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

[Kibet]

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?

This is affordable and it’s very well made. https://a.aliexpress.com/_Exukcfe

 

[WolfP]

This is affordable and it’s very well made. https://a.aliexpress.com/_Exukcfe

This doesn't seem any better than the iBasso CB19

 

[Lépine]

This doesn't seem any better than the iBasso CB19

What is it that you do not like about the CB19. I decided to order one after seeing your post. I thought it was a nice looking cable. Certainly a lot less cumbersome than the Insignia adapter I am using. I certainly think that having a Y cable is a must for the ONIX Alpha. You can clearly tell depending on the laptop when the ONIX is just not getting enough power.

Although I can clearly hear improvements in analog cables, I have yet to note sonic differences in digital cables or power cables. I think the CB19 probably is going to sound just like the Insignia adapter I bought from a local appliance store. Seems usb cables eventually wear out due to the frequent plugging and unplugging or the wife takes it to charge her phone. I don't wish to spend too much on digital cables as I consider them disposables.

 

[pioterd]

I'm going to buy the Alpha XI1 soon and I'll power it from a powerbank.

Due to limitations from smartphone current output? I can understand that since producers never give specifications of reverse power limits for cable connections. If you use computer, USB 2.0 (500mA) is absolutely enough. ONIX will never take more than 500mA (sine wave stress tests shows power draw ~420mA using balanced output at 97/100 volume, up to 4.0Vrms), and for music playing even at ears-bleeding-mind-blowing volume levels it will not take more than 250mA. I measured it, results in THIS post

 

[smegel]

Due to limitations from smartphone current output? I can understand that since producers never give specifications of reverse power limits for cable connections. If you use computer, USB 2.0 (500mA) is absolutely enough. ONIX will never take more than 500mA (sine wave stress tests shows power draw ~420mA using balanced output at 97/100 volume, up to 4.0Vrms), and for music playing even at ears-bleeding-mind-blowing volume levels it will not take more than 250mA. I measured it, results in THIS post

The alpha has issues w some phones.
But, unless you have a phone w known issues… you don’t need this cable.

 

[WolfP]

What is it that you do not like about the CB19. I decided to order one after seeing your post. I thought it was a nice looking cable. Certainly a lot less cumbersome than the Insignia adapter I am using. I certainly think that having a Y cable is a must for the ONIX Alpha. You can clearly tell depending on the laptop when the ONIX is just not getting enough power.

Although I can clearly hear improvements in analog cables, I have yet to note sonic differences in digital cables or power cables. I think the CB19 probably is going to sound just like the Insignia adapter I bought from a local appliance store. Seems usb cables eventually wear out due to the frequent plugging and unplugging or the wife takes it to charge her phone. I don't wish to spend too much on digital cables as I consider them disposables.

I haven't purchased any cables yet. Since Y cables seem to be rare, I was just wondering what good alternatives there were.

 

[Lépine]

Due to limitations from smartphone current output? I can understand that since producers never give specifications of reverse power limits for cable connections. If you use computer, USB 2.0 (500mA) is absolutely enough. ONIX will never take more than 500mA (sine wave stress tests shows power draw ~420mA using balanced output at 97/100 volume, up to 4.0Vrms), and for music playing even at ears-bleeding-mind-blowing volume levels it will not take more than 250mA. I measured it, results in THIS post

I experienced my Surface Pro 7, when not plugged in (on battery) and using usb ports for both data + charging to cause some dongles to sound different than when the Surface is plugged in with:

1) performance set to max
2) Windows usb disabling mode is set to off.

Could be my imagination, but I notice 32bit 192,000 just sounds like the sound stage is smaller.

 

[smegel]

I experienced my Surface Pro 7 when not plugged in on battery and using usb ports for data and charging to cause some dongles to sound different than when plugged in with performance set to max and disabling efficiency mode. Could be my imagination, but I notice 32bit 192,000 just sounds like the sound stage is smaller.

Yeah its your imagination.

Just kidding. When I've over sampled to 32bit/768kHz and listen on my macbook, (thunderbolt ports) , it sounds better than when I listen to my iPhone.
When I purchased my iBasso, I also got that cable. I'll have to try it out w a battery to see if there is a change.

 

[Lépine]

Especially the really high output powered dongles, they must draw more input power

 

[Deckard001]

Is there any good, cheap Y cable tested for Onix? Ali black Friday and I am thinking of an alternative cable.
A Y cable that can work without the need to add necessary an external power source.
Thanks

 

[TheFritz]

I haven't purchased any cables yet. Since Y cables seem to be rare, I was just wondering what good alternatives there were.

I have more than one iBasso CB19 splitter cable (I own many dongles/DAPs/...) and it works perfectly for what it is supposed to do to separate power and data allowing clean and almost unlimited power supply from a power bank. But I do not like the choice of a USB-A plug for power; I always have to fiddle around with adapters since the (very) slim power banks I use and attach magnetically to the phones or DAPs are mostly having only USB-C outputs... sometimes as an inbuilt cable.

I just found an alternative to the cb19 which seems to do exactly what the cb19 does but with a female usb-c port for power input:
Akliam EC02 (or EC03 for Lightning)
https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005008147928104.html

So this might not be the cable some would like to have (with mixed power from the host and/or external supply) but I need exactly the clean separation of the power and data streams. I ordered some of them but can not yet comment on how they work and if they are worth the money (only slightly cheaper than the cb19)...

 

[de666]

Is there any good, cheap Y cable tested for Onix? Ali black Friday and I am thinking of an alternative cable.
A Y cable that can work without the need to add necessary an external power source.
Thanks

I have the ibasso cb19 cable.
It is good, works very well but I blame it for its usb connectors (a and c) that I have to force to plug and unplug them. I prefer the E1da cable for that:
I just found this on AliExpress:
7.19€ | USB Type C to Type C Y Splitter for 9038S 9038D Radiator
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EGp5dhm
It is less flexible but it is very good and cheaper.

 

[Polky74]

Everything you need to listen to music at the highest levels...
Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim OG, Effect Audio Ares 8W, SpinFit W1 and of course it... ONIX Alpha Xl1.

 

[gto88]

Everything you need to listen to music at the highest levels...
Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim OG, Effect Audio Ares 8W, SpinFit W1 and of course it... ONIX Alpha Xl1.

Where did you get the usb cable?

 

[Polky74]

Where did you get the usb cable?

Here...

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005...st_main.5.4d5d3696LrlY52&gatewayAdapt=glo2ita