Shanling Onix XI1 High-End Dongle DAC (Box opened)

Condition: Box opened

What this means: The box has been opened, so we can't sell it as new. It has been checked and works as it should, and it comes with all its accessories and the manual. No cosmetic marks: a unit with marks is listed as Cosmetic scratches and says so. Full manufacturer warranty.

The ONIX Alpha XI1 is the smallest and most affordable DAC from ONIX, the hi-fi brand born in Brighton in the 1980s, now designed by ONIX and made by Shanling. In a black-and-gold body of about 38g, a pair of Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs feed two SGM8262 headphone amplifiers in a fully balanced design, giving up to 500mW into 32Ω from the 4.4mm output: enough, ONIX says, for anything from sensitive in-ear monitors to demanding full-size planar headphones. A 0.87-inch OLED screen and three buttons put every setting on the device itself.

Excellent sound in the smallest package

The two top-of-the-line CS43198 DACs give exquisitely clean sound with ONIX’s own tuning, running fully balanced into the dedicated SGM8262 amplifiers for a smooth, clean sound and an ultra-low background noise, dead quiet even for the most sensitive ears. The balanced output reaches 129dB signal-to-noise ratio and dynamic range, and the 3.5mm output 126dB SNR, with 0.0004–0.0005% distortion. It plays PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD256.

Advanced control on the device

The 0.87-inch OLED screen gives quick access to a range of settings directly on the XI1, with no need for an app, so it works with an unlimited range of systems. Three physical buttons control the volume and playback and adjust the settings; choose from eight typeface styles to suit your taste, and a screen saver saves battery and prolongs the screen’s life. An RGB light shows the sample rate, so you know hi-res playback is working.

An advanced USB DAC

A 32-bit ARM architecture adds system features, and intelligent power management makes playback about 30% less power-hungry and cuts standby consumption by up to 80%, which is kinder to your phone’s battery. Two gain levels and five digital filters let you match it to your headphones, and the Eddict Player app on Android gives further control.

Traditional ONIX design, minimised

Even ONIX’s smallest DAC follows its traditional standards of design and build: deep black with golden-yellow details, in a sturdy body of carefully machined aluminium and glass with a smooth faux-leather back. A standard USB-C socket lets you choose any cable you need.

Good to know

• iPhones and iPads with a Lightning port need a USB-C to Lightning cable such as Shanling’s L3 (sold separately).
• The Eddict Player app is for Android; all the main settings are also on the device.
• In the box: XI1 and user manual.