ONKYO DP-X1 | Dual Sabre Dacs | Balanced | Sabre BTL Amp | MQA | DSD 256 | Android 5 |

[addyg]

I have finally completed the Herculean task of going through this whole thread over the last few weeks. So I decided I had to reward myself with getting a great case for my X1.  I like this one a lot.  It is very cost effective and so minimal it is like it is not there.  And most of all, I do not have to carry it in my hand.  I am still looking for a good solution that I could thread on a belt.  In getting this image I had to break my religious conviction of no slefies in the interests of Hi-Fi.

Congrats!

 

[addyg]

I would like to thank everyone for all the time and trouble they have put into this thread, and since I have benefited considerably, I would like to feedback with my experiences with the X1.
*I use the X1 exclusively to listen to Tidal CD Quality offline when I am traveling to and from work and when I go on holidays, and I bought it to replace my Samsung Galaxy 6 Edge+/Mojo which I was sonically happy with but I found a PIA to carry around and I really wanted a DAP so that I could separately use my phone and not have calls & messages interrupt my listening.
*I have had no problems at all with the X1 which I got just a few weeks ago and no problems listening to Tidal offline.
*I can happily live with the current sound quality with my new T5p G2's running SE but I would like a more open and detailed sound.  After reading this thread I ordered some Double Helix 4-wire Silver Peptide pure OCC silver litz balanced cables so that I can take advantage of the balanced output with one chip driving each channel and the ACG.  I am hoping this will give me the lift I am after but the Double Helix website notes that orders take 3-6 months to fulfill.  I am also hoping that I will get a sound uplift if & when Tidal implements MQA.
*There are some on this thread that believe that running in components is a myth and I respect their opinion.  I have been in the hi-fi hobby for decades and it has been my experience that it does make a difference and I found this to be the case with the X1 and Tp5.  It has been pointed out that this improvement may be in my mind.  Well I hope it is because my ears do not hear - they just sense and my brain tells me what I am hearing.  So whatever makes something sound better to me is a good thing whether it is physical or psychoacoustical.
*Again from advice on this thread, I have found the following helpful in getting the best sound from the X1.  I have a Hong Kong version with the EU volume restriction - defeating this by setting it to Variable line out has been great.  I always use the Stand-alone mode when listening.  I have set the Gain Setting to Low to allow me to use a higher volume setting while listening - I do think this gives a little more detail.
I cannot wait for the balanced Double Helix cables, but I guess I will have to and I am trying not to think about them.
Thanks for a great thread and a great forum. Knowing more about equipment and sharing it with friends greatly enhances this wonderful hobby.

Any chance of comparing T5p G2 SE to AK T1p balanced. I found the best vocal on T1p balanced on my dp-x1 when tried in HK.

 

[addyg]

Report on the latest UAPP v3.1.7 listen to Tidal

Using 48kbps, Bit Perfect enabled. Tidal is very good.

I think UAPP got it right this time.

 

[FidelityCastro]

Hey guys, can you guys advice if I should get a second hand dpx1 now? I am currently using a ve monk plus while I wait for my reshelled noble 4s to come back and I also have a pair of hd600s. I have tried the dpx1 before and the sound was great but I am just kind of worried about the battery life. For you guys, is the battery life sufficient? Dpx1a aand dpx1 has the same battery capability so I believe both models will have the same battery life. Thank you!

(Or is mojo a better option? Thank you!)

DP-X1 is obviously more convenient if you want a very portable standalone device/no stacking/less boxes to charge etc. I don't have a Mojo but have a Hugo and it does sound amazing, regardless of the transport (e.g. Including with a smartphone, as the Chord does all the heavy lifting).

If you get a second hand DP-X1, make sure it's a more recent one: the early ones suffered from a balanced headphone out jack that becomes loose - mine was an early one and I have this problem. There are DIY fixes but I object to having to having to do an amateur fix on a $600 device. There are people on this thread who can tell you how to make sure it's a more recent batch where they fixed this issue. The balanced sound is noticeably better than the SE sound, so if you do get a DP-X1, it's worth investing in a 2.5mm balanced cable for your IEMs.

Battery life is not amazing, even if you run the device in standalone or airplane mode while listening. I usually power off the DP-X1 completely when I'm not using it in the office, rather than just turn off the screen / standby mode. That helps battery life a lot.

Overall - great sounding device when used solo, and obviously a good transport if you want to stack it or use at home with a dedicated amp or DAC+amp. I sometimes use mine with an ALO CDM, connected via micro USB OTG (same connection for Hugo and I assume Mojo, if you want to bypass the Onkyo DAC as well as the amp).

The only thing that will make me change my DP-X1 is if the balanced out jack finally breaks, or when AK finally allows Tidal on its devices. Then I'll probably look at the AK70 or AK300'or whatever. They do sound good and I like their user interface.

 

[goldendarko]

The only thing that will make me change my DP-X1 is if the balanced out jack finally breaks, or when AK finally allows Tidal on its devices. Then I'll probably look at the AK70 or AK300'or whatever. They do sound good and I like their user interface.

This should be some good news for you then,
 
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2016/09/tidal-support-coming-soon-to-selected-astellkern-daps/

 

[Duncan]

Report on the latest UAPP v3.1.7 listen to Tidal

Using 48kbps, Bit Perfect enabled. Tidal is very good.

I think UAPP got it right this time.

that would be wrong on two counts... I would say that you mean 48khz rather than 48kbps (which CNN would sound terrible!), but if using tidal, then bit perfect should be 44.1khz...

Just making sure that I have read you wrongly there

 

[FidelityCastro]

The only thing that will make me change my DP-X1 is if the balanced out jack finally breaks, or when AK finally allows Tidal on its devices. Then I'll probably look at the AK70 or AK300'or whatever. They do sound good and I like their user interface.

This should be some good news for you then,

http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2016/09/tidal-support-coming-soon-to-selected-astellkern-daps/

Yeah I saw that. Fingers crossed they actually do it this time....

 

[goldendarko]

Yeah I saw that. Fingers crossed they actually do it this time....

Yeah, lol, I think their history of over promising it is why he says don't hold your breath. 

 

[addyg]

that would be wrong on two counts... I would say that you mean 48khz rather than 48kbps (which CNN would sound terrible!), but if using tidal, then bit perfect should be 44.1khz...

Just making sure that I have read you wrongly there

Correct 48kHz ! Thanks

 

[Decommo]

Can anyone help me to locate post in this thread about how to find out if it is recent batch or old batch that has balanced 2.5mm loose socket? Thank you.

 

[FidelityCastro]

Can anyone help me to locate post in this thread about how to find out if it is recent batch or old batch that has balanced 2.5mm loose socket? Thank you.

It's the first early batch (mine was one of them). They fixed it subsequently.

 

[Riley Beale]

Would somebody with a DP-X1 be willing to let me me email them an mp3 music file to put on the DP-X1 to take a couple of screenshots of the tag info on the player?  I am trying to see if ApeV2 tagging structure is supported.

 

[SomeWiseGuy]

Subbed.

 

[Reignfire]

I love USB Audio Player Pro, however, it pales in comparison to the stock player of Onkyo DP-X1, the soundstage, resolution and overall coherence are definitely better with the stock player (SE vs SE). Anyone has a solution now to the lack of playlist support for the stock player (with and without the aid of a laptop?). I tried copying the xml file from UAPP folder and moving a copy to the SD card (source of tracks) but the stock player cant still view/detect it. Any suggestions?

 

[berzerk428]

I love USB Audio Player Pro, however, it pales in comparison to the stock player of Onkyo DP-X1, the soundstage, resolution and overall coherence are definitely better with the stock player (SE vs SE). Anyone has a solution now to the lack of playlist support for the stock player (with and without the aid of a laptop?). I tried copying the xml file from UAPP folder and moving a copy to the SD card (source of tracks) but the stock player cant still view/detect it. Any suggestions?

does the stock player not support m3u/m3u8?