ONIX has a new portable music player coming this December—the Tocata XM2. At $439, it’s a digital audio player (DAP) designed for people who want great sound without relying on their phones. It’s compact, fits in a pocket, and doesn’t skimp on power or features.

If you’re familiar with ONIX’s previous players, this one blends two of them. It takes the clean design and solid build of the Overture XM5 and the small size of the XM10. The result is a player that feels high-end but is easier to carry around.

The Tocata XM2 is the first ONIX product to use Cirrus Logic’s brand-new CS4308P DAC. It’s an 8-channel chip that allows for a fully balanced design, which is usually reserved for more expensive gear. ONIX pairs that DAC with its own “Brighton” circuit and a set of powerful SGM amplifiers.

What does that mean in practice? You can plug in just about anything—whether it’s a demanding over-ear headphone or a pair of sensitive IEMs—and the XM2 will drive them cleanly. The balanced 4.4 mm output can push up to 800 mW at 32 ohms, while the single-ended 3.5 mm jack offers lower gain options that are friendlier to earbuds and IEMs. Both jacks keep the output impedance low, so you don’t have to worry about hiss or harshness with more sensitive gear.

Specs-wise, it looks strong on paper too: 0.0005% total harmonic distortion, 121 dB signal-to-noise ratio, and a wide 20 Hz to 40 kHz frequency range. In short, the XM2 is built to deliver clean and detailed audio without adding its own color.

Unlike many modern DAPs that try to mimic smartphones with Android apps, the Tocata XM2 keeps things simple. It’s built around the Ingenic X2000 platform and runs ONIX’s own operating system. There are no pop-ups, no background apps—just music.

You can load up your own high-res music on a microSD card (up to 2 TB supported), stream directly from TIDAL, or use DLNA or AirPlay over Wi-Fi. Everything is designed to keep the listening experience smooth and uninterrupted.

Bluetooth 5.2 is included too, and it works in both directions. That means you can pair wireless headphones to the player, or stream music to the XM2 from your phone. It supports popular codecs like LDAC, aptX HD, and AAC, but doesn’t include Bluetooth LE or aptX Lossless—something to keep in mind if you're looking for the very latest in wireless formats.

And if you want to use the XM2 with a computer or phone, you can. It works as a USB DAC and also has a digital output for feeding a standalone DAC. ONIX even makes a magnetic case (sold separately) so the XM2 can attach to your phone for on-the-go use.

If you're wondering how the Tocata XM2 stacks up against ONIX’s higher-end Overture XM5, the answer mostly comes down to size, power, and use case.

The XM5 is bigger, heavier, and built more like a desktop rig you can take with you. It uses a higher-end ESS DAC, delivers even more output power (over 1000 mW), and is made for people who want to drive serious headphones with lots of headroom. It’s great for extended home listening or setups that include external gear.

The XM2, on the other hand, is designed to be far more pocketable and everyday-friendly. It still delivers a fully balanced signal and solid power—up to 800 mW from the 4.4 mm jack, but it’s smaller, lighter, and easier to toss in a bag or use on the move. If the XM5 is the “portable powerhouse,” the XM2 is the “take-it-anywhere” option for people who just want to hit play and enjoy good sound.

The XM2 is clearly built for people who care about their music and want a device that’s made specifically for listening. Maybe you’ve tried dongle DACs. Maybe your phone doesn’t even have a headphone jack anymore. Or maybe you just want something that won’t drain your battery with every playlist.

At $439, the Tocata XM2 goes up against players like the FiiO M21 and HiBy R6III. It’s not packed with every feature under the sun, but that’s part of the point. It’s focused, clean, and powerful where it counts.