ONIX Alpha XI1 - Smallest & Most Affordable ONIX DAC - High-Power Portable USB DAC/AMP

[Lépine]

I just checked laleeee's battery pack. it is rated at 12 volts 3 amps max so it is a 36 watts power at max and we do not know if that is sustained watts.
If "bass head" means metal or hard rock, then the battery may not be good enough? Maybe more than enough spected from ONIX perspective, but
maybe it only opens up the treble, but then doesn't have enough for the bass?

The spects for the Logilink battery 12V/3A = 36 watts

https://www.tme.com/us/en-us/details/pc-pa0193/rechargeable-batteries/logilink/pa0193-as/


Something like this one probably sounds as bad as the phone 5V/1.5A = 7.5 watts

https://www.tme.eu/en/details/pc-pa0126/rechargeable-batteries/logilink/pa0126-as/


These are way less than the 100 watts I have available.


The max output of the Onix is .5 watts = 4 volts x Y amps
Y = 0.125 amps so these batteries should be more than enough, but... you can certainly hear the difference from 1.5 amps and 2.0 amps.

 

[smegel]

I just checked laleeee's battery pack. it is rated at 12 volts 3 amps max so it is a 36 watts power at max and we do not know if that is sustained watts.
If "bass head" means metal or hard rock, then the battery may not be good enough? Maybe more than enough spected from ONIX perspective, but
maybe it only opens up the treble, but then doesn't have enough for the bass?

The spects for the Logilink battery

https://www.tme.com/us/en-us/details/pc-pa0193/rechargeable-batteries/logilink/pa0193-as/

That's an interesting perspective.
I think what you did w the power brick (Dell GaN power supply) is interesting.
I tested my macbook's power supply and I couldn't hear a difference between my macbook or the use of a battery.
Of course YMMV depending on the headphone/IEM you're using.

I have to wonder how many test the limits of their DACs by listening to Bach organ music?
Or Wanger Rings Cycle?

Does anyone include this in their test tracks?
There's some good Jazz, but the recordings have some hiss in them...

 

[Lépine]

I think the point is that not all batteries perform the same just because it is a usb output. Some care should be taken into account to get a battery that is more than enough watts and amps.

 

[laleeee]

I just checked laleeee's battery pack. it is rated at 12 volts 3 amps max so it is a 36 watts power at max and we do not know if that is sustained watts.
If "bass head" means metal or hard rock, then the battery may not be good enough? Maybe more than enough spected from ONIX perspective, but
maybe it only opens up the treble, but then doesn't have enough for the bass?

The spects for the Logilink battery 12V/3A = 36 watts

https://www.tme.com/us/en-us/details/pc-pa0193/rechargeable-batteries/logilink/pa0193-as/


Something like this one probably sounds as bad as the phone 5V/1.5A = 7.5 watts

https://www.tme.eu/en/details/pc-pa0126/rechargeable-batteries/logilink/pa0126-as/


These are way less than the 100 watts I have available.


The max output of the Onix is .5 watts = 4 volts x Y amps
Y = 0.125 amps so these batteries should be more than enough, but... you can certainly hear the difference from 1.5 amps and 2.0 amps.

"If you are a "bass head" then you already perfer a more heavily colored sound"
It shows that you don't know what basshead means.

"maybe it only opens up the treble, but then doesn't have enough for the bass?"
This is ridiculous because in the first round you also admitted that the Alpha sounds thinner and brighter to you by using a battery.

By the way, I don't have the powerbank you linked to, everything else is fine

 

[Deckard001]

Do you think Qudelix 5k worth if already have Alpha?

 

[smegel]

Qudelix 5k

Its interesting, but a couple of things...

• 2.5mm BAL while everyone is moving to 4.4mm
• BT enabled, which Onix Alpha lacks.
• Battery (necessary for BT) which Onix Alpha lacks
• 96kHz vs Onix 768kHz
• 24bit vs Onix 32bit resolution
• No Oversampling vs Oversampling also Up Sampling too.(Onix)
• Requires external App.
• Built in Mic... No Mic on the Onix

While I noticed this from the Spec... here's a review that covers some of the same.
https://hiendportable.com/qudelix-5k-english-review/

The biggest and only advantage is if you don't want to have a physical connection between your phone and the unit.

I don't know of anyone having compared the two... but I'd say if you're concerned mostly about the sound quality... Alpha has it beat. At least on paper.

The ESS chip can do 384kHz PCM. But the unit is limited to 96kHz? Not sure why unless its a really small and weak battery...

I guess its almost like those BT ear pieces where you can attach your own IEMs.

 

[Deckard001]

Its interesting, but a couple of things...

• 2.5mm BAL while everyone is moving to 4.4mm
• BT enabled, which Onix Alpha lacks.
• Battery (necessary for BT) which Onix Alpha lacks
• 96kHz vs Onix 768kHz
• 24bit vs Onix 32bit resolution
• No Oversampling vs Oversampling also Up Sampling too.(Onix)
• Requires external App.
• Built in Mic... No Mic on the Onix

While I noticed this from the Spec... here's a review that covers some of the same.
https://hiendportable.com/qudelix-5k-english-review/

The biggest and only advantage is if you don't want to have a physical connection between your phone and the unit.

I don't know of anyone having compared the two... but I'd say if you're concerned mostly about the sound quality... Alpha has it beat. At least on paper.

The ESS chip can do 384kHz PCM. But the unit is limited to 96kHz? Not sure why unless its a really small and weak battery...

I guess its almost like those BT ear pieces where you can attach your own IEMs.

Yes thanks I know, my only wish and search is the excellent EQ ability of 5K. As Onix does not offer, so as to be able to EQ while streaming services and not loose the bit-perfect ability, as Peace does not work when bit-perfect Qobuz/Tidal

 

[AnamCeoil]

Its interesting, but a couple of things...

• 2.5mm BAL while everyone is moving to 4.4mm
• BT enabled, which Onix Alpha lacks.
• Battery (necessary for BT) which Onix Alpha lacks
• 96kHz vs Onix 768kHz
• 24bit vs Onix 32bit resolution
• No Oversampling vs Oversampling also Up Sampling too.(Onix)
• Requires external App.
• Built in Mic... No Mic on the Onix

While I noticed this from the Spec... here's a review that covers some of the same.
https://hiendportable.com/qudelix-5k-english-review/

The biggest and only advantage is if you don't want to have a physical connection between your phone and the unit.

I don't know of anyone having compared the two... but I'd say if you're concerned mostly about the sound quality... Alpha has it beat. At least on paper.

The ESS chip can do 384kHz PCM. But the unit is limited to 96kHz? Not sure why unless its a really small and weak battery...

I guess its almost like those BT ear pieces where you can attach your own IEMs.

Fully agree. BT functionality is great, and the PEQ is amazing- but I personally find that the Onix smokes it for pure sound quality, and enjoyability factor. YMMV

 

[laleeee]

Fully agree. BT functionality is great, and the PEQ is amazing- but I personally find that the Onix smokes it for pure sound quality, and enjoyability factor. YMMV

there is no doubt that Alpha is a fantastic dongle with or without powerbank too

 

[smegel]

Yes thanks I know, my only wish and search is the excellent EQ ability of 5K. As Onix does not offer, so as to be able to EQ while streaming services and not loose the bit-perfect ability, as Peace does not work when bit-perfect Qobuz/Tidal

Well... on my mac, I do have EQMac, however... the sound is still great without it.
Spotify does have some EQ functionality if you go into the settings.

 

[Mortin]

Another side note... depending on the recording... I'm using spotify... I can hear intermittent noise/crackles and pops.
Still running the original version.

Hello, what is this noise/crackles you have when using a Mac?

 

[smegel]

Hello, what is this noise/crackles you have when using a Mac?

If I have a long listening session w upscale output... there is the occasional noise... I'm still running the initial firmware ... but in this case... its actually the Jazz recordings that have the noise.

I thought Shanling was working w you on the issue you called out?

 

[Mortin]

@Shanling I thought so too(

 

[smegel]

@Shanling I thought so too(

Well we're in the Holiday season ...

If they are going to upgrade this... I'd say spend more money on the USB socket. Not sure how to strengthen it, but that would be a good thing to fix.

I agree with your initial assessment back in this thread. But not sure how to show or do a repeatable test.
I mean the pops that you hear are infrequent and doesn't always happen. I'm wondering if its not in the Alpha but could be in the source itself?
I mean I am now running out of available RAM on my macbook pro, and have to routinely kill apps every so often so I have to wonder if the noise starts there?
Also when we're pushing it w more power too.

You and I can't be the only ones hearing this... right?

 

[Mortin]

I wouldn't say it's impossible to repeat. A completely repeatable addiction. The day before, I hadn't listened to music through Onyx for several days, and yesterday I sat down to listen for a long time, almost an hour - it was perfect, not a single click! But time passed, about an hour, and hello again. That's it, it can't be stopped. The click can be once every 5 minutes, or every 10-20 seconds. It can be barely noticeable against the background of aggressive music, or it can be louder, especially if the sound is declining. This is already random. But the fact that there is interference is natural and always! Now, as before, I power it with a small power bank, which, in my opinion, provides excellent sound. And excellent work with a low-current source, no shutdowns. The power is simply turned on and off by a button. Perfect! Powerbank) Let me remind you that I fastened them together at the end using double-sided tape and glued a magsafe ring - it's incredibly convenient. Now I've added aluminum foil (special from a hardware store on a glue base) to the back side, between the smartphone and the DAC + powerbank. I'm not yet ready to say that there are fewer clicks, they definitely haven't gone away. But perhaps less often. I'm close to solving the mystery and it looks like my initial feelings are being confirmed...