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

[laleeee]

Thanks! Updated

Moto G54 Power works

 

[zie5522]

Well, you need to know how I decided they are the same under my listening conditions. Every method has limitations. If there is a problem with my method, you can comment.

- Using Yanyin Canon 2 as the IEM. So my impressions are limited to what the Canon 2 can reveal... which is a lot. I run them in down/down toggles. Before I got the Canon 2 I carefully read reviews from Tone Deaf Monk, akros, Super Reviews, HBB, and that fellow down in Oz, Passion for Sound. They all compared Canon 2's quality to Hype 4, and Xenns Top, with TDF actually preferring it to the Top. I am running Penon Liqueur Orange tips, after having also tried A07, W1, Tri Clarion, Final E, CP100, CP145, Dunu S&S, and the stock tips and also stock tips from Olina SE. Having had the Canon 2 for three months now, I kept it while I sold on the Performer5, Hype2, and headphones HD 600 and HD58x. I felt the Canon 2 is more accurate from 20-15k (I don't think I can hear beyond 15k), and enjoyable. Still, there might be more revealing IEMs that would show a difference where I found none with the Canon 2. Perhaps IEMs with ESTs or some planars would reveal a difference I don't hear with BAs.

- 320k material. I am devoted to complete portability. I use Spotify Very High, which is 320k. It's probably true that most people who would buy an outboard dongle/DAC vs. a Player would not be using Lossless. I am familiar with FLAC files since I transferred about 200 CDs into FLAC in around 2010, and I personally could not distinguish a difference between 320k and FLAC, so I've never felt the need to keep my music onboard in FLAC. I've also compared CDs to 320k and failed to note any difference in what I hear in the past through either HD600 or a $15,000 Sonus Faber speaker system.

- Volume matching by ear: This took me almost an hour... to get a replay that sounded like identical volume out of the MB Air heaphone jack, vs. Onix with the MB Air through C port, using system volume as well as Onix Alpha 100 step volume control. At times I would hear a difference, then realize the volumes weren't matched. Then the difference disappeared after changing the Onix volume to match.

- Test tracks -- using the usual tracks.... I have a list of about 50 records that I use with every IEM or set of tips I try. All the usual... Jazz at the Pawn Shop, Bird on a Wire, Paul Simon's Graceland & You Can Call me Al, Eagles Live '99, Steely Dan, Daft Punk, Snoop Dogg Gin & Juice, several Chris Jones tracks, Camille St. Saines Symphony No. 3 in C Minor Op. 78 (organ), Sarah Vaughn, plus a few well recorded test tracks from the past few years, etc. Songs that reveal bass, vocals,, cymbals/high hats, etc.

So, under those conditions, which aren't going to change in my setup, the Onix Alpha 1 and the Apple M1 Air DAC to Headphone out, sound identical. I will keep the Onix b/c I am planning to pick up the Hifiman Edition XS and would need the balanced power ... but I would still have the problem I noted in my post yesterday that I cannot get eqMac to output to Onix, and I'm not sure I want a headphone if I can't get the EQ'd signal to the Onix..

If you cant find any differences its great man. In this subjective hobby different impressions are great.

 

[Shanling]

So what will happend to the owners of the device that there is issue with the dac? Will the company take care of them or not?

Also has anyone checked if is working with Pixel devices such as Pixel 8?

We normally release firmware updates for our USB Dongles to adjust compatibility with smartphones.

We are now gathering feedback on the XI1 and will work with ONIX on firmware update for it.

I agree that it's the responsibility of the manufacturer to guarantee that the device works as advertised. If they had listed out which phone brands have been tested, people could've made informed decisions.

For now, just keep checking my database and also encourage owners to send info: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1X5SuH1UnH5ZUYV8YgXXP6J5obNvEBW7YtMa8zm7-P6Q/edit?usp=sharing

Shanling also has access to this.

Listing brands is unfortunately not enough. We sometimes see differences between models, between firmwares and sometimes just between two units due to apps run by end users. World of Android output is far from simple and all manufacturers of USB Dongles have to face it.

Thank you for the chart with tested units.

 

[zie5522]

We normally release firmware updates for our USB Dongles to adjust compatibility with smartphones.

We are now gathering feedback on the XI1 and will work with ONIX on firmware update for it.


Listing brands is unfortunately not enough. We sometimes see differences between models, between firmwares and sometimes just between two units due to apps run by end users. World of Android output is far from simple and all manufacturers of USB Dongles have to face it.

Thank you for the chart with tested units.

Will wait for the updates. Currently trying on my end.

 

[shutterbug]

Has anyone tried this with iPhone 14 Pro, hope the lightning port has enough juice to power it. Does it really sound similar to the Apple dongle lol? I'm currently using BTR7, hopefully it's an improvement, not very impressed by the Fiio firmware, still buggy.

Waiting for mine to come, got a great deal from the Ali summer sale.

 

[louis1231]

i just received 1 yesterday.

it sounds great on Mi13T Pro using the original USB Cable comes with Onix .
However, it works only the app UAPP - USB audio player pro with Tidal in it.
it doesn't work on other apps youtube, eddict player, chrome browser , Tidal.

i tried to run on Hiby Rs6 dap with Onix USB cable. it works flawlessly.

 

[ttorbic]

Has anyone tried this with iPhone 14 Pro, hope the lightning port has enough juice to power it. Does it really sound similar to the Apple dongle lol? I'm currently using BTR7, hopefully it's an improvement, not very impressed by the Fiio firmware, still buggy.

Waiting for mine to come, got a great deal from the Ali summer sale.

Shanling said it should work on all iPhones

 

[gto88]

Shanling said it should work on all iPhones

Yes, I used iPhone 11+, works fine and sounds great.

 

[zie5522]

i just received 1 yesterday.

it sounds great on Mi13T Pro using the original USB Cable comes with Onix .
However, it works only the app UAPP - USB audio player pro with Tidal in it.
it doesn't work on other apps youtube, eddict player, chrome browser , Tidal.

i tried to run on Hiby Rs6 dap with Onix USB cable. it works flawlessly.

If you turn on exclusive mode on uapp or hiby and any other apps that have exclusive mode, that's what happen. It only sound thru those apps.

 

[snbk97]

Any updates on the Linsoul orders? By when they will start to ship?.

I'm seeing everyone who obtained via unofficial source got theirs early than Linsoul

 

[easylive]

Any updates on the Linsoul orders? By when they will start to ship?.

I'm seeing everyone who obtained via unofficial source got theirs early than Linsoul

Ordered the Onix 16.6. and it was shipped from linsoul 21.6.

 

[snbk97]

Ordered the Onix 16.6. and it was shipped from linsoul 21.6.

Oh! let me shoot them a mail and check for updates.

Thanks

 

[Deckard001]

We normally release firmware updates for our USB Dongles to adjust compatibility with smartphones.

We are now gathering feedback on the XI1 and will work with ONIX on firmware update for it.


Listing brands is unfortunately not enough. We sometimes see differences between models, between firmwares and sometimes just between two units due to apps run by end users. World of Android output is far from simple and all manufacturers of USB Dongles have to face it.

Thank you for the chart with tested units.

Thank your response and the upcoming update.

When release the update, would be nice to implement the suggestion of user @Vartan about the short/long press of the volume buttons if you please.
"Dear Shanling please add volume button short and long press function.
Short press (press & release) = Volume up/down"

 

[BSV2007]

Dear Shanling please add volume button short and long press function

... and make this option configurable via built-in UI.

 

[J808]

They are units from Chinese sellers.



https://zococity.es/ is our Spanish distributor and they also run Amazon sales. Try to send them a message if they have plans listing it on Amazon.



Sorry, don't have experience with Fiio cable.
But can confirm compatibility with iPhone 13 and Shanling L3 cable.


All units are the same color, this seems just some mistake on side of Linsoul's graphics.

@Shanling I purchased the Shanling usb-c/lightning cable as per your instructions and the Onyx Alpha doesn’t work with my iPhone 13. That’s two different cables I tried including your own cable with no luck. Are you sure the ONIX Alpha works with iPhone 13?