This device redefines portable audio brilliance!

[@Maver1ck911]

I wanted the Questyle CMA 18P but the noise floor was too much for iems... I ended up getting a BTR17! Up from the BTR7, replaced my Qudelix 5k (left on a plane). Sold my RU6 (never used it/NOS wasn't the novelty I wanted it to be for rates under 96/192Khz). I think the most important take-away from all of these dongle iterations is that if you already have one... just keep enjoying it. If you don't have one, and are a first-time buyer, never a better time for this use-case!

[@saxtant]

I think the Fiio btr17 was a better choice. Balanced THX amps.

[@reflection1119]

Have you ever tried the Qudelix 5K? I have that as well as the M15, the cayin RU6, RU7N, Onix Alpha... The Qudelix 5K is still yhe one to beat IMO

[@datdudeinred]

I just got the audirect team 1 magsafe edition. What a brilliant piece of engineering. Simplest but most important use of common sense I've ever seen. It has magsafe & an 18650 replacable rechargeable battery. And ofc great power & audio quality to the boot & easily the best build & looks(pink color ❤) too & it's 250 with discounts so almost half as much as this. Also the only other amps dacs with replacable batteries are i think the shanling h9 & also the cayin c9 or something. But ofc much larger & not portable.

[@pancakeflux]

I like how they list support for “PSP gaming consoles” 😂 I still have my PSP but I can’t say I’ve ever used it as a music player

[@Hijynx87]

apparently the psp has a wolfson dac in it.

[@AnotherAnonymousMan]

I just bought a Fiio BTR17... Would be interesting to see a head to head...

[@fuss8116]

Love my Qudelix 5k since many years.

[@jinx20001]

you mentioned the chord mojo 2 as being about the best sounding portable device around but it really does come down to the headset you are using... obviously, but in this case i have the mojo 2 and ifi idsd signature side by side using relatively easy headphones to drive (arya stealth) and surprisingly the mojo 2 really struggles to deliver the punch and distortion is quite audible when you push it, the signature on the other hand has no such troubles. Ofcourse there is a significant difference in power delivery but i mention this because these two portables are around the same price today. On the flip side however i also have U12T in ears and they are just sublime on the mojo 2 but obviously its so much easier to drive those. I do think the mojo 2 falls apart with a semi demanding headset even if on paper it should have no issue at all. Maybe its a hungry planar thing, we all know they like the volts and mojo's running out of steam at 5v.

[@marcinnowicki5421]

Have it got next, prev track and play/pause buttons?

[@NawfalHasan]

xDuoo ta-32 is out. Can we expect a review?

[@rvenden]

I just got thee M15C and am very impressed. It drives both my Astell & Kern Michelle iems and my Focal Elegias very well. It would be great to hear the audible differences between the two M15 units and the M18i. Thanks for reviewing these dongles!

[@MrKentaroMotoPI]

Looking at their website, I see full differential output, but no mention of analog volume control or DSP. They should provide a lot more information for a device at this price point.

[@techsurvival101]

Did you test the microphone at all? For me that's something I would probably use more than the Bluetooth.

[@matthewhilty4209]

I heard it at Socal Canjam , sounded great. It made me question why I need a desktop amp (unless you like tubes of course).

[@1fareast14]

Same, but it sounded overly dry and detail-forward in a weird way, I preferred the mojo 2

[@CristianHeredia0]

@@1fareast14 I was wondering how this compared to the compared to the mojo2. It is about the same price as a used a mojo2.

[@invisiblekid99]

When you say the cable didn't play nice, what did you mean?

[@MML66]

But is it worth it to be twice the price of devices like the BTR17 or the iFi hip-dac 3, and several times more expensive than the DAP Hiby R4?

[@xyanide1986]

I had a questyle cma400i and found it lacking in bass and dynamics compared to ifi offerings. Wonder how this holds up

[@LouisFarraconn]

Ill stick to my peasant qudelix 5k. With the app, it so so good.

[@CookinBeatloaf]

Same.

[@sebanambrus9265]

how it sounds vs the CMA18p ?

[@CervezasObsonMex]

I stay with cayin ru7 and onix alpha.

[@oskarfernandez716]

Hi! Thanks for your review! Have you tried the CMA18Portable? And if yes, how is this compared to the CMA18P? Thanks!😊

[@davestevens4193]

qudelix 5K DAC/amp $110 USD with battery, powerful PEQ.

[@MML66]

Rather, for me, having 2.5 is a fatal thing, because if you make most of your wires 2.5 in order to benefit from the balanced output, then you go to another device to a desktop DAP or DAC AMP dongle, and you do not benefit from the wires because they are 3.5 and 4.4.

[@reflection1119]

@@MML66 easily solved with a 2.5 to 4.4 adapter. DD hifi do a good one but I imagine there are many others.

[@janfreshman_82]

Will this ess dac really sound better than the r2r cayin ru7?

[@dragosthule]

Your looking at this the wrong way. Your looking at it as a purely portable device. Most people who buy portable, also use it as their desktop solution. Thats why ifi and others, sell out of 1k+$ "portable" devices.

[@RuiPret]

Nope, 400 bucks for a portable DAC makes no sense…

[@danilaros]

I must agree…with that price you buy a full DAP like Hiby R4 and save some money.

[@BilboTaybaggin]

“not a cheap dongle” dude you covered over $1,000 audio gear anything cheap from your mouth should be under $20-$500 not $500-$3,000