JCALLY JM20 MAX Headphone Dongle Review

[PiedroPieretto]

Have you tried actually measuring the current draw with an inexpensive USB power meter?

Battery percentage loss per hour is in no way a reliable metric that could determine if your dongle is faulty. Current draw is.

No but I also don't see the need to do that with a 20 Dollar dongle that, after having it replaced once, is showcasing issues that I do not have with similar equipment (Apple Dongle, Ugreen). At that point, I might as well just write off my losses instead of investing in more equipment that best case scenario will just confirm my suspicions.

Again, I'm happy for everyone to whom the Dongle works. I'll just see to get the US-version of the Apple Dongle imported to Europe somehow instead. Or try "less powerful" Chi-Fi alternatives that have more power than the EU-dongle instead. As far as this brand is concerned, tried it twice, didn't meet my expectations. That's okay.

As for "why keeping it plugged in"—I mean, why not? Yes, I might as well unplug it when not in use but sometimes I probably won't. Not on purpose, but just because people are lazy and we just do stuff like putting phone and IEMs into our pocket when we are in a rush. This is an audio equipment made for portable music listening on the go, after all.

 

[Viper780]

hey guys i should get a j20 max or the pro version? cost is about the same, will use the timeless 2 in ear on my iphone

you don'T need the extra power of the Max, but the EQ from the Pro is nice

 

[fws]

hey guys i should get a j20 max or the pro version? cost is about the same, will use the timeless 2 in ear on my iphone

If I recall it right the Pro is fully susceptible to Cirrus Logic hump, so I would avoid that one if you don't require the mic support (and if mic support is needed I would look elsewhere, maybe FiiO KA1 if you can still find it). The Max has only a spur of distortion at the beginning of playback, so that is a much less of an issue, although a bit hard to recommend if someone doesn't need all the power it has
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...1xx-based-devices-a-comparative-review.63038/

 

[Ciobi69]

you don'T need the extra power of the Max, but the EQ from the Pro is nice

Eq may be a cool feature honestly for my headphones

 

[Ciobi69]

you don'T need the extra power of the Max, but the EQ from the Pro is nice

Eq may be a cool feature honestly for my headp

If I recall it right the Pro is fully susceptible to Cirrus Logic hump, so I would avoid that one if you don't require the mic support (and if mic support is needed I would look elsewhere, maybe FiiO KA1 if you can still find it). The Max has only a spur of distortion at the beginning of playback, so that is a much less of an issue, although a bit hard to recommend if someone doesn't need all the power it has
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/on-the-distortion-of-cirrus-logic-cs431xx-based-devices-a-comparative-review.63038/

the link doesn’t work sadly I just could go with the pro for the eq I think , nice feature , right now I’m using a shanking m0 but I’m tired of charging it every time may alternate it with the dongle

 

[HissingFree]

Eq may be a cool feature honestly for my headp

the link doesn’t work sadly I just could go with the pro for the eq I think , nice feature , right now I’m using a shanking m0 but I’m tired of charging it every time may alternate it with the dongle

If the "dongle" can be a little bigger, I would go for TRN Black Pearl, though, as the new firmware completely removes the cirrus hump issue that the JM20 Pro fully has. You get a 10-band eq and a dual CS43131 with also 4.4mm output.

 

[fws]

the link doesn’t work sadly

Fixed the link, for some reason the quoted text entered the address part in code, it was still accessible by copying and pasting it in the browser though.

 

[mc.god]

If I recall it right the Pro is fully susceptible to Cirrus Logic hump, so I would avoid that one if you don't require the mic support (and if mic support is needed I would look elsewhere, maybe FiiO KA1 if you can still find it). The Max has only a spur of distortion at the beginning of playback, so that is a much less of an issue, although a bit hard to recommend if someone doesn't need all the power it has
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...1xx-based-devices-a-comparative-review.63038/

@jkim
since JM20 Pro is based on a TTGK walkplay board, do you think they could think about a fix for it too?

 

[jkim]

@jkim
since JM20 Pro is based on a TTGK walkplay board, do you think they could think about a fix for it too?

Since TTGK is an ODM (original device manufacturer), their reaction depends on what brand a device belongs to. I guess there should be a reason why they can easily work on the TRN Black Pearl based on their relationship with the brand. I have never seen firmware updates of JCally devices.

One thing one can do is to flash the Tanchjim Stargate II firmware to the JM20 Pro and use its NOS mode. But I don't think I can recommend doing that.

Anyway, there are not many choices if one wants external mic support and onboard PEQ at a low price. The TRN Black Pearl or the new FiiO Melody can be considered.

 

[CedarX]

Anyway, there are not many choices if one wants external mic support and onboard PEQ at a low price. The TRN Black Pearl or the new FiiO Melody can be considered.

You won’t recommend the Hi-Max?

 

[fws]

You won’t recommend the Hi-Max?

Hi-Max is in the up to 1Vrms category. Again I feel people forgot about KA1, but it seems like it might been discontinued
https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/fiio-ka1/
ES9281AC Pro, 108dB SiNAD, up to 2Vrms (around 1.4Vrms at 32Ohm), mic support, I think EQ, filters and UAC1 through the FiiO app? The only downside is the size without a detachable cable. Can be down to $30 locally, unfortunately I don't see it on AliExpress anymore.

 

[jkim]

You won’t recommend the Hi-Max?

Of course, I do. I just assumed we're talking about higher-output devices..

 

[HissingFree]

You won’t recommend the Hi-Max?

It's a low end DAC, it just is, noise floor is much higher. CS43131 is just so much better.

 

[HissingFree]

One thing one can do is to flash the Tanchjim Stargate II firmware to the JM20 Pro and use its NOS mode. But I don't think I can recommend doing that.

Why not? do you mean in the sense that it may brick the device? but I'm sure you'll test this for us lol

 

[jkim]

It's a low end DAC, it just is, noise floor is much higher. CS43131 is just so much better.

The Hi-Max is much cheaper, too, making it still worth pairing with suitable IEMs or headphones. In my listening tests, most power-efficient phones are completely fine being driven by the Hi-Max without noticeable hissing.

Why not? do you mean in the sense that it may brick the device? but I'm sure you'll test this for us lol

I already tried and it worked. But there's no going back to stock FW, plus the update tool is not official, either.

 

[HissingFree]

I already tried and it worked. But there's no going back to stock FW, plus the update tool is not official, either.

I don't recall you saying if NOS mode worked or not for the JM20 Pro updated with Stargate firmware, does it work properly, so no cirrus hump anymore?

 

[jkim]

I don't recall you saying if NOS mode worked or not for the JM20 Pro updated with Stargate firmware, does it work properly, so no cirrus hump anymore?

The NOS mode works---it becomes essentially the Tanchjim Stargate II. If you own the JM20 Pro and want to flash the Stargate II FW, PM me.

 

[gie]

The NOS mode works---it becomes essentially the Tanchjim Stargate II. If you own the JM20 Pro and want to flash the Stargate II FW, PM me.

Hi. can you please tell me how to flash the jm20 pro with the stargate firmware? thanks.

 

[jkim]

Hi. can you please tell me how to flash the jm20 pro with the stargate firmware? thanks.

Replied to your PM.

 

[Dreamfull]

I just got the KZ PRX and im pleasantly surprised how fun and alive they sound, but coming from the Pure's with Jcally JM12 (flashed with the Fiio firmware) they need more power. I got quite found of the PEQ option, so will the JM20 Pro will be enough to drive Planar IEMs, so i can have and eat my cake at the same time?