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

[Shanling]

The Onix Alpha sets itself to 384khz when anything above 48khz is presented. v1.0.3 works and v1.2.3( IOS18 version) also works. This causes a sample rate mismatch and causes clicking/popping. This is absolutely a bug in your firmware. I think you also missed that all of my other 3 dongles have zero issues with my phone and UAC 2.0. This leads me to believe Alpha firmware is the cause.

I would also like to comment that the response you should have is "thanks you for reporting the issue. We will look into it." That would indicate you actually care about the products you sell. I've offered to provide debugs to your engineers. It's not a good policy to blame other devices when 1) we all know bugs happen. It's ok. 2) you've already issued new firmware for bugs relating to sample rate 3) it's not clear what the exact issue is. Though I've done enough troubleshooting to show it needs to be looked at.

ONIX XI1 do not set itself to any fixed sampling rate. If it shows 384 kHz, it's something on the side of the Android resampler (Or the app used) that is putting the sound out as 384 kHz. This can differ between phones, firmwares, apps, etc and while this is something that can be affected by firmware update, it's hard to check on this without getting your exact phone in our hands for testing.

If your phone works well with the V1.2.3, please continue using this version.

 

[smegel]

My two cents on this little DAC. It's a great value and a good little DAC. I'd consider it blind buy material seeing the power and functions and sound performance it provides. However, it might not be for everyone. It is rather neutral, decently technical, but does not provide the energy or hi-fi clarity sound of, say, the KA17, which I consider a better all rounder due to the super clean (though coloured) sound and added functions such as PEQ. The Onix for me is for when I want to relax with an IEM, it takes the harshness off, at the cost of energy and maybe a little tech. But it made my Ananda V3, unbearable on the KA17, bearable. Likewise my Pilgrim is ever so slightly spicy on the KA17, which I like, but when I want a more natural sound I reach for the Onix.

I guess @ToneDeafMonk is correct in saying that you can pair (or maybe need to pair) the right DAC to the right IEMs.
And based on his and other reviews... the iBasso DC Elite is now the one to beat and pairs nicely with a range of IEMs.
Of course its 4X the price of the Onix.

 

[ToneDeafMonk]

I guess @ToneDeafMonk is correct in saying that you can pair (or maybe need to pair) the right DAC to the right IEMs.
And based on his and other reviews... the iBasso DC Elite is now the one to beat and pairs nicely with a range of IEMs.
Of course its 4X the price of the Onix.

The DC Elite has its issues ... like when pair an IEM and they dont have any synergies. listening to the Tea's PRO it lays the sound bare and shows the Teas unusual midrange tonality. I am having a spot of fun here bitbits true for me that's a terrible combo.

 

[smegel]

The DC Elite has its issues ... like when pair an IEM and they dont have any synergies. listening to the Tea's PRO it lays the sound bare and shows the Teas unusual midrange tonality. I am having a spot of fun here bitbits true for me that's a terrible combo.

Ah. OK
So that doesn't shock me. I mean the Onix pairs well with the Dita Project Ms, and I have no regerts. [sic]
Thanks for the update.

I guess we need to find an IEM sommelier of sorts to pair DACs/DAPs w IEMs.

Would you recommend the Truthear Zero (Reds) w the Onix?

 

[laleeee]

The DC Elite has its issues ... like when pair an IEM and they dont have any synergies. listening to the Tea's PRO it lays the sound bare and shows the Teas unusual midrange tonality. I am having a spot of fun here bitbits true for me that's a terrible combo.

Do you recommend the Elite with the Shanling me600 ?
I'm using the me600 with the Onix now and i like it.

 

[Foxgloves]

Maybe but a large part of this has to be something else. My Onix only gets about roughly as loud as my JM6 pro out of my laptop usb port, but others report using considerably lower volume than me to get their listening level. I even saw someone claim 14 or so, but I don't hear anything at that level.


Interestingly, I started to get a crackling noise that periodically occurs and won't stop until I replug the cable (I think it might be related to one mmcx cable I use on one older iem). Though from the get-go on all iems and either firmware, sometimes video/audio simply won't start or plays without audio and I have to replug. Less annoying but Onix shouldn't have been shipped with these various issues.

Just an update on this. Going with the windows USB drivers (instead of the Onix ones) on newest firmware seems to have solved the problem of audio not playing. Second, the weird appearance of crackling was apparently fixed by just flipping the Onix cable -- I don't know why that caused it. So, now just have the low power/volume problem still on Windows.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I guess @ToneDeafMonk is correct in saying that you can pair (or maybe need to pair) the right DAC to the right IEMs.
And based on his and other reviews... the iBasso DC Elite is now the one to beat and pairs nicely with a range of IEMs.
Of course its 4X the price of the Onix.

@ToneDeafMonk is 1000% correct about source synergy. It might be more important than burn in, tip rolling, or cables? I'm an obsessive source roller, because I've discovered so many wonderful synergies I didn't think existed, providing new life for a multitude of IEMs, and also correct, the DCE isn't infallible. There are a couple IEMs that don't sound that great on the DCE. The ISN H60 is one of those, as well as the Tri i3 mk III.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Do you recommend the Elite with the Shanling me600 ?
I'm using the me600 with the Onix now and i like it.

That combo has to be warmer than a fat girl's seat cushion?!

 

[smegel]

That combo has to be warmer than a fat girl's seat cushion?!

There you go... fat shaming...
<insert an image of me shacking my head, saying that this conversation has hit a new low.>

 

[laleeee]

That combo has to be warmer than a fat girl's seat cushion?!

Not really, ask the Monk.
The Ifi Go Bar much warmer

 

[Shanling]

ONIX XI1 Firmware V1.3 released

Further optimization for iOS18 and overall improved volume control with iOS.

Download link on our website:
https://onixhiend.co.uk/alpha-firmware-update/

 

[D1N0]

Are we going to have the 'it changed the sound and now it sounds worse discussion all over again?

 

[smegel]

Are we going to have the 'it changed the sound and now it sounds worse discussion all over again?

Doesn't really matter since you can't install it unless you have a window's pc.
Sorry Shanling, I ditched my Windblows PCs over a decade ago, except when getting one from a client to access their systems.

And I'm reluctant to jump to iOS18 because of the AI carp that doesn't really do much for me.
[edit] Now if they said they had a linux method... I may consider it. I do have several linux servers in a rack.

 

[Sifxt]

just bought the dac and i cant seem to use its driver properly , ive installed the driver and updated the firmware. still when i use asio+ dsd and sacd components on foobar . it say this:
what should i do ? thanks!

 

[D1N0]

Look for some Foobar support. Foobar has many different settings. https://www.foobar2000.org/support