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

Nov 27, 2024 at 5:50 AM Post #1,396 of 1,677
Can you still buy the Dacport HD? I'll spend some time with it, I haven't listened to it in a long while.
 
Nov 27, 2024 at 6:57 AM Post #1,397 of 1,677
Nov 27, 2024 at 7:24 AM Post #1,398 of 1,677
The ONIX Alpha is good for $100. For not much more I found the Hidiz S9 Martha is very Chord sounding. Maybe not as smooth. Might be a tad bit brighter than one would want, but it is very powerful and articulate. Great sound stage. Picked up a Mojo2 as well. Now that is a nice portable DAC. 85-90% the sound of a Hugo2! The ONIX Alpha unfortunately is out classed by a considerable margin by the new Mojo2 and the Hidiz S9Pro Plus Martha in my opinion. I seem to like the ES9038Q2M and similar ESS9038 series chips as also found in the Kann Cube. Build quality of the Hidizs could use a lesson from ONIX. The Hidizs quality should be better for what it sonically can do. I noticed that the Hidizs can hand le upscaled WAV to DSD128 DSDx2 files with no problems. The ONIX Alpha won't play them without pauses to catchup? Or it just won't stay synced. But that's extreme (HQPlayer). Note the short bit of occ copper Sigva, I have that between the Eletech Plato pure silver cable.

If there is one characteristic of the ONIX I would like to change, it is the sound stage. I find it never opens up to full transparency like a Chord Mojo/Mojo2 or Hidizs S9Pro or Hidizs S9Pro Plus Martha.
Ok...
Looked at the Hidiz. Doesn't have a screen. While its also a different DAC chip... its also not really sold in the US. Amazon store only.
Its roughly the same price, so it could be an option. iBasso and others also have good DACs at this price point.

There are clearly sonic differences between DAC chips and even implementations using the same DAC. Which gets to Chord. Totally different beast and the Mojo2 isn't 'new' by any stretch of the word. Its been around for a while and its showing its age. Chord hasn't updated from the micro-USB to USB-C which has become the 'new' standard connector w even Apple moving away from their lighting to USB-C on their products. (Even Thunderbolt is now USB-C)

I agree that at higher bit rates, there's a lag, and someone already noted a potential issue where they noticed a possible cumulative effect ... (Shanling hasn't confirmed.)

No DAC is perfect, and each has their issues. I was amazed at the capabilities of the CS chip. So while higher end DACs have the ESS and AK chips or their own custom solution (Chord) there is also CS and Rhom which are also fairly good.

W.R.T the Onix Alpha... you can see a sonic difference between using an iPhone as a source vs a macbook. On the macbook, I can upscale the output using the midi app. I don't have that ability to do that w the phone. Also while there is a spec for the amount of voltage you can get from the USB-C connection. IMHO this can impact the sound stage. Also some have found that certain phones can't drive the Onix. (And there are other issues in terms of compatibility. e.g. iOS 18 upgrade caused issues)
 
Nov 27, 2024 at 7:29 AM Post #1,399 of 1,677
Given that each of us perceives sound in a different and completely personal way, I will tell you what I think of the Onix. I think, like Andy from Donglemadness, that dongles are divided into two large categories with countless grayscales between the two. Those with a sound that he defines as "HIFI" and those that he defines as "analog/musical". Obviously the Onix is part of the second category, therefore the one in which there are also RU6-RU7-FC6-CDAM1P-S2 and others... and it is a worthy exponent of this category. It is not excessively analog, and it has characteristics that usually dongles in this category do not have. The first and most evident is certainly the width of the soundstage, comparable to that of the RU7 (champion of this characteristic among the "analog"). The second is certainly the quantity and quality of the details it expresses, truly excellent. Another characteristic is certainly its immense power that places it at the top of the entire "dongle" category. Having said that, it is a really great dongle with a really ridiculous price, but this should not make us think that it is a perfect dongle... none of them are, and when I say none I also mean the DC-Elite. You always have to try to put them in the best conditions to be listened to, starting with the need for the right current to provide them and ending with the right IEM to pair and this concerns all dongles, not just the Onix. But the Onix also has something to be careful of, the USB port is certainly not the most resistant I have ever found in a dongle, so forget about carrying it in your pocket with a cable connected, you would certainly have a very unpleasant surprise... but this is absolutely not a problem for me because I don't do this with any of my dongles... let alone with the Onix. Even if I don't like to think in terms of "this or that is better", in the "analog" category I certainly place it in a top position, considering what it has to offer from a musical point of view. If instead we want to consider the price at which it is sold, it is simply the best price/performance dongle that I own. However, finding the iem that makes it perform at its best is at least as important as providing it with the current it needs. For me, having ten dongles and two iems makes no sense... perhaps it makes more sense to have 10 iems and two dongles (but I'm not sure) synergy is everything and it is not necessarily to be sought only with iems/dongles with an incredible price. I repeat, these considerations of mine reflect only and exclusively my personal opinion.
Very well written.

I wish I knew about the issue of the USB-C being a weak point and that its not a good idea to use these type of dongle dacs while on the go. While you can do it, Caveat Emptor applies. These dongle dacs seem to work best when you want to go somewhere like a coffee shop and chill out.
(The Alpha was my first DAC) I just picked up a DAP because I wanted a device w wi-fi, battery and BT. Even here my DX180 also has some quirks.

All in all, the Alpha had some teething issues, and I think there is still room for improvement in terms of upgrades.
 
Nov 27, 2024 at 9:24 AM Post #1,400 of 1,677
Very well written.

I wish I knew about the issue of the USB-C being a weak point and that its not a good idea to use these type of dongle dacs while on the go. While you can do it, Caveat Emptor applies. These dongle dacs seem to work best when you want to go somewhere like a coffee shop and chill out.
(The Alpha was my first DAC) I just picked up a DAP because I wanted a device w wi-fi, battery and BT. Even here my DX180 also has some quirks.

All in all, the Alpha had some teething issues, and I think there is still room for improvement in terms of upgrades.
What issues are you facing with DX180? I am planning to buy it for convenience purpose.
 
Nov 27, 2024 at 9:58 AM Post #1,401 of 1,677
Ok...
Looked at the Hidiz. Doesn't have a screen. While its also a different DAC chip... its also not really sold in the US. Amazon store only.
Its roughly the same price, so it could be an option. iBasso and others also have good DACs at this price point.

There are clearly sonic differences between DAC chips and even implementations using the same DAC. Which gets to Chord. Totally different beast and the Mojo2 isn't 'new' by any stretch of the word. Its been around for a while and its showing its age. Chord hasn't updated from the micro-USB to USB-C which has become the 'new' standard connector w even Apple moving away from their lighting to USB-C on their products. (Even Thunderbolt is now USB-C)

I agree that at higher bit rates, there's a lag, and someone already noted a potential issue where they noticed a possible cumulative effect ... (Shanling hasn't confirmed.)

No DAC is perfect, and each has their issues. I was amazed at the capabilities of the CS chip. So while higher end DACs have the ESS and AK chips or their own custom solution (Chord) there is also CS and Rhom which are also fairly good.

W.R.T the Onix Alpha... you can see a sonic difference between using an iPhone as a source vs a macbook. On the macbook, I can upscale the output using the midi app. I don't have that ability to do that w the phone. Also while there is a spec for the amount of voltage you can get from the USB-C connection. IMHO this can impact the sound stage. Also some have found that certain phones can't drive the Onix. (And there are other issues in terms of compatibility. e.g. iOS 18 upgrade caused issues)

For a first iteration of usb dongle, the ONIX Alpha is very good and the price is very reasonable. My listening preference is for a dac to sound as close to my naked ears listening to a live performance is possible. ONIX is another kind of experience and I would be surprised if anyone claims it doesn't have it's own ONIX sound signature. The build quality is excellent high quality, doesn't get any better. Sonically, I prefer the Hidizs S9Pros both versions.

Hidizs is most likely struggling to stay alive as it seems all their products are short runs and their websites show lots of models, but most are actually sold out so clearly their are trying to show a broad product diversity, but in fact Hidizs is really only making a few items at a time like a startup company. It's currently less than $90, the cost of a dinner. The fun thing about dongles is they are cheap and I can carry a handful of them anywhere. And, much cheaper and easier to change dongles than $2000 iem cables to change to different music.
 
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Nov 27, 2024 at 12:52 PM Post #1,402 of 1,677
What issues are you facing with DX180? I am planning to buy it for convenience purpose.
On occasion the screen would lock up. But if you press the sound button, it would lock the display and when you open up again it works.
Also to get to the USB-C or BT DAC mode, you have to go thru the music app. Kinda a pain, but not a deal breaker. The other thing is that you can only upscale to 384kHz while the Onix will go up to 768kHz.

That said... the sound stage is good, seems like more clarity than the Onix, more power. I mean I listen to it at ~30 to at most ~40 (out of 100). Also more bass.

If you like the Onix, you'll like the DX180.

Outside of this, I'm looking at the xDuoo XD05 Pro. Mostly for the Geek factor of being able to change out the DAC and also the Amps. But I wont do anything until AXPONA where I can see a bunch of headphones.
 
Nov 27, 2024 at 1:10 PM Post #1,403 of 1,677
On occasion the screen would lock up. But if you press the sound button, it would lock the display and when you open up again it works.
Also to get to the USB-C or BT DAC mode, you have to go thru the music app. Kinda a pain, but not a deal breaker. The other thing is that you can only upscale to 384kHz while the Onix will go up to 768kHz.

That said... the sound stage is good, seems like more clarity than the Onix, more power. I mean I listen to it at ~30 to at most ~40 (out of 100). Also more bass.

If you like the Onix, you'll like the DX180.

Outside of this, I'm looking at the xDuoo XD05 Pro. Mostly for the Geek factor of being able to change out the DAC and also the Amps. But I wont do anything until AXPONA where I can see a bunch of headphones.
Thank you for the detailed feedback, maybe those issues will be fixed in firmware updates.
Onix Alpha sounds great. Does upscaling improves the sound quality? I use mine mainly on PC through Foobar2000 exclusive mode, so sample rate is dependent on source file.
 
Nov 29, 2024 at 2:24 AM Post #1,404 of 1,677
Oh DacPort HD! Can I ask if you prefer Onix over DacPort? Thanks
Even stone cold, The DACPORT HD even on low gain sounds better to me with a silver limited edition 64 Audio cable on the U12T and other iems. More power, larger sound stage, crisper note attack, timing has the sensation of being faster tempo. Bass is tighter. More clarity. Treble is more forward and extended. A bit less "analogue". More weight to bass notes and more textured bass and mid range. This is one of the first USB Dac that I ever owned that if I got the dial wheel set the wrong way, it could cause hearing damage. It is that loud so I always put Media Center volume setting to enable app volume to start the dongle volume on dead zero and work the volume up. Hidizs is another that when set wrong is so loud it could cause equipment damage. The ONIX Alpha doesn't seem anywhere near as powerful even set to high gain. I regularly set the level to high gain 50%-75% depending on the IEM low gain is just not as exciting. Still the Alpha is great sounding, but not the best I have.

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I found an HDMI / USB-C adapter that allows providing external power. This solves the problem of providing enough power to the ONIX Alpha
to make sure it sounds its full potential no matter what the data source. The purple wire is connected to a phone charger now.

IMG_9906.jpeg

IMG_9907.jpeg
 
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Nov 30, 2024 at 10:54 AM Post #1,406 of 1,677
Nov 30, 2024 at 11:07 AM Post #1,408 of 1,677
It's all Onix's fault because it's too cheap... lol
 
Nov 30, 2024 at 11:10 AM Post #1,409 of 1,677
Nov 30, 2024 at 11:33 AM Post #1,410 of 1,677
caviusb.jpg


It's definitely not worth the money like 95% of the stuff on this forum, but it's definitely a lot cheaper than the other two L&P USB cables I own. WP1 and WP2 which cost more than double and aren't even Y-shaped. That said, it's on another planet compared to the iBasso and if I had to buy it just for a dongle I wouldn't do it... but I own more than thirty devices to use them with so, for me, it was like buying 300 euros of signal cable for a DAC costing several thousand euros... it's okay for me. Of course for a single dongle...

P.S. See how much the long version of WP2 costs on Musicteck...

https://shop.musicteck.com/products...wED-i4L9L4q_PTppZ1zpljmNMCPDEyER-MSVosH6oD5ro
 

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