JCALLY JM20 Headphone Dongle Review

[oWnWise ASR]

Just received the JCally JM30L for iPhone. Compared to the Fiio KA11 it is more airy and better in upper mid range. Strings sounds better and low range has more oomph.

I can confirm the Fiio music iOS app works with
local FLAC files
10 band EQ
gapless play
for the JCally JM30L dongle since it has the same DAC CS43131.

 

[SashaR]

Any compact and lightweight USB DACs that sound better than LG G7 ThinQ phone?

I compared LG G7 ThinQ with JM20. I compared using UAPP. LG G7 ThinQ sounds better, CLEANER than JM20 (although based on the few measurements which Amir made for this phone and on his measurements for JM20, it is impossible to conclude that LG G7 ThinQ is superior to JM20).

Are there any compact and lightweight USB DACs that sound measured better than LG G7 ThinQ phone?

Thank you all in advance!

 

[CedarX]

Are there any compact and lightweight USB DACs that sound measured better than LG G7 ThinQ phone?

Generally, the manufacturer websites include the dimensions of their USB DACs. You can compare them to ThinQ phone and see which one measures better (which one is thinner than ThinQ)…
You are talking about physical dimensions measurements aren’t you?

I compared LG G7 ThinQ with JM20. I compared using UAPP. LG G7 ThinQ sounds better, CLEANER than JM20

I’ve seen cleanliness spec on medical and some industrial products, but not on USB DACs…

Apologies for the bad jokes… But what are you after exactly? What measurement(s) do you care about, and why? If you have found a way to determine that one device “sounds” better than another, why would any measurement change that?

 

[Dreamfull]

Just received the JCally JM30L for iPhone. Compared to the Fiio KA11 it is more airy and better in upper mid range. Strings sounds better and low range has more oomph.

I can confirm the Fiio music iOS app works with
local FLAC files
10 band EQ
gapless play
for the JCally JM30L dongle since it has the same DAC CS43131.

Have you flashed with Fiio's firmware? How do adjust the PEQ?

 

[CedarX]

Have you flashed with Fiio's firmware? How do adjust the PEQ?

I believes they are a talking about the FiiO Music app for iOS. A 10-band EQ is integrated in the app.
AFAIK, the JM30L has no integrated PEQ capabilities, and I don’t even know if you can re-flash a firmware (the ‘L’ stands for Lightning version).

 

[Dreamfull]

I believes they are a talking about the FiiO Music app for iOS. A 10-band EQ is integrated in the app.
AFAIK, the JM30L has no integrated PEQ capabilities, and I don’t even know if you can re-flash a firmware (the ‘L’ stands for Lightning version).

Wouldn't using this app make it so all of the conversion goes through the android codec defeating the purpose of the dac in the dongle?

 

[CedarX]

Wouldn't using this app make it so all of the conversion goes through the android codec defeating the purpose of the dac in the dongle?

See OP:

Just received the JCally JM30L for iPhone.

Now, even if it was Android, Android SRC resamples to 16bit/48kHz per default, but it still is in the digital domain. The DAC, whether it’s integrated in a dongle, or in desktop DAC/Amp where your Android is connected into, is still relevant (until it’s “good enough” and audibly transparent! ).

 

[danadam]

Android SRC resamples to 16bit/48kHz per default

FWIW on Pixel 3 (Android 12) both the stock "Files" app and "foobar2000" don't seem to resample to 48 kHz. And no, I don't have "USB Audio Player" or similar installed there.

 

[CedarX]

FWIW on Pixel 3 (Android 12) both the stock "Files" app and "foobar2000" don't seem to resample to 48 kHz. And no, I don't have "USB Audio Player" or similar installed there.

I don’t know much about Android, just that some Android’s default to something else than 16/48 (e.g. on the HiBy M300, an Android 13-based DAP, the SRC is customized to default to 24/192), and that some (many?) apps bypass Android OS SRC and “talk” directly to the USB audio device—UAAP is one of these, Foobar2000 may be another one.

 

[agiletiger]

I’ve had mine for a little over a week. Loved it until it got really fickle. After a few days of heavy usage - I’m a road warrior who’s addicted to music and podcasts, the dongle got loose in my iPhone’s USB-C jack. Even with the slightest movement of the cord, the sound stops. It’s gotten so bad that I went back to the iPhone dongle which works fine. A real bummer. I like the extra boost I get from the amp in the JM20 Pro. Anyone else having similar issues?

 

[Boobisha Chodhankar]

Any compact and lightweight USB DACs that sound better than LG G7 ThinQ phone?

I compared LG G7 ThinQ with JM20. I compared using UAPP. LG G7 ThinQ sounds better, CLEANER than JM20 (although based on the few measurements which Amir made for this phone and on his measurements for JM20, it is impossible to conclude that LG G7 ThinQ is superior to JM20).

Are there any compact and lightweight USB DACs that sound measured better than LG G7 ThinQ phone?

Thank you all in advance!

E1DA 9038D

 

[cleverman234]

Just received the JCally JM30L for iPhone. Compared to the Fiio KA11 it is more airy and better in upper mid range. Strings sounds better and low range has more oomph.

I can confirm the Fiio music iOS app works with
local FLAC files
10 band EQ
gapless play
for the JCally JM30L dongle since it has the same DAC CS43131.

With what audio equipment did you listen to it? I am wondering will this be better fit for low impedance iems(16 ohms) or the ones with SGM8262.

 

[Somafunk]

Crinacle has a short video on dongles

 

[Dreamfull]

Crinacle has a short video on dongles

Crin completely skipping JA11/JM12 because they don't offer them in their store basically shows how he is shilling his store. Brings out valid points in the video, non the less he couldn't get out of his way and recommend something that he doesn't offer. Good businessman.

 

[mc.god]

Crin completely skipping JA11/JM12 because they don't offer them in their store basically shows how he is shilling his store. Brings out valid points in the video, non the less he couldn't get out of his way and recommend something that he doesn't offer. Good businessman.

well, "if it's not on the list, it doesn't exist".
He is in the business now and sells audio items, it's perfectly normal to advertise what you sell leaving out something you don't supply, only thing that matters is that he is still advertising proven good devices and not some strange audio fooleries.

 

[bng123]

As for Walk Play APP:
Someone can't download from its official website because the website has a cross-domain problem for some browser.
go to https://walkplay.szttgk.com/api/appver/Android/latest to get latest download link.
I've reported to them and they said "cross-domain domain name issues have been investigated and will be optimized as soon as possible".

Interesting Function: The app can share your Eq with other users since v2.11, just like Moondrop App, etc.
View attachment 420301
In v2.13, it allows users to change DAC Filters Type. However, it only support specific models now(TT39518F01-PRO，EPZ TP35 Pro).View attachment 420306View attachment 420307View attachment 420308
Here are good news: TTGK said View attachment 420309
(Sorry for my poor English)

hello, quick question, does this mean I can unlock the max output of the jm20 for iems with less than 30ohms with the app?

 

[CedarX]

hello, quick question, does this mean I can unlock the max output of the jm20 for iems with less than 30ohms with the app?

AFAIK no, JM20 is not 'Walk-Play' compatible. In addition, the screenshot you are referencing was for the TTGK TT39518F01-Pro module (and the dongles using that module). For example, the JM20-Pro is 'Walk Play' compatible, but the DAC filters, Class H/AB, and gain modes are not exposed in the app.

 

[syfy]

anyone here using the jm10 pro ? do you think this is on par with the jm20? in terms of sound quality and SNR

 

[fws]

Crin completely skipping JA11/JM12 because they don't offer them in their store basically shows how he is shilling his store. Brings out valid points in the video, non the less he couldn't get out of his way and recommend something that he doesn't offer. Good businessman.

Is there a point in recommending those though? The only thing they offer is the EQ, but otherwise they have less than 1Vrms output (and seems to be current limited), the limited measurements we've got weren't too good, and then there were all the issues with EQ misalignment/firmware. Some reliability issues reports as well. Unless someone specifically needs build in EQ, I don't see any point in even mentioning JA11. I mean, I wouldn't mind the mention "if you need an EQ...", but the lack of such doesn't bothers me I guess.

Also we are getting more and more options, hard to mention all of them. Recently I've got Hi-MAX dongle, the CX-Pro cousin based on CB1200AU and sold at $3, but couldn't even bother to do a proper listening test on it (sounds ok on a quick listen though, whereas ES-Pro on ES9318 was a no right off the bat).

 

[Jimbob54]

Crin completely skipping JA11/JM12 because they don't offer them in their store basically shows how he is shilling his store. Brings out valid points in the video, non the less he couldn't get out of his way and recommend something that he doesn't offer. Good businessman.

Exactly why he stopped claiming to be a reviewer. It's not really shilling when it's your store are you?