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Questyle's Newest, Refined Flagship Desktop DAC/Amp, the CMA Eighteen Master Edition
Enhanced and optimized Questyle patented Current Mode Amplification technology
Premium, military grade Rogers PCB material
Upgraded XMOS XU316 USB platform supporting up to PCM768 / DSD512
Upgraded Bluetooth mode supporting both aptX HD and LDAC
Crafting for Pursuit
Since the debut of the first CMA, each flagship in Questyle's series has shared the same soul: Current Mode Amplification Technology. The CMA Fifteen, released in 2020, featured the flagship ESS Current mode DAC for the first time. Coupled with Current Mode Amplification, it established the CMA series as a new era of full current processing, essentially "lossless throughout the entire chain."
The CMA Fifteen was almost perfect 3 years ago, but Questyle sought to improve it. Over the past 3 years, they have continually refined, explored and sought superior designs giving you their latest flagship: the CMA Eighteen Master.
The New Flagship: CMA Eighteen Master
The CMA Eighteen Master features the upgraded XMOS XU316 USB platform, supporting D/A conversion up to PCM768@32Bit / DSD512. It also supports both USB-B and USB-C interfaces, avoiding audio quality degradation issues associated with USB-C converters.
The CMA Eighteen Master's bluetooth mode has been upgraded to support both aptX-HD and LDAC, ensuring optimal wireless sound quality and connectivity.
Half Reverence, Half Praise
The CMA Eighteen Master embodies Questyle's pure design language, featuring a sandblasted matte CNC panel complemented by laser-engraved dark characters, mechanical toggle switches, and amber indicator lights, paying homage to the previous Gen CMA Fifteen.
Current Mode Amplification
This patented Questyle technology is a state-of-the-art audio amp design different from traditional amplification. As the "engine" of the audio system, Current Mode Amplification with fully discrete and topological structure, achieves ultra-high sound performance close to the original recording, yielding a much better listening experience with your premium headphones or speakers.
To dissipate the substantial heat generated by processing ultra-high-definition lossless audio data with the ES9039PRO, the PCB has been upgraded to Rogers material. Originally designed for military equipment, missiles, and specialized instruments, they are approximately 20 times the cost of ordinary materials.
Synchronized Performance Enhancement
The performance of the headphone amp and independent pre-amp have also been enhanced. The latest optimized Current Mode Amplifier, combined with a Rogers board with a dielectric constant only 1/10th of regular PCBs, shows a 30% improvement of performance in distortion tests compared to the previous generation. There is also a noticeable improvement in the dynamic range and background tranquility.
The headphone amplifier features a fully balanced architecture. Along with ALS quad analog potentiometers and peak current output capable of up to 3A, the CMA Eighteen Master will unleash the full potential of all high-end headphones.
Additionally, the digital power and Amp/DAC power are entirely independent, ensuring the purest signal processing. An independent NORATEL toroidal transformer and Schottky rectifier provide the cleanest power to the analog side of the DAC.
Specifications
Input/Output Interface
Digital Input
USB
USB-C and USB-B
PCM: 44.1kHz-768kHz/32Bit
Native DSD: DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512
DoP DSD: DSD64, DSD128,DSD256
Supports UAC 2.0
Supports Win XP/Vista/7/8/10/11, Linux, Android, HarmonyOS, macOS and iOS
Note: Under Win10, will need to install Questyle's proprietary ASIO driver. Win10 system supports DOP DSD256 without driver, but supports Native DSD512 with driver installed
Optical + COAX: Supports PCM 44.1 kHz~192kHz/24Bit
Bluetooth: Supports BC, AAC, apt, aptx-HD, LDAC (up to 96kHz/24Bit, 990kps / 909kps)
Analog Input: RCA (std. level 2Vrms)
Headphone Amplifier Output
4.4mm BAL
4-pin BAL
6.3mm
Note: High/Standard bias can be set via BIAS switch on front panel | STD/LOW Gain can be set via (x4) Gain switches on bottom of amp
Pre-Amp Output
(x1) XLR
(x1) RCA
Note: output level can be set via STD/Studio switch | volume can be controlled by ADJ/FIX switch on rear
Headphone Amplifier
Max Output Power
6.3mm: 188mW@3000 | 1.5W@320
4.4mm BAL / XLR 4-pin BAL: 765mW@3000 | 2W@320
THD+N: < 0.0003%
Frequency Response: ±0.2dB (DC-22kHz) @48kHz/24Bit
SNR
6.3mm: > 117dB
4.4mm BAL / XLR 4-pin BAL: > 120dB
Pre-amplifier
Maximum Analog Output Level
RCA: 2V (STD), Studio mode output increased to 14dBu
XLR: 4V (STD), Studio mode output increased to 20dBu
THD+N: <0.0003%
Frequency Response: ±0.2dB (DC-22kHz) @48kHz/24Bit
SNR
RCA: >116dB
XLR: >119dB
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