Meet the Hiby R4. In the dynamic world of digital audio players (DAP), the HiBy R4 emerges as a compelling blend of innovation and performance tailored for the discerning audiophile. With its rugged, mech-inspired design and a robust feature set powered by the Android 12 platform, the R4 stands out in both aesthetics and functionality. Equipped with a Quad ES9018C2M DAC and extensive connectivity options including Bluetooth 5.2 and dual-band WiFi, it promises an audio experience that is as versatile as it is rich. Whether you’re a seasoned audiophile seeking precision or a casual listener looking for quality, the HiBy R4 offers a comprehensive solution that challenges the conventions of portable music enjoyment.
Disclaimer: This unit is the first part of Hiby Turkey tour. Project Ace will follow.
Unboxing Hiby R4
1. Packaging and Presentation: The HiBy R4 comes in a stylish box that fits its cyberpunk-inspired design, emphasizing its unique appeal in a market filled with more traditionally styled DAPs.
2. Included Accessories: Inside the box, you’ll find the HiBy R4 itself, a USB charging cable, and a quick start guide. Some packages may include additional accessories like a plastic case to protect the device, which enhances its portability and durability.
3. Initial Setup: Upon powering the device for the first time, you will be greeted by a straightforward setup process. The R4 runs on Android 12, providing a familiar interface for those used to Android devices. The OS is clean, without unnecessary bloatware, focusing on essential audio apps to enhance your listening experience.
4. Device Design and Build: The HiBy R4 is known for its mech-like design, which is both distinct and functional, providing a comfortable grip and a robust feel. Despite its rugged appearance, the device is surprisingly lightweight, making it easy to carry around without being too bulky.
5. Sound Settings and Customization: The R4 allows extensive customization through its audio settings. You can adjust anti-aliasing filters, gain switches, and utilize plugins like PEQ among other sound-related settings. This array of features is accessible via an intuitive interface, designed to cater to both audiophiles and casual listeners alike.
The unboxing experience of the HiBy R4 clearly sets the stage for a premium audio experience, designed to cater to users who appreciate both form and function in their audio devices.
The HiBy R4 boasts some impressive specifications that make it a competitive choice in the digital audio player (DAP) market. Here’s a breakdown of its key specs:
– Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 665
– Operating System: Android 12, offering a flexible and user-friendly interface with access to a wide range of apps and streaming services.
– DAC (Digital to Analog Converter): Quad ES9018C2M DAC matrix, providing excellent audio decoding capabilities for high-resolution audio.
– Amplifier: Features OPA 1652 x4 & OPA1612 x2 for strong audio amplification.
- Thanks to its robust Class A amplification, the HiBy R4 consistently delivers a stable and powerful output, achieving up to 525mW of clean power at an impedance load of 32Ω. This ensures a high-quality audio performance across various listening scenarios.
– Display: 4.7-inch IPS display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels, providing clear and vibrant visuals for user interface navigation.
– Memory: 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage, expandable up to 2TB via microSD card, which is ample for storing an extensive music library.
– Connectivity: Includes Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi support (2.4GHz – 5GHz), USB 3.2 (5Gbps), ensuring various connectivity options for wireless audio and data transfer.
– Bluetooth Codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX HD, LDAC
– Audio Outputs: Offers both 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs, catering to different headphone types and preferences.
– Battery: 4500mAh, providing decent battery life, though high-performance settings may reduce its duration.
– Dimensions and Weight: Measures 129.6 x 68.3 x 18.5 mm and weighs 231g, making it relatively portable but solid in hand.
Hiby R4 SOUND_
The sound output quality of the HiBy R4 is quite impressive, making it a strong contender in its price range. As someone who appreciates detailed and well-balanced audio, I find that the R4 delivers with its powerful Quad ES9018C2M DAC setup. The sound is neutral, providing a clean slate that doesn’t color the music unnaturally, which is ideal for those who want a true-to-recording experience. The DAC and amp configuration ensures that both high-resolution audio files and standard resolution music are delivered with clarity and precision. The balanced output is particularly robust, offering more power and potentially better channel separation, enhancing the listening experience with suitable headphones.
Additionally, the R4 handles dynamics and musical details very well. The soundstage is wide and open, allowing each instrument and vocal layer to breathe and be easily pinpointed in the mix, which is something I always look for in a DAP. The bass response is tight and controlled without overwhelming the mids, which remain clear and forward, making vocal tracks a delight to listen to. High frequencies are crisp and well-defined without being harsh, contributing to a fatigue-free listening session. Overall, the HiBy R4 offers a sound quality that enhances a wide variety of genres, making it a versatile player for everything from classical to heavy metal to electronic dance music.
BT Capacity__
As stated in the specifications, it has broad BT codec support. Plus, act as a receiver or a transmitter.
This allows connections with all types of devices in any quality. On top of that, it connects with the Hiby brand BT dac (W3II) in a protocol called UAT. And the S15 is now playing with great detail and resolution, albeit some weakness and emphasis at upper midrange. This is good and bad at the same time 😉
What is UAT?
The Ultra Audio Transmission (UAT) protocol on the HiBy R4 is an advanced Bluetooth codec specifically developed by HiBy. It supports a very high sample rate of up to 192kHz and a bandwidth of up to 1.2Mbps, which far surpasses most other Bluetooth codecs available. This high level of performance is crucial for streaming high-resolution audio over Bluetooth, aiming to deliver an audiophile-grade listening experience with minimal compression and superior sound quality.
Plugins for HiBy R4
Everything is accessible quickly, and the effects are in real time.
1. Systemwide DRX10K Dynamics Adjustment / Enhancement
I found the DRX10K dynamics plugin to be a standout feature that significantly enhances the dynamic range and overall clarity of the audio. When I activated this plugin, there was a clear improvement in the sharpness and definition of the sound, which was particularly noticeable in complex tracks where multiple instruments might otherwise blend together. However, this enhancement does come at a cost to battery life; using this feature consistently leads to quicker battery drain, which is something to consider for power users or during extended listening sessions. Despite this, the audio quality improvement is substantial, making this feature invaluable for critical listening when battery life isn’t a concern.
2. Systemwide PEQ with IEM Profile Import via Squig.link
The Parametric Equalizer (PEQ) with the ability to import IEM profiles directly from Squig.link offers an excellent level of customization for audiophiles like myself. This feature allows for the automatic application of expertly crafted EQ settings that are tailored to specific in-ear monitors, ensuring optimal sound reproduction. The integration with Squig.link is seamless, which is a significant advantage for those of us who aren’t seasoned in manually configuring EQ profiles. It simplifies optimizing playback and achieving a personalized audio experience with minimal effort.
3. Systemwide Convolution Plugin for HiFi Room Simulation on Headphones
The convolution plugin that simulates HiFi room acoustics through headphones is an innovative addition that enhances the listening experience by adding spatial depth often missing in headphone audio. This effect is quite immersive and enhances enjoyment of classical and live recordings by emulating the ambiance of a concert hall. The effectiveness of this simulation varies with the quality and type of headphones used, making it an ideal feature for anyone looking to broaden the soundstage of their headphones without affecting the natural tonality of the music.
4. Systemwide MSEB (MageSound 8-ball)
The MSEB tool allows for nuanced adjustments to the audio output, including changes to warmth, bass, and treble, among other settings. I found the user interface to be intuitive, making it straightforward to tweak the sound signature to match personal preferences or to compensate for subpar recordings. While the adjustments are more subtle than those offered by the DRX10K dynamics enhancement, they are significant enough to mold a tailored listening experience, proving to be incredibly valuable for users who enjoy fine-tuning their audio settings.
4.1 Here’s a breakdown of the tuning parameters available in the HiBy R4’s MageSound Eight-ball (MSEB) feature.
1. Bass Extension: Adjusts the lower frequency limit, enhancing or reducing the depth of bass response to match personal preference or to compensate for bass-light recordings.
2. Bass Texture: Alters the tightness and speed of bass notes, which can make the bass sound either more precise and articulate or softer and smoother.
3. Note Thickness: Modifies the body and richness of mid-range tones, thickening or thinning notes to affect how full or lean they sound.
4. Vocal Position: Controls the forwardness or recessiveness of vocals in the mix, allowing the vocals to be more prominent or blended into the background.
5. Vocal Sibilance: Adjusts the sharpness of sibilant sounds in vocals, reducing harshness or enhancing clarity, especially in the higher frequencies.
6. Treble Extension: Enhances or diminishes the reach of the highest frequencies, adding sparkle to the treble or smoothing it out to reduce fatigue.
7. Treble Spike: Specifically targets and mitigates any piercing peaks in the treble region, making the overall treble response smoother and more even.
8. Upper Harmonics: Augments or lessens the upper harmonics of instruments, which can add a sense of air and space or reduce brightness to focus on core tones.
These eight parameters in the MSEB tool provide detailed control over the audio output, allowing users to fine-tune the sound of their music to match both the specific characteristics of their earphones and their personal listening preferences.
Here are my initial impressions after assessing the iem and over-ear headphones performance with the HiBy R4:
IEM Performances__
Letshuoer Cadenza 4:
With the Cadenza 4, set to medium gain, I appreciate how the R4 preserves its midrange and treble-focused tuning without adding unnecessary weight or coloration. This neutrality is excellent for distinguishing the quality of the DAC. When the volume is high, there is no distortion in symphonic metal, indicating that the ESS DACs inside are performing well. In darker tracks, the bass is pushed down as much as possible, opening up the sound in a way that is still acceptable due to both the headphones and the player itself.
Beyerdynamic Xelento Remote:
From the first moment, the Xelento Remote maintains its unique character and does a great job reflecting micro details. It doesn’t abandon its typically sterile and dry ambiance just because the DAP might suggest it, nor does the R4 intrude with unnecessary bass enhancements. In pop music, the R4 doesn’t push the Xelento too hard but enhances the technical aspects, tightening and intensifying the existing bass for increased resolution.
Open Audio Alkaid:
The R4 allows the Alkaid’s unique sound signature to shine through, providing a comfortable, immersive, and ultra-high-resolution experience typical of top-tier performance. In symphonic metal, the grandeur of church organs is splendidly rendered, and the dynamic range is enhanced with the help of the R4. The transparency allows for hearing underlying guitar riffs more distinctly. However, it doesn’t give a playback as lively as the upcoming Project Ace I plan to review soon. As usual, the R4 remains hands-off, not altering the core sound.
General Observations So Far:
Pop/Electronic music and tracks with digital bass rhythms are particularly fun. The sync between the IEM and the DAP provides crystal clear sound, and the tonality is quite good. In faster tracks by the Arctic Monkeys, for example, the R4 maintains control without losing any detail. In pop music, the lack of overwhelming bass keeps everything discernible.
Overall, when it comes to pop, the R4 hits the bass moderately while emphasizing details, tonality, and melody. The Alkaid picks up on this and performs at its best, matching well with the synchronization found in devices like the Letshuoer C4. These experiences highlight how versatile and capable the HiBy R4 is, adapting well to various high-quality IEMs without compromising their inherent sound qualities.
Headphone Performance__
Philips SHP9500: Using H gain at a volume of 43/100, the SHP9500 delivers a slightly above-average sound quality. While the headphones are known for their ease of drive, it seems the R4 struggles somewhat to power them, not quite capturing the dynamic range expected. Cranking up the volume to 70/100 enhances the liveliness, but that level with open-back headphones can be overwhelming.
Creative Aurvana SE: More efficient and unexpectedly livelier than anticipated. However, due to their closed-back design, the bass can be overpowering, which might be too much for some. Yet, they manage to deliver nuances in the vocals effectively and provide a sense of 3D imaging in the chorus, albeit weakly.
AKG K240 600 ohm: At a volume of 72/100, these headphones shine, offering the best audio quality and comfort I’ve experienced so far with the R4. The music feels more articulated, and lyrics are clearer. While the bass presence in pop tracks is not intrusive, it’s worth noting that to an untrained ear, the setup might seem no different from a typical MP3 player and headphones.
Pros:
– Sound Quality: The R4 offers excellent sound output with a neutral sound signature, detailed resolution, and great dynamics, which are suitable for various music genres.
– Build Quality: It features a robust and distinct mech-inspired design that is both aesthetically pleasing and durable.
– Connectivity Options: Includes comprehensive connectivity features like Bluetooth with high-definition codecs, WiFi, and streaming service integration.
– Android OS: Runs on Android 12, providing a familiar interface and flexibility with applications, enhancing the overall user experience.
– Customisation: You have loads of sound enhancing plugins, and I assure you they all work.
Cons:
– Battery Life: High-performance audio features significantly drain the battery, which could be a concern for users needing long-lasting power.
– Complexity: The wide range of features and customization options might overwhelm new users or those not familiar with high-end audio devices.
– Design Specificity: Its unique, mech-like design might not appeal to everyone’s taste, potentially limiting its broader appeal.
Hiby R4 Review Conclusions
Overall, iems are a breeze for it. And while the R4 does a commendable job with these over-ear models, particularly the AKGs, it doesn’t entirely overcome the inherent limitations in dynamic range and depth, leaving some technical aspects to be desired. Adjusting plugins like the DRX10K Dynamics can correct some issues but at the cost of battery depletion, which is a drawback. The experience underscores the variability in performance depending on headphone pairing, highlighting the R4’s strengths and exposing some challenges in driving higher impedance headphones effectively.
Click the link to purchase if you want.