On this characteristic, James evaluations the ONIX Waltz XM10 Ltd, a brand new high-end slimline DAP with open Android 13, DSD1024 decoding, and as much as 877 mW of balanced output energy. It’s presently priced at $899.00.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me in trade 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.
Click on right here to study extra in regards to the ONIX merchandise we beforehand mentioned on Headfonics.
Observe that this text follows our present scoring pointers, which you’ll learn right here.
ONIX Waltz XM10 Ltd Evaluation
Abstract
The ONIX Waltz XM10 Ltd Android 13 DAP is a becoming candidate for many who choose a soothing, vocal-focused sound and are completely happy to sacrifice some constancy for portability and coolness.
Professionals
Full-bodied vocal performances.
Luxurious design.
A really smooth kind issue.
Cons
Struggles to carry out with greater hundreds.
Wants a convertor for 4.4mm output connection.
Not so way back, ONIX launched the ‘Miracle’ desktop combo, which included an older model of the XM10 and the XP10 pre-amp dock.
Now, ONIX has refashioned the XM10 as a standalone DAP known as the Waltz XM10 Ltd, priced at $899. The brand new model now contains an upgraded flagship AKM DAC with enhanced amping circuitry, practically doubling the output energy.
Not solely does it seem like a pleasant improve for Miracle homeowners, however the XM10 Ltd additionally appears to be a succesful and distinctive participant in its personal proper.
Given its sub-$1k pricing, it’s not the most costly DAP, which is welcome. Nevertheless, it’s in fairly a aggressive tier with ONIX’s XM5 and Shanling’s M8T offering viable options to the Waltz XM10 Ltd.
How does it carry out and examine in opposition to these two? I came upon in my full assessment under.
Options
The ONIX Waltz XM10 Ltd upgrades from XM10’s AK4493SEQ to the AK4499EX + AK4191 combo, supporting as much as 32-bit/768kHz and DSD 1024 decoding. The participant helps ISO, DXD, and customary DSD codecs besides DST.
When used as a USB Decoder, the XM10 Ltd’s low-latency XMOS XU316 resolution can help as much as DSD 512 decoding and PCM decoding on the similar fee as native playback.
It additionally built-in wi-fi options, together with WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0 with decoding as much as LDAC and DLNA and AirPlay help.
The XM10 Ltd is supplied with open Android 13, and powered by a Snapdragon 665 controller, 6GB RAM, and 128GB ROM. The expertise is kind of much like working a cellphone, with the {hardware} enabling a clean expertise when navigating by means of an enormous music library or multitasking with completely different apps.
The Waltz XM10 Ltd has respectable output energy at a most of 877 mW on a high-gain, 32Ω load balanced, dropping right down to 227 mW on the identical load and achieve in single-ended mode.
The output impedance on each 3.5mm and 4.4mm is respectable at 0.6Ω and 1Ω, respectively. On its 4.4mm output, the SNR goes as much as 124 dB, which is fairly good.
Design
The Waltz XM10 Ltd has a good looking, reflective dark-chrome end, which is according to the model’s design language. The highest of the participant will gentle up, displaying the Onix emblem when powered on, which is a cool method to show the model’s id.
The physique design is extremely smooth at 11.5mm solely, with a big screen-to-body ratio that includes a 6″ 2160×1080 FHD display screen. Pixel density is excessive, and the display screen feels very sharp and responsive.
Onix places the button in a barely recessed space, which makes the controls much less prone to be by accident pressed and permits for a firmer grip.
Turning to the again, it’s one huge piece of glass panel with Onix’s emblem within the center. Every part appears to be like premium to this point, however it’s straightforward to get your fingerprints on the physique, so it is strongly recommended to make use of the leather-based case.
The general construct feels strong, and though it makes use of chrome steel for the body, it’s skinny sufficient and doesn’t really feel as hefty as I assumed it might.
The XM10Ltd will increase the battery measurement to 4300mAh, permitting 8.5 hours of playback time per cost. It additionally helps 18W PD and QC quick cost protocols, so even when the battery drops to zero, you may rapidly cost it over lunchtime for quite a lot of hours’ further playback time.
I/O
The USB-C port, micro-SD card slot supporting as much as 2TB extension, and a specifically configured 3.5mm jack are positioned on the underside of the XM10 Ltd.
This permits conversion right into a 4.4mm output with a converter cable that comes with the package deal. All ports are neatly, horizontally aligned, much like the buttons on the edges.
Controls
With 6GB RAM inside and the Snapdragon 665 MCU inside, swiping actions on the Waltz OM10 Ltd touchscreen are very clean, with out delays, even when a number of apps are operating within the background.
The XM10 Ltd will also be managed single-handed with the navigation buttons positioned on the left and the on/off button, in addition to the amount button positioned on the fitting facet.
Every part feels intuitive bodily, with the bonus of having the ability to use the Synclink OS characteristic with the Eddict Participant app in your cellphone to regulate native playback.
Packaging & Equipment
The Waltz XM10 Ltd is available in a small package deal with gold imprints. Taking off the sleeve, the inside field is properly textured, and inside you will discover the participant together with additional display screen protectors, a person guide, a USB cable, and the converter cable for 4.4mm output.
The non-obligatory leather-based additionally appears to be like very smooth, and on the again, there’s a metallic insert for higher warmth dissipation, which appears to be like cool. Even after including the case, the XM10 Ltd continues to be extremely skinny.
Software program
Efficiency Numbers
Working AnTuTu v10.4.4, the Waltz XM10 Ltd scores 222,795, which is analogous to different DAPs operating on Android 13 OS and with 6GB RAM.
I’d name it passable until you need to run some graphics-intensive video games on the participant, which isn’t akin to the expertise on telephones.
However, that is nonetheless one of many smoothest DAPs with the newest DAP-centric Android OS operating fairly stably all through the testing course of.
Navigation
With Android 13 onboard, the UI/UI is a step up. You’ll be able to toggle between completely different work modes from the drop-down menu. Icons are personalized and intuitive; it’s straightforward to search out what I want with out the necessity to lookup within the person guide.
The Waltz XM10 Ltd can also be preloaded with apps, together with the Play Retailer, in addition to APKPure, which is useful in the event you don’t need to log in to Google Play or have a region-specific lockout for sure apps like Tidal.
Options
A number of Working Modes
As talked about, it’s straightforward to change between completely different working modes from the drop-down menu, corresponding to Prime mode, Bluetooth receiver, and AirPlay mode.
Switching to Prime mode will pressure cease all different apps, with customers solely in a position to make use of the built-in participant app. You’ll nonetheless be capable of entry the drop-down menu and alter achieve and filter settings.
The opposite modes embody Bluetooth Receiving, USB Decoding, and AirPlay receiving modes, which all could be switched to inside just a few seconds. Identical to the Prime mode, you may nonetheless change the filtering and achieve settings.
Media Administration
With the inbuilt Onix Participant app, the expertise is much like Shanling’s DAPs, which cowl numerous tagging choices, Wi-Fi tune switch, NAS connection, and Synclink Distant. There are additionally some cool options, corresponding to VU Meter visualizers, and a number of skins to pick from.
Whereas the inbuilt participant app is passable, you may strive different apps on the system, because it permits world SRC bypass for bit-perfect output.
Sound Impressions
I’ve given the Waltz XM10 Ltd per week of run-in and primarily testing it with delicate gears within the impressions under, together with the Westone Audio Mach 80, DUNU’s Falcon Extremely, and the HiBy Zeta.
Abstract
Because the Waltz XM10 Ltd could be very skinny, I anticipated it to not be as highly effective as a few of the opponents, and I do discover it delicate to pairings throughout my take a look at. Nonetheless, the output energy on paper, when switched to greater achieve, is enough for many IEMs that aren’t excessive in impedance or very insensitive.
In follow, it has good punch and coloration to the mids, and there’s enough energy within the higher vocal vary, and it doesn’t really feel like it’s missing in uncooked energy or definition.
The tuning is euphonic and favorable for vocal works because it easily presents the mids and has the higher finish properly rounded off, skillful in balancing the perceived musicality and resolving energy underneath energy constraints.
Regardless of this, it does wrestle to sound outlined, stereophonic, and exact, although it lacks depth when pushed with greater impedance IEMs, which is kind of an anticipated trade-off. Nevertheless, with delicate IEMs, it’s far more aggressive.
Timbre
The Waltz XM10 Ltd shows a transparent trace of heat and reasonably resolving within the mids when pairing with numerous IEMs on each 3.5mm and 4.4mm connections.
There may be extra energy within the balanced 4.4mm output, which might assist open up the perceived stage for IEMs that aren’t very delicate, and the ensuing timbre is kind of participating, full within the mid-range frequencies for pop and R&B, and with the vocal clearly positioned and separated.
Relating to instrumental notes, the transients are barely smoothened, sustaining an enough stage of dynamics. It sounds fairly participating and detailed with smaller ensembles, piano works, or with orchestra works that don’t contain numerous drums and a posh, outstanding bass line.
With bigger ensembles, it could really feel barely compressed in layering, which is extra apparent when listening indoors, as a result of stronger focus within the mids.
Typically, the coloring is appropriate for streaming content material and trending pop songs; it doesn’t overly push the 2 ends for greater decision or sharpness, which is nice in the event you like listening to stress-free tunes of a slower tempo.
The rounded however easily prolonged treble helps preserve enough dynamics relating to sharper voices. Someway, it additionally jogs my memory of Shanling’s M8 however with the decision stepped up.
Staging & Dynamics
The Waltz XM10 Ltd offers the treble a rounded remedy. So, whereas being forgiving with sharper voices, it additionally takes away a little bit of air.
It feels like listening in a lecture hall-sized area with good lateral enlargement and with enough depth. There may be extra stress on the bass, giving an excellent sense of stereophonic listening expertise with its full-bodied tonal character.
Because the mid-bass is pushed for lushness, it could as effectively level your focus extra in direction of the decrease finish, in addition to giving the vocal and devices throughout the mids a bolder picture and fuller physique.
The punchy bass, regardless of not kicking very deep, sounds elaborated in decay and fairly ethereal, and it helps preserve good dynamics with out bleeding to the mids and dragging down the definition.
The transients within the higher register are subtly offered, giving an impression that it’s stressing extra on vocal coloration than decision. That is nice for many who don’t need the coloring on their gears to be medical.
Click on on web page 2 for my really helpful pairings and chosen comparisons.
