Questyle Audio is a company highly dedicated to the research of high-end audio and holder of globally patented technologies such as Current Mode Amplification and wireless transmission of lossless audio. Questyle has won over 20 international awards since 2015, including CES Innovation Award and iF Industrial Design Award, and VGP Lifestyle Award, and its products are sold worldwide.
Questyle’s patented Current Mode Amplification uses current, instead of voltage, to amplify audio signals, 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 structure to achieve ultra-high sound performance and a much better listening experience, even when using consumer-grade headphones and speaker systems.
The CMA Fifteen takes the already popular CMA Twelve design to new heights, becoming the first Questyle headphone amp and DAC to feature the ESS Sabre ES9038PRO high-performance 32-bit DAC, offering what the company describes as "unparalleled audio reproduction, brilliantly clear transparency, and massively open sound."
When reflecting on the past 15 years and what the CMA Fifteen means for Questyle, the company's founder and CEO Jason Wong stated, “We’ve built upon these last 15 years of research to reach even further, and to bring Current Mode Amplification to its highest pinnacle yet with the CMA Fifteen. We have even spent the last three years of pre-research working with ESS on integrating the ES9038PRO."
The CMA Fifteen also includes new input options for modern listening methods, including Bluetooth 5.0 with LDAC support, USB Type-C, and analog RCA inputs, as well as standard USB Type-B, S/PDIF, and optical inputs. USB Type-C input has priority, and when USB Type-C and Type-B are connected at the same time, the system will process the Type-C audio source by default. The CMA Fifteen also supports up to DSD 512, PCM 705.6/768, and MQA full decoding, as well as Apple Music Hi-Res Lossless (up to 24-bit/192kHz) when connected to Apple devices via USB.
The multi-functional CMA Fifteen also has the ability to serve as either a DAC and integrated headphone amp, or as a DAC and preamp for an external stereo system, with its variety of output options. These updates come in addition to maintaining the quality expected with all Questyle products, including true DSD, ultra-low distortion levels, and an elegant, timeless design.
The headphone amplifier output includes a 6.35mm standard headphone jack (188mW @ 300Ω 1.5W @ 32Ω), 4-pin balanced, and 4.4mm balanced headphone jacks (765mW @ 300Ω 2W @ 32Ω). Users 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. The preamp output is altos available in XLR and RCA and the levels can be set by a switch, while volume can be controlled by the switch on the rear panel.
Users will also appreciate that the CMA Fifteen as an analog RCA amp/preamp for when they want to connect turntables with the best possible reproduction. A great way to enjoy a bountiful nearfield listening system from any audio source or file type, in the best quality possible.
Finally, Questyle designed this new product with maximum attention to all details, expanding on the classic design concept and manufacturing technology of its previous lines of products. Resonance and mechanical vibrations are eliminated from the CMA Fifteen chassis, formed from 10mm-thick aircraft-grade Aluminum 6063, with precise machining tolerances of ±0.02mm. And the Shenzhen-based company 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 headphones and any other connected system.
www.questyle.com
