Item #CMA Fifteen

Questyle CMA Fifteen

DAC & Headphone Amplifier
Item #CMA Fifteen

Questyle CMA Fifteen

DAC & Headphone Amplifier
$2,495.00
In Stock: Free 2-Day Shipping
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Overview

Commemorating the 15th anniversary of Questyle’s revolutionary Current Mode Amplification Technology. At its core, Current Mode Amplification uses current, instead of voltage, to amplify audio signals. It is state-of-the-art technology in audio amplification, leading to tremendous performance differences when compared to traditional audio amplifiers. As the “engine” of the audio system, Current Mode Amplification features a fully discrete and topological structure, and can achieve ultra-high sound performance that reproduces music so faithfully, it feels like you are in the original recording room. Using Current Mode Amplification technology, listeners can attain a much better listening experience, even when using consumer-grade headphones and speaker systems.

After 3 years of pre-research with ESS, Questyle selected the flagship DAC ES9038PRO, a decoding chip with the most powerful performance of any DAC invented to date, and jointly launched CMA Fifteen with ESS, supporting 32bit/768K and DSD 512 master band formats.

Questyle believes that the greatest products are born from the smallest details. The CMA Fifteen continues the classic design concept and perfect manufacturing technology of its previous lines of products, while further improving on all the details. Resonance, for example, is always a detail that could easily be ignored in the design process. However, mechanical vibration does indeed affect audio signal processing and the resulting sound. To avoid this resonance, the CMA Fifteen chassis is formed from 10mm-thick aircraft-grade Aluminum 6063, with precise machining tolerances of ±0.02mm.

In designing the CMA Fifteen, Questyle also analyzed the layout balance before and after the machine is connected to cables, to ensure that any inherent resonance is minimized. The CMA Fifteen also has a complete output protection function: if the device fails for any reason or detects other abnormalities, it will automatically cut off the output to protect your headphones and stereo system.

Details & Specs

  • AC Input: 100-120V / 220-230V (switchable)
  • Power Consuming: <30W
  • Size: 330*200*55mm (Jacks are not included.)
  • Digital Input:
    • 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
    • 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 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 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.

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

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

Reviews

Customer Reviews

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Powerful desktop DAC/ HP Amp
Good choice for use with Tidal to listen to MQA streams

I am using my CMA Fifteen as a headphone amp for my Audeze LCD-3's. The amp is very powerful (the LCD-3's are 110 Ohm and they will play louder than you can handle with this amp). I always find acceptable listening levels below the 12 o'clock position on the volume knob.

I've spent a few hours listening to high-res files off Qobuz and lots of MQA tracks on Tidal. Both are impressive. The CMA Fifteen's LED indicators are simple to understand and give me all the information I need to know what type of file it is processing.

I don't get any pops, clicks or noise from this combo. The impressive part of high-res digital audio is the noise floor. This amp delivers pure silence when the song ends.