JCALLY JM20 MAX Headphone Dongle Review

[Svensson]

The dongle has arrived, but I have the uneasy feeling that it doesn't use all the USB audio functions, which may be due to the smartphone.
In any case, Amazon Music only outputs SD and not Ultra HD, as with the WiiM Ultra, for example.
In addition, there is sometimes an unpleasant, irregular crackling sound, like a speck of dust on a vinyl record
Everything is enabled for USB audio in the developer options.
Does anyone have any ideas or an additional app?

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If you have an Android phone, it will resample. This is an Android problem and Amazon music does not bypass that. There are apps, like Universal Audio Player Pro (UAPP) that bypass and allow full resolution output via USB into a DAC. I do not think that any Android app is available that can play Amazon HD and also bypass the Android resampling. Sorry if this is bad news

 

[mc.god]

Maybe you are lucky not to buy. Starting Linux with hibernate or standby at first I have to plug out and plug in JM20max to listen sound. Knitted with hot needle?

The FOSI Audio DS2 works without this trouble.

Yes, it depends from device to device, my standard JM20 also can't stand reboots of my Linux laptop, it slows down the boot procedure and is not recognized at logon until I unplug-plug it.
This only happens on REBOOTS, not on boot from OFF state.
The same happens with my Sonata BHD but doesn't happen on my Ugreen HiFi pro.
JM20 and Sonata BHD share the same Savitech usb bridge, Ugreen uses a different chip, so maybe something related to how Savitech chip is reinitialized by the kernel during a reboot sequence.

 

[klirren_65]

"This only happens on REBOOTS, not on boot from OFF state."
This is banana-ware.

 

[johny_2000]

Maybe you are lucky not to buy. Starting Linux with hibernate or standby at first I have to plug out and plug in JM20max to listen sound. Knitted with hot needle?

Thanks for your feedback. I don't plan to buy JCALLY dongles. But I like the technical aspects of modern miniature hardware designs with high performance. That's why I paid attention to this thread. The situation with US tariffs on imported goods (such as from Aliexpress, eBay or anywhere else originating from China) will be the same for all devices. I just gave an example of what happens with JCALLY devices. For example, E1DA devices currently have the same thing. The disadvantage of these small companies is that they do not have local representatives and warehouses in the US and European markets, so purchasing their products from local suppliers (without tariffs) is not possible. Even larger players such as SMSL and TOPPING do not have this either, and also send goods from Chinese warehouses to end customers. However, in their situation, there are a number of local resellers who have stocked up their warehouses in advance and sell goods on local platforms (such as Amazon) at original prices.

 

[Robin L]

For whatever it's worth, I'm not finding this DAC at Amazon.

 

[johny_2000]

For whatever it's worth, I'm not finding this DAC at Amazon.

This is exactly what I just said in the previous message.

 

[Billy Budapest]

This is exactly what I just said in the previous message.

Yes, but you can find other JCALLY dongles on Amazon. Go figure.

 

[Robin L]

This is exactly what I just said in the previous message.

"However, in their situation, there are a number of local resellers who have stocked up their warehouses in advance and sell goods on local platforms (such as Amazon) at original prices."

But I'm not even seeing those.

 

[johny_2000]

"However, in their situation, there are a number of local resellers who have stocked up their warehouses in advance and sell goods on local platforms (such as Amazon) at original prices."

But I'm not even seeing those.

SMSL DAC, Topping DAC, Douk Audio, Fosi Audio, AIYIMA and many more, with 1-2 day shipping to the US are locally available from reseller's stock.
By the way, this may be the last chance to buy the devices at the original price, unless legislative loopholes are found or tariff concessions are introduced for businesses.

 

[zachary80]

Great performance, but I will stick with Jade Audio JA11 and Jcally JM12 for parametric EQ via the Fiio app

 

[ngk275]

Since this dongle can output 2Vrms, can I use this to replace DAC between my Pi and powered speakers?

 

[The Capstan]

I have bought the device from Aliexpress for curiosity after Amir’s test. The device sounds amazingly!
I have tested as a dac connected to my amp instead of headphones and the result is quite impressive.
The only cons is the fact that it seems quite power hungry when connected to a mobile device. I had the suspect since the DAC is slightly warm when in use, so it drains some energy from the “donor” device. I am using with an M4 iPad that has beefy batteries, so not a major issue, but a normal mobile phone could be more affected.

 

[staticV3]

Since this dongle can output 2Vrms, can I use this to replace DAC between my Pi and powered speakers?

Yes.

Even if it put out just 1Vrms, you could still replace a DAC with it, as long as your powered speakers have enough gain to compensate.

 

[ngk275]

Understood. Thank you guys. Just one more concern about longevity, for such a small device, would the heat it produces reduce longevity?

 

[mc.god]

Understood. Thank you guys. Just one more concern about longevity, for such a small device, would the heat it produces reduce longevity?

This MAX version outputs 2.5 Vrms due to additional opamp, and for the same reason it heats up more than standard Jm 20. If this affects longevity cannot be said, we should have statistical evidence of it, but surely standard Jm 20 would be more than enough for your needing.

 

[DSJR]

Understood. Thank you guys. Just one more concern about longevity, for such a small device, would the heat it produces reduce longevity?

I tried mine from PC to second system 'Aux' input and it works absolutely fine. Needing a 3m USB A to USB C cable, I had to use a USB C 'coupler' between the cable and dongle. No 'audible' issues whatsoever, but the look was ungainly and no difference in size to the far more elegant looking DS2 which remained in place subsequently. The 20Max is now on this laptop and entirely underused into the iems I plug into it Sonically, of course no issues in comparison.

P.S. I found both Apple dongles less useful as line-drivers, especially of course the strangled EU version in this usage purpose(amp spec 150mV at 50k), the amp volume control needing to be wound 75% up, such is the log law on most 'volume' controls, all other inputs the control is at 25% up. The DS2 and the 20MAX giving the same volume control setting as all other inputs, relatively speaking.

 

[Billy Budapest]

Understood. Thank you guys. Just one more concern about longevity, for such a small device, would the heat it produces reduce longevity?

Probably. It can get a little hot. However, at its price, it is pretty much a disposable/easily replaceable product.

 

[Mosquito]

Reserved for @RickS to kindly post the specs.

JM20 MAX Features:

1.Model：JCALLY JM20MAX
2.P/N：JM20MAX CS43131 High Performance DAC Decoder Amplifier Adapter
3.DAC: CS43131
4.PCM: 32bits/384KHz
5.SNR/DNR: ＞126dB
6.Crosstalk: -140dB
7.DSD: DSD256 (1bits 11.2MHz
8.Output Load Adaptive: 16 - 600 Ω
9.FR: 20-20000kHz
10.Weight：6.5g±0.5g
11.Length: About 110mm±10
12.Type of wire core: 320 Coils 8 Cores Cable，
13.Color: JM20 MAX Silver

So, I pick this one exact model and it work fantastic with my DELL laptop (AKG K371 headphones) sound quality is fantastic and output capabilty awesome. But I can not achieve it to work if attached directly to my OPPO smartphone, excuse my ignorance, but why it can be?

 

[The Capstan]

Understood. Thank you guys. Just one more concern about longevity, for such a small device, would the heat it produces reduce longevity?

I wouldn’t be concerned about this — it feels slightly warm, not hot, so it’s nothing to worry about. The braided cable might appear a bit delicate, but considering the cost of the device, replacing it wouldn’t be a major issue if it ever became necessary.

 

[CedarX]

But I can not achieve it to work if attached directly to my OPPO smartphone, excuse my ignorance, but why it can be?

Does your phone work with any dongle, but the the JM20-Max?
I’ve seen dongles on AliExpress that appear to be specific to OPPO phones, which makes me believe OPPO may be doing something unique for USB audio devices (Xiaomi is another brand that is often singled out for unique dongles).