When it comes to mobile audio, the sound your phone and headphones sometimes get is not enough. This can be especially true if you prefer a set of wired cans over something wireless. To get the best audio on the go, you probably need a high-resolution player or a portable digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and an amplifier combination. There are a number of options already on the market, but the invasive audio and video technology company THX is adding its name to the list today. With its first consumer hardware, the Onyx, the company is adding a small, powerful alternative to traditional DAC amplifiers.
Like much of the competition, the Onyx is a USB dongle with a cord on one side and a headphone jack on the other. The USB-C plug is magnetic, runs backwards and attaches to the main body of the audio accessory when not in use. The company suggests that you use it to wrap your headphone cable to keep everything neat. On the front, a trio of LEDs indicate the quality of the sound you are listening to, with options for Standard, High Resolution, Direct Stream Digital (DSD) and Master Quality Authenticated (MQA). The device is equipped with a USB-C-to-USB-A adapter, so if your laptop is not equipped with the former, you can still use it with the latter.
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Inside, the Onyx has a THX AAA-78 amplifier chip. Not only is this the most mobile THX Achromatic Audio Amplifier configuration, but the company says it is the first portable DAC / amp to use the component. THX explains that the AAA-78 makes the Onyx just as powerful as a desktop DAC or amplifier setup, but it’s much smaller. The chip reduces three types of distortion by up to 40dB and maximizes the output power for more dynamic range and sound pressure level (SPL). Of course, it also ensures pristine sound quality – or as THX puts it, ‘extreme highest sound.’ An ESS ES9281PRO DAC also lends a hand with heavy lifting, a component known for its ability to provide studio-like sound quality.
THX designed the Onyx to support the above MQA or master quality sound in order to achieve the highest fidelity. Masters contains all the original details of a recording, or how the music is tracked in the studio or during a live performance. MQA technology captures and verifies the audio before it is “folded” into a stream-friendly file size (MQA literally calls it “Music Origami”). The Onyx has an MQA renderer on board to reproduce all the intricate sounds by “unfolding” encrypted files from a service like Tidal. The streaming service, for example, offers millions of MQA tracks as part of its more expensive Hi-Fi subscription.
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The Onyx is compatible with any device that has a USB-C port, or a USB-A connector when you turn on the adapter. These include PC, Mac, Android and iPad. The device will also work with an iPhone, but you will need the Apple Lightning-to-USB Camera Adapter to use it. Lastly, you need a computer running Windows 10, as the Onyx is only compatible with the operating system version.
The THX Onyx is available today for $ 199.99 (€ 209.99 / £ 199.99) from the company’s website and Razer, who in the past worked with THX on its Opus headphones and Hammerhead Pro True Wireless to certify earplugs for a haunting sound. On top of that, THX explains that Onyx can also increase the sound quality for games and movies, which means it should fit well with Razer’s laptops.