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

[Shanling]

ONIX was and is premium brand. Shanling-Onix not necessarily. It seems that now there are two companies which share intellectual properties of the original ONIX company from England. The one that is still UK based can be found here https://www.oa21.com/ . The other one which collaborates with Shanling here https://onixhiend.co.uk/ . I am confused, but according to what I found, it seems that Onix Alpha XI1 is just Shanling device with ONIX brand name on it, and the heritage of the Onix company is used only as a marketing. It would be nice if it was clarified.

Full history of ONIX is a bit complicated and there are multiple parties tracking their origin to it.

Shanling or ONIX currently has no connection with the OA21 / ONIX GB ltd. team. We cannot comment on this any further.


ONIX currently has two lines of products, the bigger 2-channel units and headphone-focused units.
ONIX works closely with Shanling on construction and software for the headphone-focused units, in simple terms ONIX picks one of Shanling platforms they like, but use their own approach for audio circuit.

Oh, what's interesting! When gain High, the volume level increases, while the level of interference remains at the same level, which makes them almost unnoticeable. Is it possible to completely disable any pressets for the test? I mean those that make a slow or fast roll (F0-F4). It seems that they said here that these items affect the amount of interference. Thank you.
@Shanling

The digital filters are part of the processing at DAC level, they cannot be turned off.

 

[khtd]

Onix's specs says that it has a maximum power output of 500mW@32ohms. Does it actually has a power output of 500mW+500mW@32ohms (which is higher than DC07 Pro, with power output of 430mW+430mW@32ohms), or is it only a marketing ploy to make its power output look much higher than it is, but in reality it is just 250mW+250mW@32ohms (about the same as Quidelix 5k) - which is good, but quite average for a higher tier dongles?

 

[Shanling]

Onix's specs says that it has a maximum power output of 500mW@32ohms. Does it actually has a power output of 500mW+500mW@32ohms (which is higher than DC07 Pro, with power output of 430mW+430mW@32ohms), or is it only a marketing ploy to make its power output look much higher than it is, but in reality it is just 250mW+250mW@32ohms (about the same as Quidelix 5k) - which is good, but quite average for a higher tier dongles?

It's 500mW + 500 mW.

 

[pioterd]

power output of 500mW@32ohms

It is even higher, since it gives over 4.7V output in balanced rather than just 4.0V. It was measured and it’s coherent with my measurements. In fact Onix is able to give more than 650mW maximum from balanced output
https://reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/title-report.php?id=5326#gsc.tab=0
But I would assume it means 325+325 rather than 650+650…
I am still waiting @Shanling for “official” confirmation from you of this 4.8V

 

[Shanling]

It is even higher, since it gives over 4.7V output in balanced rather than just 4.0V. It was measured and it’s coherent with my measurements. In fact Onix is able to give more than 650mW maximum from balanced output
https://reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/title-report.php?id=5326#gsc.tab=0
But I would assume it means 325+325 rather than 650+650…
I am still waiting @Shanling for “official” confirmation from you of this 4.8V

For this, we got it confirmed by engineers that the unit can reach 4.7V at full volume.
At the same time they do not recommend using it at the full volume, as the distortion increases at such setting.

 

[Deckard001]

History is written by the victors. To put things in context its when both sides agree on something you can assume it to be true.
Here you have stories from both parties to the transaction. (Both tend to have their own bias. ) I also found the Onix UK website a bit 'interesting'.
A lot of rant about Chi-Fi in general and not so much about the Shanling/Onix stuff. I don't see a lot of cross over in that OA21 specializes in amps.



Yes. We both agree that Alpha sounds good.
My point was that if you look at their price point and the competition using the same DAC chip(s) in similar configuration, the Onix team's sekret sauce is better. (The custom stuff they do themselves.) It gives them an edge in sound.

While you can compare the overall sound to other dongle dacs that use other DAC chips... its not really an apples to apples comparison.
If you listen to the reviewers... the iBasso DC-Elite has a better sound than the Alpha. But its a different DAC chip set and costs 4X the price.
DC-Elite better sound, Alpha better value (when it works) [Sorry Shanling, just being honest.]


I am on the original. I don't have a windows PC just Linux and Macs so I can't easily upgrade, although if I decide to go to iOS18 on my phone... I'll have to.
(Or Shanling has a new update that fixes some of the problems)

The NOS is no over sampling. I'm going to assume that it could reduce some potential noise artifacts. Note that the issue may not be w the Alpha but the PC.

I think that there is something in what @Mortin wrote. A cumulative effect.

Still all in all... will use it w my macbook when I want to use my headphones/IEMs while working.

Any feedback about how much you like Onix compated to all your other dongles my friend? Thanks

 

[smegel]

Deleted

 

[Deckard001]

If you are looking for extraordinary iems that don't cost much for your Onix, I recommend you try the new PULA Anvil 114. Truly an extraordinary combination!!!

Where in the list you gonna put Onix compared to all your other dongles my friend?

 

[Deckard001]

Personally I only own two dongles and now a DX180 DAP. The apple dongle and the Onix.
Before buying the Onix, I watched all of the reviewers go nutz over the sound. I was waiting for a US distributor to carry it, but one that I spoke with, didn't want to carry it because it required a minimum order. So I pulled the trigger. For the price... nothing compared and relatively speaking ... its a dinner and drinks w the wife... (Actually less depending on the restaurant. )

Even with its wats... (see below) No regrets. The sound is great, especially off the Macbook upscaled.

The downside is that there's a bit of stress on the USB-C connection and I ended up having to glue in an USB-C cable which helps a lot. (Still not perfect.)
It would cost more to send back to China than its worth.
I also put some velcro tape on the case and my iPhone case... so it doesn't move around, but even here... its a pain because its larger in the pocket... and not easy to hit the controls...

For the price, I'd still recommend it but with some caveats...
1) You can't be really rough on it (USB-C issue) But this is true w all dongle dacs.
2) While it sounds great... depending on your source... you may have issues driving it.
3) In terms of Dongles... the iBasso DC-Elite is the new favorite of the reviewers. (But its 4X the price of Alpha) So if you can afford it.. it may be a better pick.
4) YMMV. Like w stereo speakers and amps... there is some truth to the pairing of IEMs and DACs. For me, the Alpha pairs well w the Dita Project M.

I'll probably wait until AXPONA 2025 and then look at some over the ear headphones as well as the xDuoo XD05-Pro.

Sorry! Thanks for the info. The question was going to another member which has man dongles. But thanks again for your info!

 

[smegel]

Sorry! Thanks for the info. The question was going to another member which has man dongles. But thanks again for your info!

Well you should have just used the "@" symbol and their name.

But since you brought up comparisons...

Have to ask this of people who own multiple dongle dacs... have they also experienced issues w the USB-C socket loosening up and having connection issues?
I was curious if this could help explain some of the issues people were experiencing, due to power... or if its the devices (phones) themselves that aren't providing enough power ...

 

[Lépine]

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.

 

[Polky74]

Where in the list you gonna put Onix compared to all your other dongles my friend?

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.

 

[WolfP]

Can anyone tell me in a few words how the 4 filters and NOS option change the sound?
...and which filter do you prefer?

 

[Shanling]

Can anyone tell me in a few words how the 4 filters and NOS option change the sound?
...and which filter do you prefer?

This is complex topic and not for just a few words.

This is nice starting article if you want to learn more:
https://addictedtoaudio.com.au/blogs/how-to/how-to-pick-the-best-filter-setting-for-your-dac

I personally like the Linear Fast filters.

 

[Deckard001]

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.

Oh DacPort HD! Can I ask if you prefer Onix over DacPort? Thanks