Portable performance
From the offset, the purpose of this review was to gauge how well high-end desktop gear marries with the portable IEMs I use, and how this compares to pairing IEMs with portable players. While grading portable performance across multiple IEMs is a bit of a ‘how long is a piece of string’ scenario, I can say without hesitation that the CMA Eighteen Master is capable of driving all of my IEMs to their absolute limits.
Whether or not that will be the case with your IEMs will come down to several factors, one of which is noise. One of the criticisms I often hear leveled at the CMA18 Portable is the noise it adds to playback with some (mostly sensitive) IEMs. While I’ve personally never heard any ‘hiss’ with any of the IEMs I’ve used with the CMA18 Portable, I think it’s even less likely you’ll hear any at all with the CMA Eighteen Master.
This is despite the significantly more powerful amplifier, and significantly larger linear power supply. That said, the power on tap is such that you’ll want to make sure the gain switch (toggled underneath the chassis) is set to low, even if you’re using less sensitive IEMs like Sony’s Z1R. I’m yet to turn the volume dial beyond 11 o’clock with any IEM (and I generally listen louder than most), and you’ll have very little play on the volume dial with ultra-sensitive IEMs like Campfire Audio’s Clara.
That said, even with moderately sensitive headphones like Fostex’s Massdrop TH-X00, you’ll very rarely need to turn the dial further than midday, even on low gain. This is a seriously powerful, but also utterly clean and quiet amplifier, which makes it an ideal partner for portable devices when you want that extra technical boost only desktop devices can deliver.
Streaming performance
Another test I wanted to mention was streaming (or wireless) performance, using hi-res LDAC from my Android phone.
I’ll keep this short and simple: Bluetooth streaming will never match the fidelity of local or wired playback, and even less so if you’re streaming highly compressed music (like Spotify, for instance). Don’t get me wrong, it’ll still sound fabulous, but the drop in dynamics (especially bass dynamics) and treble resolution are both pretty obvious, even without an AB comparison.
Still, I often find myself too lazy to connect all the cables I need for wired playback, and convenience trumps performance when it comes to sittin’ and chillin’ with my favourite music. That’s when I really appreciate the importance of LDAC streaming in modern playback devices, without which they’d be a non-starter in my house.
Master vs. Portable
Questyle offers two premium all-in-one devices in the ‘18’ family: CMA Eighteen Master and the CMA18 Portable. There’s also the new CMA18i dongle, but to be fair that’s aiming for a different performance and use case category altogether. While both the Master and Portable devices share the same lineage, they cater to different user needs in terms of design, portability, and sound quality.
The CMA Eighteen Master is an embodiment of high-end design tailored for stationary use in a home or studio setup while CMA18 Portable is designed with the on-the-go audiophile in mind. Interestingly both feature the same light-up interface elements, and the see-through glass panel of the Portable gives it an extra touch of modern style the more plain-looking Master maybe lacks.
When it comes to sound, the CMA Eighteen Master excels with its expansive, neutral, and incredibly detailed output. It is designed to provide the most accurate representation of sound, making it ideal for audiophiles who demand precise audio performance. This combination of precision and neutrality makes the CMA Eighteen Master a solid choice for critical listening and professional use, as it can accurately reproduce the entire frequency spectrum across most genres.
The CMA18 Portable delivers a slightly different sound signature, focusing more on warmth and body in the midrange. While it doesn’t provide the same level of transparency as the Master, it does present a sometimes more engaging and colorful listening experience, making it more suitable for casual listening or those who prefer a slightly fuller sound.
It’s exactly because their sound profiles are different that I think they make for a very complementary set of playback devices: Portable for that chill on-the-go listen, and Master for the more serious desktop sessions.
Closing thoughts
The Questyle CMA Eighteen Master is one of the few desktop-grade devices I’ve used since switching from desktop to portable audio, and yet I feel it’s already right at home in my portable listening setup.
That might seem like a strange thing to say, since I obviously won’t be using it on the go, but as a partner for my IEM collection, it gives me a solid alternative to high-end portable players, with just enough of a technical advantage over those players to make the loss in portability palatable.
Set up in a listening room or on a bedside table, it’s easy to see the CMA Eighteen Master as a go-to listening device, even if you’ve spent the same amount of money on a DAP. It even extends the functionality of the DAP, allowing you to use it as a wired or wireless source, or using your DAP’s DAC together with CMA Eighteen Master’s more powerful amp for a bit of extra oomph.
CMA Eighteen Master is versatile that way, functioning in multiple modes for different audio setups, from DAC-only to headphone DAC, making it an all-in-one solution for almost any type of listen. The inclusion of Bluetooth connectivity with support for high-res codecs and various input options further adds to its convenience and compatibility with different devices.
Given its transparent, reference-grade performance, the CMA Eighteen Master is most likely to appeal to critical listeners, audiophiles, and professionals who value accuracy, clarity, and detailed sound reproduction. Those who seek a neutral but still very musical sound for studio work or dedicated home setups will likely find the CMA Eighteen Master a perfect fit.
On the other hand, users who prioritise portability or prefer a more coloured sound might still want to consider alternative products, such as the CMA18 Portable, which provides a warmer albeit technically-downscaled presentation. Casual listeners or those who are new to high-end audio might also find the CMA Eighteen Master’s sound signature and technical performance overwhelming at first, and certainly overkill if all you’re looking to do is stream compressed music to your headphones or IEMs.
While I can’t say how CMA Eighteen Master compares to its contemporaries as a pure desktop DAC/amp, I can say without hesitation that it adds great value for anyone who wants quality desktop performance for their portable gear. You’ll pay significantly more for a portable player that comes anywhere near this level of performance, and as such, Questyle’s CMA Eighteen Master earns my highest possible recommendation.
You can buy your very own CMA Eighteen Master directly from Questyle here.
