Lépine
500+ Head-Fier
Can you still buy the Dacport HD? I'll spend some time with it, I haven't listened to it in a long while.
ONIX Alpha XI1 - Smallest & Most Affordable ONIX DAC - High-Power Portable USB DAC/AMP
- Thread starter Shanling
- Start date
Thanks for the nice article you shared, but I didn't want a general discussion of the various filters. I just wanted to know specifically what effect the Onix Alpha filters have on its sound.
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)
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.
Lépine
500+ Head-Fier
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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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.
Lépine
500+ Head-Fier
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.
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.
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I'm going to buy the Alpha XI1 soon and I'll power it from a powerbank. Can you recommend an alternative cable to the iBasso CB19, even of better quality?
If you don't mind spending money this is the most expensive one I own. Luxury&Precision WY1...it's expensive but it's really well made.
https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005...st_main.5.21ef3696j219BR&gatewayAdapt=glo2ita
LOL... almost the price of the Onix.
It's all Onix's fault because it's too cheap... lol
Thanks.
Are you sure it's an L&P cable? I don't see it written on the product page.
However, it costs more than 3 times the iBasso cable (not counting customs duties), do you think it's really worth that much?
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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