Louis evaluations the ONIX Beta XI2, a hybrid solid-state and JAN6418 tube Dongle DAC able to as much as DSD512 decoding and 550mW output energy. It’s presently priced at $349.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me in change for my trustworthy opinion. Headfonics is an unbiased web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or standing. I thank ONIX and Shanling for his or her help.
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Notice that this text follows our present scoring tips, which you’ll be able to learn right here.
ONIX Beta XI2 Evaluation
Abstract
ONIX elevated their sport and made the Beta XI2 twin solid-state and tube dongle DAC higher than its predecessor in each means, and I’m not knocking the Alpha XI1 in any means, form, or type.
Execs
A hybrid design that offers the client a alternative of two worlds.
Good on battery life.
Low noise ground.
Cons
You simply get a fundamental set of included equipment.
ONIX Audio debuted its moveable dongle DAC amplifier prowess final 12 months when it launched the Alpha XI1. It’s a extremely aggressive dongle that options two CS43198 DACs, a 500mWpch energy output stage, and a modest price ticket.
ONIX determined this time round to spruce issues up and incorporate an fascinating design twist into their new dongle DAC amplifier design, the $349 Beta XI2.
The ONIX Beta XI1 joined a small group of hybrid dongle DACs such because the iBasso Nunchaku and Woo Audio‘s TUBE Mini (sadly, neither unit is with me for testing).
It additionally belongs to a brief record of dongles that produce surprisingly good audio for its dimension. The hybrid design is simply the icing on the cake.
So, how does it carry out and compete with the likes of the Alpha XI1, FiiO’s QX13, and the Questyle M18i? I discovered in my full evaluate under.
Options
The important thing promoting level of the ONIX Beta XI2 is its twin JAN6418 tube output stage, selectable through the onscreen menu on the 0.89-inch front-mounted display.
The choices menu within the Beta XI2 provides a selectable solid-state or tube mode. That means, you may go into the choices and allow or disable the tubes and use solid-state as a substitute. That’s the novelty of the Beta XI2. It provides two distinct sonic signatures in a single dongle.
There’s additionally a solid-state OP-BUF amplifier stage on the Beta XI2 that makes use of a twin OPA1662 amplifier chip configuration with a quad buffer that makes use of 4 BUF434A chips.
This permits this dongle to provide 550mW max per facet off the balanced connection at 32Ω and single-ended able to as much as 180mW on the identical load.
The entrance finish is just not too shabby both. It makes use of a pair of the identical Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs used on the Alpha XI1.
Meaning the Beta XI2 is able to decoding as much as PCM 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512, and is suitable with Home windows, Android, iOS, or Macs.
Design
ONIX tends to favor its trademark Black with Gold trim and makes use of it on all its gear, together with the Beta XI2.
It’s a traditional colour mixture that may stand the check of time. I additionally just like the side-mounted tubes that glow orange. The tradeoff is that the Beta XI2 is barely wider in dimension in comparison with the XI1.
In the event you’ve seen the Alpha XI1, you’ll discover the resemblance. Gold trim is used all through. The ONIX identify, the buttons, and the headphone connections are gold-plated, minus the USB-C port that sits at one finish of the dongle.
The Beta XI2 casing is created from aluminum, and ONIX makes use of a tube development, in line with their literature. I’m fairly certain what they imply is that the physique is made as a hole construction, and the electronics are slipped inside from the facet after which capped off.
The entrance sports activities a 0.87″ display and contains some {hardware} buttons. You’ll be able to entry all of the options throughout the menu that embody the two-stage achieve through these buttons.
There’s a tube mode, the PCM filters, the important thing mode, font model, stability, the screensaver timeout, and the display orientation.
The perimeters of the dongle are ribbed, which will increase the floor space; therefore, a pure, passive cooling impact happens.
The perimeters additionally sport the tubes behind glass, and so they present the tubes glowing an Orange hue. This dongle has a number of eye sweet.
I/O
The ONIX Beta XI2 makes use of a Comtrue CT7601 USB chip with a twin set of analog PO jacks that features a 4.4mm Pentaconn connection in addition to the standard TRS 3.5mm connection.
There’s nothing fancy concerning the Beta XI2’s IO part. Its connectivity part is the norm these days.
Upfront, there are two quantity management buttons and a 100-step implementation that offers the person loads of management of these output ports.
Plus, there’s a 2-stage achieve throughout the menu that offers the person additional management over the listening ranges and output. There’s additionally a UAC1.0 mode that’s obtained by powering up when you maintain the multifunction button.
Eddict App
Once more, don’t get confused when on the lookout for a management app for the ONIX Beta XI2 as a result of it’s the Eddict Participant, which is from Shanling.
I’m not going to clarify all of the options inside that app. My solely qualm with it’s that each one the options are hidden. For instance, you must entry the system management throughout the app to realize entry to the Beta XI2’s options. It’s not upfront.
All the opposite options are scattered in sections. There’s a participant, an equalizer, and a number of wi-fi connectivity choices.
The principle choices are the system management, playback settings for the participant, a primary setup web page, and two different choices to entry both domestically saved music or music on the cloud.
Packaging & Equipment
I’ll allow you to guess what colour scheme ONIX used to embellish the field that the Beta XI2 is available in. It’s a slipcover over a flip-top onerous field. However who cares about containers, proper?
I just like the cable meeting that comes within the field. It’s terminated with two USB-C connectors, plus ONIX provides the client with a USB full-size adapter. No Lightning connectivity is included.
The cable itself is an 8-wire braid. The connectors aren’t steel or something, however they’ll do. They use small rubber pressure reliefs and are nickel-plated moderately than gold-plated. It might have been a stellar cable if the connectors had been of a better grade.
Sound Impressions
My primary supply was my every day cellular system, which is a Motorola Edge with the Dolby characteristic off. The telephone has a 6000mAh battery and runs inventory Android 15.
I used a well-broken-in HIFIMAN Sundara, their Version XV, and the Ananda Unveiled. I additionally pulled out the Sennheiser HD 550, the Meze Audio 99 Classics Gen 2, and the brand new HEDD Audio HEDDphone D1.
The Flare Audio Studio was used to check for hiss. The FiiO FX17 and the HIFIMAN Svanar had been additionally used.
Stable State Mode
I like the way in which the ONIX Beta XI2 sounds at the start as a result of it sounds balanced and pure. The general tone offers vocals and devices a trustworthy presentation. A clean higher area presentation can also be an apparent attribute.
It’s a type of gadgets that surprises you, particularly when you think about the size-per-performance ratio it provides.
You’ll anticipate much less efficiency, and contemplating that the Beta XI2, together with a couple of new era dongles, are enhancing in comparison with fashions launched only a 12 months in the past.
I discover that dongles which have the CS43198 sound impartial, or flat, however not overly sterile or analytical, and so does the Beta XI2. The strong state mode produces a cleaner, extra outlined sonic signature.
The midrange has the next stage of presence, the bass tightens up, and the excessive frequencies tackle a wider stance within the soundstage.
To be trustworthy, I’ve all the time veered to strong state and like it on this dongle for the easy proven fact that it produces extra element, and I’m a element junkie.
Tube Mode
The tube mode is there to provide you one other sonic signature, or as I name it, a second opinion. On this mode, a heat facet is launched, and a softer demeanor emerges. Vocals tackle a mild character, completely different from the sharp, well-defined solid-state signature.
The bass takes on a resonant character during which among the defining traits tackle a fatter, or meatier, attribute. Evidently the tube mode elevates the midbass a hair over the inventory solid-state mode.
The midrange takes on a hotter character and loses a decibel in output, which quells some mid-centric IEMs.
The Beta XI2 took IEMs just like the HIFIMAN Svanar and the FiiO FD7 into vocal relaxed territory, although these are notoriously vocal-forward IEMs.
Staging & Dynamics
In the event you examine dongle DACs of simply two years in the past with a dongle just like the ONIX Beta XI2, which might produce a 3D panorama with a reasonably correct soundstage placement functionality. You do get hold of a wider soundstage in solid-state mode over the tube mode, nonetheless.
The Beta XI2 produces nice placement aside from depth, which is upfront greater than the ahead expansiveness produced by esoteric gear. You’ll be able to anticipate layering and well-placed components which can be simply identifiable within the total area.
There are variations in positioning between the 2 modes. For instance, the bass response shifts from one which’s omnidirectional to 1 that’s simply so however lifted throughout the soundstage in tube mode. The treble response additionally appears to sit two rows again.
Digital filters
The ONIX Audio Beta XI2 solely comes with 5 digital filters to select from. I do really feel that this can be a downgrade from the six you get on the XI1. It’s not a giant deal and isn’t a deal breaker in any respect.
There’s a quick roll-off filter, a sluggish roll filter, a low-latency quick and sluggish filter, and a non-oversampling which is the one I exploit. Though the sluggish roll-off filter was shut.
These filters don’t change the general tonality of the dongle a lot and don’t do a lot for the sonic high quality of the dongle.
Click on on web page 2 under for my advisable pairings and chosen comparisons.
