Questyle CMA Eighteen Master

The Questyle CMA 18 Master is a desktop DAC and headphone amplifier built around the company's current mode amplification technology and an XMOS X316 USB platform. It decodes PCM up to 768kHz and DSD512, which covers essentially everything you will throw at it. Both USB-B and USB-C inputs are included, so you can connect directly to modern computers without adapters that can degrade signal quality or cause dropouts with high-resolution files.

Current mode amplification is Questyle's signature approach. Instead of converting digital audio to voltage and then amplifying it, current mode works in the current domain throughout the entire signal path. The result is lower distortion, better transient response, and a cleaner, more controlled sound. The CMA 18 Master delivers power and precision without the edginess or grain that some solid-state amps can introduce.

This is a serious desktop system for serious headphones. If you have planars, high-impedance dynamics, or anything that benefits from clean power and low output impedance, the CMA 18 Master will drive them with authority and clarity.