Questyle CMA18M Portable DAC Amp Instruction Manual

Questyle CMA18M Portable DAC Amp

About CMA Eighteen Master

Thank you for purchasing the Questyle Audio CMA Eighteen Master DAC/Headphone Amp. The CMA Eighteen Master is the newest flagship DAC/Headphone Amplifier from Questyle Audio. It inherits Questyle’s classic desktop design style and commemorates the anniversary of the revolutionary Current Mode Amplification technology invented 18 years ago. The CMA Eighteen Master adopts Questyle’s core patented technologies of TrueDSD, 3X Clock Asynchronous Transmission, and Current Mode Amplification, which together allow the CMA Eighteen Master to have outstanding performance as both a DAC and pre-amplifier. The pre-amp output on the back of the device is user-switchable between fixed and Adjustable modes, allowing it to match with both power amplifiers and active speakers. The CMA Eighteen Master also supports a 4-PIN balanced output on the front of the device. The CMA Eighteen Master is designed with four groups of Current Mode amplifiers, producing a forceful driving power and an ultra-low distortion level of only 0.0003%. Together with the high-performance BIAS Control System, this system will bring you an exceptional listening experience for years to come. To avoid resonance, the CMA Eighteen Master chassis is made of 10mm-thick aircraft-grade aluminium 6063 with a precision machining tolerance of 0.02mm. Especially the “mutual-bit” structure, silicone material and pure aluminium help to reduce resonance to the lowest level.

FCC Warning

Any Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment. This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, under part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used under the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, no guarantee interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.
• Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

FCC Radiation Exposure Statement
This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. This equipment should be installed and operated with a minimum distance 20cm between the radiator & your body.

In the Box

• CMA Eighteen Master
  • 1pc
• Power Cord
  • 1pc
• Type-C to Type-C cable
  • 1pc
• Remote Control
  • 1pc
• CMA Eighteen Master User Manual
  • 1pc
• Warranty Card
  • 1pc

Front View

1. Power switch.
2. Power indicator: Rapid flashing orange light indicates the system is booting up. Steady orange light indicates the system has successfully booted up. A slow flashing orange light indicates the system has been muted. Note: If the indicator flashes quickly with red, this indicates the system is malfunctioning. Please switch off the CMA Eighteen Master, unplug your headphones/speakers, and restart the CMA Eighteen Master. If the problem is not solved, please contact your dealer or after-sales support.
3. Source indicators: USB, OPT, S/PDIF, ANALOG and BLUETOOTH.
4. Sample rate indicators.
5. Source button: Press this button to cycle between the source input options.
6. Function switch: Toggles between Headphone Amplifier (HP) and Pre-amplifier (DAC) mode.
7. Function indicator: Indicates if the unit is in Headphone Amplifier (HP) mode and Pre-amplifier (DAC) mode.
8. BIAS Control switch.
9. BIAS Control indicator: indicates if the unit is in High BIAS and Standard BIAS mode.
10. Remote control IR sensor.
11. 4.4mm balanced headphone output.
12. 6.35mm (1/4 inch) unbalanced headphone output.
13. 4-PIN balanced headphone output.
14. Volume control knob.

Rear View

1. USB Type B input.
2. USB Type C input.
3. Optical input.
4. S/PDIF input.
5. Analog RCA input – left channel.
6. Analog RCA input – right channel.
7. Pre-amp output mode switch: toggle between Studio and Standard mode.
8. Pre-amp output volume switch: toggle between Fixed and Adjustable mode. When switched to Fixed mode, the output volume of the pre-amp will be set to the maximum volume level, and the volume control knob on the front of the CMA Eighteen Master will not affect the volume. See more in the “Output Connection Options” section.
9. Balanced XLR pre-amp output – right channel.
10. Unbalanced RCA pre-amp output – left channel.
11. Unbalanced RCA pre-amp output – right channel.
12. Balanced XLR pre-amp output – left channel.
13. Bluetooth pairing button.
14. Bluetooth antenna housing. To maintain Bluetooth connectivity, please DO NOT place metal or other shielding materials near this antenna housing.
15. 220V/110V voltage switch: before use, please ensure this is switched to match the local voltage of your region.
16. AC power socket.

Bottom View

Headphone amplifier gain control switch: the default setting is “Standard” mode. When using in-ear monitors (IEMs), please set this to “Low” mode. Before use, ensure all four switches are set to the same setting.

Remote Control

1. Mute
2. Select USB input
3. Source selection backward
4. Source selection forward
5. Select S/PDIF input
6. Select Analog input
7. Select Bluetooth input
8. Select Optical input
9. Volume down
10. Volume up

Note: This is a universal Questyle remote that can be used with any Questyle product equipped with an IR sensor. When used with the CMA Eighteen Master, some of the buttons on this remote (including the power switch, playback control, and DAP settings buttons) will not function.

How to Match with CMA Eighteen Master

1. Digital Input The CMA Eighteen Master has optical, S/PDIF and USB (Type B & C) inputs. Digital audio signals from your computer, music server, CD reader, Blu-ray reader, etc can be sent to CMA Eighteen Master using these input ports. (Note: The CMA Eighteen Master supports USB Audio Class 2.0 standard driver). The core patented technologies of Current Mode Amplification, True DSD, and 3X Clock Asynchronous Transmission allow the CMA Eighteen Master to have outstanding performance from its DAC and pre-amplifier.
2. When used as a DAC & Headphone Amplifier When the Function Switch on the front of the unit is switched to HP AMP (Digital-to-Analog Converter & Headphone Amplifier) mode, the CMA Eighteen Master can be used simultaneously as a DAC and Headphone Amplifier. The CMA Eighteen Master has a 4.4mm balanced headphone jack, a 6.35mm unbalanced headphone jack, and a 4-PIN balanced headphone jack on the front of the unit.

NOTE

1. Please note the CMA Eighteen Master only supports one headphone at a time. Do not plug more than one headphone into the unit at the same time.
2. The CMA Eighteen Master has built-in DC output protection, which will automatically cut off the output and protect your headphones if a malfunction or error is detected in the system.
3. The CMA Eighteen Master has Headphone Amplifier Gain control switches on the bottom of the unit. The default setting of the gain control is “Standard” mode. When using in-ear monitors (IEMs), please set this to “Low” mode. Before use, ensure all four switches are set to the same setting
4. When used as a DAC & Pre-amplifier, or a Pre-amplifier only

When the Function Switch on the front of the unit is switched to DAC (Digital- to-Analog Converter & Pre-Amp) mode, the CMA Eighteen Master can be used as a pre-amplifier for your sound system. The CMA Eighteen Master has two unbalanced RCA outputs and two balanced XLR outputs on the back of the device. Set the Pre-amp output volume switch on the back of the unit to either FIX (Fixed) or ADJ (Adjustable) depending on your system setup:

• FIX mode is used for connecting the CMA Eighteen Master to amplifiers or other pre-amps with their volume control function. When switched to FIX mode, the output volume of the pre-amp will be set to the maximum volume level, and the volume control knob on the front of the CMA Eighteen Master will not affect the volume.
• ADJ mode is used for connecting the CMA Eighteen Master to active speakers or power amplifiers that do not have their volume control function. When switched to ADJ mode, the output volume of the pre-amp can be controlled using the volume control knob on the front of the CMA Eighteen Master.

Set the pre-amp output mode switch to either Standard or Studio:

• In Standard mode, the maximum output level will be 14dBu.
• In Studio mode, the maximum output level will be 20dBu.

BLUETOOTH Wireless Receiving.

The CMA Eighteen Master has the Bluetooth wireless receiving feature. To pair with your device

• On the front of the CMA Eighteen Master, set the “Source” to Bluetooth.
• On the back of the CMA Eighteen Master, press and hold the pairing switch for 3 seconds. The Bluetooth source indicator on the front will flash rapidly to indicate pairing mode. Once paired, the indicator light on the front will remain steadily illuminated.
• You can connect the CMA Eighteen Master to headphones, speakers, or other output devices as normal.

USB Driver Installation and JRiver/Foobar Setup

USB Driver Installation and JRiver/Foobar Setup are the same on Questyle Audio’s desktop devices (including CMA400, CMA600i, SHB2, CMA Twelve, CMA Fifteen and CMA Eighteen Master). Visit the Questyle Audio website (www.questyle.com) and click “Download” – “User Manual” – “USB Driver Installation and JRiver/Foobar Setup” to view detailed instructions.

Specifications

Note: Audio specs are based on the test result from Audio Precision AP2722 in Questyle lab, not the theoretical values or the theoretical values of the DAG chip.

Cautions

1. Operating temperature: -5°C – 45°C and operating altitude is not more than 2000 meters.
2. Unplug power from your CMA Eighteen Master during inclement weather or when the device will not be used for a long duration of time.
3. Do not cover your CMA Eighteen Master with anything.
4. Only use the specified or manufacturer-supplied power cord with your CMA Eighteen Master.
5. Clean your CMA Eighteen Master periodically with a piece of dry cloth or with a special detergent.
6. If your CMA Eighteen Master malfunctions, please contact your dealer or after-sales support. The information in this manual is subject to change without notice. All rights reserved. @2023 Questyle Audio Technology Co., Ltd. CODE: EN-UM018M-CMATV20231212 .

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