Synergy
The XM5 is quiet when pairing with different IEMs and the background remains quite black when pairing on higher gain modes. This will benefit the dynamic range performance so you will only notice the noises from the track itself.
This is a powerful DAP in terms of swing, and there is also sufficient current to drive slightly power-demanding cans such as the MOONDROP PARA.
When it comes to tougher ones like the Moondrop COSMO, or the HD800, it will sound flatter with a leaner bass quality. With IEMs, it is capable of delivering excellent body and strong dynamics.
Pairings
The XM5 works very well with IEMs that have a balanced tuning, and for those that sound well extended in the treble.
The Truth Ear Zero Red version easily pushes it to sound rich and dynamic with its strong power creating a fast, fulsome, and punchy tone.
I mention the Truth Ear Zero Red because of its tonal character. Its treble peak and elevated vocal frequencies boost forwardness and penetration power with the XM5 making it a vocal performer.
Testing using the slightly inefficient Shanling MG800 opened-back IEMs I heard a punchy, solid bass line, with textured male vocals of sufficient thickness. The XM5 does well in terms of giving the MG800 sufficient dynamics.
Even with larger assemblies, big, consecutive bass attacks from string instruments are nicely captured, sounding defined and punchy with sufficient layering. The treble also extends swiftly, and the opened-back design opens up the stage for this pairing.
I also used the HD800 and HD800s to test the XM5. The treble peak on the HD800 allows it to deliver the vocals with better clarity, sounding airier with string instruments. Whereas on the HD800s, it sounds more rounded in the upper register and confined in openness, with a more relaxing vibe.
Select Comparisons
FiiO M23
Technical
The FiiO M23 features AK4191EQ+AK4499EX chipsets, and it decodes up to DSD1024 natively which is slightly superior compared to the XM5’s DSD512 decoding.
To support the Android OS operations, it also uses a Snapdragon MCU, which allows it to handle more intensive graphics. The M23 also features THX AAA-78 amping and can deliver 1W output power @32ohm, similar to the XM5.
THD+N performance on the M23 reaches <0.00038% and the S/N is >125dB, which is higher than the 0.0006% and 121dB measurement on XM5, though it is also subject to amplification design and chipsets used.
On another note, the output impedance is 6.6Ω on the XM5, whereas on the M23 it is < 2 ohms, which makes it more suitable for IEMs at around 16Ω or below.
Design
Both devices have distinctive design languages where the M23 is more angular and the XM5 is more rounded. The M23 is also around 2 cm longer than the XM5 though it is easier to be controlled single-handedly.
The design initiatives for the two devices are very different as the M23 aims to be a multimedia player and the XM5 is more of a pure music player. As such, you will notice the M23 has more OS features with a larger screen.
In practice, the M23 is more like an Android phone, and the XM5 has a more classic appearance and minimalistic UI that will not distract you from anything other than music replay.
Performance
The two DAPs are at a similar price bracket and since the M23 has much stronger system features, I expect the XM5 to be superior in some sound aspects.
In terms of power, the two feel evenly matched. Both DAPs are very powerful and the M23 has a stronger texture in the treble, sounding slightly sharper in the presentation so it sounds cleaner and perceivably more powerful.
The XM5 is more warmly colored and full, with stronger layering and texture in the lows, giving the vocal more richness and bite while sounding more natural.
For staging, the M23 is less rounded and captures more air. It feels more defined in positioning though it doesn’t feel as immersive and dynamic as the XM5, which has more emphasis on the bass.
This is more obvious when listening outdoors, where the XM5 will feel more natural and relaxing and the M23 slightly on the edge of being too analytical when the perceived bass quantity is affected by the outdoor ambiance.
The M23 may sound less rich and stereophonic in the midrange. That is probably because of the tuning on the XM5 that is more full-bodied which colors the output more dynamic.
With power-demanding headphones like the Moondrop Venus, the XM5 sounds fuller and punchy, whereas the M23 feels cleaner and more defined but less organic in the mid-range.
Shanling M5 Ultra
Technical
The M5 Ultra uses a similar DAC setup to the FiiO M23 with a single AKM AK4191 + AK4499EX decoding chipset. In the amping section, we also see TPA 6120A which is common on both M5 Ultra and the ONIX.
Design
The M5 Ultra is probably the coolest and most modernistic Shanling machine built to date, with a lot of faceted surfaces and a cool lit-up volume knob. The XM5 is more traditional in design and looks more like an amplifier than a DAP.
The layout on the M5 Ultra is much more friendly for outdoor use, though both devices can be controlled by an app which makes the experience similar.
When using the player on the desk, it is much easier to press the buttons on the XM5 than on the M5 Ultra, which feels stiffer. You have to grab the other side to exert enough force for pressing.
Performance
The M5 Ultra Shanling presents a modern resolving tuning, one that sounds closer to the flagship M9 Plus. Compared to the XM5 it sounds more balanced and unaltered in colorings. It is also brighter in the treble than the more rounded presentation on the XM5.
The M5 Ultra sounds cleaner and swifter in the upper vocal range, empowering weaker voices with better penetration power.
The XM5 is comparatively richer with more power and punch in the bass. This sacrifices some of the treble presence but in return, you get improved layering and a more expressive set of lows.
For synth bass, double bass, and piano, the XM5 can present more details in a stereophonic way, sounding as resolving but attacking in a more agile and lighter manner.
Bass details such as reverbs and harmonics are more detailed on the XM5 and the M5 Ultra which is more balanced, shifts the focus more on the vocal brilliance or the higher notes.
In terms of staging the XM5 can capture the vibes in live music more engagingly as there is more audible depth and rumble.
However, on the M5 Ultra, the treble feels slightly more extended, giving it more vividness though the vocal body and elements in the midrange are not as strongly defined as on the XM5.
My Verdict
The ONIX Overture XM5 opts for a more traditional ’emotional’ tuning compared to modern ‘clean-sounding’ alternative DAPs. One that delivers a performance that is richer, deeper, and more organic than many competitors. All while maintaining technical proficiency.
For those who feel that today’s DAPs lack the raw power in the bass or the groove from dense, textured, elaborated mid-lows, the XM5 is a compelling recommendation.
It is capable of powering demanding IEMs and a decent range of headphones, making it a versatile choice for audiophiles seeking streaming features and an engaging sound experience.
ONIX Overture XM5 Technical Specifications
- Dimensions: 115 x 70 x 19 mm
- Weight: 275g
- System Platform: Ingenic X2000
- System: In-House Developed
- Display: Square 3-inch OLED Touch Screen 720p
- Playback: MicroSD Card (up to 2TB), Tidal Online Streaming
- Controls: Touch Screen, 4 Hardware Buttons, Volume Wheel
- Remote Controls: SyncLink through the Eddict Player app (Android & iOS)
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Two-Way Bluetooth 5.2
- Bluetooth Codec Support: LDAC / aptX HD / aptX / SBC / AAC
- Wi-Fi Connectivity: 2.4G/5G, DLNA, AirPlay, Tidal
- USB DAC: Dedicated XMOS XU316 Chip
- Hi-Res File Support: PCM 768kHz / 32bit, DSD512
- Headphone Outputs:
- 5mm Single-Ended
- 4mm Balanced
- Battery: 7000 mAh, standard USB-C charging port
- Battery Life: Up to 14 hours SE, 12 hours BAL
- 5mm Single-Ended Output:
- Output Power Low Gain: 0.79V @ 32Ω (19mW @ 32Ω) (THD+N < 0.002%)
- Output Power High Gain: 3.15V @ 32Ω (310mW @ 32Ω) (THD+N < 1%)
- 65V @ 300Ω (40mW @ 300Ω) (THD+N < 0.02%)
- Output Impedance: 4.7Ω
- 4mm Balanced Output:
- Output Power Low Gain: 1.5V @ 32Ω (75mW @ 32Ω) (THD+N < 0.0008%)
- Output Power High Gain: 5.7V @ 32Ω (1069mW @ 32Ω) (THD+N < 1%)
- 9V @ 300Ω (158mW @ 300Ω) (THD+N < 1%)
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-40kHz (-0.5dB)
- THD+N: 0.0006% @ 32Ω (A-Weight)
- Dynamic Range: 121dB @ 32Ω (A-Weight)
- Channel Separation: 100dB
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 121dB @ 32Ω (A-Weight)
- Noise: 109dB @ 32Ω (A-Weight)
