From CDA-M1P to CDA-M2, it is evident that Colorfly, a brand under the Colorful umbrella, is making significant strides in the portable DAC and headphone amplifier market, often referred to as "little tails." The brand has been launching new products at a rapid pace, and its product lineup across different price points is becoming increasingly comprehensive. However, it came as a surprise when they quickly introduced another new product—the CDA-M2 Titanium (hereinafter referred to as M2-Ti). This is a higher-end product, jumping from the sub-$100 CDA-M2 to the $150 price range, making it the flagship model of Colorfly's "little tail" portable DAC and headphone amplifiers. So, what sets it apart?

Colorfly CDA-M2 Titanium Specifications:

DAC Chip: Cirrus Logic CS43198 x 2

Operational Amplifier Chip: XR 2001 x 2

Display: 128x64 OLED

Frequency Response Range: 20Hz~20kHz

Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 130dB

Dynamic Range: 130dB

Decoding Formats: PCM 32bit/768kHz

DSD256/NativeDSD256/Dop

Output Level: 2Vrms@RL=600Ω single-ended output

4Vrms@RL=600Ω balanced output

Maximum Output Power: 125mW@RL=32Ω single-ended output

250mW@RL=32Ω balanced output

THD+N: -114dB@RL=600Ω, 0dB/balanced

-106dB@RL=32Ω, 100mW/balanced

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-112dB@RL=600Ω, 0dB/single-ended

-108dB@RL=32Ω, 100mW/single-ended

Headphone Interface: 3.5mm single-ended, 4.4mm balancedUSB Port: USB-C

Firmware Upgrade: Support for future upgrades

Dimensions: 58mm × 25mm × 13.5mm

Weight: Approximately 39g

Reference Price: 1599 yuan

Shaped with "Titanium"

Combining Acoustic Advantages with Texture

The most striking external feature of the M2-Ti is undoubtedly the titanium alloy, marking Colorfly's first exploration of new materials in its "little tail" products. The M2-Ti uses aerospace-grade TA15 titanium alloy material, which not only endows the casing with a strong and robust strength but also creates an ideal acoustic operating environment. This is thanks to the characteristics of titanium alloy—its non-magnetic nature, resistance to radio frequency interference, low thermal conductivity, and low electrical conductivity, which can protect the operation of high-performance audio circuits.

Why, despite having so many advantages, is titanium metal not widely adopted in audio products? One of the main reasons is the high processing requirements for the high-strength titanium metal. People who enjoy outdoor activities should know that it's not uncommon for a titanium metal folding handle mug to be several times more expensive than a stainless steel one. Colorfly's processing of the M2-Ti casing uses a solid piece of titanium metal raw material, which is precisely shaped through repeated CNC cutting, resulting in its angular and curved surface. It can be said that behind every smoothly polished M2-Ti, there are many unfinished rejects and worn-out cutting heads.

The overall design of the M2-Ti follows the classic family features of Colorfly's M series. The interface area echoes the coaxial ring design of the CDA-M1P but has been changed to have a more layered feel, allowing it to better integrate with the product's own contours and showcase a unique design aesthetic. The rounded yet firm contours on both sides inherit the M series' iconic streamlined curves, and after fine polishing, they present a warm and smooth touch like jade. This not only highlights the unique texture of titanium metal but also avoids a cold and hard tactile impression through the craftsmanship, ensuring visual harmony and a comfortable hand-held experience.Due to changes in the shell material, the M2-Ti has gained more than ten grams compared to the CDA-M2, which does not affect its portability. Personally, I prefer the solid feeling when it's in the palm of my hand. When connected to a smartphone via a USB cable, the user picks up the phone, and the M2-Ti hangs in the air; its weight does not create a noticeable dragging sensation.

What is TA15 titanium alloy?

TA15 titanium alloy, with a nominal composition of Ti-6.5Al-2Zr-1Mo-1V, has an aluminum equivalent of 6.58% and a molybdenum equivalent of 2.46%. It belongs to a near-α type titanium alloy with high Al content. It not only inherits the excellent traditions of α type titanium alloys, with outstanding heat strength and weldability, but also integrates the processing plasticity close to α-β type titanium alloys, making it very manageable during processing. It can maintain a stable temperature of 500°C for 3000 hours of operation, with an instantaneous temperature of up to 800°C, demonstrating strong heat resistance. In terms of physical properties, its density is 4.450g/cm³, the elastic modulus at room temperature reaches 118GPa, and the Poisson's ratio is 0.39. The hardness ranges from 225HBS to 341HBS, and the phase transition point is 1000°C±20°C. Under the environment of 450°C, the lifespan of TA15 titanium alloy can be as long as 6000 hours, and it is widely used in manufacturing structural parts and welding load-bearing components that work for a long time below 500°C. As a high-performance material, TA15 titanium alloy has a broad range of applications, whether it's various blades and casings of engines, or various sheet metal parts, beams, joints, large panels, and welding load-bearing frames of aircraft, they all rely on its presence.

Rich adjustable functions

Screen operation is more convenient

The M2-Ti device is mainly colored in titanium alloy, with a black area on the front that contains an OLED screen with a resolution of 128×64. Next to the screen is the "COLORFLY" logo. As a "little tail" product in the 1500 yuan range, having a screen is a standard configuration for this level. The benefits of the screen are self-evident—it allows for more intuitive settings and adjustments on the device itself without the need for an app. When connected to a smartphone and starting to work, the most prominent position on the M2-Ti screen will display the audio source format and sampling rate, with smaller text showing volume level, gain level, filter mode, UAC mode, and S/PDIF output switch. By long-pressing the function button on the side of the device, you can enter the settings interface to adjust and set gain mode, channel balance, filter mode, gaming mode, S/PDIF output, and screen inversion. The display content is in English, but for users familiar with audio products, there is no barrier to understanding.

The M2-Ti has three control buttons arranged in a line on the side of the device: the volume control button is designed as an integrated unit, and the function button is separate from it. Due to the clear distinction in button sizes, blind operation is easy to locate. The M2-Ti has a fixed volume memory function, which is very practical as it retains the last set volume level when connected to any front-end device.

Specifically, let's talk about the various adjustable options available on the M2-Ti. In terms of gain mode, it offers two settings: high and low gain, designed to match different types of headphones: the high gain mode is optimized for driving over-ear headphones, while the low gain mode is more suitable for in-ear headphones with higher sensitivity, ensuring that users can better bring out the sound quality of various headphones. Personalization of sound is further reflected in the five digital filter options it provides, allowing users to switch according to their preferences for music styles (such as a preference for smoother tones or more distinct detail performance) to achieve a better auditory experience.

For players who are keen on combining high-quality audio equipment with gaming experiences, the M2-Ti also supports the UAC 1.0 gaming mode (supporting up to 16bit/44.1kHz or 48kHz format audio source input), enabling seamless connection with mainstream gaming consoles such as Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5. Using the M2-Ti as the audio decoder for these gaming consoles, paired with suitable headphones or speakers, will undoubtedly significantly enhance the auditory immersion in games. In terms of compatibility, the M2-Ti fully covers the current mainstream operating systems: whether it's Android-based smartphones or Windows PCs and laptops, or Apple's various products including Mac OS, iPad OS, and iOS systems, the M2-Ti can be plugged in and used immediately, ensuring that users can still enjoy a high-quality audio output experience when switching between different platforms.

Premium accessoriesEnhancing Product Value

Although the accessories included with the M2-Ti are not numerous, each one is a high-quality item. Colorfly has meticulously designed an exclusive genuine oil-waxed leather protective case for the M2-Ti, using imported first-layer cowhide that has undergone an oil-waxing process on the outer layer. Over time, this oil-waxed leather case naturally absorbs the user's slight sweat and daily minor wear and tear, gradually evolving into a unique color change and texture marks, like the imprint of time, showing an increasingly charming retro charm. The color inspiration for the protective case is drawn from the coffee bean roasting process, with the front and back adopting a light roast tone, warm and elegant, while the sides simulate the rich color of dark roast, making the entire protective case more layered. The large window design on the front allows users to easily view the screen, and the edge of the window is reinforced with a manganese steel plate, combined with exquisite lock-stitch craftsmanship, which not only strengthens the protective performance but also adds aesthetic details, ensuring a perfect combination of beauty and practicality.

The data cable that comes with the M2-Ti is a custom-made product by Colorfly in collaboration with the well-known audio enthusiast brand dd HiFi. This data cable uses an advanced double-layer shielding parallel structure, which effectively isolates the electrical current from the data signal, preventing mutual interference and ensuring the purity and stability of the signal transmission. The internal insulating material is made of high-precision foamed PE material from Japan's NUC, known for its excellent insulating performance and signal transmission efficiency; the exterior is wrapped with a layer of SoftFlex PVC material from the United States, which is not only highly transparent, soft to the touch, and durable, but also provides additional protection for the cable while giving it an impressive appearance.

Solid Performance

Continuing the Music Player Architecture

In the choice of core components, specifically the DAC chip, the M2-Ti is equipped with two flagship Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips, endowing it with powerful audio analysis capabilities, supporting high-resolution audio up to PCM 32bit/768kHz and DSD256 format. Its outstanding signal-to-noise ratio of 130dB and a total harmonic distortion plus noise (THD+N) of -114dB (in a balanced output at 600Ω load and 0dB gain) indicate the M2-Ti's confidence in audio purity.

To maximize the potential of the flagship chip, the M2-Ti introduces the audio architecture of Colorfly's U-series music players and is equipped with a new JitterKill femtosecond clock technology. It uses the ASYNC asynchronous mode to reorganize the data stream, effectively avoiding interference caused by USB clock jitter and SRC (sample rate conversion), ensuring the pure transmission and stability of the audio signal.

In terms of hardware design, the M2-Ti uses a high-standard 6-layer gold-plated PCB board, separating the digital and analog circuits and adding an independent shielding layer to effectively block electromagnetic interference between them, further enhancing the purity of the sound quality and overall performance.

The M2-Ti is configured with two high-performance XR 2001 independent operational amplifiers, complementing the two CS43198 DAC chips, driving the 4.4mm balanced output and the 3.5mm single-ended output respectively, achieving an output power of 125mW (single-ended, 32Ω) and 250mW (balanced, 32Ω), sufficient to cope with various headphones. In addition, the 3.5mm interface of the M2-Ti also integrates an S/PDIF coaxial output function, which can not only serve as a high-quality audio output port but also as a digital interface, providing digital signals to external decoders, expanding its application possibilities in different audio systems and meeting the needs of audio enthusiasts for diverse application scenarios.Listening Experience

I connected the M2-Ti to the USB-C port of an Android phone and then linked it to the FiiO FH15 earphones via a 4.4mm balanced interface. Comparing the performance of the headphones under high and low gain settings, it is evident that the former does not merely increase volume or brightness. The rich details and information allow listeners to more easily grasp the layers and dynamics in music while maintaining a balanced and stable frequency response with a clear and deep background. It is apparent that the M2-Ti has a high compatibility with high gain, and I also recommend activating this mode for low impedance, high sensitivity earphones.

The M2-Ti has a neutral and cool sound signature, providing ample energy and density. Its low frequencies exhibit sufficient cohesion, reflected in excellent elasticity and texture. Even though the depth of the bass is not particularly profound, the solid impact and moderate quantity still create a good bass atmosphere. The M2-Ti has a clear vocal portrayal, maintaining the central position of the singer while delivering a touching and delicate listening experience through full, detail-rich imaging contours, with good emotional conveyance. In the high-frequency range, the M2-Ti brings more Hi-Fi flavor—capable of stimulating the rich details of instruments, authentically reproducing timbres, and fully displaying delicate textures and subtle dynamic changes. At the same time, it is well-balanced, avoiding overly sharp or aggressive listening experiences, maintaining sufficient smoothness. This delicate, stretched, and bright sound line not only highlights the texture of the instruments but also enhances the overall expressiveness of the music.

I also tested the effect of pairing the Sennheiser HD600 with the M2-Ti, connected via the 4.4mm port, high gain. Although its output power is not exaggerated, it does not "shy away" when paired with the HD600, especially with the bass's elasticity and quantity, which are quite good, and the overall push is decent. It should be no problem to pair with "not so hard to drive" large headphones.

In summary, while maintaining the various upgrades of the CDA-M2, the M2-Ti innovatively introduces titanium alloy as the body material, fully utilizing its characteristics to bring a robust and durable quality to the product. It further creates an ideal internal environment for components, ensuring that it can deliver an audio architecture at the level of a music player and the audio quality that flagship components should have. Compared to the CDA-M2, the M2-Ti comes with a custom dd HiFi data cable that is worth an additional 200 yuan, and its exclusive oil-waxed leather protective case further enhances its value. With excellent compatibility, the Colorfly M2-Ti is an ideal choice for diverse application scenarios. Whether used with smartphones or personal computers to enhance daily music playback quality, connected to gaming consoles to enhance the immersion of game audio, or as a digital interface combined with various decoders to unlock more high-quality audio experiences for users, the M2-Ti is more than capable.