A Thread Dedicated to Cirrus Logic CS43131

[mc.god]

I can confirm that I also get the "scratching" noise with my JM20 when waking it up, however I don't hear any hissing or popping. Weirdly though, in windows it shows up as a MBQuart MB20P? (I got it from what seems to be a reputable seller online). On the outside it looks exactly as pictured in this thread.

If I'm not mistaken, this DAC has a high/low gain mode. Is there any way to adjust that, along with hardware volume on Windows?

Hi and welcome to ASR.
Yes, that brief "scratching" every time it resumes from sleep mode is the only minor issue I can blame to the dongle.
MBquart MB20P is essentially the same unit under different brand, I connected the JM20 to Windows just briefly long time ago, I don't remember how it was recognized but for sure not as MBquart, i would remember it, maybe some mishap in reseller stocked items...

 

[police4896]

It's not really a high/low gain.

Instead, the JM20 will measure the headphone impedance at startup and limit output voltage accordingly.

The aim is to prevent clipping regardless of headphone impedance and volume.

Here's the result:
View attachment 378762

You can trick/bypass this mechanism by plugging an "empty" extension cable into the dongle, then the dongle into your phone/PC, then your headphone into the extension cable.

That way, the impedance sensing is defeated and the JM20 can output more voltage/power, even hard-clipping the built-in Amp in some circumstances.

Hardware volume can be adjusted on Windows using the default volume control:
View attachment 378766

If a compatible DAC is recognized, then Windows will automatically switch to controlling it directly.

Hardware volume control and impedance sense auto gain are completely separate mechanisms on the JM20.

Thank you, that was very informative. I was confused when my volume suddenly was way higher even at the same windows audio level, thought it was the auto gain I read about here messing up. Probably was just a bug with Peace EQ.

 

[CedarX]

I can confirm that I also get the "scratching" noise with my JM20 when waking it up, however I don't hear any hissing or popping. Weirdly though, in windows it shows up as a MBQuart MB20P?

Did you happen to use a MBQuart MB20P before (even a long time ago)? Windows does not always “refresh” the name of connected devices correctly: if the driver is the same as something that was previously installed, the new device may show up under the same name as the old device (same driver).
Uninstalling the driver first and reconnecting the JM20–to let Windows re-install the driver—should fix the name issue…

 

[police4896]

Did you happen to use a MBQuart MB20P before (even a long time ago)? Windows does not always “refresh” the name of connected devices correctly: if the driver is the same as something that was previously installed, the new device may show up under the same name as the old device (same driver).
Uninstalling the driver first and reconnecting the JM20–to let Windows re-install the driver—should fix the name issue…

Well no, the JM20 was the first DAC I connected to my PC. Tried what you said the name still stays the same. But not a big issue tbh. I think maybe the manufacturer installed the wrong ROM?

 

[CedarX]

Well no, the JM20 was the first DAC I connected to my PC. Tried what you said the name still stays the same. But not a big issue tbh. I think maybe the manufacturer installed the wrong ROM?

It could very well be the wrong ROM… Or it’s actually a MB20P. I don’t know if JCally and MBQuart are actual manufacturers, or they are just branding standard OEM products. The JM20 and MB20P could be the exact same thing, and the third party OEM just ran out of one version and shipped the other instead, or they just mixed up the ROMs and USB id names…

 

[mc.god]

Just to note that the MBquart dongle nearly identical to JM20 is the MB21P, that was reviewd at L7audiolab:

https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/measurements-of-mbquart-mb21p-usbdac-hpamp/

For what i was able to find about MB20P, it should be a different bigger model with detachable cable, more likely the equivalent of Jcally JM10

Techincally should all be the same pcb inside.

 

[markanini]

New device https://www.linsoul.com/products/blon-v1

 

[mc.god]

New device https://www.linsoul.com/products/blon-v1

Nice transparent looking, I always appreciate being able to see the guts Can't figure out the scope of that side protuberance, probably just aesthetics.
I'm curious what the third button is for, if it's gain setting it could be a nice alternative to Sonata BHD for a very good price, I thought it could be the same device but nope, the pcb is different:

 

[markanini]

Some more options I've discovered at a similar price point and form factor.

JCALLY JM10 PRO Digital Audio Portable Amplifier Type C To 3.5 mm Adapter

Buy JCALLY JM10 PRO USB C DAC Earphone Amplifier CS43131 Type c To 3.5 mm Jack Audio Interface 32Bit 384KHz DSD256 Decoding For Lightning AMP on HiFiGo,you can enjoy a year warranty and the best after-sales service.

hifigo.com

TempoTec Sonata HDIII

Professional hardware volume control With the newly designed volume button, you may adjust the volume smoothly by 32 scales, enhancing the listening experience. Inspired by the volume control button on modern smartphones, the "+" and "-" buttons are not visible on the outside as they are...

www.linsoul.com

 

[mc.god]

Some more options I've discovered at a similar price point and form factor.

JCALLY JM10 PRO Digital Audio Portable Amplifier Type C To 3.5 mm Adapter

Buy JCALLY JM10 PRO USB C DAC Earphone Amplifier CS43131 Type c To 3.5 mm Jack Audio Interface 32Bit 384KHz DSD256 Decoding For Lightning AMP on HiFiGo,you can enjoy a year warranty and the best after-sales service.

hifigo.com

TempoTec Sonata HDIII

Professional hardware volume control With the newly designed volume button, you may adjust the volume smoothly by 32 scales, enhancing the listening experience. Inspired by the volume control button on modern smartphones, the "+" and "-" buttons are not visible on the outside as they are...

www.linsoul.com

About JM10 i posted a review by hifigo itself earlier when discussing of MBquart MB20, this "pro" version seems an aesthetic upgrade with glass surfaces and better cable to feel more premium.
Sonata HD III was always a bit shady to me, is should be the latest iteration of HD Pro (same drivers, so same SA9312 usb bridge), maybe better enclosure and buttons., but on official Tempotec page, while they start specifying CS43131, then at the middle of the page suddenly advertise ESS9218 out of nowhere, so not fully clear:
https://www.tempotec.net/collection...tec-sonata-hd-iii-android-version-ios-version

 

[markanini]

About JM10 i posted a review by hifigo itself earlier when discussing of MBquart MB20, this "pro" version seems an aesthetic upgrade with glass surfaces and better cable to feel more premium.
Sonata HD III was always a bit shady to me, is should be the latest iteration of HD Pro (same drivers, so same SA9312 usb bridge), maybe better enclosure and buttons., but on official Tempotec page, while they start specifying CS43131, then at the middle of the page suddenly advertise ESS9218 out of nowhere, so not fully clear:
https://www.tempotec.net/collection...tec-sonata-hd-iii-android-version-ios-version

That's problematic without clarification that you will get CS43131 delivered. Return policy and screenshots before ordering! At best it could be the cheapest ASIO option in this form factor. For now, more info regarding Blon V1 is pending. BTW right now a $44 deal is shown to me on Sonata BHD https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006376954338.html

 

[CedarX]

About JM10 i posted a review by hifigo itself earlier when discussing of MBquart MB20, this "pro" version seems an aesthetic upgrade with glass surfaces and better cable to feel more premium.
Sonata HD III was always a bit shady to me, is should be the latest iteration of HD Pro (same drivers, so same SA9312 usb bridge), maybe better enclosure and buttons., but on official Tempotec page, while they start specifying CS43131, then at the middle of the page suddenly advertise ESS9218 out of nowhere, so not fully clear:
https://www.tempotec.net/collection...tec-sonata-hd-iii-android-version-ios-version

This range of "Sonata HD" dongles is kind of a mess... I believe the Sonata HD III is using a single ES9218 DAC/Amp. The Sonata HD II was using an ES9270 chip, and the original HD reviewed by Amir was using a CS42L (not 100% sure about that one...). There was a Sonata HD V with 2x ES9219 chips and balanced output but it appears discontinued, and I don't think there ever was an Sonata HD IV...
I believe the Sonata HD Pro (Hidisz S8 twin) is the one using a CS43131.

 

[mc.god]

This range of "Sonata HD" dongles is kind of a mess... I believe the Sonata HD III is using a single ES9218 DAC/Amp. The Sonata HD II was using an ES9270 chip, and the original HD reviewed by Amir was using a CS42L (not 100% sure about that one...). There was a Sonata HD V with 2x ES9219 chips and balanced output but it appears discontinued, and I don't think there ever was an Sonata HD IV...
I believe the Sonata HD Pro (Hidisz S8 twin) is the one using a CS43131.

Yes, messy for sure, and you didn't put in the cauldron the E35 (dual 43131 but with SE 3.5 output), E44 (dual 43131 with 4.4 balanced output) original BHD (dual 43131 with 2.5 bal output) and MHD (ES9281), all discontinued now apart E44.
E44 and E35 didn't even perform very well for L7audiolab measurements, so i consider them like sort of experiments that brought to the definitive release of BHD Pro (that measured very well here at ASR) and actual BHD (that i hope measures equally well)

BTW right now a $44 deal is shown to me on Sonata BHD https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006376954338.html

It's going on sale often lately and it's a bargain, with other coupons i got mine for 34€ and I am plenty happy with it, only minor issue is that volume control is not very fine, hardware buttons have only around 25-30 steps and you can't finely control it in OS or hardware volume in UAPP, so you can only control software volume into apps other than volume physical buttons.

 

[Tell]

I just got a Jcally JM20 in the mail and it works flawlessly on my computer, but my Android won't recognise it at all, anyone else had any similar problem? I have used other dongles in the past without a problem so don:t understand why this one won't work

 

[mc.god]

I just got a Jcally JM20 in the mail and it works flawlessly on my computer, but my Android won't recognise it at all, anyone else had any similar problem? I have used other dongles in the past without a problem so don:t understand why this one won't work

Not using it usually with my phone but the couple of times i tried it worked fine on a Realme 7 5G with Android 12 and correctly recognized by Hiby Music App usb exclusive mode

Did you use the previous dongles with the same phone? My Realme needs me to manually activate otg function before connecting, since it normally stays off, but don't know if it's standard for all modern android or depends on manufacturer implementation.

 

[Tell]

Did you use the previous dongles with the same phone? My Realme needs me to manually activate otg function before connecting, since it normally stays off, but don't know if it's standard for all modern android or depends on manufacturer implementation.

Ah yes that's it! I remember now it was the same with my previous dongles that I eeeevery time had to enable OTG since it turns off after ten minutes of inactivity. I hate this kind of stupidity, just let me use whatever setting I want to without it being disabled ;\
Anyway thanks! Now I'm gonna enjoy my new 7Hz Zero 2 with the Jcally JM20. Sounds awesome (with a bit of EQ)!

 

[doc2c]

Ah yes that's it! I remember now it was the same with my previous dongles that I eeeevery time had to enable OTG since it turns off after ten minutes of inactivity. I hate this kind of stupidity, just let me use whatever setting I want to without it being disabled ;\
Anyway thanks! Now I'm gonna enjoy my new 7Hz Zero 2 with the Jcally JM20. Sounds awesome (with a bit of EQ)!

I love android, it's my primary phone, but their way of handling USB dacs is just frustrating.

On newer android phones, s23U, s24, Pixel 7 Pro, pixel 8 pro that I can confirm (most likely all android 13-15 phones), you get a faint clicking sound every few seconds on sensitive IEMs when the dac doesn't do ADC (i.e doesn't have microphone input).

That rules out a bunch of good dacs for me.

Their lack of support for USB hardware volume is another bummer.


Hope they get their ish together

 

[mc.god]

Artti joined the crowd

ARTTI i01

trendy windowed design, single CS43198, so some external op-amp as output stage, but power specs are a mess to understand... Well, single ended, no volume control, fixed cable on that form factor... Honestly they could have done better nowadays.

 

[CedarX]

Artti joined the crowd

ARTTI i01

trendy windowed design, single CS43198, so some external op-amp as output stage, but power specs are a mess to understand... Well, single ended, no volume control, fixed cable on that form factor... Honestly they could have done better nowadays.

So is Kinera…

CD-10: dual CS43198 (bridge and amp chips ????). 140mW / 2V RMS in SE (3.5mm), 300mW / 4V RMS in balanced mode (4.4mm). HW vol. buttons. Switchable UAC 1/2 modes, Low/High gain.
$69 at the Kinera store on AE…

I assume it’s perfectly fine… The use of a CS93198, and not CS43131, is interesting.

They’ve also announced a CD-20 built around a (single?) ES9039Q2M…

 

[mc.god]

So is Kinera…
View attachment 394439

CD-10: dual CS43198 (bridge and amp chips ????). 140mW / 2V RMS in SE (3.5mm), 300mW / 4V RMS in balanced mode (4.4mm). HW vol. buttons. Switchable UAC 1/2 modes, Low/High gain.
$69 at the Kinera store on AE…

I assume it’s perfectly fine… The use of a CS93198, and not CS43131, is interesting.

They’ve also announced a CD-20 built around a (single?) ES9039Q2M…

Your picture should indeed be the CD-20, while CD-10 should only have 2 buttons.

The first dual CS43198 i can remember was the Truthear Shio almost 2 years ago, with RT6863 opamps

and given that both claim for 768 Khz support (via CT7601) my bet is that they are the same pcb, or maybe updated to SGM8262.