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USB-C CABLE DONGLE · ESS ES9281AC

Questyle M12i

A USB-C cable dongle with an ESS ES9281AC DAC chip, a 3.5 mm output.

Manufacturer page · Price history

POWER AT 32 Ω21mW3.5 mm, per channel not stated
OUTPUT IMPEDANCENot statedNo data from the manufacturer
SNRNot statedNo data from the manufacturer
PRICE$49Lowest price at Questyle store
OUTPUTS3.5 mm
DAC CHIPESS ES9281AC
PARAMETRIC EQNot statedQuestyle lists none
CONTOURNot supported

Numbers are the manufacturer's stated figures unless marked as measured; sources linked below.

Outputs and power

3.5 mm
19mWat 16 Ω
Spec image: 19 mW at 16 Ω, auto low gain below 70Ω, per channel or both channels not stated
21mWat 32 Ω
Spec image: 21 mW at 32 Ω, auto low gain below 70Ω, per channel or both channels not stated
12.26mWat 300 Ω
Spec image: 12.26 mW at 300 Ω, auto high gain above 70Ω, per channel or both channels not stated
Output impedance -
THD+N0.0003%

Not stated: supply voltage, SNR, crosstalk.

Is it enough for your headphones?

Questyle rates the M12i at 21 mW into 32 Ω. Below is how much of that is left to spare for each kind of headphones when you listen loud, with peaks at 110 dB. A figure marked est. is worked out from that rating.

Sensitive IEMsMulti-driver sets that hiss on strong sources
needs 0.6 mW19 mW at 16 Ω+15 dB
Most IEMsTypical in-ears, 16 to 50 Ω
needs 3.2 mW21 mW at 32 Ω+8 dB
Easy-to-drive headphonesClosed and portable, 32 Ω
needs 16 mW21 mW at 32 Ω+1 dB
Hard-to-drive headphones300 Ω, HD 600 class, hungry for voltage
needs 20 mW12.26 mW at 300 Ω2 dB short
Most planarsPlanar magnetic, low impedance, need current
needs 50 mW21 mW at 32 Ω4 dB short
Demanding planarsThe hardest loads, desktop territory
needs 251 mWest. 18 mW at 60 Ω11 dB short

Where to buy

Some shop links are affiliate links: if you buy through one, I may earn a commission. Your price and the order stay the same.

Questyle store · official store price, checked 16 Oct 2026$49The HiFi Cat · read 11 Nov 2026$109

Price historyCompare prices on Soundblooms Deals

The device

From Questyle's spec images unless marked
InputUSB-C
FormatsPCM up to 32-bit / 768 kHz, DSD512
DAC chipESS ES9281AC
Works withAndroid 5.0+, Windows 10 version 1803+, iOS and Mac OS
Parametric EQNo data from the manufacturer. Not supported in Contour.
Lengthlength: 56.9; width: 20.2; depth: 9.5 mm

How it stacks up against the competition

Power at 32 Ω · price in US dollars
2 mW5 mW10 mW20 mW50 mW100 mW$20$30$50$70$100Most IEMs need 3.2 mW+8 dB to spareTANCHJIM SPACE LITE: 98 mW at 32 Ω, $39.99FiiO KA1: 45 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99iBasso DC03PRO: 98 mW at 32 Ω, $69iBasso DC05: 93 mW at 32 Ω, $69Hidizs S3 PRO: 55 mW at 32 Ω, $39.99Hidizs S9: 125 mW at 32 Ω, $49.99Hidizs SD2: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $35.99MOONDROP DAWN PRO 2: 62 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99TempoTec Sonata HD III: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $45.90HiBy FC3: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $39iFi GO link: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $59Snowsky Tiny A: 34 mW at 32 Ω, $19.99JCALLY AP7: 70 mW at 32 Ω, ~$45.73JCALLY JM7MAX: 118 mW at 32 Ω, $19.99JCALLY JM20: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$31.64JM20JCALLY JM20 PRO: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$35.46JCALLY JM30: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$27JCALLY JM30L: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, $26.99JCALLY JM30PRO: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$46.49JCALLY JM45: 20 mW at 32 Ω, ~$26.50JM45JCALLY JM45L: 20 mW at 32 Ω, ~$28.45JM45LJCALLY JM80E: 45 mW at 32 Ω, $39JCALLY SP30: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$54.61NiceHCK NK1 Ultra: 122 mW at 32 Ω, $29.99FiiO JIEZI B: 34 mW at 32 Ω, $22.99Questyle M12i2 mW5 mW10 mW20 mW50 mW100 mW$20$30$50$70$100Most IEMs need 3.2 mW+8 dB to spareTANCHJIM SPACE LITE: 98 mW at 32 Ω, $39.99FiiO KA1: 45 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99KA1iBasso DC03PRO: 98 mW at 32 Ω, $69iBasso DC05: 93 mW at 32 Ω, $69Hidizs S3 PRO: 55 mW at 32 Ω, $39.99Hidizs S9: 125 mW at 32 Ω, $49.99Hidizs SD2: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $35.99MOONDROP DAWN PRO 2: 62 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99TempoTec Sonata HD III: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $45.90HiBy FC3: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $39iFi GO link: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $59Snowsky Tiny A: 34 mW at 32 Ω, $19.99JCALLY AP7: 70 mW at 32 Ω, ~$45.73JCALLY JM7MAX: 118 mW at 32 Ω, $19.99JCALLY JM20: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$31.64JM20JCALLY JM20 PRO: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$35.46JM20 PROJCALLY JM30: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$27JM30JCALLY JM30L: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, $26.99JM30LJCALLY JM30PRO: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$46.49JM30PROJCALLY JM45: 20 mW at 32 Ω, ~$26.50JM45JCALLY JM45L: 20 mW at 32 Ω, ~$28.45JM45LJCALLY JM80E: 45 mW at 32 Ω, $39JM80EJCALLY SP30: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$54.61SP30NiceHCK NK1 Ultra: 122 mW at 32 Ω, $29.99FiiO JIEZI B: 34 mW at 32 Ω, $22.99Questyle M12i
  • Nearby
  • Same DAC chip
  • Most IEMs, 3.2 mW

Devices with the same DAC chip

ES9281AC · 3 devices use it
FiiOKA1≥45 mW$59.99≥45 mW · $59.99
QuestyleM15i2.4 mWEstimated$169est. 2.4 mW · $169

All 3 in the finder

Compared with

Manufacturers' stated figures; the price is today's lowest

Questyle M12i vs Questyle M15i

At 32 Ω Questyle M12i is listed at 21 mW and Questyle M15i at est. 2.4 mW; the lowest prices are $49 and $169, $120 apart.

Questyle M12i vs Questyle M15i: the manufacturers' stated figures and today's lowest price, side by side
Questyle M12iQuestyle M15i
Power at 32 Ω21 mW3.5 mm, low gainest. 2.4 mW4.4 mm balanced, THD+N=0.0003%
Power at 16 Ω19 mW3.5 mm, low gainNot stated
Power at 300 Ω12.26 mW3.5 mm, high gain22.6 mW4.4 mm balanced, THD+N=0.0003%
Price today$49Questyle store, 16 Oct$169Questyle store, 16 Oct
DAC chipESS ES9281ACESS ES9281AC
InputsUSB-CUSB-C
Outputs3.5 mm3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced
Sizelength: 56.9; width: 20.2; depth: 9.5 mm61.9 × 27.9 × 12 mm

Questyle M12i price history · Questyle M15i price history

More like this

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Sources

Checked 14 Oct 2026
Questyle M12i
questyle.com
Used for model and mfi certification claim