These devices finally solves one of the biggest wireless audio problem Questyle QCC Dongle / M18i review
- ducurguz
- 26 minutes ago
- 8 min read
We all know that in life, we love things that work in favour of our comfort. And we want to have results leisurely, rather than fight and take extra steps to the finish line.
Problem that it is solving
One thing, which I love to hate, is those external DAC/Headphone amplifier dongles. I love that they make my music on the go better, I hate that they are so cumbersome to use. I always felt that my phone stands awkwardly in my pocket. I always feel that while pulling my phone out of pocket I would accidentally disconnect them, or just pull something else like wallet accidentally out.
I do still carry them, but sometimes, mostly for sake of reviews. But I always just return to listen to music on Bluetooth while I am out. But we all know if we want to utilise the best from our Headphones, it is just not the way.
How QCC Dongle Solves it
And this is where this handy very small device comes into play. It is super unintrusive, small, light, you connect it to your phone and barely notice it. And it does improve the listening sessions so much. I honestly don’t know how I did not hear of this device sooner.
And how it does that, by improving the Bluetooth codec transmission between your phone and headphones. Our phones have regular Bluetooth, some more advanced have APTX transmission. But they lack any more bit HIFI codec like APTX HD, Lossless, Adaptive or LDAC.
These codecs allow for larger audio file transmission. For example, Aptx HD has 16 bit 48khz, Adaptive has 16 bit 96khz and LDAC is 24 bit 96khz transmission audio. These are probably not completely lossless but they are much, much better than regular Bluetooth transmission.
That helps that your file remains, information and details from more expensive HIFI files. And it gives great source to your headphones for them to sound better. Now your headphones also need to have those advanced Bluetooth receivers, so it is good to read the spec sheet of your headphones to see can they receive via Bluetooth these big files.
Now there are two variations of this QCC dongle, and that is regular and pro. But there is only one difference between them. Regular can do APTX, APTX HD and Adaptive, while PRO adds LDAC to the mix. Now LDAC is not so common among headphones, it is a codec that Sony created, while APTX was created by Qualcomm which is far more spread out among different devices.
So you can go with PRO only if you know that your device has LDAC, otherwise I would be pretty satisfied with regular edition. Which is in turn much cheaper, and comes at price of 50 to 60 dollars depending on where you buy it. While Pro is between 80 and 90 dollars. But owners of Sony headphones should definitely go for PRO as synergy is amazing and seamless between the two.
That is a really nice price, for what you get. As quality of sound improvements are really noticeable. I started using this even after I was done with my critical listenings for this review. It just stayed on my phone, if you charge your phone wirelessly you don’t even need to take it off it is that small and unintrusive.
Sonic Quality improvements
This is that quality of life improvement, that really matters, as our convenience is always going to be the king. As obviously dedicated DACs and amplifiers for your phone are always going to sound better than this. But they always require extra work for them to be so. But this way I just carry my phone and listen to music and there is less stuff between me and my music.
I cannot recommend this enough. The music versus the one from regular Bluetooth, is firstly off what you notice more open. It is the first thing, just how soundstage opens itself. It becomes more dynamic.
And that is the main point freeing your headphones to use their own strengths. The better drivers in your headphones the better they are going to utilise these larger less compressed files. It should not emphasise that even though this does improve the sound it is still your headphones that are dictating the final outcome.
But having this more dynamics, more soundstage, more insights certainly help.
Now it is important to notice as well this is not pushing the sonic limits like standalone DAC/Headphone amplifiers. Your Chord Mojos, Ifi Go Links, Audioquest Fireflys etc. Which also require wired connection.
But as far as convenience and Bluetooth goes, come on this does wonders.
Some small issues
Now there are few issues I would love to voice. Firstly off, this is mainly iOS tested device. So it works best with Apple devices, like iPhones, iPads etc. But as you do not get a lightning adapter, this only works best with iPhone 15+. If you want to work on older iPhones you need to add an additional dongle. Like USB C to lightning, but that is just killing the original purpose of device.
And for Android, while it works, it requires additional tinkering around edges. There is on their site a Q&A for setting it to work properly with Android. But all that work kind made me sad that it does not work so seamlessly like on iPhone. Big issue that Android sometimes limits the audio output via USB etc, and you need to bypass that. But this is not the only device that had those issues both my Ifi Go link, and Audioquest Firefly had similar issues.
Beside that I had no issues, the price for regular QCC dongle is just great, and it does what it is supposed to do. Just you need to check specifications of your headphones to see can it really reap the benefits of this device. If it does not have advanced APTX receivers, there is no benefit of this device.
Middle of the road Solution
One middle of the road case that I enjoyed was with additional Questyle M18i portable DAC/Headphone amplifier. If you add on that device into USB port QCC dongle you will get even with wired phones sort of quasi wireless solution. That will use always LDAC.
But let’s explain while sound testing it, I did an interesting experiment I took QCC Dongle and put it on M18i. Connected my headphones via cable to M18i, and connected my smartphone via QCC dongle. My phone started immediately to transmit LDAC, to headphone/DAC amplifier. So highest quality transmission.
I put that DAC/headphone amp into my back pocket and never moved it from there, as all other control I had on my mobile phone. It solved few of my issues with constantly moving my phone from pocket to see time, calls, internet browse etc. And made that experience a bit better. As it just stays there and I forgot that it was there. And you also get a better sonic quality than with just QCC dongle. As adding additional DAC in the middle does make sound much better. But not like straight connection with cable.
Now this opens bunch other questions, like why use Bluetooth when you can cable connect it for full lossless transmissions, but this is variant if you hate same thing that I hate to help a little. But when used at home, I don’t see why anybody will connect these two devices to use them haha.
Questyle M18i Review
And few words on M18i. It is an amazing, straightforward device that excels in its price range. But has awful battery life. It feels like it is built to be a portable headphone/DAC but battery is just so poor that I do not understand that choice at all.
As I love how it looks, how it feels. I love how there is no additional apps, no just plug it in and it works. Like everything else should. Sound is amazingly detailed, so maybe a bit bright, so it might push some headphones to a bit uncomfortable territories.
It is also full bodied, that is what actually pushes me to listen this more than Audioquest, or iBasso DAC/amp dongles. It is just so fun to listen to it, very vivid and energised sound.
It clearly has bite at top, but remains full bodied and carries the music. It is an amazing device that can work great with phones, with computers, and even has its own Bluetooth. It has one USB port for audio connection, and other for powering it, so you can theoretically attach power bank. But please why would anyone do that, to carry big bulky power bank with itself.
It is also decently clear and opens the soundstage great. While not top of the line DAC it is greatly incorporated, to clean mids, to make sense of complex compositions, and to allow good amount background transparency beneath.
It is a Dual ESS ES9219Q DAC, the internal structure follows what they call TTA, or Three-Tier Architecture, which consists of a dedicated DAC stage, a preamp section, and a separate output stage. Using premium architecture for best results.
It has 260 milliwatts to drive headphones, so it should comfortably drive many headphones.
Just an amazing device that is hampered by very weak 500mah battery. Just I don’t get it, such great looking, premium components, fantastic sound. And you carry it with you and it lasts around 2 hours only.
But I really love this device.
Conclusion
Conclusion is something I know long time ago, but some device drive the point home better than others. That convenience is the king. So QCC Dongle really drives that point straight to your ears. A very small, inconspicuous device that upgrades your sound and is easy to carry and use.
What else is there, but to just choose between regular or pro. M18i is also another diamond in rough, a small pocketable headphone amp/DAC that delivers amazing results in beautiful just plug and play mode.
It will improve your life, and your sonics and deliver on a promise of more pocketable hifi with less obstructions.
Thanks for watching keep daydreaming! And see you on a next video.
Buy QCC Dongle PRO:
Buy M18i:
Pros
Addresses a real problem: Highlights frustration with traditional DAC/amp dongles being cumbersome and inconvenient.
Strong case for QCC Dongle:
Small, light, and unobtrusive.
Noticeable sound quality improvements compared to standard Bluetooth.
Supports advanced codecs (aptX HD, Adaptive, LDAC with Pro model).
Affordable pricing ($50–60 for regular, $80–90 for Pro).
Works seamlessly with iPhone 15+ devices.
Good synergy with compatible headphones, especially Sony models with LDAC.
Sonic improvements:
Wider soundstage, more dynamics, better clarity.
Lets headphones utilize their full potential with higher-bitrate codecs.
Convenience focus: Don't claim to beat wired DAC/amps like Chord Mojo or iFi, but emphasizes quality-of-life and portability.
Creative testing: Experiment with combining QCC Dongle + Questyle M18i shows flexibility and different use cases.
Questyle M18i mini-review:
Excellent sound (detailed, full-bodied, vivid).
Good build and simple plug-and-play design.
Decent driving power (260 mW, Dual ESS ES9219Q DAC with tiered architecture).
Cons
Compatibility issues:
Works best with iOS (iPhone 15+).
Older iPhones need extra dongles, undermining convenience.
Android setup requires tinkering; not seamless.
Limited usefulness: Only benefits headphones that support advanced codecs (otherwise pointless).
Still not top-tier sound but getting closer:
Doesn’t match standalone DAC/amps in absolute fidelity.
Sound improvement depends heavily on headphone quality.
M18i drawbacks:
Very weak 500 mAh battery (≈2 hours runtime).
Can be bright with some headphones.
Odd design choice for a "portable" device with such poor battery life.