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Compact black and gold aluminium DAC amp with visible dual tubes and 3.5mm 4.4mm outputs

GSM Outdoors

GSM Outdoors Onix XI2 Beta portable headphone amplifier audio component

SKU CH-PPKG-6ZGDH

Portable DAC/amp with dual JAN6418 tubes, dual CS43198 DACs, 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm single-ended outputs, delivering 550mW into 32 ohms

  • Warm analog character from dual JAN6418 tubes
  • High-resolution playback up to 768kHz 32-bit and DSD512
  • Dual CS43198 DACs for precise digital conversion
  • 550mW into 32 ohms drives demanding headphones
  • 4mm balanced plus 3.5mm single-ended outputs

Dual tube DAC amplifier

The GSM Outdoors Onix XI2 Beta combines dual JAN6418 tubes with dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips for a portable headphone amplifier. It delivers up to 550mW into 32 impedance through 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced outputs. The architecture uses 4x BUF634 and 2x OPA1662 op-amps to drive a wide range of headphones with low output impedance. This all-in-one DAC and amp replaces bulky desktop equipment for high-resolution listening anywhere.

Thermals and power draw

The aluminium chassis with gold accents acts as a passive heatsink for the tube and amplifier stages during normal use. No active cooling is present, so the unit runs silently while drawing power from the connected USB source. Power consumption scales with output level and the selected gain, staying within the limits of standard USB ports. The sub-1 ohm output impedance ensures efficient energy transfer to the headphones without excess heat buildup.

Build integration

The compact form factor connects directly to a source device via USB, functioning as a USB dongle DAC and amp without extra cables or power bricks. It frees up desk space by eliminating the need for a separate desktop stack and external power supply. The 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs accommodate both single-ended and balanced headphones natively. Buyers who require integrated Bluetooth streaming or battery-powered operation should look elsewhere.

Highlights

  • Warm analog character from dual JAN6418 tubes
  • High-resolution playback up to 768kHz 32-bit and DSD512
  • Dual CS43198 DACs for precise digital conversion
  • 550mW into 32 ohms drives demanding headphones
  • 4mm balanced plus 3.5mm single-ended outputs

Specifications

No published specifications for this item yet.

Questions about this item

How do I connect the XI2 to my phone using the USB dongle and which output should I use for balanced headphones?

Plug the USB dongle into your phone, then connect balanced headphones to the 4.4 mm jack for the dedicated tube output or the 3.5 mm jack for single-ended listening.

When will the dual JAN6418 tubes need replacement and is it user-serviceable?

The dual JAN6418 tubes are socketed for user replacement; typical tube life spans thousands of hours before audible degradation appears.

At what volume level does the 550 mW into 32 ohm limit cause clipping during long listening sessions?

Sustained output above roughly 550 mW into 32 ohm loads will trigger the amplifier's protection and clip the signal.

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