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

[jeffjazz]

Yeah looks like your screen orientation on the ONIX is flipped - easy to revert.

I'm curious if you still think the top end is slightly rolled off if you use the Fast filter?

Fast filter helps but still a little dark up top.

 

[ttorbic]

Fast filter helps but still a little dark up top.

Sorry, one more filter: what about the non oversampling one?

I've been using NOS and low latency fast with my neutral-warm gears

 

[Vanda99]

I like Vanda99 (great review BTW) own both the iBasso DC04PRO & picked up the Onix Alpha Xi1 last week. I am running both with a Motorola One 5G Ace phone with no compatibility issues.

First thing I noticed on the hardware end is that the iBasso top volume button increases the volume. On the Onix the top volume rocker lowers the volume. Opposite of each other. Not a big deal but need to get used to it.

The filters on the iBasso UAC app (green picture) affect the sound more than the filters on the Onix. In addition on the iBasso I can change output from normal to turbo which gives the sound more punch & the eco mode when on warms up the bass but also makes it looser. More adjustment on iBasso is a positive there.
I can hear the different filters on the Onix but it is more subtle.

Also I use the USB Audio Player Pro app (3rd Pic) which has a setting for Bit Perfect audio. That setting bypasses the phone volume & give the cleanest most accurate sound (it also bypasses any eq so if I want to use eq I have to turn off bit perfect). Problem is with the Onix the phones volume still works, which may mean the Onix doesn't allow bit perfect sound through this app. Not sure but when the iBasso is connected the phones volume is bypassed with Bit Perfect on.
Curious what others have experienced when using USB Audio Player Pro with the Onix.

Vanda99 is hearing what I heard on difference between both. He has good ears.

iBasso sound pluses:
Definitely sounds more punchy and dynamic. The high end is more prominent without being bright. I think there may more detail on cymbals up top than the Onix. I do like the crack of the snare more and overall the iBasso sound more alive, like a live recording not studio.
Good soundstage but definitely closer to the musicians sound. More upfront. Like row 10 at a concert.

iBasso negatives:
Not as detailed as Onix. Onix is more nuanced in small details.
Smaller soundstage but acceptable.
Less analogue, more like good digital.

Onix sound pluses:
Warner more intimate sound.
Bigger soundstage.
More balanced across the frequency (other than a slightly rolled off high end)
More detail in mids. More nuanced.
A little tighter bass.

Onix negatives.
Not dynamic enough. Sounds a little flat compared to iBasso.
High end rolled off or sweet sounding but missing some details there.
Midrange doesn't pop (dynamics again)
Soundstage is mid to back hall (not a negative but a preference thing) Depends on where you like you seats!
I need to crank volume to high 70s into 80 on my Artti T10 planar iems on the 4.4 jack. iBasso definitely has more gain.

Does Onix beat iBasso. Yes & no. At this level it's a preference thing, but I do believe I need to break in the Onix more (& I'm one that can hear the improvement of breaking in equipment)

Will see what more hours do with the sound on the Onix.

Thanx for your impressions/review! Same same but also a little different to mine. The dynamics missing on Onix and less top end: True I think! I have some more energetic gear- like S12, Fostex and tuned Beyerdynamic T5p: with them everything's alright- the Hidizs is a softer/more relaxed iem (at least compared to S12), not the best synergy imo and so I prefer the ibasso. So maybe onix isn't the first recommendation for more neutral/relaxed gear! ....Don't have 100+ headphones so maybe wrong conclusion!?

 

[Hellknight[FA]]

You have to disable Volume Control in UAPP (under 'Volume') when you want exclusive volume control over your Amp.

My KA17 also requires that - no matter if bit perfect is activated or not.

 

[ohaeng]

Onix와 함께한 3일째. 빌드 품질은 매우 좋고 멋지게 보입니다. Sony Xperia 5ii 및 ddhifi TC05 케이블로 균형 잡힌 음악을 들어보세요. Qobuz의 음악. 대부분의 경우 급격한 롤오프(IBasso를 사용하는 내가 선호하는 필터)

ibasso dc04 pro 에 비해 :
+Onix에는 재생 일시 중지 버튼이 있으며 원하는 대로 버튼을 구성할 수도 있습니다.
- Dac를 연결할 때 앱이 열리지 않습니다. ibasso의 앱을 선호하지만 나에게는 거래 차단기가 아닙니다.
- 더 많은 호환성 문제
- 조금 더 많은 전력을 소모하고 더 크고 무거워서 휴대성이 떨어질 수도 있습니다.
+ 필요한 경우 더 많은 전력
+ 필터는 사운드에 영향을 미치며 빠르거나 날카로운 롤오프와 느린 롤오프의 큰 차이
(IBASSO에서도 눈에 띄는 차이가 있지만 Onix에서는 더 많습니다)

+사운드: 첫인상은 "가장자리가 적고, 아날로그적이며, 둥글고- 좋은 의미에서 내 스피커와 더 비슷하게 들렸다. 그런데 뭔가 이상하게 느껴졌다. 오늘 나는 내가 싫어하는 것을 알아 냈다 (오닉스가 생명이없는 것처럼 들린다는 누군가의 게시물도있었습니다. 생명이 없다고 생각하지 않았고 불편한 방식으로 이상했습니다)
... 그러나 저음은 거기에 있었고, 임팩트가 있고 또한 제어되었습니다 (나는 당신이 4 배의 가격으로 더 많은 컨트롤을 얻을 수 있다고 확신하지만 제어는 좋습니다) 정말 좋은 분리와 이미징, 좋은 사운드 스테이지, 또한 목소리가 좋게 들렸습니다. DC04에 비해 "크고" 조금 더 자세하게 들렸습니다(좋은 사운드 스테이지도 있음). 그리고 한두 곡에서 전에는 몰랐던 것들을 들을 수 있었어요. 하지만.... 첫 번째 게시물에서 말했듯이 Ibassos 사운드보다 더 좋아하는지 확실하지 않았고 실제로 존재하지 않는 원치 않는 홀 효과와 같았습니다.

오늘 나는 500-1000hz에서 Eq가 0.4DB, 2k, 0.2dB로 중음을 올렸습니다.
이상한 느낌이 사라졌다. 빠진 것은 아무것도 없었다. 내 귀에 잘 들렸다.
그 남자가 생명이 없다고 말했을 때 내가 한 것과 같은 것을 놓치고 있었는지 확실하지 않지만 내 귀는 다음과 같이 말합니다.
사운드면에서 Onix는 확실한 승자이며 내 음악에 많은 생명을 불어넣습니다.

나는 또한 당신이 사용하는 헤드폰이나 iem에 달려 있다고 확신합니다 (shuoer S12 non pro는 조정하지 않고 정말 좋게 들렸고 뜨거운 고음의 원인이 되기 전에 항상 EQ가 필요했습니다. Fostex th610은 좋은 소리를 냈고 eq가없는 Hidizs mp145를 좋아하지 않았습니다. mest MK2에서도 이상합니다 ...- 이봐- 나는 단지 내 귀에 대해 이야기하고 있습니다 - 나를 돌로 치지 마십시오). Onyx는 돈을 위해 정말 좋은 DAC/DAP이며 시너지는 또 다른 것입니다.

나도 DC04가 꽤 좋은 거래라고 생각하고 계속 사용할 것입니다. Onix의 모든 문제가 곧 해결되고 가까운 시일 내에 즐길 수 있기를 진심으로 바랍니다!!

My experience with the DC04 pro is 'disappointing'. The sound quality was good, but there was a problem with the balance between the left and right channels. I had to raise the left channel to +3. While using it, I thought it was a problem with my hearing, so I moved on. And I thought the Moondrop CHU2 I bought would have a problem too. And during the one-year warranty period, the volume down button gradually moved down, and now the volume up button has moved down so that it's parallel to the body. When I bought and listened to ONIX, I found that there was no problem with the left and right balance of the CHU2 earphones. It was a problem with the DC04 pro. I think I will be reluctant to buy iBasso products from now on.

 

[Vanda99]

My experience with the DC04 pro is 'disappointing'. The sound quality was good, but there was a problem with the balance between the left and right channels. I had to raise the left channel to +3. While using it, I thought it was a problem with my hearing, so I moved on. And I thought the Moondrop CHU2 I bought would have a problem too. And during the one-year warranty period, the volume down button gradually moved down, and now the volume up button has moved down so that it's parallel to the body. When I bought and listened to ONIX, I found that there was no problem with the left and right balance of the CHU2 earphones. It was a problem with the DC04 pro. I think I will be reluctant to buy iBasso products from now on.

Sounds like a Monday piece.Sorry for that!! Didn't hear bad things about ibassos quality control and try to buy from trusted sellers not too far away from my location to be safe. Have mine for a year now, works as intended and fortunately looks like new.

 

[ohaeng]

Sounds like a Monday piece.Sorry for that!! Didn't hear bad things about ibassos quality control and try to buy from trusted sellers not too far away from my location to be safe. Have mine for a year now, works as intended and fortunately looks like new.

I hope it was my own unfortunate case. The sound of the DC04 pro was good. So it's all the more regrettable. If ONIX doesn't work with the Samsung A-series in the future, I'll have to buy a 3.5mm dongle DAC separately. Please understand that I am not good at English because I am Korean.

 

[Vanda99]

I hope it was my own unfortunate case. The sound of the DC04 pro was good. So it's all the more regrettable. If ONIX doesn't work with the Samsung A-series in the future, I'll have to buy a 3.5mm dongle DAC separately. Please understand that I am not good at English because I am Korean

English is also not my mother tongue, but I understand everything you say, no worries. My korean is actually very bad

 

[bazhin61]

I hope it was my own unfortunate case. The sound of the DC04 pro was good. So it's all the more regrettable. If ONIX doesn't work with the Samsung A-series in the future, I'll have to buy a 3.5mm dongle DAC separately. Please understand that I am not good at English because I am Korean.

English is also not my native language
I assume that Samsung A-series phones have problems, when connected to Onix, in Exynos processor. These processors are found only in Samsung phones. My Samsung S 21 FE with Snapdragon and Xiaomi 13T Pro & Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 with Mediatek work without problems.

 

[captblaze]

English is also not my native language
I assume that Samsung A-series phones have problems, when connected to Onix, in Exynos processor. These processors are found only in Samsung phones. My Samsung S 21 FE with Snapdragon and Xiaomi 13T Pro & Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 with Mediatek work without problems.

I bet Samsung will say its Onix's' fault for making a power-hungry device that is out of spec to their power delivery

 

[bazhin61]

I bet Samsung will say its Onix's' fault for making a power-hungry device that is out of spec to their power delivery

The problem is not exactly Samsung or Onix-Shanling. Exynos phones, which are manufactured only by Samsung, are almost not sold, or perhaps not sold at all in China.
China has its own manufacturers with widespread Snapdragon and Mediatek chips.How should Shanling check the Dac if it is almost impossible to find such phones?
Exynos is not a premium chip like Apple's M-processors.

Someone wrote in the theme that the DAC on the Huawei phone does not work . I assume that the reason is the same as Exynos.

 

[jeffjazz]

Sorry, one more filter: what about the non oversampling one?

I've been using NOS and low latency fast with my neutral-warm gears

NOS doesn't brighten the high end. It warms up the sound. Low latency fast would be a little brighter.

 

[jeffjazz]

Thanx for your impressions/review! Same same but also a little different to mine. The dynamics missing on Onix and less top end: True I think! I have some more energetic gear- like S12, Fostex and tuned Beyerdynamic T5p: with them everything's alright- the Hidizs is a softer/more relaxed iem (at least compared to S12), not the best synergy imo and so I prefer the ibasso. So maybe onix isn't the first recommendation for more neutral/relaxed gear! ....Don't have 100+ headphones so maybe wrong conclusion!?

I also have Truthear Hexa and Salnotes Zero (original) The Hexa may be better match in some respects with the Onix. The Hexa even though touted as a neutral iem sound like they elevate the upper mids a bit, as does the iBasso DC04PRO. The Onix is more complementary with the Hexa. Plus the Hexa pop a little more dynamically (Than my planar Artti T10). That blends better with the slightly laid back dynamics on Onix. As you have noticed it is a synergy thing between different dacs and iems.

 

[ttorbic]

NOS doesn't brighten the high end. It warms up the sound. Low latency fast would be a little brighter.

Odd. NOS in theory does not filter out the very low and very very high frequencies, so you could hear more from both ends of the FR. Anyway, I think the consensus is that ONIX wasn't designed to be a detail trebly monster

 

[Ben86]

Tested with HD650 4.4 balanced high gain drives like a champ at ~80% volume