ONIX ALPHA XI1
Portable DAC and Headphone Amplifier
The ONIX Alpha XI1 is the brand’s first portable DAC (digital-to-analog converter) and headphone amplifier. It draws heavily from the Shanling UA4 in terms of capabilities, but beyond its elegant black design, it also offers a new converter-amplifier combination. Thanks to the dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chip and dual SGM8262 amplification, it provides 180mW @ 32 Ohms power at the single-ended output, while reaching 500mW @ 32 Ohms with the balanced output. The sound quality is extremely clear yet distinctive.
The XI1 features a 0.87” monochrome display for quick access to settings, which, along with playback, can be navigated using three physical buttons. Built with a traditional ONIX design, its durable, sleek black aluminum housing includes USB Type-C input and 3.5mm SE, 4.4mm BAL output connectors.
Truly excellent sound quality is rare in such a compact package. Despite its size, it forms a perfect pair with sensitive premium earphones, but can also handle demanding planar-driver headphones.
