At the moment, Thomas critiques the HiBy R1, a brand new entry-level pocketable HiByOS touchscreen DAP with wi-fi connectivity and as much as DSD256 decoding. It’s priced at $85.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me in trade for my trustworthy opinion. Headfonics is an unbiased web site with no affiliate hyperlinks. I thank HiBy for his or her assist.
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This text follows our newest scoring guidelines which you’ll learn in additional element right here.
At the moment we’re testing the R1 from HiBy. The R1 is HiBy’s latest DAP, slotting in under the R2 II as their most inexpensive music participant.
Despite the fact that it’s priced underneath $100, the R1 gives many attractive options, from a brilliant, responsive contact display screen, Bluetooth 5.1, and a brand new HiByOS GUI pores and skin.
Contained in the translucent plastic shell that jogs my memory of late 90s to early 2000s tech, is the venerable Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC. This helps make sure the R1 gives good sound high quality whereas sipping energy, offering an achievable 15 hours of battery life.
HiBy’s R1 is an approachable machine from value to operate to efficiency and has been a pleasure to make use of over the previous couple of weeks.
Design & Controls
HiBy’s R1 is a compact DAP with a cute design that encourages being held. The glass back and front and gentle, pebbled polycarbonates that comprise the remainder of the development are rounded alongside the sides to supply a easy, safe, and comfy grip.
The coloured buttons and display screen encompass with matching accents on the rear of the machine keep away from a lot of the seriousness seen within the designs of comparable gear. The result’s one thing that might attraction to all ages and genders.
Controls for the R1 are contained on the best facet. Furthest up is a small energy button, subsequent a quantity rocker, then one other rocker for pausing and skipping to the subsequent observe, however with out an choice to backtrack.
Whereas actually usable one-handed, inserting one of many rockers on the left edge under the lanyard holes would have bumped ergonomics.
It might really feel extra pure and be simpler to make use of with out trying when you managed one rocker along with your thumb and the opposite along with your forefinger, versus shifting the machine round to succeed in all the pieces with just one finger.
Placement apart, the buttons launch a satisfying “snick” when pressed and really feel good to work together with. The format can be spaced out sufficient to make mis- or double-clicks unusual.
The R1 has an LED notification gentle, however its location off-center between the ability button and quantity rocker makes it really feel like an afterthought. In the event you don’t just like the glow, you’ll be able to flip it off, however I discovered it helpful for figuring out once I nonetheless had the machine on.
Like many trendy gadgets, the R1 contains a contact display screen. This 3” model has a helpful most brightness when outdoor, good colours, good responsiveness, and an 800 x 480 decision that appears sharp and detailed on the small machine.
Battery Life
Since a producer’s battery claims are sometimes optimistic and based mostly on outcomes from extremely managed check environments, I anticipated the R1 to do properly however fall in need of the rated life.
My testing was completed with the amount between 12 and 15 (low, however my typical listening degree), low achieve, notification gentle on, the display screen off as a lot as doable, no Bluetooth or WiFi, and a mixture of Hello-Res and customary recordsdata.
15 hours is what HiBy claims for the R1. Over every week, pairing the R1 with easy-to-drive IEMs just like the Campfire Audio Andromeda, to one thing extra reasonable like Tin Hifi’s T5, to a way more demanding set within the Astrotec Lyra Assortment 150Ω.
By that point the R1 was prepared to surrender the ghost, it was at all times slightly below or simply over the 15-hour mark.
The very best time I bought was round 15 hours, 45 minutes, whereas the worst was slightly below 14 and a half hours. Most individuals hear louder than I achieve this count on decrease numbers for your self, besides, I’d say that is successfully “all-day” battery life.
I/O
The R1’s inputs and outputs are discovered on the underside of the machine. Ranging from the left is a single-ended 3.5mm jack, a Sort-C port, and a MicroSD card slot.
Energy from the three.5mm jack is modest. It’s going to ship 101mW at most, whereas 70mW is its nominal output.
The Sort-C port transmits at USB 2.0 speeds and might act as an OTG for a dongle DAC. Whereas this works, it was not perfect and is one thing we’ll return to later. The MicroSD card slot is well accessed with assist for high-capacity, 2TB playing cards.
Packaging & Equipment
HiBy’s packaging for the R1 does an important job of trying good whereas offering loads of helpful details about the product you’re shopping for.
On the entrance of the outside sheath is a shiny picture of the machine together with the same old firm and mannequin branding. Moreover, you’ll discover quite a few vital specs just like the DAC chip getting used and supported audio resolutions.
The perimeters present varied colour choices whereas the rear incorporates product warnings, firm location, and speak to particulars. Sliding off the sheath reveals a matte black field with HiBy R1 printed in shiny black writing.
Lifting off the lid reveals the R1 loosely set inside a foam insert. Raise the insert out and the remaining equipment are discovered under.
In all you obtain:
- R1 DAP
- Sort-A to Sort-C USB cable
- Display screen protector
- Fast Begin information
- Guarantee card
- Wrist strap
- Card extraction pin (aka. sim card elimination instrument)
- HiBy Yves earphones with gentle carrying case (Worth Set solely)
- 32GB SanDisk Extremely MicroSD card (Worth Set solely)
If choosing the usual set, it is a customary unboxing expertise. The additional display screen protector (entrance and rear come preinstalled) and wrist strap are good bonuses at this value level although.
For an additional $14 for the Worth Set, you get the Yves and a 32GB reminiscence card. If it’s your first DAP and earphones, otherwise you’re gifting this to somebody as their first DAP and earphones, all the pieces you want included in a single bundle is value it.
If you have already got a MicroSD card or earphones, your greatest wager is to stay with the usual set and purchase what you’re lacking individually.
Software program Impressions
The HiByOS has had a little bit of an overhaul. Even when in comparison with the finances tier R2 fashions the newest model appears to be their most developed up to now.
Menus
As soon as booted, which takes about 8 seconds, you’re greeted with a easy residence display screen with six icons: Music, Stream Media, Wi-fi, Books, System, and About. Swiping from the highest down (or backside up when you change that setting) brings up a customizable Shortcut menu whereas swiping proper to left strikes you to the now-playing display screen.
My preliminary thought was that Wi-fi must be a part of the System menu however by opening it you’re granted entry to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Import Music through Wi-Fi, DLNA, and Airplay settings. It is sensible that Wi-fi might be a separate menu.
About is one which might be folded into the Settings menu, although it has attention-grabbing and helpful Easter Eggs. In the event you open the About menu and faucet the HiBy brand quickly, you unlock a Developer Choices submenu within the Settings.
This can possible be a compulsory step for many listeners as a result of, within the Developer Choices menu, you’ll be able to take away the amount lock. The R1 is volume-limited out of the field, so pairing it with extra demanding headphones or IEMs signifies that additional headroom is required.
After unlocking the Developer Menu and going again into the About menu, quickly tapping the HiBy brand once more brings up a slowly scrolling record offering the names of the four-person Improvement Staff for the R1.
Huge Kudos to Fanoble Meng, Ringsd Deng, Kappen Van, and Errorcode Wong on your good work on this little gem of a tool.
The GUI, generally, is considerably plain to take a look at however is straightforward and logical to navigate, with entry to the Now Taking part in display screen being hidden behind a right-to-left swipe.
Stated Now Taking part in display screen lacks quantity and battery ranges, time, and most of its capabilities are duplicated within the Shortcut menu, so it wasn’t overly helpful for me.
Customization
Although restricted, some elements of the R1’s GUI may be custom-made. As talked about, the Shortcut menu may be accessed from the highest of the display screen or the underside, and from a listing of 9 objects, 4 at a time may be chosen for simple entry.
You can too customise how lengthy it takes to enter sleep mode or on idle, backlight settings, and amongst different issues, the theme colour. That final choice may stand to be higher fleshed out.
Whereas I think this might be expanded upon in a future replace, presently, adjusting the theme colour primarily applies to the font and icons. Whereas it does change the tint of the background, it at all times stays fairly brilliant.
The display screen continues to be moderately brilliant even at its lowest setting, and the colourful background can harm the eyes if utilizing the R1 at nighttime. Including a darkish mode or a separate slider and colour choices for the background would assist alleviate eye pressure.
Bugs
The latest firmware launch has fixes for some bugs, although it doesn’t say which.
At the moment, I’ve solely run into one. Whereas swiping again to the principle menu from the ‘Now Taking part in’ display screen, the display screen icons duplicated themselves and the GUI froze.
I may nonetheless flip the display screen on and off and the amount slider would nonetheless seem and performance over high of the frozen picture. To rectify the error, I used to be pressured to show the machine on and off.
This has solely occurred as soon as, and I’ve been unable to copy it.
Connectivity
Bluetooth
It was examined with Astrotec S60 5.0 and the HIFIMAN DEVA.
Pairing the R1 to the S60 and DEVA was a fast and simple course of due to the easy menus and clear labelling. Whereas scanning for out there gadgets was a contact on the sluggish facet, each gadgets persistently confirmed up instantly as soon as the record populated.
The S60 linked to the R1 over AAC, the best high quality codec it accepts, whereas the DEVA was in a position to make the most of the R1’s capacity to output over LDAC.
The ensuing sound high quality from each headphones was good, although the DEVA offered superior element, readability, extension, staging, and many others. due to its larger bitrate codec and huge planar magnetic drivers.
Their reference to the R1 was secure and dependable, with each fashions providing a Bluetooth 5.0 connection, though the R1 can settle for as much as Bluetooth 5.1.
Vary wasn’t a difficulty both with me in a position to go nearly wherever in my house with out experiencing any drops or stutters, besides when a number of rooms had been positioned between the R1 and headphones.
The R1’s small measurement, low weight, broad codec assist, and secure connection make it a unbelievable companion for audiophile-grade wi-fi merchandise.
OTG
Whereas the R1 can’t act as a DAC, it may be a transport for one. With an applicable OTG cable, you’ll be able to pair the R1 with a dongle DAC for a strong, compact setup with excellent audio high quality.
Discovering the best dongle to pair it with is less complicated mentioned than completed. Utilizing it with a DAC that lacked bodily controls, I discovered the amount output method too loud.
With the Earstudio HUD100 and ddHiFi TC35M2, quantity 1 was just like the R1’s quantity output at 25. FiiO’s KA15 was a a lot better pairing due to its onboard controls, permitting significantly finer management over the minimal and most quantity ranges.
Sound Impressions
Testing was completed with the Shozy Type 1.4, Astrotec Lyra Assortment 150 ohm, Campfire Audio Andromeda 2020, and the Simgot EN700 PRO.
Abstract
HiBy’s R1 has a properly balanced sound with a small bias in the direction of added mid-bass and decrease midrange heat. Nonetheless, it’s not overly coloured and pairs suitably properly with all the pieces from bass cannons to treble-heavy tunes.
Signature
HiBy’s new R1 has a fairly balanced, neutral-leaning signature with a minor bias in the direction of the mid-bass area. This serves to heat the general signature which inserts with the budget-friendly pricing that ought to assist it to attraction to a wider viewers.
Extension from end-to-end is kind of good and I by no means discovered bass rolling off early or heard a scarcity of shimmer and sparkle within the excessive notes.
The tune works simply as properly with vocal-centric merchandise like Astrotec’s Lyra earbuds because it does with extra balanced choices just like the Earsonics GRACE Platinum, or bass-centric gear like Campfire Audio Honeydew.
The treble presentation is the place the R1 is weakest. Whereas it extends properly and notes have a great weight, are properly managed, and have loads of air to them, there’s a digital hardness current that reduces the standard barely.
The R1’s mids lean heat due to the mid-bass bump, however to not the acute, and nonetheless find yourself being fairly balanced. Merchandise with a lean midrange, just like the Thieaudio Legacy 2, profit from the added heat and weight the R1’s presentation supplies.
The R1 additionally does little to change the pure timbre qualities of a product. The venerable JVC HA-FXT90 sounds as pure as at all times, whereas FiiO’s FH1s sounds as wonky as I remembered.
Dipping into the low finish, the R1’s efficiency is completely high quality, and I couldn’t detect any early roll-off.
Nicely-extended earphones aren’t hindered when paired with the R1, although it doesn’t do something to bump texturing leaving merchandise I discovered missing on this space, just like the I/O AUDIO VOLARE, unimproved.
Staging & Dynamics
Staging from the R1 is great for a product on this value vary, nipping on the heels of one thing significantly dearer just like the Shanling M1 Plus.
The R1’s default vocal positioning is about simply outdoors the outer ear and when paired with one thing that already has nice staging, just like the Campfire Audio Andromeda 2020, may be fairly spacious and open.
Pairing it with merchandise which have extra common staging, like Shozy’s Form 1.4, the R1 enhances its limits to supply a greater listening expertise.
These staging qualities lengthen to the R1’s layering and instrument separation that are good, however not vastly completely different than competing merchandise. It doesn’t do a lot to boost these qualities, however their efficiency isn’t stifled both.
Channel-to-channel motion from the R1 is easy and nuanced with good accuracy. Merchandise which can be weak on this regard profit barely from the R1’s presentation with improved off-center accuracy, however in any other case, the R1’s efficiency is what I’d need and count on from a sub-$100 machine.
Click on page 2 below for my recommended pairings and selected comparisons.
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