Ad Details
Price
AUD $3,000RRP/MSRP
AUD $4,759Product Type
Headphone Amplifier (with DAC)Brand
Questyle AudioModel Number
CMA FifteenCondition
Brand NewPayment Method
Cash On Pickup, EFTRegion/State
(VIC) Victoria/AustraliaSuburb or Town
MelbourneOriginal Receipt Available
NoShipping & Pickup Options
Shipping: AvailablePickup: Available
Auditioning
NoReason for Selling
Unwanted GiftFurther Information
CMA15 - RRP: $4759
(Current RRP at Minidisk Australia as of July 2024)
The CMA Fifteen is a compact all-in-one reference level Preamp, DAC and Headphone Amp which can function as the centre-piece of a system whilst giving up very little in the way of fidelity to individual units costing many multiples of its RRP. In numerous regards its tightly integrated design actually offers several advantages...
Questyle's patented Current Mode amplifier circuitry in the CMA-15 enables it to superbly drive even the highly inefficient Hifiman Susvara alongside most any other headphones with consummate fidelity.
What separates it from virtually every other head-amp is the sense of absolute calm and utter transparency it presents with the simultaneous ability to deliver explosive dynamics, herculean grip and finesse to the very limits of frequency response. Current being to wattage what torque is to horsepower, the CMA-15 is a literal hammer in a velvet glove... beefy yet simultaneously lithe and extremely refined.
Its front panel provides switchable modes for Analogue or Digital inputs, and Dac or Headphone amp only outputs also with selectable Standard or High or bias which allow you to select between Class AB and Pure Class A modes. If you own planar magnetic headphones, very few DAC-Amps will perform as well as the CMA Fifteen.
It's not solely a world class headphone amp by any measure either, but also an extraordinarily fine sounding & well specified multi-input (USB B & C, TosLink s/pdif, Coaxial & HD Bluetooth) high-resolution DAC which handles all sample rates up to and inclusive DXD + DSD512. Bluetooth is comprehensively supported with SBC, AAC, LDAC (At the highest level of 96kHz/24bit, 990kps/909kps) and performs consistently well over extended distances.
With the Questyle CMA Fifteen the ESS 9038Pro Sabre DAC finally comes into its own, by directly coupling its current output mode to four of their patented current mode amplifiers and thus optimising and maintaining a fully balanced signal path for ultimate fidelity from end to end.
Additionally it functions as a remote controllable (motorised Alps vol.) preamplifier with a pair of RCA analogue inputs, and true balanced XLR alongside RCA line level outputs, with the added practicality of switchable gain to suit both domestic 14dBu & pro/studio 20dBu devices such as active monitors. The output can also be either fixed at line-level or volume adjustable, via the ADJ/FIX switch on the rear panel.
Holistically conceived to maintain the absolute shortest possible signal paths and employing premium grade components throughout, the design also employs multiple separated power supplies ensuring minimal noise which results with THD+N performance that approaches state of the art.
For more than 15 years Questyle has made some of the better sounding solid-state amplifiers by virtue of their unique topology which combines the liquid musicality of tube amps, the raw power/bass control of solid-state and ultra linear extended bandwidth that puts most amplifiers to shame and are also able to effortlessly drive headphones leaving much higher wattage amplifiers wanting.
Of notable mention is the exquisitely designed chassis which is manufactured to extremely high tolerances from 5 & 10mm aerospace grade 6063 aluminium by the esteemed Foxconn factory in China.
Audio specs are based on the actual test results from Audio Precision AP2722 in the Questyle lab, not theoretical values or the theoretical values of the DAC chip.
Digital Input Specs
USB x 2 (Including a high-priority USB Type-C interface and a USB Type-B interface.)
PCM: 44.1khz-768kHz/32bit
DSD: Native DSD 512; DOP DSD 256, 128, 64
MQA: Full / Core decoder
USB input supports UAC 2.0. It supports Win XP, Vista, Win7, Win8, Win10, Linux, MAC OS and other operating systems. It also can be connected to smartphones supporting OTG audio output.
Note: Windows system under Win10 will need to install the ASIO driver developed by Questyle. Win10 system supports DOP DSD 256 without installing the driver, and supports Native DSD 512 with the driver installed.
Optical Input x 1: PCM: 44.1kHz~192kHz/24bit
Coaxial Input x 1: PCM: 44.1kHz~192kHz/24bit
Bluetooth Input x 1: SBC, AAC, LDAC (At the highest level of 96kHz/24bit, 990kps/909kps)
Analog Input: RCA x 1, 2Vrms standard level
Headphone Amplifier Output Specs
Max Output Power:
6.35mm: 188mW @ 300Ω 1.5W @ 32Ω
4.4mm balanced / XLR 4-PIN balanced: 765mW @ 300Ω 2W @ 32Ω
THD+N:
<0.0003% @300Ω
<0.001%@32Ω
Frequency Response: ±0.2dB (DC-22kHz)@44.1kHz/24bit
SNR:
6.35mm: >117dB
4.4mm balanced / XLR 4-PIN balanced: >120dB
Headphone Amplifier Output Interface
6.35mm standard headphone jack x1
4-PIN balanced headphone jack x1
4.4mm balanced headphone jack x1
Note: You can set High/Standard bias through the BIAS switch on the front panel of the headphone amplifier, and set Standard/Low gain through the four Gain switches on the bottom of the headphone amplifier.
Pre-Amp Output Specs
Max Analog Output Amplitude:
RCA: 2V (Standard), Studio mode output up to14dBu
XLR: 4V (Standard), Studio mode output up to 20dBu
THD+N:
RCA: 0.0004%
XLR: 0.0003%
Frequency Response: ±0.2dB (DC-22kHz)@48kHz/24bit)
SNR:
RCA: >116dB
XLR: >119dB
Pre-Amp Output Interface
XLR x 1
RCA x 1
Note: The output level can be set by Standard/Studio switch and volume can be controlled by ADJ/FIX switch on the rear panel.
Questyle CMA Fifteen DAC/Headphone Amplifier: Review
https://www.ecoustics.com/reviews/questyle-cma-fifteen-dac-headphone-amplifier/
Random User Comments:
“I’ve had my Questyle CMA Fifteen for about 1 year and I can't agree more with your review. It is on my desktop and I use to pre a pair of active monitors and of course for headphones. It is sleek, compact and I love to see it and touch it and flick switches and turn volume. The sound is wonderfully neutral but musical and dynamic. It makes my HE1000se headphones slam and my HD800S sing.
In my main system I have a pair of Holo KTE edition May and Serene and a Vertere DG1 turntable and Phono1 phono pre. My phono pre and the single ended outs from May go into my Feliks Audio Euphoria AE via an RCA switch and back into single ended input 1 of Serene (May also goes in balanced XLR into Serene).
I will often use my headphones into Serene headphone out but have Serene input set to pre-outs on Feliks at mid on vol. and it is sublime.
I'm just saying this to point out that on a ~$12k USD chain the sound is exceptional and although the CMA Fifteen not at same level, it is not a significant obvious step down.
I can't AB these setups as no in proximity so maybe if I could it would be more apparent but when I'm in my office on the CMA Fifteen I'm not feeling anything missing to the point it is an obvious issue.
That is exceptional given price and form factor.
I seriously doubt an AB with anything in less than a 2X or even 3X price multiple will perform better in any noticeable manner. This product is an absolute no brainer purchase for desktop applications for nearfield and headphone application.”
“I listened to this at CanJam London a few weeks ago. It was my surprise of the show. I can't stand ESS DACs, yet it sounded amazing. I listened with my personal ZMF Atrium for over 15 mins. It sounded incredible.”
“I bought one a few months ago ... Sold my Ifi Ican signature and element i2 ... It just sounds so good ... So much impact and details just flow , not pushed at you ... Just flow ... It's an incredible all in one”
“The mids are intoxicating, every slight nuance of vocal delivery or guitar strumming being vividly portrayed. The highs are very resolving without a hint of edginess or grain.
Notes are slightly rounded but not overly so.
Soundstage is engulfing and stage depth is exemplary. Imaging is precise and differs slightly from most DACs in terms of panning from center to left or right.
It’s hard to describe but center imaging is better on the CMA Fifteen than most solid-state DAC-Amps I’ve tried in the TOTL space.”
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