JCALLY JM20 MAX Headphone Dongle Review

[ErinPraline]

The G5 has quite a few extra features and has even better performances.
Now, if you were looking for a compact USB-C dongle and ended up with a G5… then yes, this review would have been useful!

My G5 actually died within a month of purchase

 

[Svensson]

UPDATE: First one just failed after 15 mins continuous use at sensible levels
I'd tested both when they arrived for 2-3 mins each. Finished work and started a listening session at just under ⅓ volume (- 47.3dB on UAPP) with Truthear X Crinacle Zero Red. Music stopped mid track after about 15 mins. Checked and my phone was still running, UAPP still playing. No output. Pulled the JM20 and it was hot to the touch at the USB-C side. I don't recall any warning noises, but might have missed something as my daughter was trying to tell me something. Let it cool for 15 mins. No joy since then with any of my devices or with other headphones.

Trying the 2nd one now with the Truthear X Crinacle Zero Red. Thats working just fiine. Fingers crossed.


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Jcally JM20 Max's arrived from AliExpress this morning. Listened using Sennheiser HD560S via UAPP on my phone. Observations after first listening with my long term partner E1DA9038D

1. Nicely shorter than E1DA9038D setup
2. Had to lower volume from about 75% to about 30% for an entirely unmeasured sense of equivalence.
3. Sounds the same as E1DA9038D (no surprises here)
4. No sign of radio another interference that I get from time to time on the E1DA
5. Jcally JM20 Max gets similarly warmer to the touch at the business end (USB connector side). No warmer than the E1DA from touch.
6. My personal use case does not need a dedicated "desktop" setup, but if I did, it would ONLY be if I had much harder to drive headphones.

 

[Audionaut]

It is a little strange that the website indicated on the packaging does not exist.

 

[Viper780]

For the lowest latency for playing VSTs in Ableton Live.

But why is this important for a playback device?

 

[dark132]

It is a little strange that the website indicated on the packaging does not exist.

View attachment 445963

After checking, this website has not been launched yet. The main way to contact customer service and repair in China is to contact Taobao or Jingdong customer service

 

[Mookalafalas]

I thought I received mine...it turns out the Aliexpress website is a bit slippery. The product said JM20 max, but it turned out it's the JM20. I had to click one more box to actually get the MAX, for about $2 more. This one sounds great (and is plenty loud), but what the heck? For $20 I can't cry, and I'm certainly not going to go stand in line at the post office to mail it back to China. It's apparently the same chip set, and a great bargain, but it's a bit disappointing.

 

[Count Arthur]

I thought I received mine...it turns out the Aliexpress website is a bit slippery. The product said JM20 max, but it turned out it's the JM20. I had to click one more box to actually get the MAX, for about $2 more. This one sounds great (and is plenty loud), but what the heck? For $20 I can't cry, and I'm certainly not going to go stand in line at the post office to mail it back to China. It's apparently the same chip set, and a great bargain, but it's a bit disappointing.

If its any consolation, I have three dongle DACs:

Moondrop Click ~ £15.00
Ugreen ~ £12.00
JCally JM20 MAX ~ £24.00

The JM20 MAX has more headroom than the other two, so would likely work better with more demanding headphones, but with easy to drive IEMs, they all sound just fine and I can't discern any difference in sound quality *.

* Multiple tests have shown that my ears are far from golden.

 

[pioterd]

CS43131-based device, like the Fosi Audio DS2? With no additional headphone amp stage

Output power of CS-based DS2 suggests there is/are additional OP-amp. Single CS43131 provides direct output not higher than 30-40mW into 32ohm. DS2 (dual CS43131) is specified 120-130mW into 32ohm.

If you want direct output from dual CS43131 dacs, without additional operational amplifiers, take a look at Shanling UA1plus (1.6V maximum voltage output, only 3.5mm) or Moondrop Dawn Pro (2V/4V maximum voltage output and both 3.5/4.4mm holes).

 

[Mookalafalas]

If its any consolation, I have three dongle DACs:

Moondrop Click ~ £15.00
Ugreen ~ £12.00
JCally JM20 MAX ~ £24.00

The JM20 MAX has more headroom than the other two, so would likely work better with more demanding headphones, but with easy to drive IEMs, they all sound just fine and I can't discern any difference in sound quality *.

* Multiple tests have shown that my ears are far from golden.

Thanks for the kind post. I am moving up on 60, and my ears don't test that well, either. I was just testing the JM20 with my Senheiser 6xx cans, and sound was great. I'm now listening to my new "GATE" $20 IEMS, and I had to turn the volume down to 7%--and it's really loud! (And I'm a not delicate). I have no complaints--but still want to try the MAX anyway

 

[dark132]

I bought it for the equivalent of $20 in China, which is just the price of a hamburger in the U.S.

 

[mc.god]

I thought I received mine...it turns out the Aliexpress website is a bit slippery. The product said JM20 max, but it turned out it's the JM20. I had to click one more box to actually get the MAX, for about $2 more. This one sounds great (and is plenty loud), but what the heck? For $20 I can't cry, and I'm certainly not going to go stand in line at the post office to mail it back to China. It's apparently the same chip set, and a great bargain, but it's a bit disappointing.

Yes, you have to get accustomed to Aliexpress, many insertions are for multiple objects or variants and you have to be careful on what box you click just before placing the order.
Anyway the standard JM20 is more than enough for sensitive headphones, as you already experienced, you can still get the MAX since it's so cheap and keep the standard as a backup in case of issues.

 

[dark132]

Thanks for the kind post. I am moving up on 60, and my ears don't test that well, either. I was just testing the JM20 with my Senheiser 6xx cans, and sound was great. I'm now listening to my new "GATE" $20 IEMS, and I had to turn the volume down to 7%--and it's really loud! (And I'm a not delicate). I have no complaints--but still want to try the MAX anyway

Please be sure to try the paid music software--“Neutron Music Player”, it takes this type of mini dac to another level，you can try its free version first, you can listen to 100+ hours, believe me, it is absolutely amazing

 

[obsessive9119]

Please be sure to try the paid music software--“Neutron Music Player”, it takes this type of mini dac to another level，you can try its free version first, you can listen to 100+ hours, believe me, it is absolutely amazing

I’m a huge Neutron fan, but it’s worth warning anyone coming to it for the first time that the UI is rather unique. It’s not the prettiest app I’ve used, but it is exceedingly functional.

 

[jkim]

Output power of CS-based DS2 suggests there is/are additional OP-amp. Single CS43131 provides direct output not higher than 30-40mW into 32ohm. DS2 (dual CS43131) is specified 120-130mW into 32ohm.

It suggests no additional amp stage. In theory, a headphone amp producing 40 mW into 32 Ohm can provide quadruple (not double) its power in a differential configuration of two identical amps, i.e., 160 mW. So, the measurements of the DS2 are consistent with the case of no additional amp stage.

 

[mc.god]

It suggests no additional amp stage. In theory, a headphone amp producing 40 mW into 32 Ohm can provide quadruple (not double) its power in a differential configuration of two identical amps, i.e., 160 mW. So, the measurements of the DS2 are consistent with the case of no additional amp stage.

And we have seen from measurements of various vanilla CS43131 devices, single or double chip, that its 32@ohm output in SE can vary from around 55 mW up to around 80 mW, probably depending on power supply circuitry implementation (my speculation, not an expert here), so much more than 40 mW.

 

[ZZdown]

This is a great USB-C power meter. I have used it with iPads, iPhones and laptops to measure charge speed. Haven't used it to measure power draw yet, but it is capable of.
It is also economical (gor mine for under $35) while not pure Chinesium (premium Chinesium+ hybrid )

USB-C Power Tester, Digital Multimeter, Bi-Directional Voltage and Current Meter, Up to 240W PD EPR,

USB-C Power Tester, Bi-Directional Digital Voltage/Current

www.startech.com

Hopefully @amirm can start including power draw in his tests.

 

[MC_RME]

Only 22 € over here - ordered. USB meters with USB 3 data through are rare, and this one even guarantees 10 Gb/s - nice. But it will most probably not work easily with USB-A devices (via adapter) and simple USB-C implementations (missing the 5.1 k resistors). Let's see...

 

[ErinPraline]

Mine finally arrived, I can confirm it can power the Dan Clark Audio Noire X but when something gets pretty loud I think I hear it clipping

 

[dtaylo1066]

Just got mine via AliExpress. Maybe took a week or so. On Zero Reds from Samsung Galaxy Tab 8+ usb out it sounds wonderful. 2/3 on the volume bar is about all my ears can take. This thing has some power. Playing from Tidal. Have to load UAPP to get bit perfect and circumnavigate Andoid 48kHz sampling rate, though it is not a audible issue at present. On first quick listen it can certainly give my my Micro iDSD Black Label. For $25 that is astounding.

 

[ErinPraline]

Mine finally arrived, I can confirm it can power the Dan Clark Audio Noire X but when something gets pretty loud I think I hear it clipping

It took me a bit to realize I was watching YouTube videos where the creator was peaking their mic lol