Best cheap USB-C headphone dongles?

[USER]

There is a chance it is defective, but I saw two more users on reddit with the same issue, and the recent review of a CX31993 dongle with dogshit 50mv dynamic range along with that dongle and the mblu lifeme pro having a similarly bad jitter noise with the 12k test, makes me think CX31993 is at fault here.

Probably a bad batch then. There is really not much else I can say as I have provided evidence mine works and have tested it with the Salnotes Zero, tried it on an ASUS laptop, and found no issues that you did. Unless you are less vague about things and tell us the names of the high-sensitivity IEMs giving you "terrible" hiss and tell us ALL of the variables going into your chain, this isn't going to go anywhere.

 

[USER]

JCALLY JM6 PRO set to 50mV. (On my desktop the volume is set to 17/100.)

Makes sense for the price and product positioning. I don't see any major issues for a normal use case. Again, if the issue is super-sensitive IEMs, I would never have considered this anyways.

 

[mc.god]

Tried again my CX-Pro with Truthear Gate (according to specs 122 dBV - 28 ohm -> 107 dbW) in an absolutely quiet environment and plugged to my old laptop running via AC, I hear absolutely zero hiss even at very low OS volume. Maybe I'm lucky or maybe I'm undergoing aging hearing loss, in that case I'm not so lucky.

 

[HissingFree]

I don't know then, with Salnotes Zero I get more hissing out of this thing than with integrated laptop headphone jack, it is not terrible hissing with this headphone like it is with CCA CA2 for example, but it is there, and the disappointing thing is the hiss being louder than with integrated audio, which is not good at all to begin with (maxes out at 48KHz and I measure like 0.5 Vrms at 30 ohms with multimeter and resistor). The only good thing is power with lower sensitivity headphones, at very low cost you can power a good amount of lower sensitivity headphones. But still, for just a little more you can get a dongle with CS43131, so I still think it's just not worth it in general.

 

[mc.god]

I don't know then, with Salnotes Zero I get more hissing out of this thing than with integrated laptop headphone jack, it is not terrible hissing with this headphone like it is with CCA CA2 for example, but it is there, and the disappointing thing is the hiss being louder than with integrated audio, which is not good at all to begin with (maxes out at 48KHz and I measure like 0.5 Vrms at 30 ohms with multimeter and resistor). The only good thing is power with lower sensitivity headphones, at very low cost you can power a good amount of lower sensitivity headphones. But still, for just a little more you can get a dongle with CS43131, so I still think it's just not worth it in general.

Salnotes Zero are 32 ohm 108 dbV while CCA CA2 specs say 23 ohm 112 dbW -> 125 dbV, so much more sensitive that explains your experience.
Gate are something in between so they'll produce clear hissing in your case, while I hear nothing, maybe your dongle is broken as already said, maybe I'm much less sensitive to hissing, as an example with Gate I hear very little noise floor even with my laptop integrated audio. We can't really know.
About CS43131 I'm with you, while I'm impressed by what comes out form this CX-Pro i got nearly as a joke, I'd always get a 43131 one as main source (in fact I've 3 of them), but if you need mic input the choice is restricted and price difference with CX is larger, and in that case there is the "risk" of getting the same ugly 12K jitter skirt of CX dongles. It's due to the chip SYNC usb bridge, and it was the same in Meizu Hifi Pro\ Ugreen Hifi Pro even though they used CS43131 since they had mic input that was implemented using a CS46L41 codec as adc + usb bridge (SYNC) instead of an ASYNC bridge like Savitech or Comtrue ones used in most other 43131 dongles with no adc function.

 

[HissingFree]

Salnotes Zero are 32 ohm 108 dbV while CCA CA2 specs say 23 ohm 112 dbW -> 125 dbV, so much more sensitive that explains your experience.
Gate are something in between so they'll produce clear hissing in your case, while I hear nothing, maybe your dongle is broken as already said, maybe I'm much less sensitive to hissing, as an example with Gate I hear very little noise floor even with my laptop integrated audio. We can't really know.
About CS43131 I'm with you, while I'm impressed by what comes out form this CX-Pro i got nearly as a joke, I'd always get a 43131 one as main source (in fact I've 3 of them), but if you need mic input the choice is restricted and price difference with CX is larger, and in that case there is the "risk" of getting the same ugly 12K jitter skirt of CX dongles. It's due to the chip SYNC usb bridge, and it was the same in Meizu Hifi Pro\ Ugreen Hifi Pro even though they used CS43131 since they had mic input that was implemented using a CS46L41 codec as adc + usb bridge (SYNC) instead of an ASYNC bridge like Savitech or Comtrue ones used in most other 43131 dongles with no adc function.

I think Salnotes Zero 108 dbV is definitely wrong number, it's probably 108 db/mw but they got it wrong, it would be less efficient than my DT 770 pro 32, and it's obviously not the case, I need way less volume from Salnotes Zero to roughly match volume level and obviously I hear the hissing whereas there is none with 770.

So about CS43131, is a Jcally JM20 or JM30 a decent choice? no need for mic. Can they output around 60mW per channel into 32 ohm? without using an extra adapter like it seems you need with some CS43131.

 

[staticV3]

I think Salnotes Zero 108 dbV is definitely wrong number, it's probably 108 db/mw but they got it wrong,

Amir measured the 7Hz Zero at 119.7dB/V, 104.3dB/mW (@425Hz).

 

[mc.god]

I think Salnotes Zero 108 dbV is definitely wrong number, it's probably 108 db/mw but they got it wrong, it would be less efficient than my DT 770 pro 32, and it's obviously not the case, I need way less volume from Salnotes Zero to roughly match volume level and obviously I hear the hissing whereas there is none with 770.

So about CS43131, is a Jcally JM20 or JM30 a decent choice? no need for mic. Can they output around 60mW per channel into 32 ohm? without using an extra adapter like it seems you need with some CS43131.

Amir measured the 7Hz Zero at 119.7dB/V, 104.3dB/mW (@425Hz).

I referred to official specs taken from the card inside my two 7Hz Zero units, but yes, it seems wrong, I just A\B with Gate on Sonata BHD that has no autosensing and Gate are just a tiny bit louder, surely more in line with Amir's measurements.

I own JM20 and i am very happy about it for €20, it has just a little issue producing a very short pink noise every time it starts playing resuming from automuting that can be annoying in situations where you play many short sounds (like when you have operative system sounds enabled). It has impedance autosensing setting it at 1V max in the 20-200 ohm range, so @32 ohm you will need an adapter to go in max gain mode to get full power. JM30 and most other 43131 dongles without dedicated switch or a control app work the same. Sonata BHD has a manual gain switch the leaves you decide, with Sonata BHD Pro you have to set the gain mode with a PC flash utility for what I recon, similarly with Moondrop Dawn Pro you have to set gain into it's android app. All are pricier than JM20.

 

[mc.god]

About CX-Pro again, if anyone interested in DSD files (I have few just for testing purpose), I tested both in UAPP and Hiby Music and can say that this dongle doesn't support DSD Native nor DoP, you can play DSD files only transcoding them into PCM.

 

[HissingFree]

I referred to official specs taken from the card inside my two 7Hz Zero units, but yes, it seems wrong, I just A\B with Gate on Sonata BHD that has no autosensing and Gate are just a tiny bit louder, surely more in line with Amir's measurements.

I own JM20 and i am very happy about it for €20, it has just a little issue producing a very short pink noise every time it starts playing resuming from automuting that can be annoying in situations where you play many short sounds (like when you have operative system sounds enabled). It has impedance autosensing setting it at 1V max in the 20-200 ohm range, so @32 ohm you will need an adapter to go in max gain mode to get full power. JM30 and most other 43131 dongles without dedicated switch or a control app work the same. Sonata BHD has a manual gain switch the leaves you decide, with Sonata BHD Pro you have to set the gain mode with a PC flash utility for what I recon, similarly with Moondrop Dawn Pro you have to set gain into it's android app. All are pricier than JM20.

Maybe JM30 doesn't have th same issue, I think the usb chip is a different Savitech?

 

[mc.god]

Maybe JM30 doesn't have th same issue, I think the usb chip is a different Savitech?

This i don't know, since the matter is a bit obscure:
- JM20 uses Savitech SA9227 , or at least it works with SA9227 driver i downloaded here;
- JM30 I only saw some advertising on Aliexpress saying it uses SA9123L but can't be sure if advertising is correct or just some picture casually put there;
- if it's true, then it must be SA9123L Pro since "non Pro" only supports up to 24/96 while Pro actually goes up to 32/384. Maybe this also works with SA9227 drivers and so JM20 could actually use this?
- it can be a typo and actually be SA9312L, in that case it would be the same usend in Tempotec Sonata dongles and many others.

 

[mc.god]

Do anyone knows what this CB1200AU chip is and it's advertised EQ functionality?

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005007343019376.html

 

[MCH]

Do anyone knows what this CB1200AU chip is and it's advertised EQ functionality?

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005007343019376.html

this is what i could find, but seems that it is and ADC, not a DAC. I would be wary of that thing actually being what it claims:

USB Type-c 立体声麦克风数字音频模组双声道立体声 - 深圳市腾腾高科电子技术有限公司

USB Type-c 立体声麦克风数字音频模组双声道立体声 -

www.szttgk.com

here a dongle that claims to use it, and it is a two microphone (ADC) interface:

XIHAMA Dual Head Dual Channel Stereo Lavalier Microphone;Two microphones for Radio reception,96KHZ/24BIT Recording;Interview Audio Recording,Karaoke Live Streaming for Android,Apple Devices - Walmart.com

Buy XIHAMA Dual Head Dual Channel Stereo Lavalier Microphone;Two microphones for Radio reception,96KHZ/24BIT Recording;Interview Audio Recording,Karaoke Live Streaming for Android,Apple Devices at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

 

[mc.god]

this is what i could find, but seems that it is and ADC, not a DAC. I would be wary of that thing actually being what it claims:
View attachment 405221

USB Type-c 立体声麦克风数字音频模组双声道立体声 - 深圳市腾腾高科电子技术有限公司

USB Type-c 立体声麦克风数字音频模组双声道立体声 -

www.szttgk.com

here a dongle that claims to use it, and it is a two microphone (ADC) interface:

XIHAMA Dual Head Dual Channel Stereo Lavalier Microphone;Two microphones for Radio reception,96KHZ/24BIT Recording;Interview Audio Recording,Karaoke Live Streaming for Android,Apple Devices - Walmart.com

Buy XIHAMA Dual Head Dual Channel Stereo Lavalier Microphone;Two microphones for Radio reception,96KHZ/24BIT Recording;Interview Audio Recording,Karaoke Live Streaming for Android,Apple Devices at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

Thank you for the info! It indeed seems to be a 2 channel adc chip. The dongle advertising is a total mess, probably not unwanted, with EQ function bait. If we read carefully they say "supports SOFTWARE eq tuning"... well, as much as any other dongle lol, so technically you can't blame them for scam, how tricky.
There is also a video that is a total chaos, rapidly showing al types of dongle, CS, CX, ALC and manufacturing steps at random
Well, stay away.

 

[VecBr]

Hello everyone, I finally got my hands in a FatFreq Scarlet Mini and I'm looking for a suitable dongle to use with it. Specifically, I need a dongle that provides strong power for a 4.4mm balanced output and connects via USB-C to both my notebook and my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

I'm considering the Fiio KA3, HiBy FC3, and Tempotec Sonata BHD, all of which have been mentioned earlier in this thread. Are there any other recommendations?

Alternatively, I'm also open to the idea of moving directly to a desktop DAC solution if that's recommended.

My main priority is ensuring strong performance, especially in the bass and sub-bass frequencies. For reference, the Scarlett Mini has an impedance of 38 ohms and 106 dB, it's a power hungry IEM.

Which of these options would be the most effective in delivering robust low-end performance? Or would you suggest opting for a desktop DAC instead? Thanks in advance.

 

[amanieux]

Hello everyone, I finally got my hands in a FatFreq Scarlet Mini and I'm looking for a suitable dongle to use with it. Specifically, I need a dongle that provides strong power for a 4.4mm balanced output and connects via USB-C to both my notebook and my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

I'm considering the Fiio KA3, HiBy FC3, and Tempotec Sonata BHD, all of which have been mentioned earlier in this thread. Are there any other recommendations?

Alternatively, I'm also open to the idea of moving directly to a desktop DAC solution if that's recommended.

My main priority is ensuring strong performance, especially in the bass and sub-bass frequencies. For reference, the Scarlett Mini has an impedance of 38 ohms and 106 dB, it's a power hungry IEM.

Which of these options would be the most effective in delivering robust low-end performance? Or would you suggest opting for a desktop DAC instead? Thanks in advance.

my vote goes to sonata bhd, if has enough power and good performance in thd+n, snr ( by the way what is the difference with bhd pro ? same specs it seems you pay $25 extra ( 50% extra) just to get useless MQA and a window to look at the pcb )

 

[mc.god]

Hello everyone, I finally got my hands in a FatFreq Scarlet Mini and I'm looking for a suitable dongle to use with it. Specifically, I need a dongle that provides strong power for a 4.4mm balanced output and connects via USB-C to both my notebook and my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

I'm considering the Fiio KA3, HiBy FC3, and Tempotec Sonata BHD, all of which have been mentioned earlier in this thread. Are there any other recommendations?

Alternatively, I'm also open to the idea of moving directly to a desktop DAC solution if that's recommended.

My main priority is ensuring strong performance, especially in the bass and sub-bass frequencies. For reference, the Scarlett Mini has an impedance of 38 ohms and 106 dB, it's a power hungry IEM.

Which of these options would be the most effective in delivering robust low-end performance? Or would you suggest opting for a desktop DAC instead? Thanks in advance.

Hi and welcome to ASR.
I can't find official specs of the Scarlet Mini, somewhere they say it is 16 ohm - 105 dB, but whatever it is, as almost all iems, it shouldn't be particularly difficult to drive with any good dongle out there, probably an Apple dongle is already more than enough and a 20€ Jcally JM20 will get you to deafening levels.

 

[mc.god]

( by the way what is the difference with bhd pro ? same specs it seems you pay $25 extra ( 50% extra) just to get useless MQA and a window to look at the pcb )

They use different usb-bridge and clock, personally I consider the PRO a bit of a gimmick:

https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...ro-portable-dac-amp-review.47929/post-2032222

Nothing of this should impact the audible output.

 

[VecBr]

Hi and welcome to ASR.
I can't find official specs of the Scarlet Mini, somewhere they say it is 16 ohm - 105 dB, but whatever it is, as almost all iems, it shouldn't be particularly difficult to drive with any good dongle out there, probably an Apple dongle is already more than enough and a 20€ Jcally JM20 will get you to deafening levels.

Thanks!! I found a website that lists the specifications for the FatFrequency Scarlet Mini IEM, including an impedance of 38 ohms, TechPowerUp Review. So, with an impedance of 38 ohms, wouldn't these dongles have more difficulty driving these headphones?

 

[VecBr]

my vote goes to sonata bhd, if has enough power and good performance in thd+n, snr ( by the way what is the difference with bhd pro ? same specs it seems you pay $25 extra ( 50% extra) just to get useless MQA and a window to look at the pcb )

I almost took advantage of the 11.11 sale on AliExpress to purchase the BHD; I was very close. But unfortunately, I missed it, and now the price has more than doubled..