JCALLY JM20 MAX Headphone Dongle Review

[VoidXero]

Mine failed after less than an hour of usage. Was playing music off an Android phone when it suddenly went silent. I thought I pulled the plug out or something but it was still connected. Tried it on other phones, laptops and even a desktop PC. Not a single one recognize it as a USB DAC. Don't bother paying more than $30 for one of these as they are a QC crap shoot. Sound was perfect while it lasted, though...

 

[patoulol]

it was hot ?

 

[VoidXero]

it was hot ?

No, it was running at a normal temperature, driving a pair of IEMs at a modest volume and then just died. Glad I have a small collection of ASR-recommended portable USB DACs!

 

[jan0bra]

mine also died after 2 weeks, wouldnt buy again. but i got my money back from aliexpress

 

[patoulol]

My PRO version didn't work on smartphones, so I ordered a MAX.

 

[Palladium]

I noticed this dongle runs a lot cooler on a PC's USB port compared to on an Android phone.

My Zero 2 on Win10's volume slider at 25/100 along with -13dB in Foobar is more than loud enough.

 

[adam2434]

Hi, is anyone using the JM20 MAX with a Galaxy S23 Plus?

It worked briefly with the UAPP app, but now my phone is not recognizing it. I've tried with and without an OTG adapter. My phone recognizes other dongles, like USB storage.

My PC immediately recognizes it when I plug it in.

 

[patoulol]

Hi, is anyone using the JM20 MAX with a Galaxy S23 Plus?

It worked briefly with the UAPP app, but now my phone is not recognizing it. I've tried with and without an OTG adapter. My phone recognizes other dongles, like USB storage.

My PC immediately recognizes it when I plug it in.

There is really a fiablite problem with its dongles

I also bought a jcallly which was no longer recognized on iPhone but well recognized on PC ....

 

[adam2434]

As an experiment, tried a cheap Onn DAC dongle from Walmart, and it was immediately recognized by my Galaxy S23 Plus. So, apparently the JM20 MAX does not like the Galaxy S23 Plus.

Ordered a Fosi DS2, which I hope works with my Galaxy S23 Plus.

 

[vvox]

I noticed this dongle runs a lot cooler on a PC's USB port compared to on an Android phone.

My Zero 2 on Win10's volume slider at 25/100 along with -13dB in Foobar is more than loud enough.

For my LG V50, the same.

I think it's because the warm battery(smartf. body) transfers heat from the telephone to the dongle through Type C.

 

[adam2434]

The Fosi DS2 is immediately recognized my Galaxy S23 Plus, so back goes the JM20 MAX.

​

 

[Palladium]

Hi, is anyone using the JM20 MAX with a Galaxy S23 Plus?

It worked briefly with the UAPP app, but now my phone is not recognizing it. I've tried with and without an OTG adapter. My phone recognizes other dongles, like USB storage.

My PC immediately recognizes it when I plug it in.

Never had a problem with it on my PC, S24 Ultra or my Poco F3 phone.

 

[yo!]

Has anyone tried to connect more than one JM20 to a computer?
Wonder if they will show up correct and work flawlessly.

The JM20 Max tends to get pretty warm when headphones are attached (no wonder so far for this tiny thing).
How does it behave temperature wise when connected to a amplifier (input 5-30 kOhm impedance), does it get hot too?

For such a setup, could it be that the regular non Max version of the JM20 is the better option on high impedance while delivering the same output voltage?

 

[Birdy]

Is the JCALLY JM20 MAX a "upgrade" to the old JM20 ? Will it give sound wise better results driving a amplifier (Aiyima A7) connected to a Notebook usb ?

 

[staticV3]

Is the JCALLY JM20 MAX a "upgrade" to the old JM20 ? Will it give sound wise better results driving a amplifier (Aiyima A7) connected to a Notebook usb ?

Driving an Amplifier, the JM20 Max will play 15% louder than your JM20, but otherwise not better in any way.

If you're not currently struggling to achieve good loudness out of your setup, then upgrading to the Max would be pointless.

 

[Birdy]

Driving an Amplifier, the JM20 Max will play 15% louder than your JM20, but otherwise not better in any way.

If you're not currently struggling to achieve good loudness out of your setup, then upgrading to the Max would be pointless.

Thanks for the clear advise, I have no problems with loudness.. still very satisfied with the JM20, what a great sound for that price and size! These tiny dongles are a small miracle.

 

[patoulol]

can I use a JCLAY in DAC to enter an L50 Topping? with jack / RCA cable?

 

[staticV3]

can I use a JCLAY in DAC to enter an L50 Topping? with jack / RCA cable?

Yes. Use a 3.5mm to 2x RCA adapter cable.

 

[patoulol]

Yes. Use a 3.5mm to 2x RCA adapter cable.

it is a good solution for low-cost DAC! it avoids the purchase of a D10s

 

[fws]

can I use a JCLAY in DAC to enter an L50 Topping? with jack / RCA cable?

As mentioned you can, but to clarify - JM20 Max should work effortless with L50, because L50 has input sensitivity of 2.7Vrms (in High Gain setting), and JM20 Max can output 2.5Vrms. This actually makes JM20 Max particularly good for the job, as not that many budget DACs output close to 2.7Vrms.

If you would want to use JM20 Max with another amp, which likely might have input sensitivity of 2Vrms (for example L30 II or Atom Amp+), you would need to back off the system volume a bit so not to clip (distort) the amp's input. For such amps the cheaper JM20 might be preferred as it will output around 2Vrms at 100% system volume setting.

Neither of that is a big deal, just a minor hassle at times.