I no longer have a JM12 with 'stock' firmware to test with the KT USB TOOL, but you'd likely have to flash it with Fiio or TinHifi firmware to open up the EQ functionality. The Fiio firmware would be most convenient, as the app/web control is more user-friendly. Can't say I've noticed any noise floor hiss my IEMs on JM12. There are other options for more PEQ functionality like the JM20 Pro with the Walkplay app (I believe has 8-band PEQ, but I don't use it so don't quote me) if the 5-band PEQ with the KT dongles aren't enough.What about Jcally JM12? it seems it uses the same chip as Fiio JA11, unless I am mistaken. If so, does this mean we also get parametric EQ with the Jcally that we can save into the device? is it supported out of the box or we need to flash a firmware? would this Jcally be better than these CB1200AU devices? Fiio claims JA11 has only 1.7uV of noise floor, which is the exact same as Fiio KA11 that I had before it crapped out, and that was virtually hissing free for me.
That's what I deem the most important, EQ capabilities and noise floor with sensitive IEMs. Only 5 EQ bands is disappointing though.
Small correction: the KTmicro tool (available from the TinHifi website) works fine with the JM12 stock firmware. No need to reflash anything if one is ok using that tool--it was never intended as an end-user tool and is certainly not as polished as the FiiO Control WebApp or Android App.
As an additional note, the KBEAR TC12, which has the same DAC as the JM12, could not use the KTmicro tool in TC12 stock firmware (it does not respond).Small correction: the KTmicro tool (available from the TinHifi website) works fine with the JM12 stock firmware.
I just re-tested my Kbear TC12: no issue, works fine with the KTmicro tool. I can change the PGA volume, PEQ, and DRC settings and save them to the TC12.As an additional note, the KBEAR TC12, which has the same DAC as the JM12, could not use the KTmicro tool in TC12 stock firmware (it does not respond).
Yes... but only if you can get the original JM12 firmware (the .bin file), which AFAIK has not been published anywhere. So in effect, no, it's a one-way upgrade.If I update the firmware to the Fiio JA11 fw, can I then later revert the firmware to stock one? if so, how to do it? because there is always the chance I worsen the hissing or the crackling/popping, even if unlikely.
I have no devices with peq support but great job!@CedarX I see you did a few posts over the CX31993 thread about TTGK / Walkplay dongles and other devices which are configurable with the Walkplay apk. But I thought a post here would be more relevant.
Do you have a current list?
As, I have mostly successfully decoded the Walkplay "protocol" protocol and I have an alpha version with a very simple way to read and write the PEQ filters from these devices - but I have limited to ones I have tested for for now (to avoid any issues messing up a device). So if you have a few available, if I could ask you their "device" names as their appear say within the walkplay PEQ web app, I can add them to my little "device PEQ" tool.
Specifically, I have open sourced the code as a "plugin" for Cringraph based websites like squig.link and @crinacle graph databases. I have the code here for those interested and to hopefully get some assistance with adding support for other usb-c devices with PEQ capabilities ( e.g I am still trying to figure out the Moondrop FreeDSP / CDSP protocol as they seem to block the browser from sending the same payloads that their App can send ).
So, I have my code hosted the code on my website for now:
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Pragmatic Audio Graph Tool
View and compare frequency response graphs for earphones.www.pragmaticaudio.com
and for IEM's here ( 2 different forks of the cringraph codebase)
https://www.pragmaticaudio.com/iems/
I have a bunch of FiiO devices added but for walkplay, for now I only have the cheap aliexpress "Hi-Max" usb-c dongle and the Moondrop Quark2 DSP added - but I am planning on buy a few more dongles in the next week to test with this codebase. But if you know the "device" names of other ones I can quickly add them to my DB and you can try them if you like.
The general way the "Device PEQ" works ( and only on Chrome or similar browsers not Firefox or Safari) - is you goto the Equalizer tab and there should see a "Device PEQ" section with a "Connect" button - if you connect it should popup a selector ( but only for devices I have added ) - it then reads the current "slot" and provides a "Push" and a "Pull" button - the Push will send the filters on this page to the device (at the current "slot") and the Pull will retrieve the current values from the device and present them in the list of Filters. There is a little rounding error currently which I will fix soon but it does seems to work with the 2 Walkplay devices I have.
Note: The Walkplay app (and the new web app => http://peq.szwalkplay.com/ ) work strangely in that they write the values fine but they seem to save the values to your account and read the values from your account rather than read the values from the device itself.
@CedarX I see you did a few posts over the CX31993 thread about TTGK / Walkplay dongles and other devices which are configurable with the Walkplay apk. But I thought a post here would be more relevant.
Do you have a current list?
Device | WalkPlay "MODEL" | Category |
---|---|---|
JCally JM20-Pro | T39510B01 | Dongle |
Hi-Max | Hi-MAX | Dongle |
TTGK TT39518F01-Pro | TT39518F01-PRO | Module |
Moondrop Quark2 | Quark2 | IEM |
Moondrop Echo-A | ECHO-A | Dongle |
BGVP C01 | C01 | Dongle |
Hi-Pro CS43198 (same id as JCally JM20-Pro) | T39510B01 | Dongle |
Keysion KSHF-01 CS43198 | KSHF-01(EQ) | Dongle |
EPZ G20 DAT412BHM-TT | EPZ G20 | IEM |
EPZ TP13 | EPZ TP13 | Dongle |
Kinera Celest Ruyi Pro | CDE-1 | IEM Cable |
FHG SoundFlex Fusion Series Px - DAT412BHM-TT | FHG SoundFlex Fusion Series Px | IEM |
I received the Tanchjim Stargate-II from AliExpress. It definitely feels a little higher end than comparable CS43131-based dongles: very nice packaging, super flexible cable, and the little glass window showing the internals is cool. I'm not sure it justifies the $38 price though...CS43131 + DSP PEQ
Did you get some measurements?Just a heads up, the walkplay/CB1200AU dongles have a relatively high output impedance of 2.5Ohms.
Thanks for the info.I received the Tanchjim Stargate-II from AliExpress. It definitely feels a little higher end than comparable CS43131-based dongles: very nice packaging, super flexible cable, and the little glass window showing the internals is cool. I'm not sure it justifies the $38 price though...
It works with the Tanchjim & WalkPlay (Android) app's, as well as the WalkPlay WebApp. For whatever reason, the Tanchjim app only allows 7x PEQ filters, whereas WalkPlay allows the usual 8x PEQ filters (all Peak). The WalkPlay Android app also gives access to a few CS43131-related settings: high/low gain, Class AB/H modes, and DAC filters (Fast-LL, Fast-PC, Slow-LL, Slow-PC, NOS).
There was a firmware update available through WalkPlay Android: it updated very quickly from V0.1 to V0.6. I didn't notice any change.
If power is the main criteria for the best cheap USB-C headphones dongle, then JM20-Max is certainly an interesting dongle to measure.Thanks for the info.
So, basically this Tanchjim model and Jcally JM20-Pro are the only two USB dongles on the market that are WalkPlay-enabled (i.e. w/ PEQ) AND can produce output voltage greater than 1.0 Vrms?
I ordered JM20-Max for my testing to see if it can produce healthy single-ended output (which seems to be rare in this price range). Shouldn't I have ordered a JM20-Pro instead? A tiny CS43131-based dongle with 8-band PEQ priced at $20 seems attractive..
EDIT: My question is, can these dongles (Tanchjim Stargate II and Jcally JM-Pro) output 2 Vrms under no load like the JM20 measured by Amir? Or Amir showed the JM20 can output at least 1.3 Vrms under 32 Ohm. I guess I can expect the same from these two dongles. Right?