Questyle CMA800R Current Mode Headphone Amplifier

Description:

Key features

• Hear music for the first time
• Current Mode Amplification
• Work principle
• 10mm Thick Aluminium cover and bottom chassis
• Mono full balanced function

What is it?

The sound from the Questyle CMA800R in combination with the HD800 is quite simply spectacular. Paired with the CMA800r it is smooth in the extreme but the bass is what comes to the fore with this pairing. It is fast, tight but also extends very well indeed. As a headphone amp the tonality matching with the HD800 is almost perfect and for other headphones it plays to obvious strengths.

The Questyle CMA800R is among the very best reference headphone amplifiers, regardless of price. While most people would be completely satisfied running one CMA800R as a stereo amp, adding a second CMA800R amplifier for mono full balanced mode does kick the performance up another notch, delving even deeper into the music to deliver world-class resolution, dynamics, and musicality. The Questyle CMA800R pairs well with many reference headphones; however, if you own a pair of Sennheiser HD800 headphones, your journey in “the pursuit of perfect sound” is over. You owe it to yourself (and your reference headphones) to buy the Questyle CMA800R amplifier (or two)!

How does it work?

Current-mode audio amplifiers affect the speed and bandwidth of the transistor-level capacitance between the low impedance nodes, not only completely eliminate the transient intermodulation distortion (TIMD), but can easily attain ultra-high bandwidth (full power bandwidth of 500kHz ) and ultra-low distortion (lower than 0.0002% , challenging the physical limits of audio testing). The CMA800R Current Mode Amplification section is of a fully discrete design and all transistors work in pure Class A.

Good specifications do not necessarily indicate a good amplifier, but a good amplifier will have good specifications. Patented Current Mode Amplification technology brings CMA800R excellent performance. 0.00038% ultra-low distortion, challenges the physical limit of audio testing. Ultra-wide bandwidth of 650kHz, is 32 times beyond human hearing.

The back panel of the CMA800R has one set of stereo balanced and one set of stereo unbalanced inputs, as well as a full balanced mono input. There is also a set of single-ended preamp outputs, a fuse panel, and an AC power socket. On the front panel, there is a power on/off button and a series of four status indicator lights, including power, output status, balanced input, and unbalanced input. To the right of the indicator lights is an input switch to select between the balanced and unbalanced stereo inputs. There are also two quarter-inch stereo headphone jacks and one three-pin XLR mono headphone jack, along with a toggle switch to select between them. Again, in mono mode, two CMA800R amplifiers are needed to separately drive the right and left headphone channels. To the far right, there is a volume control.

What’s in the box?

• CMA800R Current Mode Headphone Amplifier
• Warranty