordered last week, and will probably pick up the M15C.

Any idea when it's going to be available in Europe? Or generally available again on the store website?

Only assuming but I think the ESS dac is probably more expensive and the implementation is probably more. They sound the same volume where I listen to them but that may change if a more demanding load is on them. I don't have my dynaquattro anymore.....

 

[michaelgreen]

Only assuming but I think the ESS dac is probably more expensive and the implementation is probably more. They sound the same volume where I listen to them but that may change if a more demanding load is on them. I don't have my dynaquattro anymore.....

The specs are also weird, on single ended, it has slightly less mW than the M15i and on balanced out twice as much with 42.79 mW.

Although despite it's 1 mW less unbalanced output power, it has 0.639 Vrms more than the M15i, which is probably better for headphones such as the HD6XX with frequency impedance spikes.

M15C

M15i

I wish the manufacturer could clarify that.

Because based on the numbers the M15C seems to be technically a much better amplifier than the M15i.

 

[michaelgreen]

Only assuming but I think the ESS dac is probably more expensive and the implementation is probably more. They sound the same volume where I listen to them but that may change if a more demanding load is on them. I don't have my dynaquattro anymore.....

But in terms of sonic impressions, you've preferred it over the M15i?

Have you tried it with an HD6XX or any open back planars?

 

[krafty]

But in terms of sonic impressions, you've preferred it over the M15i?

Have you tried it with an HD6XX or any open back planars?

I am using it with iems. The two sound very similar with the M15c being very slightly warmer worked better for me in the end. The M15i might be better for you if you don't find it a little bright.

 

[someyoungguy]

The specs are also weird, on single ended, it has slightly less mW than the M15i and on balanced out twice as much with 42.79 mW.

Although despite it's 1 mW less unbalanced output power, it has 0.639 Vrms more than the M15i, which is probably better for headphones such as the HD6XX with frequency impedance spikes.

M15C



M15i



I wish the manufacturer could clarify that.

Because based on the numbers the M15C seems to be technically a much better amplifier than the M15i.

I see you found the specs, I was confused by them too, as well as 15c being cheaper than even the M12i. But still, I'm not complaining about cheap

In a nutshell I find the M15i to be more revealing, with more upper mid, treble detail, whereas 15c has a 'warmer' slightly smoother sound.

 

[michaelgreen]

I see you found the specs, I was confused by them too, as well as 15c being cheaper than even the M12i. But still, I'm not complaining about cheap

In a nutshell I find the M15i to be more revealing, with more upper mid, treble detail, whereas 15c has a 'warmer' slightly smoother sound.

I guess the M15i is then probably the more colored DAC since CS is known to be neutral.

How do they both compare when it comes to output power? Have you gotten to try something like an HD600, more demanding type of open back?

 

[bixby]

My advice would be to go for the M15c, with a CS43198 DAC. Personally I think it’s the best dongle Questyle have out out, and strangely it’s their cheapest.

I had the DC Elite, and while it’s staging and bass are impressive for such a small device, it draws so much power from the phone that it kind of makes use as an actual portable device for use with your phone a problem. There’s plenty of DC Elite fans but it just didn’t feel like a home run for me.

While you recommend the M15C, I have to ask, have you actually heard it?

Edit: actually stumbled on your thread where you did hear and post some impressions. Apologies!
Sounds like you liked it.

 

[someyoungguy]

While you recommend the M15C, I have to ask, have you actually heard it?

Edit: actually stumbled on your thread where you did hear and post some impressions. Apologies!
Sounds like you liked it.

Yeah I still like it indeed. I also have the M12i and M15i at the moment, but am starting to think I’ll probably sell them and just keep the 15c going forward. It has that same clean, quick Questyle sound but with a different tuning. I can see some people preferring the 15i sound though.

 

[Sphere 57]

Is it normal for the M15i to hiss? None of the reviews I have read mention it.

I first tried it with FiiO FT1 headphones and Final Audio E5000 earphones and there wasn't a problem, but when I used Shanling ME600 IEMs there is a significant noise floor issue when the 'Data status indicator' LED is lit. The ME600s have a tweeter BA right up in the nozzle, so they are more revealing than most.

I have tried an iPad, Samsung phone and Shanling DAP as sources, and a few different USB cables and the problem persisted. It seemed worse on 4.4mm than 3.5 (ME600 has a modular cable), but it was hard to volume match.

I have just compared the M15i to the Shanling UA5, which was dead silent, and the Cayin RU6, which had a barely noticeable noise floor with the ME600s. I could obviously hear hiss during sparse passages of music using the M15i, it was only between tracks that I could hear a faint hiss on the RU6, between tracks the hiss from the M15i was sticking out like a sore thumb.

 

[JML]

No hissing with my M15i with my beyerdynamic Xelento or FiiO FD5 (both balanced), or any of my headphones.