OKAY, i got my onix alpha xl1 in the mail yesterday and have been absolutly blown away by how damn transparent and beautiful this little dongle sounds omg im buying a second one its just that freaking amazing. Iv been comparing it to my moondrop dawn pro which i thought sounded great but i couldnt have been more wrong wow i just cant believe they are selling this thing for only $109 what a freaking steal this thing is. I literally cant recomend it enough. I also want to add if you want a really good headphone on the cheap get yourself a koss kph40 utility heaphone, this is a very good headphone and it WILL grow with you as you upgrade your dacs and amps. Its a very capable headphone and very comfortable.
I wanted to add iv been playing with the filters and here is my take on the filters. Slow Filter is like a rolling hill smooth sides rising to round peak then slowly rolls back down this is what a note sounds like on this filter. On Fast Filter picture the same hill but its been squished in from the sides its now taller more powerful sound but dosnt linger around as much as the slow filter. The low lattency are like the fast and slow but picture the start of the note being replaced by a sharp cliff instead of a steadily increasing slope. This gives notes a sharper frontal edge. Personally i perfer the slow filter but i can see where fast filter could help with more mellow headphones. If your chasing details you might perfer the low latency filters but for me I found them more fatiguing to listen to.
@@haneko6422hi I’ve ordered mine for my s12 iems . Can you give some advice on settings ? Also does it have a battery or needs to be connect to a device ? I seen 10 hours but was confused
oh my, i just got my onix today. It is just so silky smooth, feel kind of milky. Really a slick dongle. Finally i find peace in my ears, comfortable and feel rewarding! Now awaiting NICEHCK MixPP 6N OCC cable in 4.4mm BAL (MMCX) to upgrade to 4.4 bal configuration. My heart is pounding with excitement now. Really a thousand thanks to donglemadness channel and especially Andy for releasing this special video as early as possible and introducing me the budget IEM Rose Technics Star City 5 Pro.
Picked up Onix Alpha after listening to you and a couple other reviewers I trust and am super impressed. I have several nice dongles including Cayin RU6, Hiby FC6, Lotoo S1, Penon Tail, and L&P W2 but have been listening to Onix Alpha more than those since I got it. Great recommendation!
After watching the review I ordered it yesterday and I received the Onix Alpha Xl1 the next day. Thanks to the fast shipping since I was having an assignment in China, shipping was fast. Spent a good 1 hour listening and I must say it beat my questyle M15 hands down. Spot on review Andy! Thank you!
Now that's insanity, another half year to go and we already have a dongle that's already a champion for Andy and even achieving the highest score is no doubt a crazy feat. Now I'm really interested in getting one.
Thank you Andy for your review, I was waiting for it with some impatience. Now listening to your opinion and the incredible score of this dongle, I placed my order! My wife is not going to be happy yet....Ah Ah Ah!!!
I ALMOST pulled the trigger on this one to get a discount on the last day of the AliX sale. Told myself to wait until 11.11 to see what else comes out in the coming months. I think the dongle, Bluetooth Amp/DAC game is going to see some crazy improvements in capability over the next two years! Thanks for the review.
I’ve been listing to this for a week and I’m super happy with it. I have the Onix Mystic and love the sound, now finally I have something super portable that carries the similar sound tonality on the go. I also pair it with the HUM MA-1B portable class-A amp. It is heavenly
Hi Andy! I finally got my ONIX Alpha XI1. I am happy with my purchase! Thanks for the review and recommendation! More power to you and regards to Geoff!
Hello Andy, you’re awesome @reviewing audio gadgets and great human being too..thanks a ton for your time! Your suggestions makes my audio gadget purchases more valuable and satisfactory. God bless you!
Andy, thank you very much for the review. Im, and like many other people, was waiting for this video) But I would like to make some clarity, the new dongle name is - Onix Alpha XI 1, "XI" - in the meaning "x" + "i", but not "XL"))
Nice review Andy! Edmund recommended me this last weekend in your AudioMadness group and I took the plunge and ordered it based on the impressive paper specs and price. Happy to see it could be a TOP choice. Can't wait to get it now!
Thanks. All else aside, cost and power efficiency make it easy choice. I have the RU7 and GO bar and enjoy them both. It’s encouraging to see that Cirrus Logic appears to be working through its dependence on Apple. I subscribed to your channel. I’ll enjoy your reviews even more now that I know you like cats :)
Dangg! I decided to pulled the plug and get this Onix Alpha 🤩🤩🥳🥳 Can't wait for it to be matched with my Kinera Baldr OG. Would love to see how it all sounds like. Thank you Sir for this detailed review ! Awesome stuff as always! !🥳🥳
@@donglemadness I just got my Onix Alpha XL1!! 🥳🥳 I love how this sounds with my Kinera Baldr. Thank you again Sir Andy for this review and recommendation!
Hi andy. Just received my onix alpha xl1 today and tested it right away. This is just the kind of sound i really love. Listening to 70s-80s music, that kind of punch and body of sound elements in a track just hits really different. Listening to modern records, it plays like welcoming, like you want to see the song in front of you and hug it.
Here’s my big BUT: i’ve been experiencing a playback hiccup (1-2 second no-sound interruption) very randomly. I really think there is a solution for this to be solved with UAPP under “USB audio tweaks” setting portion. I really hope this sheds some light for discussion here.
Thank you for this great review! This is the one I was waiting for and I had made a blind purchase last week. I'm glad I got it right. Along with the M12i, on the way, they're going to be my favorites. Thank you also for all your other reviews, they are a great help.
I was able to get this for below MSRP price and i was a bit hesitant, but on paper it looked like everything i wanted (other than supporting bluetooth, but that'd be a different price bracket). So thank you for this review! now i'm looking forward to getting it in the mail
After watching a lot of your videos I bought the Hidizs MP145 as my fisrt IEM, and for how you describe the sound of this dac it seems to be exactly what I was looking for, your reviews are the best Andy 🤘
Just pulled the trigger on this ONIX . My first ever decent DAC dongle(compared with some cheap 3.5mm adapters). Absolutely mind blown by how good music sounds especially through the 4.4mm port. Almost like you’re in front of the musicians . Terbaik bos
Okay, so I chanced upon the video about the Alpha and Omega and got curious about this dongle. Shenzenaudio just had a sale and was scrolling around and found the Onix. I was still not convinced about getting one since I've been using the Odo for my daily commute. I thought I did not need a new dongle but when I saw this video, you sir just got me to get one. That after getting the TA66 a few hours ago. RIP my wallet! 😢
Thank god I'm poor so I didn't spend my money immediately after watching your review of Shanling UA4 video and after your recommendation of the EPZ TP50 and up to now, I think the strategy is to save up real good and buy this one. Unless there is another better dongle with about the same 100$ price tag. Very informative video, Andy. I hope they will sell this on AliExpress or better, at my country's official shops
Hey Andy, I have finally been able to purchase my first dongle: "the ONIX Alpha" and I have been using it for about a week now. Everything you said in your video are correct ( the look, the material, ease of use and most important, the performance, all on point ) and I hope this dongle will be the best dongle for this year. BUT, one thing I notice about this dongle that after researching about it on reddit, some complains that the dongle despite having a type C interface, it doesn't work with some (unknown exact amount) phones out there. I use it mostly on my desk pc but other time I pair it with my Samsung S9 and it works well. However when I let my friend use the dongle with his Nothing phone, despite having a type c port, the phone doesn't register Onix and plays audio through the built in speaker. I hope ONIX can do something about this soon, but beside this compatibility issues, everything about this dongle is a big thumbs up. Thank you for your videos, Andy
I have the Cayin RU 7 which I love except for the energy drain. I am glad good tech is getting more affordable but I am going to be disciplined and hold. Thank you for tempting all of us with amazing tech when it happens.
I have both right now. I started with the Onix and just got RU7. The RU7 completely destroys the Onix in every way, especially the soundstage. As an analogy, the Onix feels like looking through binoculars while the RU7 feels like removing them. It's that much of a difference. Don't be tempted by the Onix, this guy is so off when it comes to it. You have the better DAC
Fantastic review, Andy! The Onix seems like a really nice DAC. I would've liked to see it have a separate USB-C port for power so that it won't drain the phone battery.
I wonder if that iBasso split USB cable would work with other companies' stuff. I do not see why not. They basically have a USB-C cable with two inputs, one of which is purely for power.
Oh Andy, i’m anti dongle guy because i don’t like dangling on my phone. So i usually like desktop amps and DAPs . This will be my first dongle to try, thanks bro.
I’ve had many Onix products over the years. As far as I can tell, they just rebadge products from other companies. My tube amps from them were from a brand named Harmony, for example. They had a lot of high value products with terrific performance in lower price ranges back in the 2000s.
Thank you Andy, WOW Great Review. I have been doing a lot of research. I have the Hiby FC4.... I have tried the M15, Dawn Pro, Aful Snowy Night, TANCHJIM Space and several others... I love the power of the FC4... I can run my desktop monitor speakers thru it from my laptop and it sounds great. It makes all my headphones and IEMs sound fuller from the power. I am trusting you as I was close to getting the FC6. From what you have said I believe this will be exactly what I have been searching for. I ordered it TODAY! I'll let you know what I think... thank you keep up the good work!
@@donglemadness So now that I already have TP50, what we do now Sir Andy!? Going to move on or not? Moreover the only issue with dongles for now is that 3.5 may not be powerful enough to run my K701
@@Nordi1_0745 Your problem is that you are stuck with 3.5mm on that AKG and you will only get 40% of what ONIX can deliver unless you use the 4.4mm side. If I am going to be stuck with 3.5mm SE, then I will get better results using something like Questyle M12i or HIBY FC6
@@donglemadness Yes that is an issue as k701 can not be balanced and I can not find any over ear with big soundstage as K701 at this price range. Do you have any suggestion? Moreover I use most of the time my HD600 which is balanced so TP50 or Onix will be benefit from that. So I am a bit confused.
I've never felt the need for anything other than my LG device, IEM and amp when I'm feeling extra... But man, you just got me convinced I need this in my life. I'm just afraid my dog will kill it like he did one of my IEMS last night 😭
I purchased Onix and received it a few days ago. I really like its airiness, transparency, softness, dreamlike expression and excellent dynamics. I was very impressed by the musicality of it. It was a fantastic experience! Still, there were times when I wanted to get a slightly sharper, crisper edge rather than a soft expression. However, I didn't want to go too far with digital sound, so after thinking about it, I thought DC04Pro would make a good duo with Onix, So I ordered it. Did I make the right choice? Anyway, your review is of great help and enjoyment to me. Thank you Andy!
Hello Andy and thank you for your work it really helps to make the right choice. I just have a question : are your ratings based just on performance or performance for the device price range ?in the dc07 pro video you say that it is similar to the DC elite and you say that both the Onix and the dc07 are very good. Does that mean that the Onix alpha is as good as the DC elite or does the rating you give it in your file takes into account the price range ? If I buy the Onix alpha, would it be worth it to later buy the DC elite ? Or since it's rating is lower than the onix's, it's not worth it ? Thank you very much I love your work!
All the dongles you mentioned already operating at the highest level with minor differences separating them. I don't recall saying DC Elite not worth it, it is an amazing dongle without a doubt, if you look closely at the rating breakdown, DC Elite rating is already above many other great dongles regardless of price. I just feel that ONIX Alpha or FC6 offers a bit more on the timbre and sound richness while all of them are equally matched on technicalities
Your review always very informative and crystal clear! Glad im not rushing to buy UA4 or EPZ50 back then, and bam! new dongle king arrive (coz you declared it lol). I may buy this since this pretty affordable. May i know your impression with this and tanchjim origin..?
Thanks, just like many other highly rated dongles with synergy factor, ONIX works great with Origin, both being transparent so they complement each other nicely
Thank you for your great review, otherwise I will never have to look over ONIX XI1, because of the price of $109, thinking this is a knock-off of high end brand and my low opinion of Cirrus Logic chips. But hey a DAC chip is only part of the whole implementation. Never expected a sigma-delta DAC dongle to sound more impressive than R2R matrix and to be able to hear clear difference between reconstruction filters (not a suggested one) and you are right those are not a different equalizer settings. As a death beat planar IEM lover I am in love with this dongle. It requires a lot of power from OTG to function properly which may be a disappointment for iPhone and DAP users. I have ordered blindly, based only of your opinion. Thank you Andy for the recommendation !
First of all I'm not an audiophile, just a music lover. I have many good dongles. The one I use the most is the Mini Tube from Woo Audio. I received my Alpha xl1 yesterday and WOW! It's totally amazing how this Gem is only 1/4 the price of mini tube. You need to hear it yourself to appreciate how good it sounds. The slow filter mode really smooth out some of my sibilant iems. Thank you Andy for your excellent review and recommendation 👍👍👍
I bought this device based on your recommendation. It sucks! Just kidding 😂 This thing is amazing! I absolutely love this DAC. I could not be happier with it. Amazing device for around 100 bucks. Wonderful. Thank you for your recommendation. Your review was spot on.
Dear Andy, Does the NEXT/PREVIOUS work SIMULTANEOUSLY with the VOLUME UP/DOWN (e.g. long pressing for the former and short pressing for the latter, like the FiiO KA5 and the KA17 which was launched without but it was added through a firmware update) or is it an option that, if enabled, disables the Volume control (like Shangling UA4) being either or? As always, thank you so so much for existing in my and others' audio world... You are the best!
As far as I can tell, the Play/Pause button works independently and does not work in combo like what you mentioned. It doesn't influence the volume adjustment behavior
@@donglemadness Thank you for replying... I will rephrase my question do that it is industry this time better: yes, the Menu button is also Play/Pause which is great, but what I wanted to please know is sitting else - in your review you mentioned that there was a Next/Previous Track option in the dongle settings - I was asking about that - does enabling it disables/replaces the Volume Control (case of either/or) or is it added (and one can have both Volume and complete Playback controls simultaneously)? Thank you so much for your help, patience and effort ❣️
Hello Andy, as always a very interesting video. I'm currently using the Questyle M15. Is the Onix more of an upgrade or a sidestep? Thanks and best regards
To me, ONIX is an upgrade from M15 in several areas, especially that rich analog sound and outright power, also ONIX Aplha being more versatile with filters that really work. Alpha is also wider sounding. Technically both are quite evenly matched with resolution and imaging
Hi Andy, I have been following you for several years on RU-vid and in your written reviews and have always been very grateful for your extremely clear, detailed, and insightful reports. How would you compare the Onix to the Venture Electronics Megatron (which I have and love)?
Thanks for the ongoing support!. I still have my Megatron here with me and I will say that between ONIX Alpha and Megatron, the main difference would be the floor noise level which will appear super silent for ONIX Alpha and of course not silent at all for Megatron. While both being analog and airy, ONIX Alpha offers a bit more of depth with sound density, less edgy and might even be considered as "warm" by some people
@@donglemadness Thank you, great reply! What I will watch for is your review and comparison of the new upgraded Megatron, which I understand is due to be released soon.
Hi Andy! I was about to purchase Shanling UA4 but after this review, my attention is now focused on ONIX Alpha XI1. It's a good thing that I waited for this review. It's also significantly cheaper in price than most of your other excellent top picks. Shall I pick the ONIX Alpha XI 1 over the Shanling UA4? Awesome review and more power to you! Also, regards to Geoff!
@donglemadness I'm still waiting for my ONIX to arrive. Just a follow-up question from your extensive list, which low - or mid-priced IEM would you recommend pairing it with? Thank you Andy and more power to you! Regards to Geoff!
@@donglemadness hi Andy, its been a week i use this dongle personally very good sounding... what filter do you recommend for jpop music (female singer) ? Thanks Andy🔥🔥
Hi Andy, always love hearing your reviews. Tis review on the Onix Alpha is no exception and I simply cannot wait to own one. 1. Can I ask your opinion on pairing the Onix Alpha with Hidizs MP145? 2. Is the Sony ZX707 a good DAP or can you recommend a comparable or better DAP ?
Thanks! ONIX Alpha being rated 10/10 with synergy meaning it pairs exceedingly well with anything, MP145 or any IEMs that you can think of, being neutral and transparent Alpha is rest assured at home with any of them. I have no experience with ZX707 so I really have no idea what to say about it
Thanks, Analog Organic simply means the timbre offer natural realistic sound and Digital Hi-Fi resembles enhanced studio output which tend to be crispy edged but lacking sense of organic realism to it
Great review as usual! I’m looking for a lower impedance dac than my current FiiO KA3 to drive my Volares (a purchase partially influenced by your glowing review of it). Would the Onix make a better pairing since the Volares are so low impedance at 4.8ohm?
Just started to explore dacs, does this greatly improve the sound quality for budget IEMs like KZ Castor and EDC Pro? Or this dac will only be worth it if I use expensive IEMs? Really thanks for the detailed analysis!
I am not sure what are you comparing it to, but assuming you referring to PC or phone out, then yes dongles like these will offer improved sound quality even for many KZ IEMs
@@donglemadness Thanks for the response! Currently I use VE Odo for my KZ Castor. I'm a bit hesitant to buy an expensive dongle like Onix Alpha Xl1 because I am not sure if it has a big difference compared to Odo. Do you think that Onix Alpha will be a worthy/big upgrade compared to the Odo?
Hello. Did you already own the Colorfly cda-m1p or did you choose the Onyx when on first order? I have CDA-M1P and i'm now thinking whether if i should change it to onyx or not. 🤔🤔
@@donglemadness Hello. Will there be your review for Khadas Tone2 Pro? I saw a very good review of the sound of this device. I wonder how many points it would get in your rating system. 😉
Versus JDS Labs Atom 2 and some other DAC/Amps I have tried, I would say ONIX Alpha literally sounded as wholesome as those bigger compatriots, however JDS Labs Atom 2 still has the upper hand with outright soundstage width and BURSON Audio Playmate 2 (V7) still has advantage over absolute resolution. But by how much? just probably 5% differences which is negligible if you don't compare side by side
Hi Andy dongle expert, can I ask in general whether you've experienced popping or clipping sound when you move dongles or its cable during usage? Because I attach my dongle to my phone or tablet, and sometimes when the dongle usb cable is tugged or pulled gently I would hear soft popping, clipping sounds, I'm not sure if it's because of the connection with its usb cables but i tried several cables and its all the same. When the dongle or cable doesn't move it sounds great. Lastly would these popping or clipping sounds damage the IEM or headphones? This experience always makes me a little scared to use dongles. Love your videos, from Singapore.
Does this happen to all of your IEMs or specific ones? Hybrid IEMs (with crossover components inside) are prone to picking up interferences. And you did not mention what dongle it is? or it could be simply you have some issues with the USB C port which may have developed an issue with grounding. Usually these type of issues are related to cables and connection points
Hi Andy, great review as always. Your love for this hobby is infectious. Help please : I'm new to auidiophile world and have Tangzu Wan er and KZ AMO1 and listen to mostly progressive rock (Tool), metal, rock and heavy rock, but do listen to most music. Bwfore you recommended Sivga Nightingale and Allegro to me, but sivga too expensive and dont like look of Allegro. What will go well with Onix Aplha? Initially fancied Kefine Delci but now fancy Tinhifi P1 Max 2. Also thinking to get Sivga Robin at a later date. Thoughts please sir🙏 Sorry for long message. Thank you Andy and Geoff 🙏❤️🙏 Want to upgrade
No worries, if you can get TINHiFi MAX 2 now then go for it, such a well tuned IEM and will go perfectly with ONIX, you can also consider AFUL Explorer if you want a bit more relaxed dynamics
I've always thought that dongles did little to effect an iem's sound. I've always looked at the power output first, then the features. Just got this dongle and I can say that a lot of my iems sound better to my ear compared to both my jcally jm06 pro and shanling up4 22.
1. It works on ASUS laptops, but can have a maximum bitrate of 32bit, 384kHz in sound settings on Windows 11. Specification 768kHz is not shown. 2. On Samsung A52s smartphones, it is not recognized by Edit Player with the message 'connected to a high-power device'. I haven't experienced the above 2 issues with other dongle DACs including IBasso DC04 Pro. I hope it's resolved with firmware. There doesn't seem to be a window for feedback on the manufacturer's website. - Written in Korean by papago
@@donglemadness / I inquired by e-mail on the ONIX site and received an answer. 1. Windows doesn't have system wide support for 768 kHz, as it's not something any normal app would be using. For your playback of 768 kHz files, we recommend using dedicated playback software with Wasapi/Asio output, for example Foobar. 2. Does it happen with both UAC1.0 and UAC2.0 settings? (Press down play button while connecting to device to enter UAC1.0 mode). We reported it to software team to check on this. -------------------------------------- In the case of No. 2 above, I tried something other than the bundled cable. It was the cable of iBASSO DC04 PRO, the USB 3.1 data cable that I used to connect the DAC from my laptop. It was impossible to check because the smartphone did not power the DAC. On PC, it is set to UAC1.0. It cannot be used because it does not recognize the moment you connect to your smartphone. At this time, the A52S smartphone says, "High-power device connected. Device not accessible. Connected device needs external power." And when connected to PC again, it returns to UAC2.0. When connected to smartphone, ONIX Alpha XI1 is not powered and cannot be set. What's unusual is that the ONIX Alpha XI1 is a 500mW output. The iBasso DC04 pro I used until yesterday is 650mW output, but I wrote it without any problems. I'm checking the problem on ONIX, so I look forward to it being resolved. Other than me, there seems to be users who are not connected on smartphones such as Vivo, Huawei, and Xiaomi.
Thank you my friend, if you try senneheiser ie200 you will love it because its neutral and brighter sound but its not fatiguing. similar sound to tanchjim zero and ie600 very pricey.
@@donglemadness its cheap thats why you need to mod a little bit use aftermarket good seal ear tip like dinu ss or spinfit w1. also tape the hole increase sub bass.
Thanks. The fact is, I equally love both especially considering that FC6 is a perfect solution for 3.5mm SE only option. You just need to understand the differences as I mentioned in the comparison section and decide which one suits your taste and preferences more, can't go wrong with any one of those two champions
Lifelong musician but very very new to moving I to "audiophile" stuff after owning a $10 DAC + BLON03s for years. Upgraded to Truthear Hexas last year than 7Hz Timeless this year. Trusted this guys review and for my first DAC upgrade went with this. Then decided to try the Cayin RU7. The RU7 is so far above and beyond this Onix it's not even funny, especially the soundstage. Noticeable difference from the first second. The Onix sounds downright claustrophobic compared to the RU7. If you're considering your first dongle DAC, just get the RU7. I have no idea how this guy sings so much praise to this, it is no way the top dongle of 2024.
Hi Andy, over on the XI1 thread on head-fi, I'm reading that the dynamic presentation is well-balanced as you said (don't need to keep adjusting volume), but some users are saying the dynamic range is poor in that there is little volume difference between the loudest and quietest sounds. Does your experience confirm this? I noticed you covered dynamic transients and dynamic presentation in this video, but I couldn't find the part about dynamic range.
I don't quite understand the issue here. When I said well balanced, it is the presentation of entire dynamic range which is linear neutral from one end of the sound frequency to another opposite end not exhibiting any kind of coloration or enhancement. If the dynamic range is poor as mentioned, then I would never personally place this ONIX Alpha as high as it is, I would not even recommend it if there's any indication of impairment or deficiencies to the way it present sound dynamics
@@andresvr8357 the last few pages. I hope they are wrong though. I got this for neutrality. The only thing they said that worried me is they said loud and quiet sounds don't stand out from each other. I hope its just due to their usual gear being too boosted. I want something that neither boosts nor compresses. I can only hope XI1 is normal and they are just used to boosted stuff. I hope it's not overly smoothed out.
@@Viewer13128 It also made me lose interest, I think Andy is confusing dynamic range with sound signature when he says neutral, since if something is neutral it doesn't mean it's very dynamic, that thing where the weakest and strongest sounds stand out. If it can serve to explain the dynamic range, when something low volume has to sound it will be precise and if from one moment to the next it changes to a loud sound it will be noticeable as in real life, perhaps it will be noticeable with classical music that goes from passages low to strong
Thanks for the wonderful review Andy ! I was wondering base on your expertise will the ONIX Alpha XL1 be an upgrade to Ibasso DC04 Pro . Atm using Moondrop Blessing 3 on 3.5mm paired with Ibasso Dc04 Pro . Cheers from Singapore !!
Thanks, looking at the score I think I made it quite clear that ONIX Alpha offers refinement over what DC04Pro has started, hence it scores max on sound and many other areas compared to DC04Pro. Cheers and have a great weekend there!
