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

[smegel]

The closest you can come is to put the display to sleep. Double click the button. The display turns off and the LED for the button pulses on and off. It’s better than having it stay on all the time, but as far as I know there’s no way to turn it all the way off.

The interesting thing is that it will change color based on the input. I set my PC's MIDI to put out the highest quality content (768@32bit)
Not sure that it really changes anything (or if there's any oversampling on the part of the PC)

The only real advantage that I can tell over not having it... is a wider sound stage and separation. But then again... I'm as old as dirt... (relatively speaking)
And having been married for 25yrs, my wife tells me that I have a selective hearing loss.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

The ONIX Alpha landed, and HOLY SMOKES!! I paid $80 for this?! Wayyyyyy better than my Hiby dongle. Even out of 3.5mm, it made my ISN Neo 1 SHINE. I intentionally picked one of my better budget sets, but budget nonetheless, to see how good it was OOTB. In low gain, on the first filter setting, and it converted my otherwise good but not great Sony A306, and makes it sound like my WM1A. The stage is wide, the details are there, and there's beautiful extension on BOTH ends. I was trippin' a little, because there were a few reviewers who mentioned it being warm or colored. Well, I think it's ever so slightly warm, but nothing any warmer than a Sony dap already naturally is, or the iBasso DX170 (which interestingly enough, does not function with my Alpha). But all my other USB daps did work immediately, as did my iphone. So I wonder if I need to do an update to get the iBasso to work? Doesn't matter, because I bought it specifically for the Sony A306, and it makes that dap SING. It's a perfect synergy of function and sound, that elevates that Sony from also ran usage to what will be a forefront dap. Sounds great through the AP80 Pro X too, Adds some warmth and bass texture with the bass filter, all the while retaining the texture in the highs that are important to me. This is another WIN!! Thanks to all of those threaders who rec'd it to me, and now....we have another rabbit hole?? OH MY.

 

[Surf Monkey]

The ONIX Alpha landed, and HOLY SMOKES!! I paid $80 for this?! Wayyyyyy better than my Hiby dongle. Even out of 3.5mm, it made my ISN Neo 1 SHINE. I intentionally picked one of my better budget sets, but budget nonetheless, to see how good it was OOTB. In low gain, on the first filter setting, and it converted my otherwise good but not great Sony A306, and makes it sound like my WM1A. The stage is wide, the details are there, and there's beautiful extension on BOTH ends. I was trippin' a little, because there were a few reviewers who mentioned it being warm or colored. Well, I think it's ever so slightly warm, but nothing any warmer than a Sony dap already naturally is, or the iBasso DX170 (which interestingly enough, does not function with my Alpha). But all my other USB daps did work immediately, as did my iphone. So I wonder if I need to do an update to get the iBasso to work? Doesn't matter, because I bought it specifically for the Sony A306, and it makes that dap SING. It's a perfect synergy of function and sound, that elevates that Sony from also ran usage to what will be a forefront dap. Sounds great through the AP80 Pro X too, Adds some warmth and bass texture with the bass filter, all the while retaining the texture in the highs that are important to me. This is another WIN!! Thanks to all of those threaders who rec'd it to me, and now....we have another rabbit hole?? OH MY.

It’s a fantastic dongle. Small but super versatile and very powerful.

 

[Kibet]

Thank you for the trick, pulse mode is better for sure. I hope @Shanling will implement a dimmer for RGB light in future firmware updates.

 

[Shanling]

Thank you for the trick, pulse mode is better for sure. I hope @Shanling will implement a dimmer for RGB light in future firmware updates.

Will check on this option.

 

[Kibet]

Will check on this option.

Thank you, it will be nice to also have a volume memory function for different headphones.

 

[furyossa]

Yeah i hope so too.

 

[noxenal]

is there a way to fully to implement a "screen off" mode? i know theres a setting to toggle the button to "off the screen", but the moment i click on the dongle again (to adjust volume etc.), it will go back to the screensaver with the floating music sign.

 

[smegel]

is there a way to fully to implement a "screen off" mode? i know theres a setting to toggle the button to "off the screen", but the moment i click on the dongle again (to adjust volume etc.), it will go back to the screensaver with the floating music sign.

i believe you can set a timer so that it will go dark again.

 

[Surf Monkey]

i believe you can set a timer so that it will go dark again.

There is but I haven’t been able to get it to work. I have to manually double click the button to get it to sleep.

 

[0ostin0]

Is there any difference in sound when using different adapters?
Such as DD TC28 or Ibasso CB19 or cheaper adapters?

 

[ybbobserrot]

Is there any difference in sound when using different adapters?
Such as DD TC28 or Ibasso CB19 or cheaper adapters?

Hotly debated topic right there. Personally, I have a lot of these adapters, some expensive, some cheap. However, I really couldn't distinguish any significant improvement or degradation in sound quality when using expensive versus cheap. Idk about you or the rest, but unless you have ears like a bat and you can really tell very minute differences, I bet you my bottom dollar it really doesn't make that much of a difference, say $10 vs $100 cable/adapter, or $100 vs $500 cable/adapter. I have since learned that some manufacturers of these gizmos really do sell snake oil.

 

[ToneDeafMonk]

Hotly debated topic right there. Personally, I have a lot of these adapters, some expensive, some cheap. However, I really couldn't distinguish any significant improvement or degradation in sound quality when using expensive versus cheap. Idk about you or the rest, but unless you have ears like a bat and you can really tell very minute differences, I bet you my bottom dollar it really doesn't make that much of a difference, say $10 vs $100 cable/adapter, or $100 vs $500 cable/adapter. I have since learned that some manufacturers of these gizmos really do sell snake oil.

I can't hear a difference between the OTG adapters myself, I love the look and feel of the DDHIFI mostly because of how high they are on the bling factor.

Funny thing was yesterday I was using some generic black cable and swapped out to the DDHIFI and the Alpha would not power up out of the Shanling M1 PLUS

Edit: Never mind I forgot it's directional it works . I AM A IDIOT SANDWICH

 

[smegel]

Hotly debated topic right there. Personally, I have a lot of these adapters, some expensive, some cheap. However, I really couldn't distinguish any significant improvement or degradation in sound quality when using expensive versus cheap. Idk about you or the rest, but unless you have ears like a bat and you can really tell very minute differences, I bet you my bottom dollar it really doesn't make that much of a difference, say $10 vs $100 cable/adapter, or $100 vs $500 cable/adapter. I have since learned that some manufacturers of these gizmos really do sell snake oil.

In terms of sound...
Yeah definitely a touchy topic.

In short... and in general... these cables carry both the power and the signal. IMHO I think changes in the amount of power delivered could be audible... But in casual listening... not really noticeable. YMMV. Now depending on the quality of the cable, you could also get smearing of the digital signal. This would most likely not be audible.
Even for computers there are differences in the quality of the cables. Some can handle data xfers at 40Gb/s while others 10Gb/S or lower.

Do you need to go out and buy a $100 3" dongle cable? Sure if you can afford it and it looks cool. But the reality is that you're not going to hear a difference over a $20 or so USB-C cable rated for 40Gb/s xfers.

But its just my opinion. YMMV and its up to you. But yes a $2.00 cable vs $20.00 there will be a difference. (Note: The price is just for comparison not an actual price.)

 

[smegel]

I can't hear a difference between the OTG adapters myself, I love the look and feel of the DDHIFI mostly because of how high they are on the bling factor.

Funny thing was yesterday I was using some generic black cable and swapped out to the DDHIFI and the Alpha would not power up out of the Shanling M1 PLUS
Edit: Never mind I forgot it's directional it works . I AM A IDIOT SANDWICH

Never understood the need for 'directional' cables... but to each their own.

I'm sure if you got a cheap cable w cheap parts and bad quality control.. you could get a cable that doesn't work. YMMV.
But you can pop down to your local computer store... (I have a BestBuy literally around the corner, and a MicroCenter a mile away) and get a decent cable that will work.

Maybe not as fancy unless you're an urban dweller where basic black is always a good choice in color.