Onix Alpha XI1 Review

Today we in this two-page article, review the $109 USD Onix Alpha XI1 portable USB DAC/AMP dongle.

Disclaimer: In exchange for our honest opinion, we were sent the Onix Alpha XI1 USB DAC/AMP for this review. We thank Onix & Shanling for the opportunity.

Onix

ONIX, a British audio company with roots in the seaside town of Brighton, was founded in 1979 by Tony Brady, a student at Brighton Technical College. Brady’s compact yet powerful amplifier designs drew the attention of Michael O’Brien, a manager at Rogers hi-fi, another well-known British audio brand. Their collaboration led to the official birth of ONIX, and in 1981, the company launched its first classic models, the OA20 and OA21. These models helped ONIX to establish a presence in over 30 international markets, including Germany, the United States, Singapore, and Japan. ONIX’s signature black and gold aesthetic, developed during this early period, remains a distinctive hallmark of the brand today.

In 1997, as the hi-fi industry evolved and global competition heightened, ONIX underwent a transformation under the ownership of Mr Pu Hsao Hsiung of Taiwan’s Sound Art Co. The company adapted to the changing times while maintaining its core principles of British Hi-Fi sound. Under Mr Pu’s leadership and a fruitful collaboration with Shanling Audio from 2003, ONIX continued to release refined audio systems, culminating in the high-end OC93 and OIA92 in 2022.

In May 2023, ONIX returned to the international market with the launch of the ONIX Miracle high-end hi-fi stack at the High End Munich Show. This new era combines four decades of audio tuning experience with modern features such as streaming and portable systems, staying true to the brand’s roots while adopting newer technologies.

Today, we have their most affordable unit, the Onix Alpha XI1.

You can check our previous Onix reviews here. Let’s see how it performs in the overcrowded USB DAC/AMP sphere.

ONIX Alpha XI1

The ONIX Alpha XI1 is a portable USB DAC/AMP designed by ONIX and built by Shanling. While the construction benefits from Shanling’s expertise in high-quality manufacturing, the design, tuning, and specifications reflect the vision of ONIX, aligning with their British Hi-Fi heritage & house sound.

The Alpha XI1 is equipped with dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips and dual SGM8262 amplifiers. Its balanced architecture is able to dish out 500mW of power into a 32-ohm load, which is very impressive, especially in this price bracket. Sub-ohm output impedance and low power consumption further improve its versatility and ease of use with a wide range of host devices such as phones, laptops, tablets, etc.

Crafted with ONIX’s signature black-gold aesthetic, the Alpha XI1 features a machined aluminum body with gold accents, reflecting the design signature of the Onix brand. It also has a small OLED screen and physical buttons to ease the menu navigation and playback control during use.

The device features a 0.87-inch OLED screen for easy navigation, low-distortion operational amplifiers from SG Micro, and five selectable digital filters. Although Shanling handled the manufacturing, the Alpha XI1 is fully a product of ONIX’s design philosophy.

The Alpha XI1 retails for $109 USD on well-known retailers such as HiFiGo.com, Linsoul.com, and ShenzhenAudio. Here are the full specs and highlights of the Onix Alpha:

• Cirrus Logic CS43198 x2 & x2 SGM8262 AMPs
• ARM-based System Controller
• 3.5mm: 137mW@32Ω | 4.4mm: 500mW@32Ω
• Eddict Companion App Support
• 32-bit 768kHz & DSD256 Decoding Capability
• 0.87-inch Monochrome OLED Display with Menu & Nav. Buttons
• HW Physical Volume Control
• Machined Aluminum Chassis with Anodized Finish

Packaging and Accessories

The ONIX Alpha XI1 arrives in a small square cardboard box with a rainbow reflective coating on the text, with “Alpha” prominently displayed on the sleeve. The sleeve itself is visually appealing, featuring a product photo placed atop the “X” logo. From a design standpoint, it’s clear that attention was paid to making the packaging as premium as possible while keeping the cost low. Once the sleeve is removed, you’re greeted by an inner box embossed with a cross pattern, which adds a subtle but premium touch. I have to compliment the designers for their attention to detail here; they’ve managed to create a premium unboxing experience for what is essentially a budget-oriented product.

Upon opening the box, the first thing you see is a sleek foam compartment, which holds the Alpha XI1 and a small USB-A to Female USB-C adapter. Beneath that, you’ll find a short, black, sleeved USB-C to USB-C cable and a manual. That’s all you get with the unit, but it’s more than adequate for most users.

ONIX also offers a leather case for an additional $10, and if you miss purchasing it with the unit, you can buy it separately for $13. I found the leather case reasonably priced and of very good material quality. Considering the Alpha XI1 is such an aesthetically pleasing DAC/AMP, you might want to preserve that look, and the case does a great job of completing the device’s design with the same type of leather used on the device itself.

Design & Build Quality

ONIX and Shanling are both industry veterans known for their high standards of build quality across their product lines, whether it’s entry-level or high-end gear. The Alpha XI1 maintains this tradition, delivering a level of craftsmanship well above its price range. The vertical-striped design of the side panels, black anodized finish, gold accents, and leather back panel all contribute to a device that looks and feels much more premium than you’d expect in its price class.

The monochrome OLED display is functional and provides essential information such as sample rate, active mode, volume, and selected filter. Navigating the menu is straightforward, thanks to the well-placed buttons, making it a user-friendly device. The top of the Alpha XI1 features both 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced headphone jacks, each encircled by a gold-colored ring. This design detail, which I believe was popularized by Sony, adds a touch of class. The USB-C data/power connector is located at the bottom.

The black-and-gold color scheme is perfectly balanced here. It’s easy to go overboard with gold accents and end up with something that looks overly flashy, but ONIX has exercised restraint, using just the right amount of gold to give the Alpha XI1 a sophisticated, elegant appearance. The anodized finish and high-quality materials further enhance the sense of refinement. I found no CNC defects or assembly issues, and overall, ONIX has done an excellent job with this product.

ONIX also sent me the black leather case, which has a great texture and high-quality stitching. It feels nice in the hand and fits the device perfectly, although it does make the Alpha XI1 a bit bulkier. However, the case offers solid protection against scratches and drops, and for $10, it’s a small investment to keep your device looking pristine. If you’re as careful with electronics as I am, the case is a worthwhile accessory to protect your Alpha XI1 from daily wear and tear.

The review continues on Page Two, after the click here or by using the jump below.

Page 1: Onix, Alpha XI1, Packaging & Accessories, Design & Build Quality

Page 2: Features, Sound Impressions, Low, Mid, High, Technical Performance, Comparison, Last Words