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

[ToneDeafMonk]

What is the name of this powerbank ?

I just use a Voltme battery back up.
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mqOqUoL

 

[laleeee]

I just use a Voltme battery back up.
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mqOqUoL

My powerbank is only 12W. Do you think it's enough for the Onix ?

 

[AnamCeoil]

The Elite is definitely the bomb, the DC07 PRO just works and the Alpha like the DCE should be run off the CB19 iBasso cable and power bank for best results.

Sometimes I feel man all these cables and power bricks and..... then I just pick up a Dap and a set of IEM and just enjoy music.

I know I could get better with this and that in the chain but it's OK to be lazy once in a while and let our inner audiophile chill .

We are a crazy bunch of people as the mass majority are OK with some airpods and thier phone!

Really appreciate the insights - and your Great vids which are so comprehensive and informative. Thanks kindly for adding to my knowledge this past year!

 

[Mortin]

My powerbank is only 12W. Do you think it's enough for the Onix ?

I have a mini power bank for 5W - this is more than enough. The main thing is not the power, but the quality of the conversion circuit.

 

[JayNetTech5]

The high-mids are a bit sharp on mine, it can sound a bit thin, like the drum beats sound like little taps, but there's some bloated bass presence, so warm headphones will sound more V-shaped and muddy, and the difference between low and high gain is almost pointless, or high gain is just lacking sufficient power; I'm using 32ohm headphones as well. If there's a huge manufacturing variability, I'm not going to get that sound the hype train is talking about.

 

[smegel]

The high-mids are a bit sharp on mine, it can sound a bit thin, like the drum beats sound like little taps, but there's some bloated bass presence, so warm headphones will sound more V-shaped and muddy, and the difference between low and high gain is almost pointless, or high gain is just lacking sufficient power; I'm using 32ohm headphones as well. If there's a huge manufacturing variability, I'm not going to get that sound the hype train is talking about.

Try it with other iems and headphones.
What's your source? (which phone?)
Did you try it w a split cable and a battery? Or a laptop?

Your experience doesn't seem to mesh with mine and others experience.

 

[sghound]

The high-mids are a bit sharp on mine, it can sound a bit thin, like the drum beats sound like little taps, but there's some bloated bass presence, so warm headphones will sound more V-shaped and muddy, and the difference between low and high gain is almost pointless, or high gain is just lacking sufficient power; I'm using 32ohm headphones as well. If there's a huge manufacturing variability, I'm not going to get that sound the hype train is talking about.

which fw version are u on?

 

[gofishus]

I'm just wondering about this Onix Audio partnership what is the true nature of it because if you do a google search..

https://www.oa21.com/chinalies

This page from OA21 which claims to be the TRUE Onix Audio company pops up and they slam Chinese manufacturing in it..

Materials, components and design are crucial to how well things work, how long they last , and how safe they are for us. We will not sink to the Chinese level and their constant lies about these crucial aspects . Chinese are well known to cut corners on materials to save cost and lie about spec, they sell on "Cheap Cost " they only compete on price . Cost is how they sell EVERYTHING

They have no concern for your health or safety, or warranties. They lie about spec and materials used, they know you the buyer cant and don't check, and they buy fake reviews wherever they can . The manufacturing machines that make products in China are the same machines used by the rest of the world .. Labor is not why Chinese products are cheap - Inferior Materials & bad/stolen designs are. They copy ( badly to often ) everyone's else's designs and cut cost on every single part they use . They don't do their own R & D , so they don't have to recover any expensive R & D costs. They are NOT innovative, using deception and lies stealing everyone else efforts

This is why its all stopped moving forward , designers and companies don't want to pay for R & D then have it stolen by Chinese companies and made cheap in China . China is the problem, we must all stop buying their lies. This is why so many companies are pulling out of China and why China's propaganda machine is in full force on social media like Tik Tok and most others

We are tired of being politically correct and keeping quiet . Its a Cultural Problem with China and the CCP not the people the regime - stop supporting China - stop buying their lies - Join us in making people aware that China are helping YOU to destroy the planet and the world we live in .

Their objective is clear if you care to look

Which makes you wonder why would Onix Audio make a statement like this if they licensed their name out to a Chinese company (Shanling)??

That's what makes me kind of perplexed about this Onix partnership it seems Shanling's respect for Onix does not get reciprocated...

 

[Shanling]

You can read about ONIX history at their official page: https://onixhiend.co.uk/about/

We can't comment any further about this or any statements made by OA21.

 

[sghound]

I'm just wondering about this Onix Audio partnership what is the true nature of it because if you do a google search..

https://www.oa21.com/chinalies

This page from OA21 which claims to be the TRUE Onix Audio company pops up and they slam Chinese manufacturing in it..


Which makes you wonder why would Onix Audio make a statement like this if they licensed their name out to a Chinese company (Shanling)??

That's what makes me kind of perplexed about this Onix partnership it seems Shanling's respect for Onix does not get reciprocated...

it does sound like a common trademark dispute.

 

[pioterd]

it does sound like a common trademark dispute.

Or IP sharing with chinese manufacturer dispute. We will not know the one truth until NDA agreements are valid.

 

[smegel]

Or IP sharing with chinese manufacturer dispute. We will not know the one truth until NDA agreements are valid.

Nope

This is from the OA21 website:
"Today the Chinese use our name under license, but they have nothing to do with us in any form We are the original UK ONIX AUDIO from 1984"

I'm sure there is more to the story... and Shanling is probably smart in stopping from any comments and letting you draw your own conclusions.
You're looking at the product, not the company (OA21 / Onix)

Note that on their website, they slam ALL Chinese manufacturing and not any single specific company.

On a side note... I'm skeptical of their (OA21)'s design. Its a monolithic board. If you look at other amplifier products. You see connectors, jumpers and some wires.
They raise some issues which are debatable. I'm sure Bruno Putzeys would have an interesting debate with them. (Bruno Putzeys is one of the best Amp/Audio designers in the world. )

 

[smegel]

@Mortin
Just to follow up.

Listening for longer periods, the only time I ever hear any clicks/pops is when listening to some mediation music. (sleep music)

Even here its not a predictable pattern.

I think there is an issue, but its not something we could easily pinpoint which means it would be hard for Shanling.
I'm still on the original shipped firmware release. In theory I should go to the latest since I'm in iOS 18 on my phone but haven't had an issue.
With the USB-C 4 cable glued in (using loctite blue) No issues there. And I'm using it w my Macbook where I'm up sampling to the max.

So far no issues.

One thought... I'm using my M&D MW65s which are on the 3.5mm connection and are not as good as my IEMs (Dita Project M)
Could it be tied to the 4.4mm output?

Still for ~$120.00 not a bad device. (I bought the case)

 

[gofishus]

You can read about ONIX history at their official page: https://onixhiend.co.uk/about/

We can't comment any further about this or any statements made by OA21.

Nope

This is from the OA21 website:
"Today the Chinese use our name under license, but they have nothing to do with us in any form We are the original UK ONIX AUDIO from 1984"

I'm sure there is more to the story... and Shanling is probably smart in stopping from any comments and letting you draw your own conclusions.
You're looking at the product, not the company (OA21 / Onix)

Note that on their website, they slam ALL Chinese manufacturing and not any single specific company.

On a side note... I'm skeptical of their (OA21)'s design. Its a monolithic board. If you look at other amplifier products. You see connectors, jumpers and some wires.
They raise some issues which are debatable. I'm sure Bruno Putzeys would have an interesting debate with them. (Bruno Putzeys is one of the best Amp/Audio designers in the world. )

Find it interesting that the link Shanling posted in their page's history completely omits Adam Worsfold, whereas the OA21 page credits him as a founding and key member. They also treat the history after the 1997 sale quite differently. This page Shanling links completely omits the fact that Onix Audio UK launched it's own range of amplifiers in 2016. So maybe they are actually two separate companies (one owned by Shanling and one owned by Adam Worsfold).

 

[smegel]

Find it interesting that the link Shanling posted in their page's history completely omits Adam Worsfold, whereas the OA21 page credits him as a founding and key member. They also treat the history after the 1997 sale quite differently. This page Shanling links completely omits the fact that Onix Audio UK launched it's own range of amplifiers in 2016. So maybe they are actually two separate companies (one owned by Shanling and one owned by Adam Worsfold).

Why?
There are two sides and they'll each have a different take.

They are two separate companies.

For ~$100 its a decent investment.