I've never heard anything like this: THX Onyx review

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  • čas přidán 5. 07. 2024
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Komentáře • 385

  • @derzemel
    @derzemel Před 3 lety +292

    FYI: MQA is a closed source, lossy audio format, unlike Flac, which is open source, is lossless and it can also be easily streamed (there are other music streaming services, like Qobuz, which use 24bit, 192 khz flac for streaming). From what I understand, MQA is actually based on FLAC, but it does not contain the same volume of data.
    To play MQA encoded files, because the encoding is closed source and the company that came up with MQA owns bot the encoding and decoding chain, everybody that touches that file has to pay a licence for the privilege of having touched that file.
    You do what you like with this information.
    Regarding the THX dongle dac, I would wait for comparisons with other dongle dacs, like HELM Bold (THX certified and MQA compatible), AudioQuest's Dragonfly series, Astell and Kern's PEE51, etc

    • @allansh828
      @allansh828 Před 3 lety +13

      I've been listened to a bunch of dongle DACs and I found dragonfly cobalt to be the most pleasant listen.

    • @NicholasLeicht
      @NicholasLeicht Před 3 lety +1

      Thank you :)

    • @EnthusiasticGoat
      @EnthusiasticGoat Před 3 lety +5

      Jesus we still using lossy to describe MQA? just because it's not perfect doesn't mean it's not good. We should all be glad we even have MQA at all even if it's not bit fucking perfect.

    • @johncreech6012
      @johncreech6012 Před 3 lety +38

      @@EnthusiasticGoat The problem is the claim that it is "Master Quality." A lossy codec, by definition, loses something, and therefore cannot be "Master Quality." I'm not asserting it isn't good. I'm stating their primary value proposition is definitively a lie. That's not a company or effort I'd want to support.

    • @divineatma
      @divineatma Před 3 lety +7

      czcams.com/video/pRjsu9-Vznc/video.html Sad that so many companies are going the MQA support route due to consumer demand for them.

  • @privacyhelp
    @privacyhelp Před 3 lety +52

    MQA is the lastest gimmick in hifi audio market

    • @jmchez
      @jmchez Před 3 lety +6

      This very thorough analysis shows that MQA is worse than good old FLAC
      czcams.com/video/pRjsu9-Vznc/video.html

    • @lordroyaltee
      @lordroyaltee Před 3 lety +1

      I think I'll just wait on god quality audio.

    • @AigisSSBM
      @AigisSSBM Před 3 lety +2

      *snake oil

  • @timofaust1315
    @timofaust1315 Před 3 lety +11

    Excellent review; even though I have no use for the Onyx at the moment, it was a delight to listen to your informative video.

  • @NordicDan
    @NordicDan Před 3 lety +2

    I hadn't heard of this before yesterday. I wonder how well it would make my old workhorse Sony MDR-V600s sound

  • @zeroibis
    @zeroibis Před 3 lety +136

    When you got a device that is identifying a lossy audio format as "best" quality you know it is something to run clear away from. lol

    • @fluxtothemax23
      @fluxtothemax23 Před 3 lety +33

      Bro, that's such a condescending comment. I bet it's a good DAC but I bet THX has a partnership with MQA and Tidal. And most people don't know/can't tell the difference between lossy and lossless formats so I wouldn't get nit-picky.

    • @zeroibis
      @zeroibis Před 3 lety +36

      @@fluxtothemax23 It is one thing to release a product that supports a questionable standard. It is another thing entirely to lead ignorant customers to believe that said standard is "best" or for that matter better than other standards in so far as audio quality is concerned.
      At the end of the day it is a question of if you want to support a company who is misleading customers to believe that a lossly format could ever be better than a lossless one.
      There has been other companies who have added MQA support in order to meet market demand while also not drinking the Koolaid and continuing the charade. Such things are bad for the industry and bad for the customer who seeks to receive a lossless master.

    • @fluxtothemax23
      @fluxtothemax23 Před 3 lety +24

      @@zeroibis I'm sorry but from my experience working in sound design and production sound mixing as well as being a pretty hardcore audiophile, I don't really think there's a major difference between 24-bit lossy and 24-bit lossless formats. Sure, you and I might be able to tell the difference but the average consumer doesn't. I don't think MQA and Tidal is fair towards music distribution and the licensing war for Hi-Res Music and MQA-decoded media is an entirely different debate where I often criticize MQA. But, at the end of the day, I still use Tidal on my smartphone and THX is trying to get high end audio onto the market for the average consumer. YOU don't need to buy this dongle, you probably have a decent audio system at home with all the lossless media you can own. I own lossless formats on my PC because I'm huge into owning music and I have this "What-If" scenario where I can just use the 24-bit track for a sound design scenario. Other than that, on my phone, everything is either streamed through Tidal or played back through purchased FLAC files through Qobuz. I respect your dedication to knowing the differences but audiophile shit is subjective. Don't bash someone for showing interest in an entry-level product, it was never designed for us in mind.

    • @fluxtothemax23
      @fluxtothemax23 Před 3 lety +2

      @@zeroibis Also, have you tried keeping an eight minute track at 24-bit, 192 kHz in WAV on your phone? Not worth the 525.46 MB of space. I'd rather repackage that in FLAC for space sake. That figure came from a WAV file size for Miles Davis' "The Man I Love".

    • @zeroibis
      @zeroibis Před 3 lety +13

      @@fluxtothemax23 FLAC is a lossless format and is open source for that matter, who is claiming an issue with FLAC?
      I completely agree, all my music storage is in FLAC.

  • @juanargueta5988
    @juanargueta5988 Před 3 lety +20

    Tempted to pick this up for my focal and shure headphones

  • @TheRusselmuscle
    @TheRusselmuscle Před 3 lety +3

    Having that great boost in power can make a huge difference for a headsets when your music source is a phone, from what I understand. At least for headsets that are power hungry.

  • @allansh828
    @allansh828 Před 3 lety +3

    How's it compared to AudioQuest Dragonfly Cobalt? Does it drain phone battery really quick like the dragonfly?

  • @NicholasLeicht
    @NicholasLeicht Před 3 lety

    Awesome! Thanks for the informative video.

  • @pvl256
    @pvl256 Před 3 lety +2

    I'd like to hear you compare thee sound of these with that using a Dragonfly Red or Cobalt

  • @Starwarsgames66
    @Starwarsgames66 Před 3 lety +1

    Will this do 24bit/192kHz? I’m just trying to find out if this will work for Apple Music at the absolute highest settings.

  • @TheDiscardedFoot
    @TheDiscardedFoot Před rokem

    Might a pair of Sennheiser IE 200's that are coming soo. Would I need something like this, or would the samsung usbc to 3.5 adapter be good enough?

  • @tonygonzales726
    @tonygonzales726 Před 2 lety

    Any dongle dacs recommendations for the pixel 6? Heard there was some compatibility issues.

  • @stevedavey9250
    @stevedavey9250 Před 2 lety +1

    Any chance this would work with car audio? Plugging into USB port and using an iPhone? This THX Onyx is amazing. Thanks

  • @hardtimes4521
    @hardtimes4521 Před 3 lety

    Can I connect a speakers on it, or only a headphone? Thank you.

  • @timmandcrystal
    @timmandcrystal Před 2 lety

    Like the video!
    Think it would help quality connect to iPhone 13 to a JBL flip 4 or 5?

  • @Fatal_Futanari
    @Fatal_Futanari Před 3 lety +1

    Would this be a decent desktop amp?

  • @jko0526
    @jko0526 Před 3 lety +2

    I’d like to use this for just the amp quality on my truck audio

  • @herbertsaugust
    @herbertsaugust Před 3 lety +68

    How does this compare to the AudioQuest Dragonfly series (black, red, cobalt)?

    • @varunu4176
      @varunu4176 Před 3 lety +8

      I would also love to know how they compare to the LG V30's internal DAC.

    • @al201103
      @al201103 Před 3 lety +5

      Yeah - given that this video is titled "I've never heard anything like it" I would hope that he's heard some of the MANY audiophile type options which are out there. Dragonfly would be top of the list for comparison.

    • @praxis22
      @praxis22 Před 3 lety +1

      I have the black, I tried the cobalt but sent it back the next day as the rolloff in the bass was really off-putting.

    • @herbertsaugust
      @herbertsaugust Před 3 lety +2

      @@praxis22 I've got the red and absolutely love it. Definitely worth the money.

    • @gullibleskeptic3237
      @gullibleskeptic3237 Před 3 lety +1

      @@praxis22 Bass rolloff? Its perfectly flat on mine.

  • @luisbaltodano227
    @luisbaltodano227 Před 3 lety

    Thanks for a great review.

  • @matthewhilty4209
    @matthewhilty4209 Před 3 lety +1

    I'm not a big fan of sabre dacs but they are low power, I'm thinking the main selling point is the excellent AAA amp technology.

  • @jacksonduvall7504
    @jacksonduvall7504 Před 3 lety

    Will it drive my Audeze magnetic planars?

  • @ricciluzuriaga
    @ricciluzuriaga Před 3 lety

    Should I get the 80ohms or 250ohms Headphones while using this THX device?

  • @Jeff-cq9ed
    @Jeff-cq9ed Před 2 lety

    Where did you get that stand behind you for the Quest VR?

  • @foilhat
    @foilhat Před 3 lety +1

    For those who wonder: it has a little different sound signature, comparing to DragonFly, and they both inferior to Lotoo PAW S1. If you want TOTL dongle-DAC, go Lotoo or Luxury & Precision W1/W2.

  • @kvn1718
    @kvn1718 Před 3 lety +1

    I wonder how this compares to my dragonfly black DAC

  • @ananasw
    @ananasw Před 3 lety

    Anyone know which is better :
    This or E1DA 9038D ?

  • @Mr360ryan
    @Mr360ryan Před 3 lety

    Would this work on a Projector?

  • @gilbertrenebogaert2316
    @gilbertrenebogaert2316 Před 3 lety +1

    Hello, Is it possible to use this device with a Bose Companion 3 or lies the focus only on headphones? Thanks for any comment you might have!

  • @chingleelocum
    @chingleelocum Před rokem

    Found Asus Rog Clavis with the same chipset. Would you say they are the same?

  • @rayking507
    @rayking507 Před rokem

    Does this work on avr receiver. If not does anyone know if there are similar lossless dac streamers that will work with avr’s

  • @KenStarks
    @KenStarks Před rokem +1

    I'm a bit late to the topic, but I gotta say.....My go to device was a dragonfly red and I was happy with it but I found the Onyx through a open box sale at just over half price so I ordered it. I ended up selling my dragponfly and use this exclusively now with my LG phone. I inherited a large number of MQA encoded classic rock songs and I find it difficult to express just how much better they sound via the Onyx. I went looking for the Onyx on your recommendation, so thanks a bunch. I would have gladly paid full price for it.

    • @stuffmikebought
      @stuffmikebought Před rokem +1

      I was literally watching this video trying to decide if I needed to upgrade from my DragonFly Red to the Onyx

  • @andrebradley1924
    @andrebradley1924 Před 3 lety

    How can I use this with my stereo receiver at home

  • @frankenstein2144
    @frankenstein2144 Před 3 lety

    Is there a huge bass sound on thing?

  • @Yadudeboibro
    @Yadudeboibro Před 2 lety

    Thoughts of using this to run audio through a vehicle vs just using Bluetooth.

  • @itconsgenio
    @itconsgenio Před 3 lety

    Can this work and enjoy the THX feature?
    Connection
    PC -> THX dongle - Gaming Headphones?
    Or
    PC-> Rode NT USB mini -> THX Dongle -> Regular Headphones

  • @soladsani
    @soladsani Před 3 lety +1

    Simply said, AMAZING ❗️👌

  • @BrentLeVasseur
    @BrentLeVasseur Před 2 lety +1

    This is the greatest dongle DAC I have heard. I love this DAC!

  • @caleguillory5451
    @caleguillory5451 Před 2 lety +1

    I might upgrade to the THX Onyx someday. Before I ask any questions though, I must share my knowledge of and experience with MQA. I know that it removes distortion and noise from the recordings, but I’ve read that it replaces it with its own distortion and noise because of the leaky filters it uses. I have a Lenovo YOGA 730 laptop and a Dragonfly Red DAC that is paired with two AudioEngine 5 Bamboo speakers and when they’re all connected, the result sounds blurry like a Compact Disc of an Analog recording that was quickly transferred from the master tapes. Before the speakers broke in, MQA files sounded like a very harsh version of the studio performance. I also have a Fiio 10 DAC and amplifier that is paired with a pair of Sennheiser HD 650 Headphones and when I hook that up to my laptop and play an MQA file the results sound very open and spacious but dry and very electronic. Drums and bass sound somewhat closer to an old Razr phone than how they should actually sound in a recording studio. This only happens with MQA files. Are these results of improper implementation of MQA, improper deciding of the file, or counteraction between the sound signatures of my laptop and speakers or laptop and headphones, or both? I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t hear such blemishes when pairing the THX Onyx with my laptop and with my headphones or speakers.

  • @amesgamez
    @amesgamez Před 3 lety +1

    I'm curious how this sounds when used in combination with an iPhone and the Airpods Max?

    • @johncreech6012
      @johncreech6012 Před 3 lety

      If you're using Airpods Max in wireless, then you're still just hearing Apple's DAC (since the conversion from digital to analog occurs in the headphone). I believe the Airpods Max can be used in a wired configuration, but only with Apple's Lighting to analog adapter... so again, you're using Apple's DAC built into that cable.

  • @imopn
    @imopn Před 3 lety +1

    What about taking calls? If I take a call will this handle mic of the earphones?

    • @TheRusselmuscle
      @TheRusselmuscle Před 3 lety +1

      The literature I read about the onxy says it will operate an inline mic. That's one totally necessary thing for me too, along with the inline controller being operational too. The literature didn't say anything about the inline controller. I have to be on call when playing with my audio equipment.

    • @imopn
      @imopn Před 3 lety

      @@TheRusselmuscle Agree. Hopefully some reviewers will test it. I think most of us will use it for work and play so feels a bit like it should be tested more broadly than just audio playback.

  • @BigCarKilla
    @BigCarKilla Před 3 lety +10

    MQA is so shady and overrated. Added audible noise? Check. Scamming users? Check - Neil Diamond had even pulled his library from Tidal. He did not give them the master recordings, and yet they claimed to be streaming “studio master quality”.

    • @ceddy1031
      @ceddy1031 Před 3 lety

      Totally ! Moved to Qobuz Hi-Res. True 24/192khz

  • @arqfran75
    @arqfran75 Před 3 lety +3

    Great content, mate! Thx 😊

  • @corporalmcna5ty734
    @corporalmcna5ty734 Před 3 lety +2

    For the love of God, will someone please test this device out with gaming systems?

  • @themaven4054
    @themaven4054 Před 3 lety

    So wireless headphones/earbuds are sol?

  • @lennycro9029
    @lennycro9029 Před 3 lety

    Could you use this with quest 2

  • @massamendmentauditor114
    @massamendmentauditor114 Před 6 měsíci

    I have this DAC does anyone know if it can power the moon drop para

  • @shadowr2d2
    @shadowr2d2 Před 3 lety +1

    I was looking threw your video list.. Dam.. You have a long list of videos.. A lot of them that look cool 😎. Some stuff I did not know.
    Thank you for having a cool tech channel 😎..

  • @GoldenSte
    @GoldenSte Před 3 lety

    Can I use this on my iPhone 11 and newer?

  • @guesswho36
    @guesswho36 Před rokem

    Does it work with lossless?

  • @crazycat5777
    @crazycat5777 Před 3 lety

    Can you use this with a goxlr

  • @david029014
    @david029014 Před 3 lety

    Can you use this with a ps5 or xbox series x??

  • @redscorpion9325
    @redscorpion9325 Před rokem

    Does it work for Consoles like PS5 or Xbox SX?

  • @danielmitchel6035
    @danielmitchel6035 Před 3 lety

    I wonder if this will work in the xbox series x?

  • @madmos
    @madmos Před 3 lety +2

    Nice review. How about high ohm headphones? Like a sennheiser hd650 or something similar? If it shines with those, then I am sold.

    • @allansh828
      @allansh828 Před 3 lety +1

      Jimi Mostler HD650 is a trap. It requires a desktop setup, but the sound quality of 650 doesn't deserve that kind of expense. You'd better find another slightly more expensive but easier to drive pair of headphones over HD650.

    • @charlestannehill7537
      @charlestannehill7537 Před 3 lety

      @@allansh828 my LG V60 drives my beyerdynamic Custom studio's just fine. You just have to have quality hardware. Not necessarily a pc.

    • @houssamalucad753
      @houssamalucad753 Před 3 lety

      @@charlestannehill7537 says that while having the best phone dac around, an easier headphone to drive than the HD650 and thinking the op meant a PC and not a desktop amplifier...

    • @charlestannehill7537
      @charlestannehill7537 Před 3 lety

      @@houssamalucad753 the custom studio's are 80 ohm, not 32. So, most phones can't drive them properly. The 32 bit quad DAC makes a huge difference. Plugged them into my daughter's phone and they sounded muted. I also have a pair of 250 ohm dt770's which I use on my V60 as well. But any decent pc with a sound card will drive high ohm impedance headphones. Making this portable DAC useless in that aspect. This is best for phones with a standard headphone jack. And it sounds like you're implying that I don't know what I'm talking about. I have two friends who have audio engineering degrees. I learned everything I know from them.

    • @houssamalucad753
      @houssamalucad753 Před 3 lety

      @@charlestannehill7537 the HD650 is 300 ohm, even more than your studios.
      I'm not implying you are ignorant, just that you have a better dac in your phone and an easier headphone to power, which means you can't really make comparisons with him.
      Also I believe he meant a desktop amplifier like the Schiit Magni or Heresy, not motherboard audio...

  • @PCWorld22
    @PCWorld22 Před 3 lety

    Does it work with Samsung S21 ultra?

  • @MrEliwankenobi
    @MrEliwankenobi Před 3 lety +2

    I really like the concept of this little device. I have the Creative S-XFi AMP which works very similarly. Also have the Geek Out 450 which is also a very clean and powerful little USB DAC, but it’s a bit bigger....Unfortunately I am now convinced that MQA is a rip-off that hikes the price unnecessarily for no benefit or even added distortion. Thanks to MQA we have a device that could have been $30 to $50 cheaper making it more accessible to people.

  • @klaymoon1
    @klaymoon1 Před 3 lety +4

    Will buy it if they release the lightning version.

    • @CxdyDxniel
      @CxdyDxniel Před 3 lety +9

      They made it usb c so it can be used with any device. You have an iPhone so you need an adapter since Apple is greedy. Literally everything else from windows, Mac, android and headphones is usb c. Usb C is the future!

    • @allansh828
      @allansh828 Před 3 lety

      NYC Person The only Hi-Fi lightning headphone amp that I know is Fender AE1i. Although Fender is reputable brand, I doubt if it is any good at mere 1/2 of the price of AudioQuest Dragonfly Cobalt.

  • @phrankdatank
    @phrankdatank Před 3 lety

    How is this for gaming?

  • @praxis22
    @praxis22 Před 3 lety +2

    I'm sure you're going to get a lot of people complain about MQA, it has a bad rep with Audiophiles. That said I have a THX AAA 789, it's a good amp.

  • @dbransom
    @dbransom Před 3 lety

    Was super interested till we got to iPhone dongle city... I'll stick with the Fiio i1 till they work that out

  • @marcosvictor4935
    @marcosvictor4935 Před 3 lety +4

    MQA is a bummer... can you disable it? And how is MQA best quality? Better over DSD? HOW?

  • @CaptHotah
    @CaptHotah Před 3 lety

    I'm a bit confused. If the phone doesn't decode mqa then plugging this in my phone won't decode mqa either right? I mean most phones makes all music 44khz right? This can't remake that to mqa right?

    • @Max-ll9dq
      @Max-ll9dq Před 3 lety

      right

    • @kellycny65
      @kellycny65 Před 3 lety

      Depends on your music source. Tidal is the only streaming service that supports MQA. Qobuz doesn’t because its streams come directly from the masters, so MQA isn’t needed. I’ve used Qobuz and Tidal, and I think Qobuz sounds better.

    • @herbertsaugust
      @herbertsaugust Před 3 lety

      Both FLAC and ALAC can contain the MQA codec, so it's possible to listen to MQA files on phones that play these formats. And, using the data port (USB C or Lightning) bypasses the onboard DAC/AMP on these phones allowing the THX or AudioQuest DAC to decode the lossless files. Also, as mentioned, even lossy MP3s recorded above 320kbps will benefit from the DAC's ability to boost certain levels in the translation. Granted, most of the nuance will be lost if the user isn't using higher impedance (at least 32ohm) cans.

    • @kellycny65
      @kellycny65 Před 3 lety

      @@herbertsaugust Understood. But there are DAC/amps with equal or better specs for less than half the price. That's my point. MQA is a bit of a gimmick, as proven by Qobuz. That streaming service doesn't require or use it because its files are taken directly from the master. MQA is just a BS, proprietary format that creates a walled garden and a need for unnecessary (and higher-priced) equipment to use Tidal and Amazon Music HD. I A/B/C'd Tidal, Qobuz and Amazon Music HD extensively over the holidays in 2019, and Qobuz was the clear winner, pun intended.

    • @herbertsaugust
      @herbertsaugust Před 3 lety +1

      @@kellycny65 I agree that HiFi audio is lost on the majority. Improvements in the compression codecs for MP3s has narrowed the gap for acceptable recordings. That said, for everyday listening and general improvement over the DAC embedded in the phone software, devices like the THX and Dragonfly do improve (to my ears) the overall sound of the recording. So, while THX is touting its ability to decode the MQAs at the consumer level, if it operates like AudioQuest, it should make listening to good recordings a little more fun.

  • @troymuni6120
    @troymuni6120 Před 3 lety

    Does it work with CarPlay?

  • @astrodome1994
    @astrodome1994 Před 3 lety +4

    If I get a hold of this, the first thing I'm gonna do is get the best pair of headphones I have (probably my Logitech G430) and play the THX Deep Note at maximum volume. That way, I know that I - the audience - am listening.

    • @charlestannehill7537
      @charlestannehill7537 Před 3 lety +1

      Use some beyerdynamics dt770's or sennheisers hd600's. You'll appreciate it.

    • @bardenhick2121
      @bardenhick2121 Před 3 lety

      Or even better, a set of planars. Planar sub bass is insane

    • @charlestannehill7537
      @charlestannehill7537 Před 3 lety

      @@bardenhick2121 yes, but really expensive.

    • @bardenhick2121
      @bardenhick2121 Před 3 lety

      @@charlestannehill7537 depends, he400 series is sub 200

    • @charlestannehill7537
      @charlestannehill7537 Před 3 lety

      @@bardenhick2121 don't have any experience with the he400's. They may have insane bass reproduction, but what about mids and highs? Usually hard bass drowns out.

  • @Kingbrn
    @Kingbrn Před 3 lety

    When this available in India

  • @garyz777
    @garyz777 Před 3 lety

    Spotify's highest audio quality is called "Very high" and says "equivalent to approximately 320kbit/s." I don't know the conversion. Where does that put Spotify on the chart @ about 2 min 3 sec? Many thanks!

    • @Frana908
      @Frana908 Před 3 lety +1

      Hi, Spotify uses the Ogg Vorbis codec to compress the tracks and the "very high quality" music that Spotify claims, in reality, is very lossy. For instance, a CD track (16bit/44.1kHz) has a 2x bitrate than the best Spotify quality. A "very high quality" audio would be a 24bit/192kHz (More than 10x bitrate) FLAC like Qobuz and Amazon Music HD provides. Note that the MQA codec is closed-source, and it has a horrible rep because of upsampling, licensing etc..
      I can link you some Wikipedia pages so you can understand better.
      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorbis
      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FLAC
      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampling_(signal_processing)
      audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/mqa-a-review-of-controversies-concerns-and-cautions-r701/
      I hope this comment is helpful for you!

    • @Corrupted-file
      @Corrupted-file Před 3 lety

      @@Frana908
      Nice. 🤘🏼

    • @garyz777
      @garyz777 Před 3 lety

      @@Frana908 thank you so much for answering my question and with great thoughtfulness, detail and expertise. I love music and chose Spotify Pandora to build my libraries and stations. The sound quality is only fair on their highest quality. I'll do more digging into the links you provided.I have a lot to learn. Blessings!

  • @p00r_b0y9
    @p00r_b0y9 Před 3 lety

    I wonder how this would sound say playing cod mobile or similar mobile apps?

  • @erkydi
    @erkydi Před 3 lety +1

    FIRE!! must get!!!!!!!!!!!

  • @aviatoFPV
    @aviatoFPV Před 3 lety +33

    MQA is a huge scam, it's kind of like a gimped flac file with extra DRM sauce. The gaming industry returned from this DRM shenanigans after gamers noticed the decreased performance. The THX dongle measures worse than dongles at half the price. Don't be fooled people. It looks nice though.

    • @SRC267
      @SRC267 Před 2 lety +2

      What's a good portable DAC for my phone?

    • @aviatoFPV
      @aviatoFPV Před 2 lety

      @@SRC267 unironically, apple dongle

    • @SRC267
      @SRC267 Před 2 lety

      @@aviatoFPV will it work for my new Xperia I IV I just got this week, or is this phone good enough that o don't need a DAC?

  • @18000rpm
    @18000rpm Před 3 lety +6

    DSD and high-bitrate PCM (96/192) are FAR better than MQA

    • @Dave30867
      @Dave30867 Před 3 lety

      Yeah we know , The people who do not are not switched on they just read what they see and believe it .

  • @IvanGarcerant
    @IvanGarcerant Před 3 lety

    I need to watch this again. The first time around I did not understand. This gadget is an external sound card over USB with some fancy certifications. MQA sounds (metaphorically) like a scam. I am honestly interested in this, just I don't grasp the idea the first time.

  • @krazypeople4
    @krazypeople4 Před 3 lety +3

    It's only for MQA? no thanks, i'll stick to my higher quality FLACs

  • @JimiMckeever
    @JimiMckeever Před 3 lety +1

    Thank you but what about those of us who don't use Apple and prefer better codecs?

    • @9to5toys
      @9to5toys  Před 3 lety +1

      It’s usb-c native so works with pretty much any other other device, esp with the included usb-a adapter. But the MQA rendering is pretty neat!

    • @allansh828
      @allansh828 Před 3 lety

      Jimi Mack Use USB Audio Player Pro on Android or Audirvana on Win/Mac for bit-perfect audio transport.

  • @isDatBoi
    @isDatBoi Před 3 lety +6

    Order. Waiting!!!

  • @OddWoz
    @OddWoz Před 3 lety +1

    What a nightmare for anyone wanting lightning DAC. I’m about to buy a Fiio but hate that it will only work with my PC & iPad and requires that damn adapter for my iPhone. The frustration of this has made me just hold off on buying while debating which two(!) devices would be best for my situation/use cases. Seems that someone should be able to make a DAC that converts more easily between lightning & type C…. But not so far. :/ I did however enjoy your review of the Onyx though and it gives hope that the legendary THX could come out with other consumer products-maybe even a desktop version.

    • @Kaiser333333
      @Kaiser333333 Před 3 lety

      I would consider myself and audiophile (have multiple dacs/amps/high end headphones/ etc I use with my computer) and honestly I’d tell you just use Bluetooth headphones with your iPhone like Sony/Bose/surface, etc. it’s not worth the hassle to cart around all these stupid dongles to try and get better audio out of your iPhone. Just accept Bluetooth convenience (but lower quality) and enjoy not carrying around tons of extra bullshit. One day there might be some Apple headphones with h1 chips which aren’t stupidly overpriced.

  • @shadowr2d2
    @shadowr2d2 Před 3 lety +1

    Dam..
    Dam...
    You sir have a new subscriber..
    Dam.. This was an incredible video. Very informative, & educational as well..

  • @DeepishMoog
    @DeepishMoog Před 3 lety +2

    Price is a bit discouraging since we should have healthy competition in this department, but for top notch, small and sleek design, not so many yet. As someone else said, if it's touted to offer master quality but it's not true, and lossy, then nah. Asking too much then.

  • @Youtubemademeaddahandle

    I found it difficult to ignore the annoying background audio bleed.

  • @nathanbryers
    @nathanbryers Před 3 lety

    Ok I’m confused.
    Latency please?

  • @nikolaos3361
    @nikolaos3361 Před 3 lety

    MQA is a breakthrough technology? High res has been around for decades though....

    • @elk3407
      @elk3407 Před 3 lety +1

      MQA is pretty garbage. It's worse then every other high res audio standards

  • @andreapieropan2166
    @andreapieropan2166 Před 2 lety

    THX Onyx vs sxfi amp?

  • @LencoTB
    @LencoTB Před 3 lety

    The next iPhone will most likely have a hi-fi DAC built in. Since Apple Music will have Lossless I have heard rumours that they are going to provide a better DAC in the next iPhone.

  • @ruiborges1635
    @ruiborges1635 Před 3 lety +15

    "MQA , the best quality"?......LoL

    • @Nonx47
      @Nonx47 Před 3 lety +4

      For streaming, yes

    • @ceddy1031
      @ceddy1031 Před 3 lety +2

      @@Nonx47 Of course not. Qobuz Hi-Res is.

    • @Nonx47
      @Nonx47 Před 3 lety

      @@ceddy1031 ehhh I wouldn't be so sure about that. Touting the highest data doesn't always equate to better sound. I would read link I have pasted down below... this is just to give you a better idea... A lot of the master tracks sound better on tidal, and not only that, but tidal has more options of songs and albums even if they're not in the highest sound quality. Here's an excerpt - But when it comes to hi-res streams, Qobuz is distinctly second best. In our previous review of the Sublime+ tier, we noted “a lack of unity to the sound, compared to the same recordings delivered by Tidal Masters”, and that remains the case.-
      Here's the link, if you'd like scroll down to the sound section.
      www.whathifi.com/us/qobuz/review
      There's more too. I have tried both, and I prefer tidal for many reasons.

    • @ceddy1031
      @ceddy1031 Před 3 lety +1

      @@Nonx47 Yes I agreed. Tidal has more selections but sorry it didn't pass the audio test from my systems. Tidal Album who claims 24/192khz, it shows only 24/96 from my McIntosh preamp. Then I played the same Album with 24/192khz , My MC shows exactly what the source playing. I could care less what-hi wrote on their review. I only trust my ears and what I see.

    • @ceddy1031
      @ceddy1031 Před 3 lety +1

      @@Nonx47 I agreed with you that Tidal has more songs selections and albums. But I tested their MQA 24/192 albums on my system, it shows only 24/96.
      When I playback the same Album from Qobuz Hi Res, my McIntosh preamp shows exactly from the source Qobuz provided which is 24/192khz. I have tested that many many times with different songs and albums, little disappointed. All their MQA sampling numbers don't match. Don't get me wrong, they don't sound as bad. I could care less what-Hifi' review say about Qobuz, there are always fake reviews. All I trust is my equipment, especially my Focal No3, my eyes and ears. Btw I still have both accounts for comparison lol

  • @Coldsteak
    @Coldsteak Před 3 lety

    Why the fuck is that headphone input named after the orgy scene passphrase from eyes wide shut?

  • @skyler951
    @skyler951 Před 3 lety

    Is the Panda worth getting??

    • @gullibleskeptic3237
      @gullibleskeptic3237 Před 3 lety

      Not really. Check out Oluvs gadgets video about it. The soundcore life q30 sounds better for a fraction of the price and has more features.

  • @cyanidemeursault6138
    @cyanidemeursault6138 Před 3 lety +8

    MQA? No thanks.

  • @l...
    @l... Před 2 lety +1

    Is it working on CarPlay ?
    **Use CZcams chapters please**

  • @al201103
    @al201103 Před 3 lety +2

    Very rare for me to thumbs down a video, but this comes across much more like a sponsored infomercial than a review. I'm sorry.
    No comparisons to relevant competing tech - Audioquest Dragonfly, iBasso USB DAC/Amps, low to mid tier DAPs
    No mention of frequency range, either on paper or in real life.
    No mention of output power wattage
    No mention of battery drain in use
    Majority of spoken information seems to be taken directly from marketing literature.
    It's the lack of comparisons that really marks this down - essential in any audio review in my opinion.
    With so many people providing informative, balanced, well-produced reviews of audio gear, you really need to at least match their level of content.
    Sorry to be harsh - hope this is helpful for the future.

  • @harbonip
    @harbonip Před 3 lety

    Did I miss the price ?

  • @DroidLocks6971
    @DroidLocks6971 Před 2 lety

    My Main Use Would Be For Watching Movies At Work During Breaks

  • @michaelgarbett4088
    @michaelgarbett4088 Před 3 lety

    I can't help but be afraid that this "dongle" will break or get damaged just as easy every other dongle I've used that eventually breaks over time. Has anyone experienced this with the onyx?

    • @jonathanoxlade4252
      @jonathanoxlade4252 Před 3 lety

      Everything breaks eventually don't headphone cables wear out aswel Everything wears out eventually

    • @KenStarks
      @KenStarks Před rokem

      I've been using mine daily for over a year and was apprehensive about this too. No need. it folds over nicely without any strain or wear into my shirt or pants pocket without any breakage. I ended up damaging my dragonfly red within the first 2 months.

  • @allenward758
    @allenward758 Před 3 lety

    Chord Mojo is still the king 👑 of portable Dacs. Not ultra portable like this or the Dragon flavors nor as cheap but literally no comparison in overall soundstage, dynamics,and smoothness. Your source is high quality and your speakers/headphones are also up to the task! If this guy says he's never heard anything like it he is clearly out of his lane to be reviewing this equipment IMHO. The iFi xDSD is suppose to also be in the league of the Mojo but have not heard it.

  • @gorrerifranco2077
    @gorrerifranco2077 Před 3 lety

    OMG look at that dongle war 0:58

  • @ceddy1031
    @ceddy1031 Před 3 lety +2

    "9 to 5 toys" I think you might want to do some study about MQA before saying how good it is.

  • @prsjackal
    @prsjackal Před 3 lety +3

    In what strange world is MQA (lossy) superior to DSD (lossless)? This sounds like a contractual obligation for those who buy licensing from MQA. No audio purist or audiophile would ever make that claim. I am a supporter of MQA and enjoy the way it accentuates the sound, but I also fully recognize that DSD is superior in term of purity of sound, sampling rate and amount of data within the file itself. This is where you need to know your equipment and recognize whether you system is set up for pure analog, digital with MQA focused hardware/streamer, digital with a DSD focus or a mix of all three.
    For the average person, MQA sounds great because of the way it lets the instruments bloom at a very low price. Once your ears go beyond the bloom and seek a ruthless reproduction of the original recording, DSD and an serious investment in audiophile equipment is the next step along the endless pursuit of the best sound for you. There is a reason Beats sold a gazillion sets of low cost headphones. It accentuates the bass to the levels where people get the same euphoric feeling of standing in front of a huge PA system while plugged into their iPhone. From a purist’s perspective though, no audiophile would ‘waste’ their money on Beats and see cans north of $1-2K, a $1K amp and a $1K DAC as decent start into personal audio. I wouldn’t refer to MQA as snake oil, nor would I say it’s the best thing since sliced bread. Rather, it is what it is....a audio format that sounds fun and lively which one can enjoy but it certainly isn’t the best audio format out there.

  • @roblapierre5236
    @roblapierre5236 Před 2 lety

    I just recently purchased this product and had I knew the truth about mqa and after hearing Neil Young say that the product that Tidal was pushing as Master Quality couldn't be because he's the only one that has access to those files and he never sent them to be rendered... Anyways my Onyx is still a really good product and I have no regrets except for the one month of Tidal.

  • @eva00r
    @eva00r Před 3 lety

    It always blown my mind away when people claim MQA is better than DSD or even lossless FLAC.

  • @jamiegustkey2573
    @jamiegustkey2573 Před 3 lety

    You say the statement- "a little bit better" when describing your listening experience with tracks that are in that other format.
    How are much is this DAC?
    For only a "little better"- it would seem there are other avenues one could take to achieve the same if not better sound quality for less money. 🤷🏻‍♂️
    Nice review though- thank you

  • @ripp123m
    @ripp123m Před 3 lety

    WILL THIS WORK WITH THE XBOX SERIES X????????