Hiby R8 II
• Exceptional sound quality
• Powerful hardware: With a strong processor and ample RAM, it can handle demanding audio processing tasks smoothly.
• Versatile connectivity
• Sleek design: Its aesthetic appeal and premium build quality.
Cons:
• Powerful hardware: With a strong processor and ample RAM, it can handle demanding audio processing tasks smoothly.
• Versatile connectivity
• Sleek design: Its aesthetic appeal and premium build quality.
Cons:
• No double tap to wake screen.
• Wape up/power button is recessed and hard to reach specially with the tpu case on.
• The volume animation splash screen can be distracting, a simple volume bar indicator on the edge of the screen is better.
• When charging th R8 II the screen stays on and will not go to standy or sleep mode, you have to shutdown the dap when charging.
• Bulky size: It's large and heavy which could affect portability but it does add to the premium appeal.
Embarking on my maiden voyage on reviewing Digital Audio Players (DAPs), I find myself in the capable hands of the Hiby R8II, a device that promises to redefine my audio experience. Join me as I navigate through its features, sound quality, and overall performance, offering short insights from a first time Dap reviewers perspective. Before we dive in, a heartfelt acknowledgment to Hiby for including me in their Philippines review tour, and a special thanks to my brothers and fellow audiophiles at Audio Geek Philippines for their support and camaraderie along the way.
Holding the R8 II in my hands and feeling the heft and weight of it i cant help but think that this dap is a peak of audio engineering, seamlessly blending technology with exquisite craftsmanship to deliver an unforgetable listening experience. In this short review, we explore the different features, technical specifications, and performance capabilities of this flagship digital audio player.
DAC
At the heart of the HiBy R8II lies the Darwin-MPA technology, a proprietary DAC solution crafted in-house by HiBy. This technology ensures pristine audio reproduction, with unrivaled clarity, detail, and fidelity. Darwin-MPA DAC architecture is a highly adaptable setup designed to optimize playback across various formats and resolutions. Coupled with high-quality opamps (OPA1612 and ADA4625-2) The DAP offers a powerful output of 710mW at 32 ohms in its balanced mode and 225mW at 32 ohms single-ended, providing ample power to drive even demanding iems and headphones. R8II offers support for high-resolution audio formats, including DSD 1024 and PCM 32-Bit at a very high sampling rate of 1536 kHz. This ensures that every nuance of the music is faithfully preserved.
Amplification
It also adopts a sophisticated balanced amplification design, seamlessly integrating both Class A and Class AB amplifiers to deliver optimal performance across the entire frequency spectrum. This ensures powerfull output with low distortion, and exceptional dynamics.
Battery
Powering the HiBy R8II is a 12000mAh battery, providing ample juice to sustain extended listening sessions. although the actual longevity will depend on usage patterns, particularly screen usage and playback settings. The charging time of 5 hours can be a bit lengthy, but this is somewhat expected given the battery size. A minor quirk i notice is that when charging the R8II the screen will stay lit, will not go to sleep or standy mode when charging and displays an annoying blinking charging percentage every second. you have to shutdown the dap while charging if you want to charge it with the display off.
Connectivity
With support for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi, along with Bluetooth 5.0, this ensures robust connectivity options for streaming and wireless audio transmission. The inclusion of USB 3.1 enhances its functionality, allowing for faster data transfer and better handling of external accessories.
Operating System
Seamlessly integrated into the HiBy R8II is the latest iteration of the Android operating system, Android 12. This not only provides access to a vast ecosystem of apps like UAPP, Tidal etc.. via the Google Play Store but also ensures a smooth and intuitive user experience, with snappy seamless navigation and multitasking. this also offers a familiar and flexible operating system that is both robust and customizable and with support for OTA updates and the ability to install third-party apps can significantly enhance the device's functionality.
Processor
Driving the performance of the R8II is the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 CPU, renowned for its efficiency and processing prowess. This ensures swift response times, seamless playback, and lag free performance even when handling demanding audio processing tasks. Equipped with 8GB of RAM, the R8 II is on par with many modern smartphones in terms of processing power, ensuring a smooth user interface experience under Android 12. This allows the DAP to handle not only music playback but also the efficient running of third-party apps available for installation.
Memory and Storage
Ample memory and storage capacities, the R8II offers generous room for storing high-resolution audio files, apps, and multimedia content. With 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage expandable thru micro sdcard.
Build Quality
The R8II features a stainless steel chassis, providing a tough and premium housing for its internals. This not only enhances durability but also adds a touch of sophistication to the device's aesthetic appeal, premium feel and durability, albeit with a hefty profile at 515 grams. Its dimensions (149*78*23 mm) make it one of the bulkier players in the market, which might deter those seeking portability. However, the solid build is indicative of a device designed to offer a substantial tactile experience, befitting its flagship status.
Complementing the sleek stainless steel chassis is the luxurious Alcantara back panel with a choice of blue or red colourway, adding a tactile and premium feel to the HiBy R8II. This premium material not only enhances grip and comfort but also adds a touch of opulence to the device's design.
Display
Front and center, the HiBy R8II boasts a stunning 5.9-inch IPS 1080p+ display, offering vibrant colors, crisp details, and immersive visuals. Browsing through music libraries, navigating menus, or enjoying album artwork, the high-resolution display ensures a visually engaging experience looking at the album artwork while enjoying your favorite tracks.
SOUND
This dap delivers a sound signature characterized by its exceptional balance and neutrality, making it a standout choice for audiophiles seeking accurate and natural audio reproduction. With a touch of warmth that enhances natural vocal clarity.
The neutral sound signature of the Hiby R8 II ensures that every element of the audio spectrum is represented faithfully, from the deepest bass to the crispest treble. Vocals are particularly noteworthy, organic and warm sounding with a natural timbre.
One of the standout features of the R8 II's sound signature is its ability to deliver clean and clear details across the entire frequency range. Intricate instrumental passages or delicate vocals, every nuance is rendered with precision and clarity, allowing you to hear the music exactly as the artist intended.
BASS
The bass reproduction is tight, clean and controlled, with excellent accuracy that ensures a satisfying low-end response without overpowering the rest of the audio spectrum. This balanced bass response adds depth and dimension to music genres that rely mostly on low frequencies.
MIDS
In terms of mid-range reproduction, the R8 II excels at preserving the natural tonality of instruments and vocals, allowing them to shine through with clarity, warmth and detail. The mid-range is not recessed nor forward, striking a perfect balance that ensures every note and vocals is presented with accuracy and authenticity.
TREBLE
The treble performance is crisp and articulate and not too overly energetic delivering sparkling highs that add brilliance and airiness to the overall sound signature. High-frequency details are reproduced with finesse, enhancing the overall listening experience and providing a sense of openness and transparency.
PLUG-INS
The R8II have five plugins to play with. Convolution, Fixed Sample Rate, Sound Field, Balance and DRX10K Dynamics but i will discuss only the two plugins which i think makes a big noticable changes on my tracks the DRX10K Dynamics and my most used the Sound Field plugin.
The Sound Field Plugin is designed to augment the spatial characteristics of the audio playback, allowing users to tailor the width of the soundstage according to their preferences. By manipulating the stereo image, this plugin can create a sense of expansiveness and immersion, particularly suited for IEMs capable of delivering impressive staging depth.
What i really like about the Sound Field Plugin is its ability to enhance the perceived width of the soundstage, providing a more immersive and engaging listening experience. When paired with IEMs like the Symphonium Audio Meteor or The Hidizs MP145, which already exhibit a spacious sound signature, the plugin takes the presentation to new heights. The result is a captivating sense of width and clarity on both ends of the spectrum, particularly evident in airy and ethereal genres.
When setting the plugin value too high can lead to unintended consequences, such as a loss of vocal presence, heightened upper-mid frequencies, and a hall-like reverb effect. To achieve optimal separation and balance, it's recommended to find the sweet spot just slightly to the right of the slider's center. for me this 3 parameters i find best 1.65, 1.75 and 1.80 where the widening effect is pronounced yet controlled.
The DRX10K Dynamics plugin is designed to address perceived compression in recordings by teasing out desired levels of dynamics in specific frequency response areas. With individual sliders for bass, mids, and treble, users can fine-tune the gain levels with up to a potential 10 dB swing in 0.5 dB increments. This level of control allows for precise adjustments tailored to the characteristics of the audio source and personal preferences.
The DRX10K excels in unlocking the dynamic brilliance of audio recordings, offering users the flexibility to sculpt the tonal balance according to their preferences. While some poeple find that the stock settings may not always be ideal for every IEM or Headphone choice, the ability to customize the settings opens up a world of possibilities. By experimenting with different combinations of gain levels, users can achieve unique presentations that highlight specific aspects of the audio, such as vocal dynamics or instrument separation.
When adjusting the parameters of the DRX10K increasing the gain levels can enhance dynamics, it may also lead to potential issues such as clipping during dynamic peaks specially when using sensitive and low impedance iems like my 5 ohm Hidizs MS5. Therefore, it's advisable to keep the gain levels at least 3-4 dB below zero to prevent distortion. Additionally, users should be mindful of the trade-offs involved, including potential reverb, attenuation, and staging quirks. Moderation is key to achieving optimal results, especially when combining the plugin with other audio enhancement tools such as Sound Field and MSEB.
In conclusion, the DRX10K Dynamics plugin for the R8 II is not just a fancy EQ it actually offers a powerful tool for enhancing the dynamics of audio playback, allowing users to tailor the sound to their preferences with precision and flexibility. By manipulating bass, mids, and treble frequencies, users can unlock the full potential of their tracks, highlighting nuances and intricacies that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Conclusion:
In wrapping up my inaugural journey into the world of Digital Audio Players and my exploration of the HiBy R8 II, I'm left deeply impressed and thoroughly enriched by the experience. The R8 II's exceptional blend of technology, premium craftsmanship, and outstanding audio performance has not only redefined my understanding of portable audio but has also set a high bar for future reviews. As I bid farewell to this remarkable device, I do so with gratitude to HiBy for the opportunity and to my brothers and fellow audiophiles in Audio Geek for their trust and support. Here's to many more adventures in the realm of high-fidelity sound, with the HiBy R8 II as a benchmark of excellence guiding my way.
• Wape up/power button is recessed and hard to reach specially with the tpu case on.
• The volume animation splash screen can be distracting, a simple volume bar indicator on the edge of the screen is better.
• When charging th R8 II the screen stays on and will not go to standy or sleep mode, you have to shutdown the dap when charging.
• Bulky size: It's large and heavy which could affect portability but it does add to the premium appeal.
Embarking on my maiden voyage on reviewing Digital Audio Players (DAPs), I find myself in the capable hands of the Hiby R8II, a device that promises to redefine my audio experience. Join me as I navigate through its features, sound quality, and overall performance, offering short insights from a first time Dap reviewers perspective. Before we dive in, a heartfelt acknowledgment to Hiby for including me in their Philippines review tour, and a special thanks to my brothers and fellow audiophiles at Audio Geek Philippines for their support and camaraderie along the way.
Holding the R8 II in my hands and feeling the heft and weight of it i cant help but think that this dap is a peak of audio engineering, seamlessly blending technology with exquisite craftsmanship to deliver an unforgetable listening experience. In this short review, we explore the different features, technical specifications, and performance capabilities of this flagship digital audio player.
DAC
At the heart of the HiBy R8II lies the Darwin-MPA technology, a proprietary DAC solution crafted in-house by HiBy. This technology ensures pristine audio reproduction, with unrivaled clarity, detail, and fidelity. Darwin-MPA DAC architecture is a highly adaptable setup designed to optimize playback across various formats and resolutions. Coupled with high-quality opamps (OPA1612 and ADA4625-2) The DAP offers a powerful output of 710mW at 32 ohms in its balanced mode and 225mW at 32 ohms single-ended, providing ample power to drive even demanding iems and headphones. R8II offers support for high-resolution audio formats, including DSD 1024 and PCM 32-Bit at a very high sampling rate of 1536 kHz. This ensures that every nuance of the music is faithfully preserved.
Amplification
It also adopts a sophisticated balanced amplification design, seamlessly integrating both Class A and Class AB amplifiers to deliver optimal performance across the entire frequency spectrum. This ensures powerfull output with low distortion, and exceptional dynamics.
Battery
Powering the HiBy R8II is a 12000mAh battery, providing ample juice to sustain extended listening sessions. although the actual longevity will depend on usage patterns, particularly screen usage and playback settings. The charging time of 5 hours can be a bit lengthy, but this is somewhat expected given the battery size. A minor quirk i notice is that when charging the R8II the screen will stay lit, will not go to sleep or standy mode when charging and displays an annoying blinking charging percentage every second. you have to shutdown the dap while charging if you want to charge it with the display off.
Connectivity
With support for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi, along with Bluetooth 5.0, this ensures robust connectivity options for streaming and wireless audio transmission. The inclusion of USB 3.1 enhances its functionality, allowing for faster data transfer and better handling of external accessories.
Operating System
Seamlessly integrated into the HiBy R8II is the latest iteration of the Android operating system, Android 12. This not only provides access to a vast ecosystem of apps like UAPP, Tidal etc.. via the Google Play Store but also ensures a smooth and intuitive user experience, with snappy seamless navigation and multitasking. this also offers a familiar and flexible operating system that is both robust and customizable and with support for OTA updates and the ability to install third-party apps can significantly enhance the device's functionality.
Processor
Driving the performance of the R8II is the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 CPU, renowned for its efficiency and processing prowess. This ensures swift response times, seamless playback, and lag free performance even when handling demanding audio processing tasks. Equipped with 8GB of RAM, the R8 II is on par with many modern smartphones in terms of processing power, ensuring a smooth user interface experience under Android 12. This allows the DAP to handle not only music playback but also the efficient running of third-party apps available for installation.
Memory and Storage
Ample memory and storage capacities, the R8II offers generous room for storing high-resolution audio files, apps, and multimedia content. With 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage expandable thru micro sdcard.
Build Quality
The R8II features a stainless steel chassis, providing a tough and premium housing for its internals. This not only enhances durability but also adds a touch of sophistication to the device's aesthetic appeal, premium feel and durability, albeit with a hefty profile at 515 grams. Its dimensions (149*78*23 mm) make it one of the bulkier players in the market, which might deter those seeking portability. However, the solid build is indicative of a device designed to offer a substantial tactile experience, befitting its flagship status.
Complementing the sleek stainless steel chassis is the luxurious Alcantara back panel with a choice of blue or red colourway, adding a tactile and premium feel to the HiBy R8II. This premium material not only enhances grip and comfort but also adds a touch of opulence to the device's design.
Display
Front and center, the HiBy R8II boasts a stunning 5.9-inch IPS 1080p+ display, offering vibrant colors, crisp details, and immersive visuals. Browsing through music libraries, navigating menus, or enjoying album artwork, the high-resolution display ensures a visually engaging experience looking at the album artwork while enjoying your favorite tracks.
SOUND
This dap delivers a sound signature characterized by its exceptional balance and neutrality, making it a standout choice for audiophiles seeking accurate and natural audio reproduction. With a touch of warmth that enhances natural vocal clarity.
The neutral sound signature of the Hiby R8 II ensures that every element of the audio spectrum is represented faithfully, from the deepest bass to the crispest treble. Vocals are particularly noteworthy, organic and warm sounding with a natural timbre.
One of the standout features of the R8 II's sound signature is its ability to deliver clean and clear details across the entire frequency range. Intricate instrumental passages or delicate vocals, every nuance is rendered with precision and clarity, allowing you to hear the music exactly as the artist intended.
BASS
The bass reproduction is tight, clean and controlled, with excellent accuracy that ensures a satisfying low-end response without overpowering the rest of the audio spectrum. This balanced bass response adds depth and dimension to music genres that rely mostly on low frequencies.
MIDS
In terms of mid-range reproduction, the R8 II excels at preserving the natural tonality of instruments and vocals, allowing them to shine through with clarity, warmth and detail. The mid-range is not recessed nor forward, striking a perfect balance that ensures every note and vocals is presented with accuracy and authenticity.
TREBLE
The treble performance is crisp and articulate and not too overly energetic delivering sparkling highs that add brilliance and airiness to the overall sound signature. High-frequency details are reproduced with finesse, enhancing the overall listening experience and providing a sense of openness and transparency.
PLUG-INS
The R8II have five plugins to play with. Convolution, Fixed Sample Rate, Sound Field, Balance and DRX10K Dynamics but i will discuss only the two plugins which i think makes a big noticable changes on my tracks the DRX10K Dynamics and my most used the Sound Field plugin.
The Sound Field Plugin is designed to augment the spatial characteristics of the audio playback, allowing users to tailor the width of the soundstage according to their preferences. By manipulating the stereo image, this plugin can create a sense of expansiveness and immersion, particularly suited for IEMs capable of delivering impressive staging depth.
What i really like about the Sound Field Plugin is its ability to enhance the perceived width of the soundstage, providing a more immersive and engaging listening experience. When paired with IEMs like the Symphonium Audio Meteor or The Hidizs MP145, which already exhibit a spacious sound signature, the plugin takes the presentation to new heights. The result is a captivating sense of width and clarity on both ends of the spectrum, particularly evident in airy and ethereal genres.
When setting the plugin value too high can lead to unintended consequences, such as a loss of vocal presence, heightened upper-mid frequencies, and a hall-like reverb effect. To achieve optimal separation and balance, it's recommended to find the sweet spot just slightly to the right of the slider's center. for me this 3 parameters i find best 1.65, 1.75 and 1.80 where the widening effect is pronounced yet controlled.
The DRX10K Dynamics plugin is designed to address perceived compression in recordings by teasing out desired levels of dynamics in specific frequency response areas. With individual sliders for bass, mids, and treble, users can fine-tune the gain levels with up to a potential 10 dB swing in 0.5 dB increments. This level of control allows for precise adjustments tailored to the characteristics of the audio source and personal preferences.
The DRX10K excels in unlocking the dynamic brilliance of audio recordings, offering users the flexibility to sculpt the tonal balance according to their preferences. While some poeple find that the stock settings may not always be ideal for every IEM or Headphone choice, the ability to customize the settings opens up a world of possibilities. By experimenting with different combinations of gain levels, users can achieve unique presentations that highlight specific aspects of the audio, such as vocal dynamics or instrument separation.
When adjusting the parameters of the DRX10K increasing the gain levels can enhance dynamics, it may also lead to potential issues such as clipping during dynamic peaks specially when using sensitive and low impedance iems like my 5 ohm Hidizs MS5. Therefore, it's advisable to keep the gain levels at least 3-4 dB below zero to prevent distortion. Additionally, users should be mindful of the trade-offs involved, including potential reverb, attenuation, and staging quirks. Moderation is key to achieving optimal results, especially when combining the plugin with other audio enhancement tools such as Sound Field and MSEB.
In conclusion, the DRX10K Dynamics plugin for the R8 II is not just a fancy EQ it actually offers a powerful tool for enhancing the dynamics of audio playback, allowing users to tailor the sound to their preferences with precision and flexibility. By manipulating bass, mids, and treble frequencies, users can unlock the full potential of their tracks, highlighting nuances and intricacies that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Conclusion:
In wrapping up my inaugural journey into the world of Digital Audio Players and my exploration of the HiBy R8 II, I'm left deeply impressed and thoroughly enriched by the experience. The R8 II's exceptional blend of technology, premium craftsmanship, and outstanding audio performance has not only redefined my understanding of portable audio but has also set a high bar for future reviews. As I bid farewell to this remarkable device, I do so with gratitude to HiBy for the opportunity and to my brothers and fellow audiophiles in Audio Geek for their trust and support. Here's to many more adventures in the realm of high-fidelity sound, with the HiBy R8 II as a benchmark of excellence guiding my way.
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