Questyle M18i Review — Headfonics

Right this moment, Louis opinions the Questyle M18i, a brand new flagship ES9219Q and wireless-capable dongle DAC with balanced Present Mode amplification. It’s at present priced at $349.

Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me in return for my trustworthy opinion. Headfonics is an unbiased web site that doesn’t have any affiliate hyperlinks. I thank Questyle for this chance. 

Click on right here to learn extra on different Questyle merchandise beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.

This text follows our present scoring guidelines, which you’ll be able to learn in additional element right here.

Questyle M18i Overview

Abstract

The Questyle M18i is a prime performer within the dongle DAC section with a big and exact soundstage, a clear sound profile and a excessive stage of technical functionality.

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8.4

Execs

Execs Wonderful soundstage and technical capabilities.

Clear sonic character with a darkish background.

Simple on Cellular gadget battery life in cellphone mode.

Cons

Acquire is inoperable in BT mode.

Battery charging technique can confuse some customers.

No accompanying app or sub-menu options.

After I obtained the newly launched Questyle M18i, I used to be concurrently perplexed and stunned. As a result of I assumed it was getting an upscaled dongle DAC over the M15 and the opposite fashions just like the M15C and the M12.

Nevertheless, the M18i has some new tech along with some up to date audio {hardware}. This time round, the M18i additionally obtained modern-day Bluetooth receiving proficiency, which raises the bar on the subject of portability and usefulness.

That adjustments this gadget’s class and locations it with the dongles, such because the iFi audio GO blu, or the FiiO BTR17, or greater elements such because the Shanling H2, given the worth level.

Questyle’s major problem right here is to supply one thing over these talked about fashions for the reason that retail value sits at $399, inserting it on a better tier.

Questyle has diminished the worth of the M18i to $349 on the time of writing, so this is perhaps a great time to buy one.

Options

Questyle labored alongside ESS to develop a TTA DAC framework and carried out this design utilizing a pair of up-to-date ESS ES9219Q. These quad-tech, 32-bit chips have an analog quantity stage, which I believed was one among these chips’ coolest options.

The M18i’s major audio circuitry makes use of a three-stage design that takes the output of the DAC part to a CMA or present mode amplifier preamplifier part that then feeds a quad present mode amplification stage.

Trendy-day codecs and codecs are absent from the M18i, like MQA, which to me seems as in the event that they’re dropping the battle towards different codecs, and Questyle appears to know that.

The M18i as an alternative provides decoding charges of as much as PCM 384k plus native DSD256 alongside a plethora of suitable Bluetooth codecs at as much as LDAC stage.

The fashionable-day 16-core XMOS316 answer handles the M18’s USB enter stage, and on the Bluetooth receiving finish is a Snapdragon 5.4 BT answer.

Mixed with the aforementioned {hardware}, makes up a formidable package deal inside this section and thus, takes the Questyle flagship place for apparent causes.

Questyle is shy on the subject of amplifier specs. I do know that the M18i employs a patented Questyle Present mode expertise amplification part that’s able to round 28mw at 300Ω, however that’s a lot of the information given by Questyle.

I can see a four-chip setup within the circuitry diagram. The M18i makes use of Questyle’s CMA SiP tech, just like what their CMA18 had. Maybe that’s the place the mannequin quantity 18 concept got here from.

Design

The M18i is assembled from a piece of high-grade Aluminum formed in a CNC machine. In earlier fashions just like the M15 and the M15C, the glass insert handled the consumer to a view of the intricate circuitry, however within the M18i, it kinds a part of the absolutely laminated OLED display screen and is blacked out.

On one facet, there’s nothing apart from the purple charging USB-C port, and all of the buttons are on the alternative facet of that. 5 buttons cowl all of the M18i’s options. There are two quantity controls with 60 steps of adjustment.

Then there’s the ability button, which additionally doubles up because the display screen wake button. There’s additionally a multifunction button labeled MFB, which mixes a two-way acquire with a cellphone name pick-up and hang-up button. In BT mode, the MFB turns into the pause and play button.

I couldn’t discover any submenus or tucked-away options like on most dongle DACs with a display screen, and it solely serves as an info display screen. The display screen reveals you the enter choice standing, bit fee, battery standing, quantity place, and acquire standing.

Aesthetics

There’s a easy factor in regards to the M18i that I like. It doesn’t catch your eye like another dongles that make use of an inventive aptitude within the design. On this case, it’s only a black rectangle with some buttons and headphone ports.

The button structure appears to be oriented for two-handed operation between the 2 index fingers and the thumbs, nevertheless it may also be operated one-handed and thumb-operated. There isn’t a display screen rotation function that I might discover on this unit.

The dongle shouldn’t be too large, nevertheless it does have some sharp corners. It’s a medium-sized dongle veering on giant, however the weight shouldn’t be too dangerous. I feel Questyle ought to have thrown in a protecting case. Plenty of producers do these days. At this stage of tier, it ought to have include one.

I/O

There are 4 ports on the M18i: two 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone ports and two USB-C connections. Right here is the place it will get fascinating, as the 2 USB-C ports serve totally different functions.

There’s a red-colored USB-C port that’s strictly used for charging the battery, however you too can use the information USB-C port for that, which is the black port. The purple port fees the battery it doesn’t matter what mode the M18i is in, however the black port can solely cost the battery when it’s in desktop mode.

One other factor I seen was that the two-position acquire swap doesn’t work when the unit is positioned in Bluetooth mode. The acquire function works in PC mode and Cellular gadget mode.

If it’s good to set the acquire and also you wish to use a selected acquire setting in Bluetooth mode, you may all the time swap over to one of many different modes and modify the acquire in one other mode, and return to the earlier mode.

The setting will stick in the event you return to Bluetooth mode from one other mode, which alleviates this.

Battery life

I used to be stunned that the Questyle had an inside battery as a result of once more, I believed it was a easy dongle and most depend upon the supply’s energy, however the runtime wasn’t stellar, and I obtained round 3 hours on IEMs and a pair of hours with full-sized headphones.

The battery right here is the principle energy supply, and in that method, the M18i avoids utilizing noisy circuitry and isolates the noisy charging circuitry from marring the audio high quality. However you may all the time use it in desktop mode and with an extra energy supply.

Charging initiates if you plug a charger into the purple USB-C port, which works out properly if you’re in desktop mode, however you too can cost the unit by way of the  USB-C enter port in desktop mode.

 There appears to be an absence of fast charging on this mannequin, and it took me no less than a few hours to cost the battery as much as 100%.

The inner rechargeable Lithium battery has a capability of 500mAh, which is an appropriate dimension. However I’m nonetheless ready for user-replaceable batteries from the business.

Packaging & Equipment

There’s not a lot contained in the field. The Questyle M18i is one other dongle that, though suitable with gear that’s geared up with Lightning connectivity, none is included.

You do get a twin USB-C cable and a full-sized USB adapter so you should use the M18i with any full-sized USB-equipped gear. There’s additionally an proprietor’s guide and a guaranty card.

Packaging is easy and efficient. It’s a small rectangular field with slide-out drawers that include the dongle and all of the equipment inside a customized foam mould, which is a safe approach of transport items.

Sound Impressions

My check mattress consisted of my Motorola Edge with Android 14 and a customized AMD PC that makes use of a voltage regulator to filter the ability enter. I used the HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled, the FiiO FX17, the Grand ORIVETI Supremacy, the Sennheiser HD 505, and the HD 490 PRO Plus.

Abstract

The Questyle M18i is all about tonal steadiness, with a reference-like tuning that doesn’t alter or emphasize any space of the frequency response vary. Timbre is pure and life-like, and there’s no harshness or bloated tones.

You get a way of cleanliness, with wonderful readability that offers a high-end sonic impression.  It makes an attempt to breed the supply as faithfully as potential with as little coloration as potential.

Bass

The bass response is tight, managed, and well-restrained. The bass is produced with a great physique and first rate depth. It’s to the purpose and unbloated. It’s clear and ‘ruler-flat’, catering to element as an alternative of forcefulness.

Once more, there’s a studio-like presentation as a result of there’s no emphasis in any space of the bass response, leaving room for different frequency bands to flourish as a result of lack of bleed into the mid bands. The bass is what I name correct and unbiased bass.

If no matter gear you’re utilizing is as much as producing clear bass notes, the M18i will complement that set by producing bass notes which are distinct and true to the supply.

Midrange

The midrange is clear and detailed and is effortlessly produced by the M18i. It’s produced with a pure timbre and an correct tonality that grabs you because it stays pleasantly articulate.

There’s a gentle heat within the midrange space and higher bass area, however I feel it’s a typical attribute of ESS DACs. That character interprets into vocals which are impartial and realistically portrayed.

 General, the midrange traits of the M18i are non-belligerent and reference-like, however someway it detours from sounding too sterile and presents mid frequencies with physique and texture.

Treble

The treble is ethereal and with easy extension. It’s a impartial treble that may be very clear and freed from coloration. It’s additionally freed from extra sharpness that may be annoying to the listener in lengthy listening classes.

The background is darkish, and that enhances the highs by permitting them to be reproduced with readability, which makes the M18i a great candidate in the event you’re in search of gear that’s non-fatiguing however detail-oriented.

The excessive frequencies are produced with plenty of resolve and a excessive quantity of definition.  One can contemplate them studio-like, which appears to be a typical trait within the M18i’s tuning because it’s unbiased in any explicit frequency, and since you too can say that for the remainder of the frequency response.

Staging & Dynamics

One of many prime traits and skills of the M18i is the soundstage it may produce, and I’ve to commend Questyle for producing the most effective dongles on this class.

The 18i can produce a 3D-like panorama that features plenty of depth, peak, and width. On prime of that, it’s able to producing plenty of precision placement.

That is one space I’ve discovered different dongles missing: soundstage dimension and precision. Not solely does the M18i cowl these facets, nevertheless it does so with out dropping focus. The M18i retains components tidy and avoids smearing and conglomeration.

Click on page 2 below for my recommended pairings and selected comparisons.

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