April 7th, 2021
THX
When it comes to mobile audio, sometimes the sound your phone and headphones muster just isn t enough. That can be especially true if you prefer a set of wired cans over anything wireless. To achieve the ultimate audio on the go, you ll likely need a high-res player or a portable digital-to-analog-converter (DAC) and amp combo. There are a number of options already on the market, but today immersive audio and video tech company THX is adding its name to the list. With its first consumer hardware, the Onyx, the company adds a tiny, high-powered alternative to traditional DAC amplifiers.
Android MQA support is still pending
Many people these days use wireless headphones and headsets, but there s definitely a limit to the quality of audio they can stream. This explains why most audiophile-level headphones are still wired, and why there is still a (small) market for headphone amps, which can improve the quality of your audio even further. The first USB headphone amp from THX, the Onyx, packs an impressive amount of power and Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) decoding into a tiny $199 package. We’re currently waiting for Tidal to update its Android app to support the Onyx with MQA decoding before we give it a full review, but we have some initial thoughts based on testing it with a PC.
Photo: Andrew Liszewski/Gizmodo
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THX is a brand synonymous with sound, best known for its eardrum-tickling deep note trailer played before movies in theatres. For years, THX has partnered with hardware makers, lending its expertise in sound to improve the audio capabilities of everything from smartphones to laptops, and now the company is finally releasing its own consumer product: a tiny amp that promises to make headphones sound better if you’re willing to give up the convenience of wireless.
Photo: Andrew Liszewski/Gizmodo
THX is a brand synonymous with sound, best known for its eardrum-tickling deep note trailer played before movies in theaters. For years, THX has partnered with hardware makers, lending its expertise in sound to improve the audio capabilities of everything from smartphones to laptops, and now the company is finally releasing its own consumer product: a tiny amp that promises to make headphones sound better if you’re willing to give up the convenience of wireless.
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Before we dive in, I’ll admit that I’m in no way an audiophile. I’m happy to listen to music through a pair of lightweight wireless earbuds with the audio compressed several times (while it’s being streamed, and then further compressed so it can squeeze into the limited wireless bandwidth of the Bluetooth protocol) before it reaches my ears. But I’ve also spent plenty of time behind a mixing board with professional studio headphones pumping live music into my ears,
THX Launches DAC/Amplifier THX Onyx™ to Empower Crystal Clear Audio for Consumers Around the Globe
THX s first consumer electronics product features advanced THX AAA™ technology to power high-fidelity music, movie and gaming audio when listening over headphones
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SAN FRANCISCO, April 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ THX Ltd., a world-class audio and video certification and technology company, today announced the global launch of its first consumer electronics device, THX Onyx™. Staying true to its mission to empower high fidelity for entertainment, the company unveiled THX Onyx with improvements over traditional DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) amplifiers by including THX AAA™ amplifier technology onboard to ensure lossless, pure sound that empowers listeners to hear content the way the artist intended. THX Onyx has both THX AAA and ESS Pro DAC chips inside, as well as MQA support, creating the best-in-class portable DAC/Ampli