JCALLY JM20 Headphone Dongle Review

[kemmler3D]

Wow, new dongle value champ?

 

[Jimbob54]

Does the Tidal app use direct decoding? similar to ASIO en Windows.

I think they basically gave up on that idea.

 

[bequietjk]

I'm loving it. Powers my dt 700 pro x superbly and works great connected to my car's aux. There was some popping I heard but could be settings in my smartphone, who knows. Works great for the most part. And the braid is nice!

 

[Birdy]

Wow, new dongle value champ?

I think it is, was looking for a replacement mini desktop DAC until mc.god advised me about this tiny jm20 dongle. I bought it for $30 (Brazil) and what a great sound, dead silent and great dynamics. What a superb value for money!

 

[bequietjk]

Some quick shots of the box it came in

 

[iGmole]

I think it is, was looking for a replacement mini desktop DAC until mc.god advised me about this tiny jm20 dongle. I bought it for $30 (Brazil) and what a great sound, dead silent and great dynamics. What a superb value for money!

I have a silly problem of hearing my heartbeat go dudum and bloodflow as noise in my ears all the time. Not tinnitus, but a thing I was born with. Even with sensitive IEMs this noise in my ears is louder than the JM20 (or JM20 Max) at full volume when playing a silent signal.

So effectively, for me this dongle has infinite signal to noise ratio, because the effective noise is zero.

 

[KikoKentaurus]

After LG seized its production of hi-fi audio smartphones, I seem to look more into dongles. Last 3 years I'm walking with a refurbished LG G7 ThinQ (which was reviewed here on ASR), but it won't last forever. In that sense, one thing that I definitely don't like about dongles for portable setup is a good possibility of damaging your USB type-C connector. Yeah, of course on most of the phones it's not hard to tear it apart and replace that connector. And it shouldn't be a problem appearing more than once in a year or two.

But still, the name "dongle" already suggests something wanky, hanging and distracting from a normal user experience...

 

[wanghao]

I purchased this dongle(jm20) but could not get sound on my android smartphone (nubia z60 ultra).
I have tried everything and noticed that when I connect the DAC while playing music, sound comes out of the earphones, but it is only temporary.
Terrible workaround, but this is the ritual I do every time I use jm20 with my z60 ultra.
This is ridiculous.

 

[Tell]

I purchased this dongle(jm20) but could not get sound on my android smartphone (nubia z60 ultra).
I have tried everything and noticed that when I connect the DAC while playing music, sound comes out of the earphones, but it is only temporary.
Terrible workaround, but this is the ritual I do every time I use jm20 with my z60 ultra.
This is ridiculous.

On my old OnePlus 5 I had to enable OTG in the settings (might be under developer options?) to get my JM20 to play something. The setting did reset after a few minutes of not in use though so had to enable it every time, but I could add it to the quick settings panel up in the notification drawer so it was relatively easy to enable.

 

[mc.god]

I purchased this dongle(jm20) but could not get sound on my android smartphone (nubia z60 ultra).
I have tried everything and noticed that when I connect the DAC while playing music, sound comes out of the earphones, but it is only temporary.
Terrible workaround, but this is the ritual I do every time I use jm20 with my z60 ultra.

On my old OnePlus 5 I had to enable OTG in the settings (might be under developer options?) to get my JM20 to play something. The setting did reset after a few minutes of not in use though so had to enable it every time, but I could add it to the quick settings panel up in the notification drawer so it was relatively easy to enable.

Same here on Realme 7 5G, not surprising being Realme and OnePlus different brands in the Oppo ecosystem. Don't know how Nubia (ZTE) works, but if audio temporary comes out it seems that otg is actually on but some other problem is going on, like bugged otg protocol in the OS, loosen usb connection or who knows what.
Trying the JM20 with another phone\computer or having another dongle to test with the Nubia could give more than a hint.

 

[staticV3]

I purchased this dongle(jm20) but could not get sound on my android smartphone (nubia z60 ultra).
I have tried everything and noticed that when I connect the DAC while playing music, sound comes out of the earphones, but it is only temporary.
Terrible workaround, but this is the ritual I do every time I use jm20 with my z60 ultra.
This is ridiculous.

I'd tend to blame the phone honestly, unless you've had had success with a different USB DAC in the past?

USB Audio output support is somewhat spotty on Android.

Can confirm that it works well on:

• LineageOS
• OxygenOS
• OneUI
• MIUI

 

[meracus]

Can one of these power a full size planar directly from the iPhone ?
I recently got myself a 7hz zero … and still reeling in from the shock over my trusted daily driver ( Shure 846 )
Is there a planar full size that can be driven by this thing and with similar sonic style as the 7hz crinacle zero ?
Your help is greatly appreciated

 

[bequietjk]

The only reason I believe my jm20 has issues connecting is because a few days before receiving it I managed to get oatmeal inside the usb-c port (there are reasons why it happened don't ask xD). I probably need to clean the port out but a little wiggle and jiggle it can connect.

 

[CedarX]

Not sure either about this EQ feature on the JM20-PRO: couldn’t find anything scouring AliExpress & the internet.

I did find a new (?) JM28, which uses the CS43198 chips. Potential replacement of the mytical Meizu HiFi Pro (name?):

Ordered both the JM20-PRO and the JM-28 for $56 on Ali. Will see…

I just received the JM20-Pro (CS43131) and JM28 (CS43198). Off-topic, but since this thread is not very active anymore, I assume it'll be ok...

Some of the USB descriptors:

• Manufacturer: "TTGK Company" for both JM20-Pro and JM28.
• VendorID: "Dongguan Hengmin Electronic Technology Co, Ltd." for JM20-Pro, "Savitech Corp" for JM28. That would be the USB bridge... I don't know what bridge is used on the JM20: Savitech? Comtrue? Other?

TTGK has a website, https://www.szttgk.com/en, and it shows a lot of interesting products, mostly audio dongles... I could not find anything matching the description of the JM28 (CS43198), but I did notice the TT39510B01 (https://www.szttgk.com/en/product/HIFIhighfidelityaudiomodule/750.html), which looks to be this JM20-Pro: it is built around a CS43131 DAC/Amp (consistent with JCally and the marking on JM20-Pro) and uses a "CB5100" bridge (??). I was hoping the pdf download would be a datasheet (they do have datasheets for some of their products) but it shows nothing unfortunately.

EDIT: here is the TT39510B01 module datasheet https://www.szttgk.com/uploads/files/20240725/51fad44bb79a05a35046af38b0017de5.pdf

Googling this CB5100 bridge did not yield much. I assume Dongguan Hengmin Electronic (http://www.hm-dg.com), listed in the USB descriptor, is the actual OEM... or may be they are just the integrator, assembling the chips onto a USB-C PCB.
But I did find a "Keysion" dongle on AliExpress, also built around a CS43131, and mentioning this very same CB5100 bridge. The Keysion dongle marketing description shows a "Walk Play" app to adjust the internal EQ...

Googling the Walk Play app, I found it at http://szwalkplay.com. It's also mentioned in TTGK June 2024 Products News, so I think it is a TTGK-developed app.
I downloaded it (it's an Android apk), installed it on an Android DAP (HiBy M300, as I am on iPhones), connected the JM20-Pro and... voila! It works!

The app does recognize the JM20-Pro as "TT39510B01":

Scrolling down:

Note that It's one of these app where you need to register, and signup for an account, in order to access the Customization Settings. I did that... somewhat reluctantly... but had no particular issue.
Now the Custom settings...

The less interesting (to me!) Mic. settings :

The bars show the mic. level from the IEM real time. You can adjust and save the gain. Note that although it shows L & R, they are one and the same.

The more interesting (to me! ) Sound Effects Settings:

"PURE" is a flat PEQ setting. Selecting "POP" and the ">" on the right, this is what you get:

There is indeed a PEQ with up to 8 peak filters. Nice !!!

Four of these settings are customizable. "Custom Sound Effect 1":

Changes to the PEQ are real time--you hear the effect immediately--and can be saved, as in "saved to the onboard CB5100 USB Bridge", so it does carry over to other devices you plug JM20-Pro onto.

You can also edit each filter Freq., Gain, and Q-factor manually:

Pretty slick for a $30.90 CS43131-based dongle... This JM20-Pro is definitely a keeper for me: one more of these adjustable dongle/cable with PEQ that I leave permanently attached to an IEM or HP after EQ-ing to my taste.

I haven't played much with the JM28 but, being a "pure" CS43198-based dongle (no mic. support, no amp chip), it should yield pretty clean performances--if not much power-- comparable to the Meizu Hifi Pro reviewed by Amir 4 years ago: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...hifi-pro-usb-c-phone-dongle-dac-review.10423/. JCally claims for the JM28 are: 120dB SNR, -97dB distortion, and -72dB crosstalk, which I think are the Cirrus Logic specs.

---

 

[Jimbob54]

I just received the JM20-Pro (CS43131) and JM28 (CS43198). Off-topic, but since this thread is not very active anymore, I assume it'll be ok...

Some of the USB descriptors:

• Manufacturer: "TTGK Company" for both JM20-Pro and JM28.
• VendorID: "Dongguan Hengmin Electronic Technology Co, Ltd." for JM20-Pro, "Savitech Corp" for JM28. That would be the USB bridge... I don't know what bridge is used on the JM20: Savitech? Comtrue? Other?

TTGGK has a website, https://www.szttgk.com/en, and it shows a lot of interesting products, mostly audio dongles... I could not find anything matching the description of the JM28 (CS43198), but I did notice the TT39510B01 (https://www.szttgk.com/en/product/HIFIhighfidelityaudiomodule/750.html), which looks to be this JM20-Pro: it is built around a CS43131 DAC/Amp (consistent with JCally and the marking on JM20-Pro) and uses a "CB5100" bridge (??). I was hoping the pdf download would be a datasheet (they do have datasheets for some of their products) but it shows nothing unfortunately.

Googling this CB5100 bridge did not yield much. I assume Dongguan Hengmin Electronic (http://www.hm-dg.com), listed in the USB descriptor, is the actual OEM... or may be they are just the integrator, assembling the chips onto a USB-C PCB.
But I did find a "Keysion" dongle on AliExpress, also built around a CS43131, and mentioning this very same CB5100 bridge. The Keysion dongle marketing description shows a "Walk Play" app to adjust the internal EQ...

Googling the Walk Play app, I found it at http://szwalkplay.com. It's also mentioned in TTGK June 2024 Products News, so I think it is a TTGK-developed app.
I downloaded it (it's an Android apk), installed it on an Android DAP (HiBy M300, as I am on iPhones), connected the JM20-Pro and... voila! It works!

The app does recognize the JM20-Pro as "TT39510B01":
View attachment 412888
Scrolling down:
View attachment 412889

Note that It's one of these app where you need to register, and signup for an account, in order to access the Customization Settings. I did that... somewhat reluctantly... but had no particular issue.
Now the Custom settings...

The less interesting (to me!) Mic. settings :
View attachment 412890
The bars show the mic. level from the IEM real time. You can adjust and save the gain. Note that although it shows L & R, they are one and the same.

The more interesting (to me! ) Sound Effects Settings:
View attachment 412891

View attachment 412892

"PURE" is a flat PEQ setting. Selecting "POP" and the ">" on the right, this is what you get:
View attachment 412895
There is indeed a PEQ with up to 8 peak filters. Nice !!!

Four of these settings are customizable. "Custom Sound Effect 1":
View attachment 412898
Changes to the PEQ are real time--you hear the effect immediately--and can be saved, as in "saved to the onboard CB5100 USB Bridge", so it does carry over to other devices you plug JM20-Pro onto.

You can also edit each filter Freq., Gain, and Q-factor manually:

View attachment 412902

View attachment 412903

View attachment 412904

Pretty slick for a $30.90 CS43131-based dongle... This JM20-Pro is definitely a keeper for me: one more of these adjustable dongle/cable with PEQ that I leave permanently attached to an IEM or HP after EQ-ing to my taste.

I haven't played much with the JM28 but, being a "pure" CS43198-based dongle (no mic. support, no amp chip), it should yield pretty clean performances--if not much power-- comparable to the Meizu Hifi Pro reviewed by Amir 4 years ago: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...hifi-pro-usb-c-phone-dongle-dac-review.10423/. JCally claims for the JM28 are: 120dB SNR, -97dB distortion, and -72dB crosstalk, which I think are the Cirrus Logic specs.

Can you tell if the eq settings 'stick' with the dongle if you plug in elsewhere ?

 

[iGmole]

Can you tell if the eq settings 'stick' with the dongle if you plug in elsewhere ?

From his message:

"Changes to the PEQ are real time--you hear the effect immediately--and can be saved, as in "saved to the onboard CB5100 USB Bridge", so it does carry over to other devices you plug JM20-Pro onto."

Yes it seems so! What a weird bunch of zero marketing obscure weirdo products.

 

[Jimbob54]

From his message:

"Changes to the PEQ are real time--you hear the effect immediately--and can be saved, as in "saved to the onboard CB5100 USB Bridge", so it does carry over to other devices you plug JM20-Pro onto."

Yes it seems so! What a weird bunch of zero marketing obscure weirdo products.

My bad , missed that bit .

 

[iGmole]

My bad , missed that bit .

No problemo, Glad to be of assistance.

 

[CedarX]

Can you tell if the eq settings 'stick' with the dongle if you plug in elsewhere ?

Tried on my work laptop (where I can't install any app) and, yes, the EQ settings are "sticking": whatever PEQ settings I selected/defined and SAVE-d from the app, do carry over.

Oh, and I just realized that you can rename each one of the 4x custom settings in the app.

EDIT: also checked the FW OTA update feature: V0.1 is reportedly the latest version (no update available).

 

[mc.god]

I just received the JM20-Pro (CS43131) and JM28 (CS43198). Off-topic, but since this thread is not very active anymore, I assume it'll be ok...

Some of the USB descriptors:

• Manufacturer: "TTGK Company" for both JM20-Pro and JM28.
• VendorID: "Dongguan Hengmin Electronic Technology Co, Ltd." for JM20-Pro, "Savitech Corp" for JM28. That would be the USB bridge... I don't know what bridge is used on the JM20: Savitech? Comtrue? Other?

TTGGK has a website, https://www.szttgk.com/en, and it shows a lot of interesting products, mostly audio dongles... I could not find anything matching the description of the JM28 (CS43198), but I did notice the TT39510B01 (https://www.szttgk.com/en/product/HIFIhighfidelityaudiomodule/750.html), which looks to be this JM20-Pro: it is built around a CS43131 DAC/Amp (consistent with JCally and the marking on JM20-Pro) and uses a "CB5100" bridge (??). I was hoping the pdf download would be a datasheet (they do have datasheets for some of their products) but it shows nothing unfortunately.

Googling this CB5100 bridge did not yield much. I assume Dongguan Hengmin Electronic (http://www.hm-dg.com), listed in the USB descriptor, is the actual OEM... or may be they are just the integrator, assembling the chips onto a USB-C PCB.
But I did find a "Keysion" dongle on AliExpress, also built around a CS43131, and mentioning this very same CB5100 bridge. The Keysion dongle marketing description shows a "Walk Play" app to adjust the internal EQ...

Googling the Walk Play app, I found it at http://szwalkplay.com. It's also mentioned in TTGK June 2024 Products News, so I think it is a TTGK-developed app.
I downloaded it (it's an Android apk), installed it on an Android DAP (HiBy M300, as I am on iPhones), connected the JM20-Pro and... voila! It works!

The app does recognize the JM20-Pro as "TT39510B01":
View attachment 412888
Scrolling down:
View attachment 412889

Note that It's one of these app where you need to register, and signup for an account, in order to access the Customization Settings. I did that... somewhat reluctantly... but had no particular issue.
Now the Custom settings...

The less interesting (to me!) Mic. settings :
View attachment 412890
The bars show the mic. level from the IEM real time. You can adjust and save the gain. Note that although it shows L & R, they are one and the same.

The more interesting (to me! ) Sound Effects Settings:
View attachment 412891

View attachment 412892

"PURE" is a flat PEQ setting. Selecting "POP" and the ">" on the right, this is what you get:
View attachment 412895
There is indeed a PEQ with up to 8 peak filters. Nice !!!

Four of these settings are customizable. "Custom Sound Effect 1":
View attachment 412898
Changes to the PEQ are real time--you hear the effect immediately--and can be saved, as in "saved to the onboard CB5100 USB Bridge", so it does carry over to other devices you plug JM20-Pro onto.

You can also edit each filter Freq., Gain, and Q-factor manually:

View attachment 412902

View attachment 412903

View attachment 412904

Pretty slick for a $30.90 CS43131-based dongle... This JM20-Pro is definitely a keeper for me: one more of these adjustable dongle/cable with PEQ that I leave permanently attached to an IEM or HP after EQ-ing to my taste.

I haven't played much with the JM28 but, being a "pure" CS43198-based dongle (no mic. support, no amp chip), it should yield pretty clean performances--if not much power-- comparable to the Meizu Hifi Pro reviewed by Amir 4 years ago: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...hifi-pro-usb-c-phone-dongle-dac-review.10423/. JCally claims for the JM28 are: 120dB SNR, -97dB distortion, and -72dB crosstalk, which I think are the Cirrus Logic specs.

Thank you for the in depth report, we were discussing this app and the equivalent keysion dongle some days ago in the CS43131 thread
https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...ed-to-cirrus-logic-cs43131.23138/post-2157929
and it was unclear if it was a simple software peq or something hardware based, so thank you for the clarification.
Personally I'm not interested in hardware peq but this CB5100 appears promising even though I would be hesitant to install an apk and register an account on a smartphone where i have banking apps and personal info.