Welcome to the forum!Hi there. Long time reader/lurker, first time writing. Thanks ASR and you all to be my no.1 reality check place to go.
I just purchased a JM20Pro from Ali and I am kind on the situation where I fired first and asking later
My main use case for this dongle is to plug it to a Macbook and feed the 2V out to a Topping L30 II. Basically an ultra compact desktop DAC.
Has anybody here tried it as a DAC only?
If I got it right, volume control here is something purely demanded to the input source - if I max the Macbook volume I get the full 2V out, am I right?
I am amazed how this tiny thing measured so well. Do you see any hidden drawback to use it purely as a DAC? What can be "different" (in audible terms) compared to a dedicated AC powered DAC?
Exactly what model did you purchase? The JM20Pro or JM20? If it's JM20Pro, unfortunately it is different from the JM20 and produces the "Cirrus Hump" distortion as reported here. You may want to return it and purchase the JM20 or JM20 Max.
The JM20 or JM20 Max will serve your purpose with no problem. No difference from a desktop-size DAC that adopts the same DAC chip.