Onkyo DP-X1 high-resolution digital audio player review:

Onkyo is a commonly recognized name with regards to A/V collectors; however in the realm of computerized sound players overwhelmed by Apple, Sony, and Astell&Kern, Onkyo's DP-X1 is just a brash upstart. In any case, observe, the DP-X1 isn't some small time punk. In actuality, not just does this DAP hope to play in the majors, it likewise hopes to be a first-group top pick.

An audiophile's fantasy in the engine

To be respected among the positions of the world class, Onkyo needs to move down its swagger with strong numbers. At first look, the DP-X1's specs take after its cousin, Pioneer's XDP-100R hey res sound player. Pioneer's home sound gathering is claimed by Onkyo.

While the XDP-100R is wonderfully composed and a stellar entertainer, the DP-X1 brings more equipment refinement, components, and energy to the plate. The Pioneer, for instance, has one DAC and one intensifier for both channels. The Onkyo takes things up an indent, with double ESS Saber ES9018K2M DACs and double ESS Saber 9601K enhancers. Each DAC and enhancer is committed to its own stereo channel for the most astounding conceivable constancy and earphone execution. Thus, the Onkyo is fit for providing 150mW + 150mW of force and bolster earphones from 16ω to 600ω with adjusted associations.

You can utilize top of the line audiophile earphones to their fullest potential with the DP-X1's adjusted earphone yield. To one side of the customary 3.5mm yield, the Onkyo sports a 2.5mm adjusted earphone yield that can work in two distinct modes.

Notwithstanding a standard Balanced drive, the Onkyo additionally bolsters ACG (Active Control GND) drive. Onkyo claims that despite the fact that the Balanced drive gives you more power, ACG drive gives better soundness, expanded S/N proportion, more noteworthy spacial dimensionality, and general cleaner sound. I didn't have an adjusted 2.5mm link for the Oppo PM-2s for this audit and was not able test the unit's adjusted yield and Onkyo's cases.

The Onkyo has both 3.5mm and 2.5mm adjusted earphone inputs.

While most audiophiles will shun EQ controls and want to play the unit in direct mode, the Onkyo gives you about limitless capacity to tailor the sound of your music. The DP-X1 has 16,384 discrete EQ groups. You can set the EQ bends through the default Music application's smooth, graphical show with the touch of your finger. You can set aside to 1,000 EQ profiles. Onkyo claims that the unit's direct stage limited motivation reaction (FIR) equalizer offers superior quality adjustment with zero misfortune in sound quality.

Notwithstanding EQ, the default Music application gives you the ability to set your favored advanced channel, set the range, and draw in/separate sound upsampling. There are likewise three pick up settings—low, ordinary, and high—to coordinate the player to various earphone sorts.

On the off chance that you ever need to match the DP-X1 with Bluetooth earphones, you'll be cheerful to note that the aptX codec is incorporated for close CD-quality gushing over Bluetooth. I matched various Bluetooth earphones, including the B&W P7 Wireless, V-Moda Crossfade Wireless, and Sony MDR-1000X, with no issues. Tragically, the DP-X1 doesn't bolster LDAC, which can stream up to 96kHz/24-bit sound remotely without downsampling.

Solid look, regular feel

The DP-X1 is as vast as a cell phone and far thicker. Stylishly, the Onkyo looks and feels like a rectangular aluminum piece. There are no smooth, svelte edges. Gratefully the corners are marginally adjusted. You don't have to stress over the player jabbing you or tearing your pants on the off chance that you put the unit in your back pocket. Its weight of marginally more than 7 ounces makes it feel expansive and a substantial in your grasp.

The DP-X1's back is somewhat decreased close to the volume dial to make it simple to look over the dial with your pointer.

Like every high-re music players, the Onkyo has a huge, noticeable, simple volume dial. Therefore, earphone inline remote controls don't work. The dial is situated on the upper-left half of the unit, and it sits flush with the player's left side. Nonetheless, the adjusted dial's knurled edge projects from the top like a dawn.

In case you're correct given, holding the Onkyo may appear somewhat clumsy. Be that as it may, in your grasp, the dial is splendidly put for your forefinger. The unit's back is adroitly decreased precisely where your pointer rests. This astute plan guarantees you're not inadvertently rolling the volume handle in the event that you place it in your pocket. Indeed, even with its substantial size, it feels exceptionally normal to utilize the DP-X1.

Liberating my thumb from volume obligations really gave me a superior grasp on the unit as well. Material power, delay, progress, and rewind catches adjust the right half of the DP-X1. They are splendidly put where your thumb rests. While Onkyo won't win any honors for modern plan brightness, the unit's usefulness is well thoroughly considered.

Profoundly useful Android UI

Like the Pioneer XDP-100R, the DP-X1 is an Android 5.1.1 Lollipop-based player. Fueled by a quad-center processor, the UI is smooth, quick, and responsive. The majority of the UI angles I noted in my Pioneer XDP-100R survey remain constant with the Onkyo. Actually, beside a couple of topical changes to the Music application, the application's usefulness, design, and elements are indistinguishable for the two players.

The Onkyo's Music App interface gives loads of data and simple access to data about the music you're playing.

Combined with on-load up 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the DP-X1 isn't only a capable mixed media player, it can likewise be your own computerized right hand. You can watch motion pictures, check email, match up contacts, and even surf the web. You have full access to the Google Play store to introduce practically any application you covet, including spilling administrations, for example, Tidal, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, or Deezer.

Obviously, Onkyo would incline toward that you go gaga for its own particular eponymous music store, which came preinstalled on my player. That may be a hard offer right at this point. I observed Onkyo's music store index to be restricted contrasted with contenders, for example, HD Tracks. Onkyo Music cases to offer high-res music, records yet like most high-res music stores, you should be mindful to what you're acquiring. Some music records are accessible as 24-bit/192kHz FLAC documents while others are plain-old CD-quality 16-bit/44.1kHz and simply spared as FLAC records. Because a document is spared in FLAC doesn't make it a high-res record. What's more, since something is accessible as a 24-bit/192kHz document doesn't ensure that it was recorded and aced in high-res in the studio.

Discussing studio ace, the DP-X1 is additionally eminent for its support for MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) document bolster. MQA is a verified document arrange that can affirm that the music record you are listening to was gotten from the first ace. When you play a MQA document on the DP-X1, a little green light shows up on the player's UI with the MQA logo to affirm that the player is playing a MQA record. The DP-X1 can play pretty much any lossless document organize including FLAC, ALAC, and DSD.

Not too bad yet quick depleting battery life

While appraised for around 16 hours of playback (utilizing 24-bit/96kHz sound documents), battery life was one component I discovered hard to gage. To express the self-evident, the DP-1X's battery life takes after a run of the mill Android telephone. With blended or overwhelming use, it was difficult to get the expressed 16 hours. My recommendation: If you're anticipating utilizing the Onkyo for an entire day of extraordinary listening and utilize, ensure you have a charger helpful in the event of some unforeseen issue.

As you'd anticipate from an Android-based player, you have full access to the Google Play store and any number of applications and administrations.

Most extreme extension and synchronizing records

Alongside the XDP-100R, Onkyo's DP-X1 is among the most expandable players available. With double MicroSD spaces, each fit for supporting 200GB cards, you can grow the DP-X1's inside 32GB up to an astounding 432GB. By and by, my inclination is constantly bigger inner stockpiling on the grounds that those outer systems flop after some time. Truth be told, the MicroSD spaces flopped on my utilized survey display, sending my MicroSD card shooting out while it was just sitting on a table.

Onkyo's X-DAP programming (which is the same as Pioneer's) makes exchanging music documents a bit of cake. You can even choose a capacity gadget—interior stockpiling or either MicroSD card—as your objective. Surprisingly better is the way that the product is currently cross-stage with full Mac bolster. Macintosh clients can even now utilize Android File Transfer.

The DP-1X's correct side has double MicroSD openings and material catches for power, forward, back, and play/delay.

Listening delight with each earphone

While I utilized seven distinct earphones with the DP-X1 (counting B&W's new P9 Signature), I did the dominant part of my listening with Oppo's heavenly PM-2 and B&W's extraordinary P7 Wireless (in wired mode) earphones. My impressions beneath depend on my involvement with those two models.

When I initially listened to the Onkyo, I knew immediately this player was unique. Regardless of which earphone I utilized, the Onkyo made every single listening session reference-review vital. Music streamed easily and easily without once trading off any points of interest.

Starting up the DSD variant of Eric Clapton's Slowhand was simply entrancing. Clapton's guitar on "Set Down Sally" from Wonderful Tonight (2.8MHz DSD) sang with pitch-culminate clarity. Kick drums on Steely Dan's "Gaucho" (DSD) or Tom Petty's "Here Comes My Girl" went over with energizing, surgically controlled elements. Traditional recordings ran over with wonderful sound-organize profundity and drawing in progression.

You can set which advanced channel to utilize.

Maybe what caught me most, be that as it may, was the clamor floor. It's simply pitch dark and something to encounter. Instruments and vocals burst forward from an apparently silent foundation. This made an almost three-dimens