*This review is based on the review of the first version on Hidizs AP80 Pro with the additional findings, highlights and details of the PRO-X successor.

For the last few years Iâ€ve been observing how Hidizs has developed from a small domestic single-product company to the international and respected portable HiFi gear brand. My experience covers each single piece of their audio technology: AP100, AP200, AP60, AP60Pro, AP80 DAPs, all IEMs, cable DAC converters, stand alone DAC, etc. Canâ€t state that all of those had flawless performance but none has fallen short of expectations in terms of audio quality. Still love my old AP100 and still use AP80 as the most convenient one. Furthermore, Hidizs was the first to utilize HiBy OS with its excellent HiBy link option which has become a golden standard for various current DAPs from other brands.

Today I would like to review Hidizs latest incarnation of very popular AP80 DAP series — AP80 PRO-X. There were couple of revisions of AP80 in the past, mostly dedicated to physical user experience, but AP80 PRO-X inherits the best features of its predecessor (AP80 PRO) and makes a huge leap of completely different nature — Pro version brings balanced circuit with the additional 2.5mm audio output and more power to drive higher loads…

Hidizs AP80 PRO-X technical data (differences / advantages over the previous AP80 PRO are in bold):

• CPU: Ingenic X1000
• DAC: Dual ES9219C
• Decoding: DSD64/128/256, PCM 384kHz/32Bit
• MQA: 8X
• Output: Single-ended 3.5mm / Balanced 2.5mm
  • Single-ended Output: 70mW + 70mW @ 32Ω
    • Frequency Response: 20-90kHz
    • Total Harmonic Distortion+Noise: 0.0015% (1kHz)
    • Dynamic Range: 115dB
    • Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 119dB
    • Channel Separation: 110dB (1kHz, A-weight, Rated Output)
  • Balanced Headphone Output: 190mW + 190mW @ 32Ω
    • Frequency Response: 20-90kHz
    • Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise: 0.0015% (1kHz)
    • Dynamic Range: 116dB
    • Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 120dB
    • Channel Separation: 117dB (1kHz, A-weight, Rated Output)
• Recommended Headphone Impedance Range 8-200Ω (Recommended value)
• FM: NO
• Pedometer Sensor: KX126
• FPGA DSD: HBC3000
• Operating System: HiBy OS 3.0
• Bluetooth: Bidirectional Bluetooth 4.2, support aptX, LDAC, UAT
• USB Port: Type-C, supports bidirectional USB DAC
• Remote Operation: HiBy Link
• Display: Samsung 2.45″ (480Ă—360) IPS HD Touchscreen
• Housing: Aluminium alloy CNC
• Rear Cover Material: stereoscopic glass
• Volume Knob: Japanese ALPS
• Buttons 3 physical: play/pause, previous track, next track
• Maximum Storage Expansion: 512GB with MicroSD
• Battery: 800mAh 3.7V Li-Polymer Battery
• Work time: PO interface: 8-11 hours runtime, LO interface: 6-8 hours runtime (depends on actual usage)
• Standby: 40 days (depends on actual usage)
• Charging Time: ~ 1 hour (5V, 2A)
• Net Weight: 72g

Going through new specs it is clear that the main change between AP80 PRO and PRO-X are next gen dual DACs (much better channel separation figures, less battery consumption in running and standby modes), better MQA support (8X unfold instead of 4X). Power output has not changed – 190mW per channel on BAL output.

It also happens so that I currently have both versions of this player and would be able to compare their musical and functional performance with similar IEMs.

10% discount for any item at Hidizs store using our promocode: ZMCR10

Packaging and design:

Many visual changes in that part. The box stayed similarly cute and small but it is now more appealing from a glance since containing glossy product graphics, more trademarks and initial information imprints. The insides are similarly well protected and neatly packed.

First goes soft podium that holds AP80 PRO-X, the rest of accessories in their boxes rest underneath. Here you would find:

• AP80 PRO-X DAP with front and back screen guards pre-applied
• USB type-C -> USB A cable
• USB type-C -> microUSB cable
• 2 additional front and back screen guarding film
• couple of leaflets
• short user manual

In contrary to its predecessor, there is no silicon case this time. I am not too upset since I wasn’t very happy with the case quality but I wounder why has Hidizs removed it from this bundle… Perhaps the new design has its own consequences…

More appealing and significant changes found in AP80 PRO-X housing design compared to its previous version: it got even more complicated and definitely consumes even more CNC machine time. Right side edge acquired additional curves and edges that visually lead us to the main element – ALPS volume encoder. It now sits pretty tight, with no apparent rattle or free play. I would say that AP80 PRO-X design is now over complicated for such portable device and starts to remind about A&K shapes.

Left edge displays carries “designed for Hidizs” text which probably means that Hidizs has turned to a new, more advanced design company, which has managed to keep familiar look, bringing some fresh details at the same time. The rest of its virtues remained the same — beautifully looking back covered with stereoscopic glass, intuitive controls, shiny flanges, comfortable physical buttons with tangible clicks.

Screen size and performance didnâ€t change at all. It is the same 2.45″ IPS  touchscreen with more than enough resolution and sensitivity for this type of a product. It behaves perfectly, has wide viewing angles and enough brightness to interact with it outside, even in the bright light environment.

Performance and UI:

AP80 PRO-X is based on HiBy OS 3.0 and Ingenic X1000 CPU. This combination stays unchanged since the initial release of AP80 DAP and still demonstrates smooth behavior of the user interface. First scan is very fast even with 128GB cards full of different format tracks, all operations are quite snappy.

Seen couple of interface freezes when scrolling through large list of songs but 99% of other interactions are naturally responsive. Havenâ€t spotted any FW glitches with the latest 1.0 FW version, neither found any severe bugs or translation errors among function list. If you are using any smarpthones based on iOS or Android — youâ€d feel like being home. Each feature or program is represented by a separate icon.

All general device and audio settings are gathered in Settings Menu, whereas all deep and more precise audio preferences like EQ and filters are located only in HiBy Music application. By the way, HiBy Music looks very similar to its versions for other platforms. No surprises here.  It also features such function as HiBy Link that allows you to control this DAP from a smartphone.

Menu structure:

• Main screen apps:
  • Player
  • Step counter
  • Bluetooth
  • Book
  • System settings
  • About
• System settings:
  • Language
  • Database update (Auto|Manual)
  • Brightness (1-100% slider)
  • Backlight time (stay on or 10 — 120 sec)
  • Color theme (ON|OFF, pattern selection, slider selection)
  • Font size (small|middle|big)
  • USB mode (Storage, Audio, Dock)
  • Button operation when screen is OFF (ON/OFF)
  • Time settings (date, format, time)
  • Idle timer (OFF, 1-10min)
  • Sleep timer (OFF, 5-120min)
  • Battery percentage display (ON|OFF)
  • Standby (ON|OFF)
  • InLine remote (ON|OFF)
  • Recording steps (ON|OFF)
  • Lock volume knob (ON|OFF)
  • Screensaver (OFF|Album cover|Dynamic cover)
  • Restore defaults
  • FW update
• Bluetooth
  • ON|OFF
  • Device Name
  • HiBy Link (ON|OFF)
    • High Quality (SBC, aptX, UAT 600k, 900k, 1,2M, Prefer LDAC, LDAC standard, LDAC quality priority)
  • Bluetooth volume adjust
  • Search devices
  • Paired devices
  • Available devices
• HibyMusic settings:
  • Update database
  • MSEB
  • EQ
  • Play settings:
    • Play mode (through list, loop single, shuffle, loop list)
    • DSD output mode (PCM, DoP, Native)
    • DSD gain compensation (0-6)
    • Resume play (none, track, position)
    • Gapless play (ON|OFF)
    • Soundfield (ON|OFF, -1 — 3)
    • Max volume
    • Power On volume (Memory, 0-100)
    • Crossfade (ON|OFF)
    • Gain (LOW|HIGH)
    • ReplayGain (none, by track, by album)
    • Balance
    • Antialiasing filter (LPFR, LPSR, MPFR, MPSR, AFR, ASR, CMPFR, BW)
    • Play through folders (ON|OFF)
    • Play through albums (ON|OFF)
• Drop down PLAY NOW menu:
  • List now playing
  • Add to playlist
  • EQ
  • View album
  • Properties
  • Delete
• PLAY NOW screen options:
  • PLAY|PAUSE
  • Seek slider
  • NEXT|PREVIOUS TRACK
  • PLAY MODE (shuffle, loop, etc)
  • Menu
  • Add to favorite
  • Show Lyrics
• Swipe UP menu:
  • Bluetooth (ON/OFF)
  • GAIN (LOW/HIGH)
  • USB (DRIVE/DAC)
  • LineOUT Mode
  • Swipe to adjust backlight
  • Swipe to adjust volume
  • Play widget (previous / next track, play/pause, artist and song title)

Should say that the pedometer function was not reliable in AP80 PRO-X, donâ€t see much changes with the AP80 PRO. My Amazfit GTR2 watches show more steps for the similar period. Therefore, I wouldnâ€t use this function too much. The rest are working as it should.

In order to update FW: we have to download FW from Hidizs website, unpack it and place update.upt file to the root of SD card. Than run FW update from System menu. It would take about a minute to get it done.

One of the most convenient function of HiBy OS — HiBy Link — that allows  full remote control over HiBy Music player from a smartphone works great. Album covers, song list, play mode, volume — all major functions can be controlled from a smartphone. Love this function that makes AP80 home audio integration and remote control in such user case very convenient.

USB DAC:

I always check this function and spending some time watching live or recorded concerts on Youtube or other platforms. Short audio lag and good driver is what I would chase in this test.

USB DAC mode works perfectly either with the dedicated TUSB (ASIO) driver available at Hidizs website or with the native Windows 10 driver (USB DAC). But note that ASIO version might produce more audio lag which would not be very comfortable for watching videos. USB native DAC driver is completely free of this lag. There is no problems in video to audio stream synchronization while watching videos and sending sound through AP80 PRO-X to phones. Neither there are any problems of using it with Foobar2000 player over Wasapi (event or push).

Using AP80 PRO-X as external DAC for Xiaomi Redmi Note 8Pro smartphone with the provided microUSB type-C -> microUSB cable works fine. HiBy Music app recognized this device and allowed us to send bit-by-bit perfect stream.

I have also checked such rarely used function as «transport»: sending digital audio stream though DAP USB to another DAC USB that drives home audio system. Even this scenario worked as expected.

Same scenarios of sending / receiving stream may also be used over bluetooth. So called bidirectional bluetooth DAC. Bluetooth supports aptX, LDAC and UAT codecs (along with lower audio quality standard codecs). Iâ€ve been able to check aptX IEMs and UAT 1.2M device (HiBy W5 bluetooth receiver) — both worked fine while sending data from AP80 PRO-X. The distance was about 8-12 meters away before audio started to show some severe interruptions. The other way around was checked by sending audio stream from Redmi Note 8Pro to AP80 PRO-X over Bluetooth — no problems there either.

Audio quality:

First, I would like to share AP80 general impressions and than I would compare it to AP80P PRO and AP80 PRO-X by pointing out the changes. Such approach is logical because 3.5 audio output has not changed at all (or there are only subtle changes). Therefore, the main difference and new experience would come from balanced 2.5mm output. To keep this comparison precise, Iâ€ve used AP80 + Hidizs Seeds 3.5mm V|S AP80 PRO and PRO-X + Hidizs Seeds 2.5 balanced IEMs. So, similar IEMs with different types of connection, same settings, same audio material.

Initial AP80 impressions: 

What I like the most is that AP80 sounds neutral with slight tendency towards bright/cold tonality. Lows, mids and highs are in good balance making this DAP universal to feed it with any kind of music genre. I would call it a precise source for connecting any further audio equipment like headphones, large power amps, active speakers, etc.

Good clarity and crispness on higher frequencies with the further ability to switch filter effects; precise texturing and presence of lows; powerfull, fast and punchy midbass; natural sounding at midrange with pleasing vocals and its weighted presence in the entire mix. ATH-M50 40Ohms load is easily driven by AP80 creating the feel of mature and balanced sound picture. Price niche (in comparison to more expensive DAPs) is only evident on higher frequencies (simplified, slightly rough, not that gentle) and overall texturing (not that over detailed).

The signature is a bit on the brighter side, no moody or tube-like performance, no cattle effect. Bass is completely enough to hear its nuances with ATH-M50, at least. Neither Iâ€ve found the disturbing presence of sibilance in highest octave. Besides, I didnâ€t even try to play with HibyMusic MSEB feature that gives additional control over such aspects as:

• sound temperature
• bass extension
• bass texture
• note thickness
• vocals
• female overtones
• sibilance LF
• sibilance HF
• impulse response
• air

all of that was kept at default settings during out tests and the resulting sound didnâ€t require any changes. But the availability of such features, along with gain and filters, gives you a huge field for further experiments of tuning this source for the final audio equipment in chain.

Channel separation is better than entry-level models demonstrate but not so distant as in case with flagship DAPs or AMPs with coupled DAC chips. The resulting sound stage width, depth and instument location is equal or even a bit more than we would expected from such portable device. Monaural recordings show good distance and instrument placement on stage with clear horizontal and vertical position.

I also tested AP80 with Hidizs Seeds IEMs and found that they make a great pair. ATH-M50, sometimes, might emphasize low frequencies and are very straight forward. Excellent for detail analysis and tests but too strict for getting some rest… Seeds IEMs are softer, warmer and smooth. They create the additional fluency while maintaining the same amount of details.

If to think about the best pairing: I would say that using AP80 PRO/PRO-X with tube amp like xDuoo MT601/602 makes a great effect of smoothing out timbre and tonality, making music more calm and delicate.

AP80 SE V|S AP80 PRO Balanced output: 

The main advantage of using AP80 PRO/ PRO-X balanced output instead of AP80 3.5 SE is the amount of power it produces which inevitably leads to more juicy presentation, more dynamics (especially in midbass section), more clarity and transparency in overall.

Of course, this difference only becomes apparent with high impedance headphones or IEMs which require more power to be driven to an appropriate level. If pairing both DAPs with the same low impedance | high sensitivity IEMs the differences in sound get less apparent… Perhaps, the main difference is better instrument separation and larger imaginary stage. In other words — I like balanced output sound more due to extended assertiveness in combination with less cramped feel under the same circumstances. Difference between PRO and PRO-X alone is not that evident, at least I cannot spot such.

Freedom to choose more demanding output head gear and having enough power in reserve under the hood — this what makes AP80Pro superior to its predecessor even if the changes in audio signature and characteristics are on the subtle side.

The difference between PRO and PRO-X alone is not that evident. Perhaps the stage became wider (at least it seems so to me). But in overall, sonically, both versions sound very similar and I wouldn’t be able to distinguish between them in a blind test.

Conclusion:   

Since the first day of arrival the initial version of AP80 became the main portable source of audio for me and was serving its role perfectly up till now. There were some bugs at the beginning which were eliminated by Hidizs with the new FW releases. The only arguable spec was its output power resulting into a range of final gear limited to a lower impedance.

AP80 PRO-X, being the latest generation, takes a huge leap and represents the most of the ultra-portable HiRES DAP nowadays. It inherited all the virtues of all previous generations, also comes with more polished and stable FW, incorporates huge amount of modern features and visually appeals too. It is balanced, powerful enough to drive all types of IEMs, earbuds and even some large overheads. Can’t even imagine which other new virtues would Hidizs introduce in the next generation in case if AP80 PRO-X is planned for future upgrades. It is already hell lot of powerhouse in a such tiny package. Perhaps – only the modern 4.4mm BL output is desired, although it is hardly possible due to tight space inside (you can check my AP80 teardown article LINK)

And the last, but not the least – should anyone upgrade from AP80 PRO? Only in case if better MQA handling is vital. Otherwise – probably not. But shifting from regular AP80 or something like Shanling M0 is a must. AP80 PRO-X is just so much better in all aspects.

10% discount for any item at Hidizs store using our promocode: ZMCR10

Official AP80 PRO-X page and store: LINK

Thank you for reading.

Controversial topic, isn’t it? The endgame should be limited to one… What we mean is not another product of the same category, but the perfect match for the first endgame that we insisted on some time ago – Dethonray Tender 1 planar IEMs. Here is the link to our Tender 1 review if you have missed that. Such IEMs are very demanding in terms of source quality and very power-hungry. We have tried it in pair with various DAPs and DACs, but the best synergy is achieved only with DTR1+ which we would describe a bit later in this review.

Furthermore, since DTR1+ is a highly anticipated reincarnation of DTR1 – first DAP by Anson Tse (Dethonray founder) released back in 2019, that turned out to be fresh approach and revelation sound wise for many – we would also focus on the differences in the performance of the new version of this honored product.

One more input from us (out own understanding): neither Dethonray Prelude DTR1, nor DTR1+ is a mass product with thoroughly calculated economy and profit or decisively added/cut functionality based on marketing intents. It is rather distinctive, much more closer to western high-end niche approach, where the emotional appeal combined with technical SQ put at the forefront while the secondary features like functionality are left out for less narrowly focused equipment. For us, such approach is perfectly acceptable since we consider DTR1+ as the ultimate source that is only about the sound quality for our offline thoroughly selected audio collection in desktop or mobile setup. Although, there are couple of minor drawbacks that we would also describe in this article.

DTR1+ specs:

• Type: HiRes audio player
• DAC: AK4490EQ
• Sample rates: up to 32bit/192KHz
• Audio formats: WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, APE (Normal, High, Fast), AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF/DSF, OGG
• Frequency response range: 20Hz ~ 20kHz
• SNR: 117dB
• THD: 0.008%
• Max. power output: L: 6Vrms + R: 6Vrms (16Ω) | (1280mW@32Ohms)
• OS: Linux + Ocelot GUI
• Memory: MicroSD (exFAT), up to 1TB, handles 160,000 songs
• Audio outputs: 3.5mm Line-out + 3.5mm headphones
• Connectivity: Micro-HDMI (charging port)
• Battery: 2cell, LiON, ±8.5V PSU, life 8 hours
• Dimensions HxWxD: 100x57x18.6mm
• Color: Black
• Weight: 160g

Changes:

• Power output has been increased
• Redesigned the LPF circuit:
  • Using the top chips improves the resolution sharply.
  • Makes vocals a little more laid back for classical music and new recordings.
  • Enhanced the treble extension, the timbre sounds more lively.
• Redesigned gain and volume audio subsystem:
  • update the gain control to support different IEMs, earbuds, headphones.
  • subdivided the volume range to make the sound more accurate and natural.
  • Added separate R|L channel volume control (0.5dB steps)
• Added the index and classification function for artists.
• Added L/R channel volume compensation.
• Introduced new charging unit (Micro-HDMI -> power adaptor -> USB type C)
  • now any USB – USB type C cable can be used with the power unit
• Button redesign

Main features of the HW/SW part:

• Separate power for decoding and amplifying: DTR1+ adapts dual high-density battery customized power system, designed for High-Fidelity while ensuring separation of digital and analog power to eliminate circuit noise from the source, alike an enhanced DAP + Amplifier system but with a minimal path and hard soldered joints with no compromises. The ±8.5V PSU remarkably improves efficiency of clean power supplied to the system, with noticeable qualities in transparency and background noise control without the need to excessively damping the output.
• EMI shielding: with the precision machining on aviation grade, light-weight aluminum alloy, DTR1 is shielded from EMI disturbance for a cleaner background during play. Precise structural designs with high reliability parts also a patented user interface are combined in pursuit of perfection in sound and optimization of both hardware and software within the design.
• Custom LinuxOS and Ocelot GUI: DTR1+ runs on a deeply-customized Linux OS audio sub-system which utilize a OSS sub-system 30% higher in efficiency than the ALSA audio sub-system. The customized and optimized decode engine ”Nature” synergize effectively with the Linux OS, decodes in optimal condition and reduces transmission delay. Patented ultra light weight GUI system ”Ocelot”, Customized GAI (Graphics Abstract Layer), GDI (Graphic Device Interface), IAL (Input Abstract Layer), SCM (System Control Module), Audio files indexing system – promises minimal MMI, high speed navigation and supporting up to indexing 160000 songs.

Dethonray Prelude DTR1+ is available at the official Amazon store: LINK

Packaging and design:

Prelude DTR1+ comes in a regular, pretty large Dethonray black box where DAP rests on the upper layer of soft foam with special cut outs and charger is stored underneath. There is no USB – USB type C cable provided but you would also find short user manual and warranty card. We would suggest Anson to consider adding some kind of a case for such premium product.

The design has not changed much in comparison to its predecessor – clean, neat, old-school and functional. DTR shell is made of aluminum, except for the back cover. And if it was a glass panel in DTR1, now we have simple black plastics with shiny gold titles. Perhaps this is made for good: first, it won’t crack that easy and second – it would stand deformations better if the battery decides to inflate (hope that this would not occur in the nearest future. But eventually, all batteries die and large percentage do inflate). Another advantage over the previous version – now we have 2 screws at the back to get inside the shell and replace the battery, at least.

Top and left edges stayed blank, while the right still holds volume and power buttons together with SD card slot. Volume and power buttons were redesigned completely, all became larger and now it is much more simple for blind operation since the middle (Volume down) button made larger than the rest.

Bottom edge saved all of its elements – 3.5mm LineOUT, 3.5mm SE headphone OUT, micro-HDMI and Reset. But now both of 3.5mm ports have dĂ©cor elements in a form of round golden outlines.

Facing side now looks much more organic with larger buttons, decorative lines and markings. Central (ENTER) button is now equipped with Dethonray logo.

Screen has not changed a bit, it seems that the LCD panel itself is exactly the same: 2.32″ TFT screen. The type of the screen and its resolution numbers are not provided among other device specs but my guess would be IPS with something like 640Ă—480 pixels. At least, the viewing angles are ok and thin diagonal lines on the screen donâ€t produce a so called «ladder effect» common for low resolution screens in combination with larger physical size. Screen edges are ~4.5mm, partially hidden by black screen outlines that visually merges with the shell when the screen is off. Screen doesnâ€t have a touch sensor layer, thus all user interaction happens with the help of physical buttons. Which is great, we believe. Always preferred physical controls over touch screens for easy blind operations.

Despite that it is far from modern LCDs, DTR1 screen is doing its job quite well. Size is totally enough for convenient interaction with this certain UI, fonts and other graphics are large enough to stay visible. The main and the only concern is the maximum brightness level which is kind of low comparing to any other DAPs and is hardly enough to fight the direct sunlight or bright environment. Usable, but much better to stay in shade.

In overall, the design of the new DTR1 looks more organic and mature. Definitely better and more attractive than the first version of the DAP. Moreover, the operations now are more convenient, thanks to enlarged and reshaped buttons.

Device in use:

First of all – the new charger: separate small unit with status LED, micro-HDMI connector and USB type C port. Now, we can use any USB type C cable to connect to this charger from any 5V power adapter or USB port. Which means that DTR1 can now be charged from PC/laptops, etc but as far as we’ve understood – the function of mass storage has been eliminated. No possibility to get data transfer using the cable. Anyway, not a big deal considering low transfer speed of the previous version. It is always better to take the card out and write using card readers or laptop slots.

Charging unit acts as a step-up voltage regulator and indicates its stated with the status LED. Fast red flashes – no device connected, solid RED – charging. It heats up significantly during the use (~50C) while DTR1+ stays cold when switched on and left charging. Also a good sign for us – better to keep heating elements out of shell and away from the main circuits, battery and screen. Full charge takes around 2 hours and the battery last around 8 hours after that.

SW and GUI:

DTR1+ is running the same version of deeply customized Linux OS with Ocelot GUI as its predecessor. Anson has done a great job of bug fixing and further OS/interface customization during the first months after first version of DTR1 DAP release when active customers started to submit their suggestions and feedback. Since than, this SW combination stays very snappy and stable. No updates available so far, neither any bugs are found. We havenâ€t noticed any jitters or freezes. Boot time is fast but ends up with showing SD card availability warning and waiting until the track database would be rebuilt. This happens at each boot with no option to avoid it. Fortunately, it takes only ~3 seconds to rescan all files and start playing. Developers claim that this it the fastest process among all recent DAPs no matter the amount of files on SD card and the only payback is indexing upon each power cycle.

UI structure:

• Main player screen:
  • Playing now screen (current track + navigation through tracks)
    • Long press Select to go to Play options
      • Play options:
        • Return to folder
        • Favorites
        • Delete music
        • Play mode (repeat all, repeat one, shuffle, play one)
        • CUE
        • Play through folders
        • High|Low gain (headphones)
        • Line out gain
        • Filter
        • Idle shut down
        • Delete
  • All Songs (alphabetical order of all audio files)
  • Artists (alphabetical order of artists)
  • Favorites (list of tracks added to favorites)
  • Browse (browse through folders)
  • Settings
    • System information
    • Language (ENG|CHN)
    • Play Mode (repeat all, repeat one, play one, shuffle)
    • Backlight (up to 60 sec and always on)
    • Brightness (up to 100%)
    • Power key to main menu (ON|OFF)
    • CUE (ON|OFF)
    • Play through folders (ON|OFF)
    • Switch track when LCD off (ON|OFF)
    • High|Low GAIN (headphones: LOW|MIDDLE|HIGH|EXTRA HIGH)
    • Line out GAIN (LOW|MIDDLE|HIGH|EXTRA HIGH)
    • Filter (Sharp roll-off|slow roll-off|short delay sharp roll-off|short delay slow roll-off)
    • Channel balance
    • Idle shutdown (up to 30 mins and always ON)
    • Timing shutdown (up to 60 mins and always ON)
    • Database upgrade
    • Reset all settings

So, the main newly introduced function is separate 4-step GAIN for headphones and line out. In case of line out it is the only option to limit or increase the volume for active speakers or amp (if not enough or too much). As for headphones, we have found that 4-steps is a kind of overshoot since MIDDLE is already dark on the background for low impedance IEMs and EXTRA HIGH is suitable for anything above 32 Ohms depending of its type. For example, Tender 1 planar IEMs are only 28 Ohms but feel underpowered with any option rather than EXTRA HIGH. On the other hand, pure armature 32 Ohms are a way overpowered… Therefore, let’s say that 3 steps would be enough.

Each track is provided with bit/KHz information on playing now screen, long names are cut if donâ€t fit the screen width. Still no scrolling. Album art is present.

DTR1 heats up very little even while decoding 24bit/192KHz and playing with 50Ω full-sized overheads at High gain setting. The only time it heats up a bit more is while taking a charge and playing music simultaneously. Case reached about 34C at max which is absolutely no issue.

Sound quality:

Tested with: Dethonray Tender 1 planar, Oxygen single DD, HiBy Beans IEMs, Audio Technica ATH-M50, xDuoo MT-602 amp, etc

Getting back to synergy and endgame question: of course, our first and main intention was to find the best match for Dethonray Tender 1 planar magnetic IEMs. Those are perfect at all aspects, superior to any DD, hybrid or armature rivals by its even representation, rich timbre and perfect instrument separation. The only problem is that Tender 1 are very demanding in terms of power and quality of the source equipment. Moreover, since planar nature looses some resolution – we wanted to pair powerful and very resolving DAP with it. DTR1+ is the best candidate since it is similarly linear, gives out huge amount of details and able drive Tender 1 to full potential. Furthermore, as Anson told us – he has additionally tweaked DTR FW to match Tender 1 and to reach the best possible synergy. So, most of our impressions would be built upon DTR1+ and Tender 1 pair. We would also partially copy the text from DTR1 DAP review, highlighting the changes in the sound of its new version.

Lows:

Bass plays an important role in the sound presentation of DTR1+. It does a perfect job on highlighting bass contours with fast decay and transitions. Bass has a decent weight here, even a bit emphasized but not shadowing other ranges. Lows are perfectly exposed, have extra clarity but not standing out as it was with the predecessor. Extension and amount of textures are slightly limited in a favor of accuracy, speed and integrity of the perception. Such reproduction of lows is less regular but quite interesting and highly appealing. Midbass is perfect, neither too bright or too dark, natural, powerful, tight and engaging. Drums never get too harsh even in the tracks with some extra gain added to this part. In overall, DTR1+ lows sound more organic and integrated to the entire mix if to compare to DTR1.

Mids and vocals:

If you ever wanted a DAP with huge amount of details, clarity and resolution on voices and instruments in mid section — DTR1+ is here to capture your mind. The first try overwhelmed with the feel of extra resolution of keen mids even with the reference dynamic IEMs. Pairing it with BA extends this perception even further. Outstanding resolution and bears the clarity of each single sound which leads to reconsidering the knowledge of the most favorite tracks. And this is not a joke — most of the DAPs on my shelf are more or less similar, tending to the reference side with neutral or warm tonality and moderate amount of details for the sake of melodious presentation. DTR1+ acts completely different — it reveals maximum amount of details in a rampant impulse to convey emotions. It doesn’t mean thinner or colder sound any longer, nor it is prone to hisses – just the new experience with extra clarity and resolution. Absolutely impressed by the approach of DTR1+ towards mids, especially with neutral and mid-sensitive IEMs. Comparing to DTR1 – new version gained more body in mids and became slightly thicker which made the sound even more balanced, easy and linear on perception. Absolutely no screaming sounds, peaks or lisping, absolutely accurate and resolving.

Treble:

This is logical that if mids are impressing with exceptional resolution and clarity — treble would be even more capable of the same as the part of such perception on mids originate from the reproduction of treble. This is true — decent clarity, transparent and airy sound here. Treble is not overemphasized or piercing, it has the same weight with no perceptible accent, sounds extended, accurate and balanced to other ranges. Some lack of gentleness is compensated by huge amount of details and distinct exposition. Changes with DTR1 are subtle since the extension, resolution and control of this range was perfect with DTR1 and stays perfect with DTR1+.

Soundstage:

Another good outcome of excessive clarity and resolution is the extended depth of the perceived soundstage. Instrument separation and overall sound transparency is so good and the location of each instrument is so evident that the stage gets the necessary and pleasing depth of field. Although, width is not that impressive as the lows donâ€t spread out much to side but rather kept collected. No apparent changes with DTR1.

Sound in overall:

Dethonray Prelude DTR1+ sound can be described as highly detailed, perfectly balanced between the ranges, transparent and linear, with rich timbres and very calm performance. Instrument separation is decent which makes DTR1+ a best contender when it comes to HiRes tracks with lots of instruments and drive. Similarly to its appearance, the sound has matured – became slightly thicker, maintaining similarly high resolution but now delivered in a perfect monitor nature. All rough edges got proper treatment – now this DAP is totally transparent for any end gear.

The best experience is DTR1+ and Tender 1 performing together. This DAP provides enough details to compensate Tender 1 planar nature while Tender 1 is pushing instrument separation, timbre of mids and overall gentleness of the sound to maximum. This particular pair is what we were talking about when we said that we have grown up from rough listening on-the-go and want to focus on calm evening sessions and delicate sound. Interesting additional observation is that the only competition we have found for DTR1+ / Tender 1 pair is the combination of HiBy R5Pro + xDuoo MT-602 tube amp + Tanchjim Oxygen IEMs. Such combination lacks some resolution but the rich and delightful timbre is possible with the tube overtones of MT-602, delicacy of Oxygen IEMs and power of R5Pro. Almost the same budget, though… which is expected, actually.

Conclusion:

Never thought that the original Dethonray Prelude DTR1 would ever get beaten concerning its stellar audio performance. Lots of DAPs from other brands since 2019, more functional and modern, but DTR1 always stayed very distinct benchmark for clarity, resolution and monitor-like sound. But here comes its successor, with better design, new functions and what is the most important – polished, free of any rough edges, more thick and linear performance that also carries all nuances what we loved DTR1 for. Adding here the excellent synergy with recently introduced Tender 1 planar IEMs – and this bundle becomes very unique object of desire among high-end portable sources. The only function that we regret is the absence of USB DAC but the rest such as MQA or Bluetooth audio are from another world and for another segment. Dethonray Prelude DTR1+ is solely and completely occupies the niche of a DAP with highly detailed, powerful, analytical sound, totally transparent for any end gear.

Dethonray Prelude DTR1+ is available at the official Amazon store: LINK

About a year ago we had our hands at HiBy R5 – one of the best mid-class HiRes audio DAPs around, running on relatively fresh version of Android 8.1 OS, quite good HW configuration (Snapdragon 425 CPU, 2GB RAM, 16GB ROM) and packed with all modern features like direct audio transport, USB DAC, Bluetooth DAC, streaming services, LDAC and UAT codecs, etc. Of course, time passes and such configuration inevitably getting less capable. Definitely, it is not about HiBy R5 if you consider what it is intended for.

If we are to use this DAP for its main purpose – music in all of its forms and with all necessary applications – HW configuration still stays snappy, compatible and even excessive. Do not load it with games or unnecessary utilities and R5 would serve you till the end of times. We have used it heavily for about a year and have not experienced any problems ever since. There were several OTA FW updates pushed by HiBy that brought R5 even closer to perfection and neither one led to UI slow down, only the improvements. Since the main application that utilizes all HW possibilities is HiBy Music – HiBy, as a sole coder and manufacturer of the device, knows its capabilities and limitations. This gives HiBy a great chance to polish all edges and resolve any compatibility issues. And they are taking this chance very serious, indeed. The performance of R5 stays perfectly adequate, despite one year from release.

New HiBy R5s has been announced one month ago and is already on sales. It is based on similar HW configuration and runs similar Android version. The only difference to its predecessor stated among other specification is changing from two Texas Instrument 1612 to 1642 operational amplifiers (OPA) serving a role of low-pass filters (the latter is true JFET OPA and has lower quiescent current) which are paired with two AD8397ARDZ high speed OPAs from Audio Devices to deliver the impressive 564mW/channel @ 32Ω at balanced output. Such high power output allows R5 and R5s to lead in the class and drive “hard loads” (low sensitivity | high impedance IEMs and headphones). Sound wise, HiBy states that the changes in HW are resulting at better retrieval of details and slightly colder tonality. But we would examine this later.

So, let us remind you about the full specs list for HiBy R5s:

General HW&SW:

• Operating System: Android 8.1
• SoC: Snapdragon 425
• No. of CPU Cores: 4
• CPU Max Frequency: 1.4GHz
• Display: 4.0 inches, IPS
• Resolution: 540*1080
• PPI: 300
• Touchscreen control
• RAM: 2GB
• Internal Storage: 16GB
• External Storage: Up tp 512GB + via 1 micro SD card
• Firmware Update: Over-the-air or from a file
• Text Size: Ajustable
• 3rd Party Apps Unrestricted access via Google Play and apk download

Audio:

• DAC: CS43198 x 2
• C43198 dual crystal oscillators (45.1584 + 49.152MHz)
• LPF:1642 x 2
• OPA: AD8397ARDZ x 2
• Max output power: 1040mW+1040mW@16Ω / 564mW+564mW@32Ω
• Headphone Impedance: 16~300Ω
• EQ Adjustments: 10 bands (±12dB)
• MSEB function
• Channel Balance: L 10dB to R 10dB
• Gain Level: Low / High
• USB DAC: PCM/DoP/Native
• Headphone Output: 3.5mm
• Balanced Headphone Output: 4.4mm
• Line Out: 3.5mm LO
• Balanced Line Out: 4.4mm LO
• Digital Out: SPDIF (USB out)
• MQA up to 8x unfold

Connectivity:

• WIFI: 5GHz/2.4GHz, supports IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n protocols
• Two-way Bluetooth 4.2 (supports: apt-X, apt-X HD, LDAC, UAT)
• Bluetooth Bidirectional DAC
• HiBy Link function
• USB Type C (USB2.0 data rate)
• USB USB storage, USB DAC IN/OUT

Physical:

• Buttons: 6 physical buttons
• Button Definitions: Power/Previous/Pause/Next/Volume Up/Volume Down
• Dimensions: 107.7*61.2*15.6mm

Power:

• Power Supply: 9V/1.5A
• Battery: 3500mAh
• Charge Protocol: QC3.0
• 18 hours playback with 3.5mm SE and 11 hours with 4.4mm BL

Most important features of this DAP:

Dual Cirrus Logicâ€s CS43198: Cirrus Logic audio products with the MasterHIFI™ and SmartHIFI™ designed to meet the highest standard in high-fidelity audio playback. MasterHIFI and SmartHIFI products deliver the very best performance in sound clarity and pure, euphoric audio listening.

Combines Headphone & Line Out functions: both 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports support headphone and line out functions. Thanks to battery space and efficiency optimizations, this palm-sized powerhouse outputs balanced power up to 1040mW+1040mW@16Ω and 564mW+564mW@32Ω, yet manages to last up to 11 hours balanced / 18 hours SE.

DTA Architecture: Android sample rate conversion bypass. Its DTA Android global lossless output technology ensuring that sound output and reception would not be interfered with.

UAT (Ultra Audio Transmission): the ultimate Bluetooth HiFi audio quality provided by audio codec developed by HiBy. Supporting an industry-highest sample rate of 192kHz and data bandwidth of 1.2Mbps.

Two-way Bluetooth: HiBy R5s supports two-way Bluetooth, which can be used as a Bluetooth transmitter or receiver.

MQA: R5 and R5s support MQA unfold up to 8X.

Packaging and design:

HiBy R5s box differs slightly from its previous version as of R5. It still has similar dimensions and color theme but there are few new design elements: additional layer of outer wrap with glossy DAP picture at facing part, “R5 Saber” label on the edge and large “S” sign at the back. Therefore, the box clearly states which R5 version it belongs to. The insides haven’t changed: R5s rests in a soft insert on the top level while all of the accessories are stored at two separate compartments underneath.

Box contents:

• HiBy R5s DAP (with pre-applied screen and back panel protective films)
• Memory card insertion clip
• USB type-C -> USB cable
• Leather case
• 1 extra screen protector
• User manual
• Couple of leaflets concerning warranty

The difference with R5 here is the new high quality leather case instead of a silicone one. This case is looks great, perfectly crafted and has special cutouts with very thin leather layers over the buttons. It even allows you to see the color of the state LED on power button. No problems with accessing any of outputs on the bottom edge.

Although, one thing you should be aware of – take care when putting R5s inside for the first time. This case has a very slim and tight fit and might peel off both protective films from screen and back panel. It would stretch a bit later and the problem would not bother you anymore.

Physically, HiBy R5s reminds of golden era of smartphone introduction to the market. It dimensions are close to such great representatives as HTC Desire and Google Nexus 1. Perfectly comfortable for one hand operation with the screen size of 4 inches. Although, the resolution and screen density is quite high for such physical display size – 300PPI. Its chassis is a unibody piece of aluminum with tiny surface grains and 15.6mm thickness that makes it feel very secure and monolithic in a hand.

Front and back almost completely covered with screen and glass panels and if there were smaller curvature of the edges – this device would be very close to what we call “frameless”. Moreover, beautiful glass panels also cover top and bottom edges and serve a design purpose as well. We like those are nearly transparent and you could see the housings of the output ports through it.

One more reason to admire R5 and R5s design is the physical buttons. First, it is always better to have such convenient way of control over the main functions of music application and second – buttons look good and feel good. The force that you need to apply is close to perfect while the actuation ends up with a tangible click. Furthermore, buttons are tight enough to eliminate any accident presses in a pocket.

Additionally, power button is equipped with multi-color LED that indicates different DAP states as well as the sampling rate of the currently playing track. Such feature is shared across all HiBy DAPs, plus you would find the same in FD1 DAC.

R5s top edge is left blank of any elements and controls while all line out, phone outputs and USB port are located at the bottom. Right edge contains power, play|pause, next and previous buttons. Volume controls are on the left edge together with the microSD card slot.

HiBy R5s in use:

Screen:

Some paragraphs in the sections below would be directly deposited from our review of HiBy R5 since there is no change in the HW, SW or performance in R5s DAP version.

Surely, this is one of the best screens you would find among all current DAPs. HiBy didnâ€t hesitate to provide excellent user experience in terms of virtual controls in its Android-based player. Expect similar behavior of 4 inch multitouch IPS as in any high-quality smartphone. Virtually, there is no distance between screen glass and panel, all finger interactions with virtual elements are precise.

Screen density of 300PPI is totally enough for this physical size to maintain the balance between very detailed picture and size of the elements. HiBy R6Pro still holds the lead as the DAP with the best screen but R5s is a only a fraction behind: brightness level and contrast are almost equal while the sensitivity and sharpness of R6Pro screen is still slightly better.

No visible change in LCD quality in early R5 v/s current R5s versions. The only thing that we were able to distinguish is a slightly colder LCD calibration visible only in the direct comparison. Picture is bright, crisp and vibrant in both DAP versions.

UI and usability:

In general, Android OS and stock UI feel great on the chosen Snapdragon 425 platform. Itâ€s working fast, with fluent system animations and good response. 2GB RAM might become a limitation in case if to load too many apps but the main idea of this device is to deliver best audio quality with stock HiBy Music app. Several other apps like Youtube, Tidal, etc wonâ€t do much difference and would coexist perfectly. Just remember not to open to many tabs in browser, as always. Some slight hiccups when scrolling through songs were found in HiBy Music application right after the initial track list was populated by running SD card scan function. When indexing was over — scrolling became more smooth and predictable.

As we have already stated in the begging of this article – despite incorporating quite average platform specifications as for now, R5s and R5 DAPs both keep up perfectly in all scenarios they are intended for. Main music application, Google Play, Tidal and Qobuz are running smooth and snappy. Furthermore, concerning the stated applications – neither freezes or any kind of misbehavior were met. At least almost for a year of using R5 and for about a week of using R5s. But again: we have never loaded any apps apart from Tidal & Qobuz. Hiby Music was always the default one for local audio tracks.

Connectivity:

One of the best thing about R5 and R5s is the amount of connectivity options leading to the different usage scenarios. First of all — they have combined 3.5mm SE / 4.4mm Balanced phone outputs with LO options.

Next is the bi-directional Bluetooth that allows the reception or sending audio stream with the most sophisticated wireless protocols such as Sony LDAC. Moreover, Bluetooth supports UAT codec as well — highest quality of Bluetooth audio (192kHz, 1.2Mbps) currently available on the market and developed by HiBy. Usage scenarios are numerous: you can send audio from DAP to wireless headphones / end gear, from a smartphone to DAP to wireless or wired headphones / end gear, you can also gain full control over DAP from a smartphone over Bluetooth with HiBy Link function. Or you can use HiBy Link as audio server.

Dual band Wi-Fi (up to “n” protocol) is also on board to allow internet connection, HiBy Link function and streaming audio services. The quality of the connection is not that perfect as you have used to with smartphones but it is enough to deliver no hiccups in audio streaming services and no problems with Youtube buffering. Just keep in mind that such problems might occur if you have some shady reception areas at your home.

Finally, there is USB DAC / SPDIF out functions to use this player as external USB audio card or as a transport. Besides the native Windows driver for USB DAC, HiBy released a dedicated ASIO driver for their DAP lineup. Such driver delivers the best audio quality in Windows environment, bypassing any system processing. At the same time, ASIO drivers regularly produce more audio lag and the best option to use R5 and R5s while watching video with no lag would be to use Windows native driver instead.

Power usage:

Both version of players are equipped with 3500mAh batteries and quick charging ability with Qualcomm QC3.0 standard. Such capacity would usually give us ~17 hours of music playback with 3.5mm SE output and ~11H hours with balanced output. Those figures are almost similar to declared ones but only achievable with the screen off and at ~60% volume. Battery deterioration on R5 after a year of use is not significant, ~5%. Since R5s has the same battery and power output – we do not expect any changes here.

Updates:

In contrary to some less customer-oriented brands, HiBy actively supports its products and constantly increases functionality and usability. Moreover, FW upgrades can be performed manually by downloading update file and launching update function from system menu, or updates could be delivered over the air (OTA). We remember at least 6 upgrades to R5 in one year. And there was the first FW upgrade to R5s already. ASIO driver was also added some time after the initial R5 launch. Therefore, we expect HiBy to make further improvements and bug fixes of any would be reported by the community in future. As a company, HiBy is pretty responsive and value product feedback coming from the wild.

Sound:

Tested with AudioTechnica ATH-M50, Tanchjim Oxygen, Magaosi K6, Earnine EN2J, Moondrop Kanas Pro, Anew U1, HIFI BOY OSV3…  

Lows and midbass:

R5s has textured and perfectly outlined lows with enough presence and absence of the accent on this range. Bass is deep with fast decay. Lows are clear, naturally fill the space and perfectly separated from mids and treble. Bass remains fully perceptible at all volume levels. Midbass section feels powerful and have enough dynamics to deliver drums naturally. Sound stays neutral here — no evident influence from lower or higher ranges. Bass texturing is obvious, large amount of details and clear contouring.

Mids and vocals:

Vocals as well as the instruments in mids are quite thick and dense. The perceptible resolution is impressive and seems to be slightly raised by the influence of treble. Very slight emotional bloom here and there on female vocals and upper mid range instruments. Although, no screaming notes and no hisses. Male and female voices sound naturally and equally exposed. Instrument separation is decent which also helps to define a larger stage. In overall, mids feel smooth, quite thick and mellow with a slight emotional touch on higher portion.

Treble:

Treble is clear and crisp while seems to be very slightly more exposed than lows. It produces a bit cold sound with no tendency to show the excessive amount of sibilance. It is less delicate than in R6Pro, thus giving the sound more transparency and brightness. The overall signature of R5s is slightly brighter and colder because of that (in comparison to R6Pro). The resolution on this range is great, huge amount of details and impressive extension.

Soundstage:

R5s produces large imaginary stage in both — width and depth. Stage is very large when paired with good IEMs over balanced type of connection. Precise instrument locations, defined contours, good layering between the ranges and distinct sound of all the instruments.

Compared to R5:

Honestly, it was kind of a quest for us to understand the difference in sound signatures of R5 and R5s DAPs. They sound very similar at first few tries. The more you listen, the more R5s reveals its nature in A|B test comparisons. But the important note here is the end gear. If we were trying to find any differences with average-quality IEMs | speakers – no luck. Switching to a high-quality gear gives the expected results. Therefore, R5s is more demanding than R5 concerning the quality of IEMs, speakers or headphones. For instance, the most revealing IEMs for us were Tanchjim Oxygen, Moondrop SSP, Shozy & NEO BG… All of those have one thing in common – high resolving potential and slightly cold -> very cold tonality. The best pair were SHOZY & NEO BG – pure armature multi-driver units with fast response, excellent dynamics and high resolution. Such tandem shows more details and assertiveness in sound when compared to R5 as a source. The majority of details and more aggressive delivery occurs on mid -> lower high frequencies best served by specifically tuned IEMs. V-shaped, high-quality gear is ideal. In case of pairing R5s with warm or neutral IEMs – these deviations with R5 sound fade away, still leaving you with an impressive audio quality in overall, a bit warmer and slightly less detailed.

Compared to R6Pro:

R6Pro definitely has more reference-like neutral sound with a little accent on delivering and resolving lows. It sounds mellow and warm with high amount of harmonics in lower and mid ranges. Treble is very delicate and calm. HiBy R5s is less oriented towards lows, exposing and resolving treble more. This leads to more emotional, energetic and brighter sound signature. Although, R5s and R6Pro have similarly good texturing on bass and large soundstage.

Conclusion:

The main question is to be or not to be, as usual. Currently, HiBy has both DAPs – R5 and R5 Saber edition on sales. Is $50 price difference justified by the resulting improvements in sound? We would say – yes, with a couple of exceptions. In fact, Saber sound version is definitely more resolving and delivered more aggressively but the DAP is dependent of end gear quality and tuning. It is a demanding source that hides the full potential until released by the right type IEMs, speakers or headphones. Fortunately, even with less capable end gear, R5s sounds similarly impressive as its predecessor – neither changing the tonality nor the overall perception. Consequently, the only one correct conclusion we can make: go for R5s in case of possessing/planning high-quality end gear to pair with this DAP or in case of willing to invest in a source with more potential. Otherwise, you can stick to R5 base version, save some budget and still get stellar performance and class-leading sound in mid-class DAP segment. Choose one…. đź‚

HiBy R5s can be purchased at HiBy official store HERE

Hiby R5 can be purchased at HiBy official store HERE

Always wanted to have portable HiRes audio setup from a respected brand in which each of the components would be wisely designed and developed, fitting each other in the best possible way, while still staying perfectly usable in standalone applications. Having everything designed by a single brand usually means better integration of the most complicated functions, which creates a synergy that people would often call brand «ecosystem». HiBy has travelled a long way since creating very first parts of such synergy and can already bear some fruits by providing different hardware components run by HiBy OS, music application and with the help of HiBy protocols.

Today we would like to review the latest HiBy portable HiRes audio stack that consists of three perfectly fitting components (sold separately, should become available as a bundle later), at more than affordable price and featuring some groundbreaking functions out of the box.

• HiBy R2 — budget HiRes DAP with WiFi, Tidal (+Qobuz) (MQA support)
• HiBy FD1 — DAC&AMP with SE & Balanced output, 2 USB modes
• HiBy BEANS — perfectly crafted, dynamic IEMs

So, this review would not be a regular one. Instead of splitting it to three parts, we would review the whole bundle, going through each device one by one.

HiBy R2 technical specifications:

• Operating System: HiBy OS
• SoC: Ingenic X1000E
• DAC: ES9218
• PCM: 32bit/384kHz / DSD: 128 (native)
• MSEB, HiBy Link support
• MQA support, 4x unfold, Tidal, Qobuz support
• Dual microphones for voice recording
• Ebook reader function
• Internet radio function
• Output power: 70mW+70mW
• THD+N: <0.001%
• Display size: 2.45”, IPS, touchscreen
• Display resolution: 480*360
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0 (aptX, LDAC, UAT)
• WiFi bands: 2.4GHz, 5GHz
• Battery size: 1000mAh
• Storage: MicroSD card, up to 2TB
• USB Type-C USB2.0 port
• Play time: 15 hours continuous
• Standby: 20 days
• Dimensions: 61*61*12 mm
• Weight: 85g

HiBy FD1 technical specifications:

• Chipset: SA2000
• DAC: 2 X ES9118
• 2 X crystal oscillators (44.1 & 48)
• DSD decoding: Native (SA2000), 128
• Buttons: Play/pause, volume+, volume-
• Status display: Tri-colour LED
• USB port Type-C
• Single ended output: 3.5mm (supports wired remote)
• SE output power: 25mW + 25mW
• Balanced output: 2.5mm
• Balanced output power: 75mW + 75mW
• Dimensions: 61.5*61.5*9.5mm
• Weight: 71.5g

HiBy Beans technical specifications: 

• Earphone type: In-ear monitors
• Diver type: dynamic driver with carbon nanotube (CNT) diaphragms
• Driver diameter: 10mm
• Frequency response: 20-20000Hz
• Sensitivity: 109dB
• Impedance: 32Ω
• Cable: silver-plated oxygen-free copper
• Cable length: 1.2m
• Connectors: 0.78mm, 2-pin connector (3.5mm terminated cable included)

Packaging and design:

R2:

This little DAP comes in a relatively small black box with colorful graphics, trademark information and company contacts. Box is pretty stiff, does a perfect job of protecting this gadget during the transportation. Inner compartment is split to three sections: top soft insert holds R2 at place, some accessories located underneath and one more little box contains USB cable. Full list of accessories is as following:

• R2 DAP
• plastic case
• USB type-C -> USB A cable
• user manual + leaflets

Moreover, R2 screen and back glass panel are both covered with a protective films out of the box. You would only need to peel off the extra protection layer.

This DAP is a small unit but still a little bit larger than its main rival — Hidizs AP80Pro. Chassis are made of zinc alloy with dark edge toning, beautiful glass back panel and large screen at the front.

Сontrol elements have �omfortable size, tight and well pronounced actuation. This, in overall, creates a feel of holding tough and durable device.

Two buttons (Volume + / -) are located at the left edge while three more buttons (Play/pause, Previous / Next) are placed on the opposite side. There is another beautifully designed element at the top — power button — that is encircled by the multicolor LED facing that shows different states and also synchronized to the sampling rate of the currently playing track.

Since R2 is capable of recording audio — it features two microphones that can do stereo recording and cancel out some significant noise. By the way, this function works perfectly, also allowing to choose the audio quality of the recording and the resulting file format.

Screen is definitely a virtue of R2 — 2.45 inches, IPS, vivid colors, good factory calibration, having snappy response and precise touch sensor positioning. Maximum brightness level is totally enough for outdoor use in a shade and little beat weak for sunny areas. Crispness and screen density are perfect for such physical size.

The only arguable part of this gorgeous screen is a quite large width of upper and lower frames. While it seems that frames are almost absent in power off state (borderless) — everything becomes clear when the screen becomes lit. Sides are almost touching the edges while upper and lower frames are unexpectedly wide.

Bottom edge contains USB type-C port, 3.5mm SE output and microSD card slot that supports up to 2TB capacity.

Semi transparent plastic case is a great accessory that protects R2 from physical damage. Moreover, it looks pretty elegant and gives an easy access to all control elements.

FD1:

HiBy FD1 is shipped in a small white box with shiny silver device outlines and company data imprints. Box is not that thick and holds only 1 layer consisting of soft insert for FD1 and small compartment with the accessories below. Full list of accessories are:

• FD1 DAC&AMP
• soft adhesive insert
• L-shaped USB type-C -> USB type-C cable
• straight short  USB type-C -> USB type-C cable
• long USB type-C -> USB A cable

Logically for the bundle, HiBy FD1 DAC&AMP has similar physical size and even the thickness comparing to R2. It resembles its shape but made of aluminum. One of the design elements is a beautiful recessed imprint of HiBy logo at the facing side.

Moreover, FD1 features its own controls — Play/Pause, Vol UP and DOWN buttons at the left edge, plus the additional USB 2.0 / USB 1.0 slider on the right that changes the connection mode and allows to run FD1 in Windows environment with or without a driver.

There is also a multi color LED that would show the running state and sampling rate of the track. Furthermore, when bundled together, R2 and FD1 LED colors would be synchronized.

Both 3.5mm SE and 2.5mm balanced output are located at the lower edge together with the USB type-C port.

FD1 is also equipped with small silicon standoffs at the bottom to make it less slippery on surface. Wise!

Beans:

Even though R2 and FD1 are more complicated devices, true delight of design admiration comes from IEMs side…

Anyway, the design of the box reminds of R2, has similar matt black appearance with gold outlines and white imprints. When opened — huh, perfect first impression.

Not only BEeans catch a sight with its excellent gold/silver/black color combination but also the case looks very attractive. Perhaps, Beans are the best looking IEMs so far that have gone through my hands.

Full list of accessories:

• BEANS IEMs
• 2-pin, 0.78mm cable
• case
• 3 pairs of memory foam eartips

Beans are made of two aluminum parts — silver body with perpendicular rough notches and top golden glossy cover, all formed to a bullet-like shape.

HiBy / Beans text is present in black color and cute font on both channels, as well as both channels have the corresponding indicators (left and right) represented by the blue and red dots on the transparent acrylic 2-pin cable connector bases. Output nozzles are protected with the aluminum grills.

Stock cable looks pretty good, declared to be OFC, features transparent resin connector housings with polarity indication, aluminum limiter and aluminum housing of the SE plug. Hopefully, HiBy would also include 2.5mm balanced cable version to Beans as an option and as a mandatory accessory when it would be sold with R2 + FD1 as a bundle. It would allow to disclose its full potential.

The case deserves some additional words regarding its design. The material chosen is great — feels like a fabric and looks expensive. The cover is securely held with the help of a magnet. Such case would not only fit IEMs, but also all of the accessories and couple of additional cables if necessary.

HiBy R2 in use:

Of course, R2 is a complete all-in-one DAP, packed with lots of modern features. When sold as a bundle with FD1 — it would only generate more power and allow 2.5mm balanced IEMs to be plugged in. The rest of the features are provided by R2 itself.

R2 uses X1000E CPU which is familiar from the previous experience with Hidizs AP80 family products. HiBy OS and UI are running smooth with no UI freezes or visible glitches. Touch screen is responsive, interaction feels linear and adequate. Screen size is completely enough for the DAP in all applications except such a rudiment function as E-reader which is present here on board. The text in this application is very small that limits its use.

Despite being positioned as entry-level DAP and priced so low, R2 still inherits some outstanding HiBy functions initially presented in their flagship / middle segment models:

• MSEB (MageSound 8ball, equalizer for the true audiophiles)
• HiBy Link (full remote control from a smartphone over Bluetooth)
• UAT (supreme Bluetooth codec, better than LDAC quality)

Besides that, R2also features:

• Bluetooth 5.0
• Bluetooth audio: SBC, AAC, aptX, LDAC, UAT
• Dual band WiFi: 2.4/5.0Ghz
• Paired mic with noise cancelling function
• Dedicated application to record stereo sound (only from inbuilt microphones, no support for external mic)
• Streaming audio: Tidal application (Qobuz should come to R2 a bit later)
• MQA 4x unfold (2x unfold when FD1 is connected)
• USB DAC
• Bluetooth Bi-directional DAC
• HiRes + HiRes Wireless standards approval

Pretty damn full-packed tiny little monster. What other entry-level DAP would feature and offer that much for the price? None…

Letâ€s get back to the user experience. R2 accepts up to 2TB microSD card and doesnâ€t have any storage on board. For those who already owned other HiBy players or even DAPs from Hidizs or other vendors that use HiBy OS — most of the UI functions and logics would be very familiar. Home screen consists of the application icons, controlled with slide gestures and has a couple of additional function to quickly go to playing now screen or see wireless connection toggles, time and state. Full application/shortcuts list is as following:

• Music (HiBy Music app)
• Recorder (sound recording)
• Tidal
• Books
• HiBy Link (remote control setup)
• MSEB
• Equalizer
• Import music via WiFi
• Update database
• Wireless settings
• Play settings
• System settings

Settings worth to be mentioned here:

• Import music via WiFi
  • opens the web access to this DAP over WiFi (shows IP address and port) to transfer songs from other devices
• Wireless settings
  • Bluetooth
    • toggles Bluetooth and allows to search and pair with other devices. Also gives the possibility to control which audio codec is used
  • WiFi
    • toggles WiFi and allows to search and connect to WiFi networks. Also gives the possibility to check network state, current IP and setup DNS
  • DLNA
    • just a toggle. Probably should be used to connect to DLNA server or setup DLNA server. Couldnâ€t find more information yet and hope that this function would be finalized in the nearest updates.

The rest of the settings are self-explanatory, all vital and regular functions are provided.

The only not very user-friendly UI function is a keyboard that pops up when there is a prompt option. Virtual keyboard buttons are very small and sometimes it gets quite hard to press it.

Main application is HiBy Music that handles all types of LQ and HQ audio formats, sorts files by favorites, recent, albums, artists, genres, formats and file names. It also supports playlists and can do the search. Main player screen shows album art, audio format, track time, amount of songs in current list, file properties, lyrics, gives the access to EQ and provides such functions as: seeking through track, adding to favorites, adding to playlist, deleting the file and changing play mode (shuffle, all, repeat 1, repeat all).  Unlike in Android version, audio settings on R2 are called not directly from HiBy Music app but are represented by a separate Audio settings shortcut from one of the main screens.

Audio streaming is provided by Tidal application which requires WiFi internet connection and asks for the login and password right after the initial launch. HiBy has announced adding Qobuz a bit later. My personal preference is Deezer which would probably not appear on this device. Nevertheless, Tidal HIFI account now acts as MQA provider for R2 which can do 4X unfold on its turn. What is peculiar, that even when connected to FD1, R2 would still support MQA unfold but would be limited to 2X only. Still its a good news for the fans who want to have HiRes sandwich and use Tidal or Qobuz applications. BTW, WiFi reception is quite strong and no interference coming in to the sound.

This DAP is able to work in USB DAC mode with either native Windows 10 driver or with the dedicated ASIO driver that would hopefully be released soon by HiBy. One of the drawback of Windows native driver is the maximum of 24bit/48kHz that it can process. Again, hopefully, dedicated ASIO driver would handle all modes in future.

One more strong side of R2 is its battery. Continuous play consisting mostly of the HiRes formats can reach 12-13 hours which is much longer compared to middle and upper class DAPs based on Android OS. Of course, using WiFi, streaming services and Bluetooth would put much more load on the battery. R2 would also get a bit warmer under such circumstances.

Our device is running on 1.0 FW version and there were no FW updates yet for this DAP. There are two option to update: using microSD card or doing OTA update over WiFi.

Anyway, as a summary: even though there are a couple of negative points in R2 user experience (control buttons rattle a bit, couple of functions are not yet fully developed) — it is a strong performer with groundbreaking functionality. UI is fluid, interactions are logic and smooth, battery is long lasting. Plenty of features packed into such a small device.

HiBy FD1 in use:

First of all, FD1 is designed to be used with any source, not only R2 DAP. It perfectly functions when connected to either PC or a smartphone. But concerning its physical shape and software capabilities — R2 seems to be the best pair for this DAC&AMP. We assume that the main idea was to allow R2 users to expand the functionality of their DAPs by adding balanced circuit and squeezing out more power for the end gear…

Since FD1 is not equipped with its own battery — it fully relies on USB power and drains the battery of the source. Ideal situation when you donâ€t have to worry about the battery level but the drawback is a limited output power. For instance, R2 produces 70mW/channel on its own, while FD1 would produce just a fraction more — 75mW/channel on balanced terminal. SE output is limited to 25mW/channel which is almost similar to any regular smartphone. Despite that, FD1, as a stack component, is able to improve the sound is many aspects which we would review in sound quality section.

FD1 doesnâ€t get hot during operation and the only sign of life is represented by LED light. Since the shape is similar to R2 — it perfectly fits this DAP underneath and the provided soft adhesive layer does the job in sandwich construction. Unfortunately, HiBy has not provided rubber bands or special plastic case to hold both devices together. Hopefully, they got the point of this complaint and would develop such accessory in future.

On the other hand, HiBy included three types of cables that would make the life easier. L-shaped type-C -> type-C cable perfectly fits sandwich setup, whereas other two straight cables are better to be used for smartphone or PC. All cables have aluminum connector housings and all seems to be durable. This is important because all cables have host and slave side and couldnâ€t be easily exchanged if lost or damaged.

FD1 is also equipped with its own Play|Pause, Vol UP / DOWN buttons that allows to avoid waking up the screen of a smartphone or DAP.

The situation with the drivers is similar to R2 — native driver support in Windows environment can be expanded to Windows 7/8/10 by switching to USB 1.0 using a special slider button. Although, to be able to play DSD — USB should be set to 2.0 and special driver is required. This driver has not yet been released.

Sound quality: 

Tested with Xiaomi Redmi Note 8Pro, Lenovo Y500, Hidizs Seeds SE and Hidizs Seeds Balanced versions of IEMs.

R2:

HiBy R2 sound makes the impression of a pretty neutral DAP with a slight tendency towards the warmth. Lows, mids and highs, in overall, are in a good balance making this DAP universal for any kind of music genres.

Midbass is powerful, fast and punchy, its expression and dynamics are impressive. Lows are well pronounced, moderately outlined and have a slight touch of lift that adds a bit of warmth and some extra body to the sound.

Clarity and crispness on higher frequencies are moderate, their presence is not overwhelming or irritating. Just enough for a good balance and shows good amount of micro details. Mids are naturally sounding with reach vocals and weighted presence in the entire mix. Female vocals are neither screaming, nor too thin.

Again, R2 signature is a bit on the darker side by very slightly emphasizing lows, no tube-like performance, no cattle effect. Do not forget about MSEB feature that gives the additional control over such aspects of the sound as:

• sound temperature
• bass extension
• bass texture
• note thickness
• vocals
• female overtones
• sibilance LF
• sibilance HF
• impulse response
• air

Channel separation and entire scene are moderate, neither revealing, nor disappointing. Letâ€s say that it is pretty similar to other entry-level DAPs.

Further sound improvement is achieved when FD1 is connected to R2. And here we have some contradictory feelings. As a matter of fact, we did like SE output of R2 more than when paired to FD1 and its SE output is used. R2 SE output seems to be more detailed, clean (regarding mixing of instruments), highs have better extension and resolution. Sound is more balanced. FD1 SE output makes the sound brighter, puts an accent on highs and sound less intimate and holistic. But this is the case of direct comparison. By itself, FD1 SE output stays significantly better than a regular smartphone or laptop sound in terms of overall dynamics, resolution, instrument separation and power output.

In contrary to FD1 SE output, when Balanced port is used — sound improves in many aspects, leaving R2 behind. First, the signature looses aforemended warmth and becomes a bit brighter but with no further negative effect. Other aspects affected: textures and details get more evident, midbass gets more dynamics and drive, highs are treated better as well — more extended and accurate. Stage also spreads to sides and creates a feeling of larger room.

R2 V/S Hidizs AP80Pro:

For us, the main competitor in terms of audio quality as well as the functionality is the latest Hidizs DAP — AP80Pro. It has quite different philosophy, shows some pros and cons in the direct comparison but stays close to R2 in its nature. R2 is packed with lots of features unavailable for AP80Pro but requires the additional device to manage balanced output. Whereas AP80Pro is not that sophisticated in terms of function list but has balanced circuit on board that is able to drive higher loads due to more output power (190mW/channel).

Concerning the sound — R2 and AP80Pro are pretty close with SE outputs. The slight difference is obvious in the signatures — R2 sounds bit more warm and thick, while AP80Pro doesnâ€t make any accent on lows. This difference is only fractional, gets evident during A/B tests. The rest of the sound characteristics feel to be similar. AP80Pro Balanced V/S R2 + FD1 Balanced output literally removes the difference even in signatures and the devices get even closer (still AP80Pro balanced output is much more powerful). Therefore, AP80Pro is the main rival indeed, but the decision would be tough since the usage scenarios and philosophy are completely different.

Beans:

Similar to the first positive impression about Beans design, sound quality is most revealing out of three components of this HiBy bundle. Being priced as low as $59 — Beans are the best bullet-like shaped dynamic IEMs so far. Slight and engaging V-tuning serves a good role here, instead of irritating with overly bright highs and overemphasized lows. Everything is smooth, accurate and delightful. Good extensions on both extremes, impressive clarity of highs for single dynamic model, excellent control with clear instrument outlines, more than moderate texturing and resolution.

Beans can easily compete with more expensive dynamic IEMs from Periodic Audio, DUNU, TFZ and other brands. Furthermore, the fit is surprisingly comfortable as for the bullet-like IEMs. Achieved by the combination of weight and stock memory foam tips.

One recommendation: if you like R2 + FD1 + Beans bundle — consider getting 2.5mm balanced cable for Beans. This would significantly improve sound quality resulting from FD1.

Conclusion: 

HiBy released three HiRes components at once, each one represents a great performer, either used as a bundle or separately. R2 is a groundbreaking entry level DAP, packed with lots of modern functions typical for flagship models and delivers audiophile-grade sound quality. FD1 is handy little DAC&AMP that equally improves the sound from a smartphone, PC or even R2 DAP while expanding the functionality by adding balanced output. Beans IEMs make a perfect match to this capable bundle, especially with 2.5mm balanced connection. All three are underpriced judging by the offered features and performance level in comparison to the corresponding rivals. Therefore, this HiRes sandwich or its separate ingredients are all tasty and highly recommended.

HiBy R2 official store and page: LINK

HiBy FD1 official store and page: LINK

HiBy Beans official store and page: LINK

Thank you for reading.

Stay tuned, more reviews to come!

For the last few years Iâ€ve been observing how Hidizs has developed from a small domestic single-product company to the international and respected portable HiFi gear brand. My experience covers each single piece of their audio technology: AP100, AP200, AP60, AP60Pro, AP80 DAPs, all IEMs, cable DAC converters, stand alone DAC, etc. Canâ€t state that all of those had flawless performance but none has fallen short of expectations in terms of audio quality. Still love my old AP100 and still use AP80 as the most convenient one. Furthermore, Hidizs was the first to utilize HiBy OS with its excellent HiBy link option which has become a golden standard for various current DAPs from other brands.

Today I woud like to review their latest incarnation of very popular AP80 DAP — AP80Pro. There were couple of revisions of AP80 in the past, mostly dedicated to physical user experience, but AP80Pro is a huge leap of completely different nature — Pro version brings balanced circuit with the additional 2.5mm audio output and more power to drive higher loads…

Hidizs AP80Pro technical data:

• CPU: Ingenic X1000
• DAC: Dual ES9218P
• Decoding: DSD64/128/256, PCM 384kHz/32Bit
• Output: Single-ended 3.5mm / Balanced 2.5mm
  • Single-ended Output: 70mW + 70mW @ 32Ω
    • Frequency Response: 20-90kHz
    • Total Harmonic Distortion+Noise: 0.0015% (1kHz)
    • Dynamic Range: 115dB
    • Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 119dB
    • Channel Separation: 70dB (1kHz, A-weight, Rated Output)
  • Balanced Headphone Output: 190mW + 190mW @ 32Ω
    • Frequency Response: 20-90kHz
    • Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise: 0.0015% (1kHz)
    • Dynamic Range: 116dB
    • Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 120dB
    • Channel Separation: 98dB (1kHz, A-weight, Rated Output)
• Recommended Headphone Impedance Range 8-200Ω (Recommended value)
• FM: 4705
• Pedometer Sensor: KX126
• FPGA DSD: HBC3000
• Operating System: HiBy OS 3.0
• Bluetooth: Bidirectional Bluetooth 4.2, support aptX, LDAC, UAT
• USB Port: Type-C, supports bidirectional USB DAC
• Remote Operation: HiBy Link
• Display: Samsung 2.45″ (480Ă—360) IPS HD Touchscreen
• Housing: Aluminium alloy CNC
• Body Colors: black, gray, blue, red
• Rear Cover Material: stereoscopic glass
• Volume Knob: Japanese ALPS
• Buttons 3 physical: play/pause, previous track, next track
• Maximum Storage Expansion: 512GB with MicroSD
• Battery: 800mAh 3.7V Li-Polymer Battery
• Work time: PO interface: 8-11 hours runtime, LO interface: 6-8 hours runtime (depends on actual usage)
• Deep standby: 50 days (depends on actual usage)
• Charging Time: ~ 1 hour (5V, 2A)
• Runtime: About 8-10 hours or above
• Net Weight: 68g

Going through new specs it is clear that the main change between AP80 and its successor is in the balanced output section. What pleases me the most is that rated power with the new output has grown up to 190mW per channel. It is enough to drive high impedance / low sensitivity head gear which was my only concern about the initial release of AP80 in comparison to more powerful DAPs.

It also happens so that I currently have both versions of this player and would be able to compare their musical and functional performance with similar IEMs.

Packaging and design:

No much changes here. Very similar cute matt black box with silver logo and specification imprints. Some minor changes to the previous version in size (it got a bit smaller) and shape but the insides are similarly well protected and neatly packed.

First goes soft podium that holds AP80Pro, the rest of accessories in their boxes rest underneath. Here you would find:

• AP80Pro DAP with front and back screen guards preapplied
• Silicon case
• USB type-C -> USB A cable
• USB type-C -> microUSB cable
• 2 additional front and back screen guarding film
• couple of leaflets
• short user manual

Silicon case quality became better this time. All button openings and edges are cut more precisely and look more neat. Hoped that screen guards would also become more precise, but unfortunately not. It still physically exceeds the screen, making film guard easy to get peeled off accidentally.

More significant changes found in AP80Pro housing compared to its predecessor: design got more complicated and definitely consumes more CNC machine time. Side edges became curved, new shape around volume knob makes it easier for access.

Physical size gained couple of millimeters in one dimension, making new DAP version little bit wider. This change is caused by the new design of the side edges.  Thickness and weight has not changed.

Screen size and performance didnâ€t change at all. It is the same 2.45″ IPS  touchscreen with more than enough resolution and sensitivity for this type of a product.

The only difference that Iâ€ve spotted is that the new screen has slightly warmer initial calibration compared to AP80. It behaves perfectly, has wide viewing angles and enough brightness to interact with it outside.

The only new element which is 2.5mm balanced output is located at the bottom edge, left to USB type-C port. The location of other elements has not changed.

Performance and UI:

AP80Pro is based on HiBy OS 3.0 and Ingenic X1000 CPU. This combination stays unchanged since the initial release of AP80 DAP and still demonstrates smooth behavior of the user interface. First scan is very fast even with 128GB cards full of different format tracks, all operations are quite snappy.

Seen couple of interface freezes when scrolling through large list of songs but 99% of other interactions are naturally responsive. Havenâ€t spotted any FW glitches with the latest 1.1 OS version, neither found any severe bugs or translation errors among function list. If you are using any smarpthones based on iOS or Android — youâ€d feel like being home. Each feature or program is represented by a separate icon.

All general device and audio settings are gathered in Settings Menu, whereas all deep and more precise audio preferences like EQ and filters are located only in HiBy Music application. By the way, HiBy Music looks very similar to its versions for other platforms. No surprises here.  It also features such function as HiBy Link that allows you to control this DAP from a smartphone.

Menu structure:

• Main screen apps:
  • Player
  • FM
  • Step counter
  • Bluetooth
  • System settings
  • About
• System settings:
  • Language
  • Database update (Auto|Manual)
  • Brightness (1-100% slider)
  • Backlight time (stay on or 10 — 120 sec)
  • Color theme (ON|OFF, pattern selection, slider selection)
  • Font size (small|middle|big)
  • USB mode (Storage, Audio, Dock)
  • Time settings (date, format, time)
  • Idle timer (OFF, 1-10min)
  • Sleep timer (OFF, 5-120min)
  • Battery percentage display (ON|OFF)
  • Standby (ON|OFF)
  • InLine remote (ON|OFF)
  • Recording steps (ON|OFF)
  • Lock volume knob (ON|OFF)
  • Screensaver (OFF|Album cover|Dynamic cover)
  • Restore defaults
  • FW update
• Bluetooth
  • ON|OFF
  • Device Name
  • HiBy Link (ON|OFF)
    • High Quality (SBC, aptX, UAT 600k, 900k, 1,2M, Prefer LDAC, LDAC standard, LDAC quality priority)
  • Bluetooth volume adjust
  • Search devices
  • Paired devices
  • Available devices
• HibyMusic settings:
  • Update database
  • MSEB
  • EQ
  • Play settings:
    • Play mode (through list, loop single, shuffle, loop list)
    • DSD output mode (PCM, DoP, Native)
    • DSD gain compensation (0-6)
    • Resume play (none, track, position)
    • Gapless play (ON|OFF)
    • Soundfield (ON|OFF, -1 — 3)
    • Max volume
    • Power On volume (Memory, 0-100)
    • Crossfade (ON|OFF)
    • Gain (LOW|HIGH)
    • ReplayGain (none, by track, by album)
    • Balance
    • Antialiasing filter (LPFR, LPSR, MPFR, MPSR, AFR, ASR, CMPFR, BW)
    • Play through folders (ON|OFF)
    • Play through albums (ON|OFF)
• Drop down PLAY NOW menu:
  • List now playing
  • Add to playlist
  • EQ
  • View album
  • Properties
  • Delete
• PLAY NOW screen options:
  • PLAY|PAUSE
  • Seek slider
  • NEXT|PREVIOUS TRACK
  • PLAY MODE (shuffle, loop, etc)
  • Menu
  • Add to favorite

One additional and handy feature — you can drag down quick settings panel from the top of the screen to change gain, USB mode, toggle Bluetooth and toggle line out.

Should say that the pedometer function was not reliable in AP80, donâ€t see much changes with the AP80Pro. My Amazfit Bip watches show more steps for the similar period. Therefore, I wouldnâ€t use this function in AP80Pro much. The rest are working as it should. First Iâ€ve tried to update FW from 1.0 to 1.1 -> success. For that we have to download FW from Hidizs website, unpack it and place update.upt file to the root of SD card. Than run FW update from System menu. It would take about a minute to get it done.

FM radio would only work when headphones are connected cause they serve the role of antenna. Autoscan and fine tuning functions are available. Scan range is between 76.00MHz to 108.00MHz.

One of the most convenient function of HiBy OS — HiBy Link — that allows  full remote control over HiBy Music player from a smartphone works great. Album covers, song list, play mode, volume — all major functions can be controlled from a smartphone. Love this function that makes AP80 home audio integration and remote control in such user case very convenient.

USB DAC:

I always check this function and spending some time watching live or recorded concerts on Youtube or other platforms. Short audio lag and good driver is what I would chase in this test.

USB DAC mode works perfectly either with the dedicated TUSB (ASIO) driver available at Hidizs website or with the native Windows 10 driver (USB DAC). But note that ASIO version might produce more audio lag which would not be very comfortable for watching videos. USB native DAC driver is completely free of this lag. There is no problems in video to audio stream synchronization while watching videos and sending sound through AP80Pro to phones. Neither there are any problems of using it with Foobar2000 player over Wasapi (event or push).

Using AP80Pro as external DAC for Xiaomi Redmi Note 8Pro smartphone with the provided microUSB type-C -> microUSB cable works fine. HiBy Music app recognized this device and allowed us to send bit-by-bit perfect stream.

I have also checked such rarely used function as «transport»: sending digital audio stream though DAP USB to another DAC USB that drives home audio system. Even this scenario worked as expected.

Same scenarios of sending / receiving stream may also be used over bluetooth. So called bidirectional bluetooth DAC. Bluetooth supports aptX, LDAC and UAT codecs (along with lower audio quality standard codecs). Iâ€ve been able to check aptX IEMs and UAT 1.2M device (HiBy W5 bluetooth receiver) — both worked fine while sending data from AP80Pro. The distance was about 8-12 meters away before audio started to show some severe interruptions. The other way around was checked by sending audio stream from Redmi Note 8Pro to AP80Pro over bluetooth — no problems there either.

Audio quality:

First, I would like to share AP80 general impressions and than I would compare it to AP80Pro by pointing out the changes. Such approach is logical because 3.5 audio output has not changed at all (or there are only subtle changes). Therefore, the main difference and new experience would come from balanced 2.5mm output. To keep this comparison precise, Iâ€ve used AP80 + Hidizs Seeds 3.5mm V|S AP80Pro + Hidizs Seeds 2.5 balanced IEMs. So, similar IEMs with different types of connection, same settings, same audio material.

Initial AP80 impressions: 

What I like the most is that AP80 sounds neutral with no tendency to emphasize any frequency. Lows, mids and highs are in good balance making this DAP universal to feed it with any kind of music genre. I would call it a precise source for connecting any further audio equipment like headphones, large power amps, active speakers, etc.

Good clarity and crispness on higher frequencies with the further ability to switch filter effects; precise texturing and presence of lows; powerfull, fast and punchy midbass; natural sounding at midrange with pleasing vocals and its weighted presence in the entire mix. ATH-M50 40Ohms load is easily driven by AP80 creating the feel of mature and balanced sound picture.

The signature is a bit on the brighter side, no moody or tube-like performance, no cattle effect. Bass is completely enough to hear its nuances with ATH-M50, at least. Neither weâ€ve found the disturbing presence of sibilance in highest octave. Besides, we didnâ€t even try to play with HibyMusic MSEB feature that gives additional control over such aspects as:

• sound temperature
• bass extension
• bass texture
• note thickness
• vocals
• female overtones
• sibilance LF
• sibilance HF
• impulse response
• air

all of that was kept at default settings during out tests and the resulting sound didnâ€t require any changes. But the availability of such features, along with gain and filters, gives you a huge field for rurther experiments of tuning this source for the final audio equipment in chain.

Channel separation is better than entry-level models demonstrate but not so distant as in case with flagship DAPs or AMPs with coupled DAC chips. The resulting sound stage width, depth and instument location is equal or even a bit more than we would expected from such portable device. Monaural recordings show good distance and intsrument placement on stage with clear horizontal and vertical position.

I also tested AP80 with Hidizs Seeds IEMs and found that they make a great pair. ATH-M50, sometimes, might emphasize low frequencies and are very straight forward. Excellent for detail analysis and tests but too strict for getting some rest… Seeds IEMs are softer, warmer and smooth. They create the additional fluency while maintaining the same amount of details.

AP80 SE V|S AP80Pro Balanced output: 

The main advantage of using AP80Pro balanced output instead of AP80 3.5 SE is the amount of power it produces which inevitably leads to more juicy presentation, more dynamics (especially in midbass section), more clarity and transaprency in overall.

Of course, this difference only becomes apparent with high impedance headphones or IEMs which require more power to be driven to an aprropriate level. If pairing both DAPs with the same low impedance | high sensitivity IEMs the differences in sound get less apparent… Perhaps, the main difference is better instrument separation and larger imaginary stage. In other words — I like balanced output sound more due to extended assertiveness in combination with less cramped feel under the same circumstances.

Freedom to choose more demanding output head gear and having enough power in reserve under the hood — this what makes AP80Pro superior to its precedessor even if the changes in audio signature and characteristics are on the subtle side.

 Conclusion:   

Since the first day of arrival the initial version of AP80 became the main portable source of audio for me and was serving its role perfectly up till now. There were some bugs at the beginning which were eliminated by Hidizs with the new FW releases. The only arguable spec was its output power resulting into a range of final gear limited to a lower impedance.

The release of AP80Pro not only inherited all the virtues of the previous DAP, but also comes with a stable FW and solves the aforemended concern. Now it can squish more juice of a higher loads while apparently increasing audio quality in terms of channel separation and dynamic range. Thus, Hidizs had done a really good job of transforming their excellent ultra-portable DAP to an ultimate and mighty piece of technology, especially in respect of its size. Should one switch to AP80Pro from a previous version — probably not unless there is no intention to use it with high impedance gear. Is it worth to buy or should be chosen over AP80? Definitely yes — it is an excellent bargain, packed with lots of modern features, with a great sound and good user experience.

10% discount for any item at Hidizs store using our promocode: ZMCR10

Official AP80Pro page and store: LINK

Official Hidizs Amazon store: LINK

Thank you for reading.

Stay tuned, more reviews to come!

It has been quite hot this season for different discroveries and revelations among HiRes DAPs, IEMs and other audio accessories. One of the main premieres was the HiBy R6Pro DAP with mighty power output, packed with lots of features and built on excellent HW base. Virtually, this model has eliminated the differences between high-quality smartphones and HiRes DAPs, combining the latest Android OS fluent operation with recent Direct Transport Architecture (DTA) protocol, fully functional Google Play services and excellent sound quality. But here comes the successor — HiBy R5 — slightly less sophisticated model, positioned below R6Pro flagship, but with the same philosophy, new features and revised hardware.

Note: this unit was provided to me by HiBy in exchange for the honest opinion and review.

HiBy R5 at official store

HiBy R5 technical specifications:

General HW&SW:

• Operating System Android 8.1
• SoC Snapdragon 425
• No. of CPU Cores 4
• CPU Max Frequency 1.4GHz
• Display 4.0 inches, IPS
• Resolution 540*1080
• PPI 300
• Touchscreen control
• RAM 2GB
• Internal Storage 16GB
• External Storage Up tp 512GB + via 1 micro SD card
• Firmware Update Over-the-air update
• Text Size Ajustable
• 3rd Party Apps Unrestricted access via Google Play and apk download

Audio:

• DAC CS43198 x 2
• C43198 dual crystal oscillators (45.1584 + 49.152MHz)
• Max output power: 1040mW+1040mW@16Ω / 564mW+564mW@32Ω
• Headphone Impedance Range 16~300Ω
• EQ Adjustments 10 bands (±12dB)
• MSEB function
• Channel Balance L 10dB to R 10dB
• Gain Level Low / High
• USB DAC PCM/DoP/Native
• Headphone Out 3.5mm
• Balanced Headphone Out 4.4mm
• Line Out 3.5mm LO
• Balanced Out 4.4mm LO
• Digital Out SPDIF (USB out)

Connectivity:

• WIFI 5GHz/2.4GHz, supports IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n protocols
• Two-way Bluetooth 4.2 (supports: apt-X, apt-X HD, LDAC, UAT)
• USB TypeC (USB2.0 data rate)
• USB USB storage, USB DAC IN/OUT

Physical:

• Buttons 6 physical buttons
• Buttons Definitions Power/Previous/Pause/Next/Volume Up/Volume Down
• Colors Black/Gray/Gold
• Dimensions 107.7*61.2*15.6mm

Power:

• Power Supply 9V/1.5A
• Battery 3500mAh
• Charge Time 2H
• Charge Protocol QC3.0

Most important features of this DAP:

Dual Cirrus Logicâ€s CS43198: Cirrus Logic audio products with the MasterHIFI™ and SmartHIFI™ designed to meet the highest standard in high-fidelity audio playback. MasterHIFI and SmartHIFI products deliver the very best performance in sound clarity and pure, euphoric audio listening.

Combines Headphone & Line Out functions: both 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports support headphone and line out functions. Thanks to battery space and efficiency optimizations, this palm-sized powerhouse outputs balanced power up to 1040mW+1040mW@16Ω and 564mW+564mW@32Ω, yet manages to last up to 11 hours balanced / 18 hours SE.

DTA Architecture: Android sample rate conversion bypass. Its DTA Android global lossless output technology ensuring that sound output and reception would not be interfered with.

UAT (Ultra Audio Transmission): the ultimate Bluetooth HiFi audio quality provided by audio codec developed by HiBy. Supporting an industry-highest sample rate of 192kHz and data bandwidth of 1.2Mbps.

Two-way Bluetooth: HiBy R5 supports two-way Bluetooth, which can be used as a Bluetooth transmitter or receiver.

Packaging, design and build quality:

Traditionally for HiBy, R5 DAP comes in black matt box with embossed product name, logo and slogan. Back side of the box contains company address, regular precautions and sticker with the barcode.

Inner box compartment consists of soft insert that holds R5 DAP at place and couple of additional cases with the accessories underneath it.

Box contents:

• HiBy R5 DAP (with preapplied screen and back panel protective film)
• Memory card clip
• USB type-C -> USB cable
• Transparent silicone case
• 1 extra screen protector
• User manual
• Couple of leaflets concerning warranty

Silicone case is a great accessory to have right out of the box — no need to jump across the websites in a search of the protection for such beatiful and at the same time vulnerable device. This case is transparent, with precise openings for all the buttons and ports.

HiBy R5 shell is made of rough aluminum with lots of glass panels. Front part is occupied by the glass cover of 4inch, almost boarderless, 2.5D screen.

Similar in dimension 2.5D glass panel is applied to the back side of this DAP.

Top and bottom edges are also covered with glass. Only the curved sides represents pure aluminum with no additional decore elements.

As to the physical controls and ports: top edge if left totally blank while right side contains volume buttons and memory card slot, left side — power, plays/pause/ previous/next buttons and bottom edge gathered all ports (3.5mm / 4.4mm / USB type-C).

Again, traditionally for HiBy, power button is combined with multicolor LED that indicates charging states and type / quality of currently playing audio. All buttons have comfortable feel, not too tight or too loose, with the obvious click. No rattling or free movement of buttons or other elements whatsoever.

In overall, the design of R5 is kind of conservative but with interesting and attractive findings in descoration by glass panels. Build quality is excellent, there is absolutely nothing to complain about.

The only thing that might have been improved is the screen protection film that is preapplied on the factory — its edges are getting peeled off the curved sided of the screen. As far as I know this is the headache for all manufacturers now if they have chosen to deal with 2.5D screen glass.

Screen:

Surely, this is one of the main recent trends and one of the best screens you would find among all current DAPs. HiBy didnâ€t hesitate to provide the best user experience in terms of vitrual controls in its Android-based player.

Expect similar behavior of 4inch multitouch IPS as in any high-quality smartphone. There is vitrually not distance between screen glass and panel, all finger interactions with vitrual elements are precise. One OTA update for R5 has already been released that have raised touch layer sensitivity which made the intercations even more comfortable and snappy.

Screen density of 300PPI is totally enough for this physical size to maintain the balance between very good picture detalization and size of the elements. HiBy R6Pro still holds the lead as the DAP with the best screen but R5 is a only a fraction behind: brightness level and contrast are almost equal while the sensitivity and sharpness of R6Pro screen is still slightly better.

But the IPS panels, at least, seem to originate from the same vendor — color calibration and other parameters are very close to each other. Great screen, still rare for DAPs and that would not limit functionality of the device.

OS and UI in operation:

In general, Andoid OS and stock UI feel great on the chosen Snapdragon 425 platform. Itâ€s working fast, with fluent system animations and good response. 2GB RAM might become a limitation in case if to load too many apps but the main idea of this device is to deliver best audio quality with stock HiBy Music app. Several other apps like Youtube, Tidal, etc wonâ€t do much difference and would coexist perfectly.

Just remember not to open to many tabs in browser  as always. Some slight hiccups when scrolling through songs were found in HiBy Music app right after the initial track list was populated by the SD scan function. When the indexing was over — nothing like this was spotted again. Fluent and snappy.

R5 back side of the case heats up while charging to about 38-39C. Less heat is generated when it is just decoding audio.

Outputs and connectivity:

One of the best thing about R5 is the amount of connectivity options leading to the different usage scenarios. First of all — they have combined 3.5mm SE / 4.4mm Balanced phone outputs with LO options.

Although, couldnâ€t find the information of the impedance change when LO is selected on either of the two ports. Volume lock doesnâ€t occur either, it just jumps to the highest setting when you select LO mode with the further ability to control it. Next is the two-way Bluetooth that allows the reception or sending audio stream with the most sophisticated wireless protocols such as LDAC. Moreover, Bluetooth supports UAT codec as well — highest quality of Bluetooth audio (24bit/192kHz) currently available on the market and developed by HiBy.

And finally, USB DAC / SPDIF out to use this player as external USB audio card or transport. Unfortunately, there is no dedicated ASIO driver yet listed in the download section of HiBy official support page (waiting for that to appear later) and the only option in Windows environment is to use WASAPI instead. Vitrually no audio lag in this scenario which leads to comfortable multimedia consumption.

Another main concern about R5 in comparison to its flagship relative is whether it does have the same amount of interference caused by radio wave emitting devices and whether there is a similarly apparent noise floor on balanced output. And the answer for both questions — no. Havenâ€t noticed any interference even a smartphone is brought very close to R5. Neither have I noticed any noise — the background stays perfectly dark.

FW upgrades:

This is too easy part as this DAP supports OTA updates that are pushed by HiBy when available. Ocassional checks would notify about the new versions with the full changelog. The update would be executed automatically after pressing Update button. No reason to download, unpack, copy and place the files in the right folders — everything is automated here. The back door through recovery mode still exists when something went wrong with the main process but, hopefully, wouldnâ€t be necessary. For now there was one update that increased touchscreen sensitivity and provided some other minor fixes.

Sound quality:

Tested with AudioTechnica ATH-M50, Tanchjim Oxygen, Magaosi K6, Earnine EN2J, Moondrop Kanas Pro, Anew U1, HIFI BOY OSV3…  

Driving ability: most of the time the volume with IEMs of up to 32Ω was kept at 62% and low gain setting. This was enough to drive IEMs well and to have slightly more volume than necessary for comfortable listening.

Lows and midbass:

R5 has textured and perfectly outlined lows with enough presence and absence of the accent on this range. Bass is deep with fast decay. Lows are clear, naturally fill the space and perfectly separated from mids and treble. Bass remains fully perceptible at all volume levels. Midbass section feels powerful and have enough dynamics to deliver drums naturally. Sound stays neutral here — no evident influence from lower or higher ranges.

Mids and vocals:

Vocals as well as the instruments in mids are quite thick and dense. The perceptible resolution is impressive and seems to be slightly raised by the influence of treble. Very slight emotional bloom here and there on female vocals and upper mid range instruments. Although, no screaming notes and no hisses. Male and female voices sound naturally and equally exposed. Instrument separation is decent which also helps to define a larger stage. In overall, mids feel smooth, slightly warm and mellow with a slight emotional touch on higher portion.

Treble:

Treble is clear and crisp while seems to be slightly more exposed that lows. It produces a bit thin sound with no tendency to show the excessive amount of sibilances. It is less delicate than reproduced by R6Pro but giving the sound more transparency and brightness. The overall signature of R5 is slightly brighter and colder because of that (in comparison to R6Pro).

Soundstage:

R5 produces large imaginary stage in both — width and depth. Stage is very large when paired with good IEMs over balanced type of connection. Precise instument locations, defined contours, good layering between the ranges and distinct sound of all the instruments.

Compared to HiBy R6Pro:

R6Pro definitely has more reference-like neutral sound with a little accent on delivering and resolving lows. It sounds mellow and warm with high amount of harmonics in lower and mid ranges. Treble is very delicate and calm. HiBy R5 is less oriented towards lows, exposing and resolving treble more. This leads to more emotional, energetic and brighter sound signature. Although, R5 and R6Pro have similarly good texturing on bass and large soundstage.

Conclusion:

Despite being positioned by HiBy lower that their flagship R6Pro, R5 DAP, as a successor, have some new features and advantages, revised balanced output and keeps up with the same satisfying user experience quite well. Due to high driving potential, it earns similar award for being a powerhouse among most of the other DAPs and due to its hardware/software base — for being a full-feature pack. Moreover, free of radio interference and with showing perfectly black background. Only thing that left is too choose whether you want neutral reference sound of R6Pro or slightly brigher and emotional sound of R5… Either of two would be a great bargain.

Hiby R5 at official store

In contrary to highly saturated market of IEMs, new brand names in HiRes DAP segments appear much less often. A portion of excitement hits the first rows of most active audiophiles and either being carried further to the masses or subsides in silence. This mostly depends of the price to performance ratio, in which the second variable addresses the sound quality and user satisfaction in overall. Tough work for any company or person while making their first steps on this minefield. A person (or group of people) behind Dethonray (Prelude) DTR1 was brave enough to give it a try, supported by the years of experience of working for other well-known HiRes DAP brands. Therefore, this horse is not that dark after investigating its roots and the decision of a founder to start as well as a future cutomer to purchase become less adventorous.

First impressions of DTR1 DAP have already been spotted on the net and those are positive. My idea was to spend at least a week of playing with this product, comparing it to the most popular DAP with the same price tag and to try it out with some good IEMs. The time has come to share my own impressions and opinion.

Note: this unit was provided to me by PenonAudio in exchange for the honest opinion and review.

Dethonray Prelude DTR1 is available at PenonAudio store

Prelude DTR1 technical specifications:

• Type: HiRes audio player
• DAC: AK4490EQ
• AMP: 2 x TI OPA161 (Left+Right channels)
• Sample rates: 44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192 kHz
• Audio formats: WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, APE (Normal, High, Fast), AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF/DSF, OGG
• Frequency response range: 20Hz ~ 20kHz
• SNR: 117dB
• THD: 0.008%
• Max. power output: L: 1.7Vrms + R: 1.7Vrms (16Ω)
• OS: Linux + Ocelot GUI
• Memory: MicroSD (exFAT), up to 2TB, handles > 100,000 songs
• Audio outputs: 3.5mm Line-out + 3.5mm headphones
• Connectivity: MicroHDMI (data + charging port)
• Battery: 2cell, LiON, ±8.5V PSU, life 10 hours
• Dimensions HxWxD: 100x56x16.4mm
• Color: Black

Most important features of this DAP:

• Separate power for decoding and amplifying: DTR1 adapts dual high-density battery customized power system, designed for High-Fidelity while ensuring separation of digital and analog power to eliminate circuit noise from the source, alike an enhanced DAP + Amplifier system but with a minimal path and hard soldered joints with no compromises. The ±8.5V PSU remarkably improves efficiency of clean power supplied to the system, with noticeable qualities in transparency and background noise control without the need to excessively damping the output.
• AMP + LPF: an important part along the signal path – LPF (Low pass filter) adopts two TI OPA1611 on each channel (L/R). Together with the AK4490 chipset the design illustrates a very lively, dynamic output. The amplification circuitry features a mature AD8397 implementation with low distortion, super loading capability not to mention slew rate of 53v/us and 69M bandwidth, further boosted with ±7V power supply.
• EMI shielding: with the precision machining on aviation grade, light-weight aluminum alloy, DTR1 is shielded from EMI disturbance for a cleaner background during play. Precise structural designs with high reliability parts also a patented user interface are combined in pursuit of perfection in sound and optimization of both hardware and software within the design.
• Custom LinuxOS and Ocelot GUI: DTR1 runs on a deeply-customized Linux OS audio sub-system which utilize a OSS sub-system 30% higher in efficiency than the ALSA audio sub-system. The customized and optimized decode engine ”Nature” synergize effectively with the Linux OS, decodes in optimal condition and reduces transmission delay. Patented ultra light weight GUI system ”Ocelot”, Customized GAI (Graphics Abstract Layer), GDI (Graphic Device Interface), IAL (Input Abstract Layer), SCM (System Control Module), Audio files indexing system – promises minimal MMI, high speed navigation and supporting up to indexing 160000 songs.

Packaging, design and build quality:

DTR1 comes in a matt black folding box with extra layer of cardboard cover. Neither of those two reveals any additional information about the product. The only design elements are white brand and product name prints at the center. Minimalistic approach in packaging design is usually a sign of highlighting the main product purpose instead of hiding the shortcomings behind colorful presentation… In either case, box does its job of securing the purchase during the transporation well. Came safe and undamaged.

Box inner compartment is split into two layers. Top layer is a soft insert with the opening for DTR1 and bottom one is for keeping the rest of the accessories. Both DTR1 screen and bottom glass panel have a protective film layers preapplied but those are for the transporation purposes only.

Box contents:

• Dethonray Prelude DTR1 DAP
• USB A -> MicroHDMI data cable
• wall charger
• DTR1 founder business card
• user manual

Pity that there was no permanent screen / back panel protectors or any type of case among the accessories. I feel that such beatiful device is too vulnerable to possible physical damage without any type of protection. Hopefully, Dethonray would release leather case soon. At least there are such rumorses travelling around the net.

DTR1 case is made of CNC aluminum with the glass panel covering almost the entire space at the back. Design is very clean and strict but at the same time very attractive. Everything is matt black except for the polished beveled edges of the front cover and all physical control elements outlining their shape.

Back glass panel and metallic brand logo underneath contribute a lot to the overall beauty of this device and also add some splendor.

The use of aluminum and total weight of 146 grams creates the perception of holding durable and cold piece of technology at your hands. Despite that DTR1 doesnâ€t have a unibody construction, its top cover and base parts are aligned so perfect that it still feels as one solid block. Moreover, buttons donâ€t have any free play and donâ€t rattle at all which also adds to the overall feel.

Control elements and user experience:

Screen:

Top part of the front panel is occupied with 2.32″ TFT screen. The type of the screen and its resolution numbers are not provided among other device specs but my guess would be IPS with something like 640Ă—480 pixels. At least, the viewing angles are ok and thin diagonal lines on the screen donâ€t produce a so called «ladder effect» common for low resolution screens in combination with larger physical size. Screen edges are ~4.5mm, partially hidden by black screen outlines that visually merges with the shell when the screen is off. Screen doesnâ€t have a touch sensor layer, thus all user interaction happens with the help of numerous physical buttons. Which is great, I believe. Always preferred phyical controls over touch screens for easy blind operations.

While in operation, DTR1 screen is doing its job very well. Size is totally enough for convenient interaction with this certain UI, fonts and other graphics are large enough to stay visible at all times. The main and the only concern is the maximum brightness level which is kind of low comparing to any other DAPs on my shelf and is not enough to fight the direct sunlight or even a very bright environment. Possible solution would be to introduce white color theme (or inverted colors) for Ocelot GUI and get away from dark interface. This suggestion has already been passed to the DTR1 designer.

Physical controls:

There are 5 buttons located at the front facing part and 3 buttons on the right side edge.

Front buttons and functions:

• Left:
  • Short press: Left (main player) / Back (in settings, now playing, playing options)
  • Long press: Seek back (during playback)
• Right:
  • Short press: Right (main player screen) / Select (file browser, playing options)
  • Long press: Seek forward (during playback)
• Up:
  • Short press: Next (main player, now playing, playing options) / Up (settings, file browser)
• Down:
  • Sort press: Previous (main player, now playing, playing options) / Down (settings, file browser)
  • +Power in switch off state to enter FW update mode
• Select
  • Short press: Select (main player, playing options, settings), Play/Pause (now playing)
  • Long press: Playing options (now playing)

Right side edge:

• Volume UP/DOWN
  • DOWN + POWER at device OFF = enter to FW update mode
• Power ON/OFF
  • LONG PRESS TO SWITCH ON
  • LONG PRESS TO SWITCH OFF

Looks kind of complicated but it takes only five minutes to get used to all button functions and their additional meanings.  Moreover, all buttons have pretty tight move with apparent «click» when activated which means that blind operations are totally convenient and self activations are not easy to occur. Of course, those might become a problem when someone would be wearing tight jeans and carrying DTR1 in a pocket. A dedicated button lock function couldâ€ve helped in this case if it existed. But my point is that such devices worth better destiny rather than ending up in a tight pocket without any extra case protection…

Outputs and connectivity:

Both 3.5mm audio outputs for headphones and LineOUT are located at the bottom edge. LineOUT is true — with volume locked to the appropriate level and no further possibility to control it. Both ports are very tight while receiving the corresponding jacks and both are single-ended.

One more port on the bottom edge — microHDMI. Such a weird choice for data transfer and charging port can be explained the next way: since there are some extra requirements for the charging unit to supply a specific voltage to 2cell battery + the need of regular pins for sending and receiving data = more pins and power ratings necessary than available with microUSB connector. I would also take a guess that DTR1 designers didnâ€t want people to try to use their regular 5V USB power supplies with this DAP. It also means using less regular type of connector. Of course, from the stand point of a customer using one extra wall charger + data cable dedicated to this device only is a waste of space, time and place in mind to store this data. And this also means that you should take care of the accessories due to its uniqueness. Personally, I can live with that as long as it concerns such single function pure music device with long lasting battery…

The only option when connecting to PC with the supplied cable is to transfer data between the connected devices. DTR1 would be recognized by Windows OS as external hard drive. Transfer speed is ~30Mbps and jumps a bit higher sometimes. No possibility to use DTR1 as USB DAC or to charge from PC USB.

FW upgrade:

Canâ€t think of any other brand that would be so fast and responsive when it comes to supplying changes in the newest FW builds. The same day Iâ€ve provided my feedback about couple of misspellings Iâ€ve got the latest build free of those minor problems. Moreover, I was told that additional suggetions would be considered and implemented in the next releases that would show up very soon. So, the latest build for the device now is v1.23. FW can be downloaded from the official website or requested through Dethonray FaceBook page.

Upon receiveing — copy update.zip to the root of your SD card, press and hold DOWN + POWER buttons until FW upgrade screen appears. Just wait until upgrade is complete and DTR1 goes OFF. Switch it on again and you are done. The default language would be Chinese now but thanks to the logical and simple UI — it is easy to go to Settings->Language (second menu item) and select English. Information about current FW version is stored in System Information menu item.

Device functionality:

UI structure:

• Main player screen:
  • Playing now screen (current track + navigation through tracks)
    • Long press Select to go to Play options
      • Play options:
        • Favourites
        • Play mode
          • Repeat all
          • Repeat one
          • Shuffle
        • CUE
          • allow or not
        • Delete
  • Library (list of all tracks in alphabetical order)
    • Press Right or Select to select track and move it to play now screen
  • Favorites (list of tracks added to favorites)
  • Browse (browse through folders with tracks)
  • Settings
    • System information
    • Language
    • Play Mode
      • Repeat all
      • Repeat one
      • Shuffle
    • Backlight
      • 10-60 seconds or stay ON
    • Brightness
    • CUE (allow it or not)
    • High/Low gain
      • High
      • Low
    • Filter
      • Sharp roll-off
      • Slow roll-off
      • Short delay sharp roll-off
      • Short delay slow roll-off
    • Auto shutdown
      • 10-60 minutes
      • always ON (disabled)
    • Database upgrade
    • Reset all settings

Ocelot GUI over Linux OS in DTR1 feels very responsive and stable. Havenâ€t noticed any jitters, bugs or freezes while playing with it for a week. Boot time is fast but ends up with showing SD card availability warining and waiting until the track database would be rebuild. This happens at each boot with no option to avoid it. Fortunately, it takes only ~15 seconds to rescan all files and start playing. Developers claim that this it the fastest process among all recent DAPs no matter the amount of files on SD card and the only payback is indexing upon each power cycle. MicroSD card slot is located on the right edge and accepts cards up to 2TB. 400GB card was tested.

No problems found with either function of settings in the menu. Functionality and GUI is simple but very convenient, mostly logical and very responsive. You wouldnâ€t be able to sort by different tags but you can also navigate through folders or list of files to reach the desired track faster. Adding it to the favorites would make this process even easier. If adding tracks to favorites is not an option and since there is no additional sorting by tags — the only way to organize tracks properly is to create the appropriate folders on SD card with limited amount of tracks to make the list in each one shorter instead of scrolling through thousands of tracks located in a single folder.

Each track is provided with bit/KHz information on playing now screen, long names are cut if donâ€t fit the screen width. No scrolling for now. Album art is coming in the next FW release as promissed by the developers.

Low/High gain option is working and what is the most important — doesnâ€t change the frequency response, only the output power. Low gain is mostly for sensitive and low impedance IEMs while High gain is for harder loads such as full-sized overheads. Be very careful switching to High gain with IEMs as the change in output power might damage it.

DTR1 heats up very little even while decoding 24bit/192KHz and playing with 50Ω full-sized overheads at High gain setting. The only time it heats up a bit more is while taking a charge and especially when playing music simultaneously. Case reached about 34C at max which is absolutely no issue. Charging time is ~2H and full battery drain happens in ~10H of 24bit/96kHz playback with 32Ω IEMs.

Sound quality:

Tested with AudioTechnica ATH-M50, Tanchjim Oxygen, Magaosi K6, Earnine EN2J, Moondrop Kanas Pro, Anew U1, HIFI BOY OSV3…  

Driving ability: most of the time the volume with IEMs of up to 32Ω was kept < than 50 at low gain setting. The only time I had to go to 80% first and than to switch to High gain and get back to <60% was with my 150Ω earbuds that require much more power to sound juicy. Therefore, I can assume that anything up to 150-200Ω should not be a problem for DTR1 DAP.

Lows and midbass:

Bass plays an important role in the sound presentation by DTR1. It does a perfect job on highlighting bass contours with fast decay and transitions. Bass has a decent weight here, even a bit emphasized but not shadowing other ranges. Lows are perfectly exposed, have extra clarity and seem to stand out a bit to the front. Extension and amount of textures are slightly limited in a favor of accuracy, speed and integrity of the perception. Such reproduction of lows is less regular but quite interesting and highly appealing. Midbass is perfect, neither too bright or too dark, natural, powerful, tight and engaging. Drums never get too harsh even in the tracks with some extra gain added to this part.

Mids and vocals:

If you ever wanted a DAP with huge amount of details, clarity and resolution on voices and instruments in mid section — DTR1 is here to capture your mind. The first try overwhelmed with the feel of extra detalization of keen mids even with the reference dynamic IEMs. Pairing it with BA extends this perception even further. Outstanding resolution and bears the clarity of each single sound which leads to reconsidering the knowledge of the most favorite tracks. And this is not a joke — most of the DAPs on my shelf are more or less similar, tending to the reference side with neutral or warm tonality and moderate amount of details for the sake of melodious presentation. DTR1 acts completely different — it reveals maximum amount of details in a rampant impulse to convey emotions. It does carry thiner and colder sound along that even gets more prone to hisses but this is nothing compared to the new experience it gives. Absolutely impressed by the fresh approach of DTR1 towards mids, especially with neutral and mid-sensitive IEMs.

Treble:

This is logical that if mids are impressing with exceptional resolution and clarity — treble would be even more capable of the same as the part of such perception on mids originate from the reproduction of treble. This is true — decent clarity, transparent and airy sound here. Treble is not overemphasized or piercing, it has the same weight with only a slight accent, sounds extended, accurate and balanced to other ranges. Some lack of gentleness is compensated by huge amount of details and distinct exposition.

Soundstage:

Another good outcome of excessive clarity and resolution is the extended depth of the perceived soundstage. Instrument separation and overall sound tranparency is so good and the location of each instrument is so evident that the stage gets the necessary and pleasing depth of field. Although, width is not that impressive as the lows donâ€t spread out much to side but rather kept collected.

Sound in overall:

Dethonray Prelude DTR1 sound can be described as tedning to colder tonality, highly detailed, perfectly balanced between the ranges, trasparent, emotional and crisp. This makes DTR1 a best contender when it comes to HiRes tracks with lots of instruments and drive. Such genres as metal, hard rock and orchestra sound perfect which is kind of rare.

Compared to HiBy R6Pro:

The main battle as for me is the choice between HiBy R6Pro and Dethonray DTR1 for a real audiophile the only respected function for whom is the ability to provide maximum sound quality. If the rest of the device functionality matters — HiBy R6Pro is the ultimate choice with its screen, connectivity, applications and so on. DTR1 has nothing to oppose to all of that. But when it comes to sound quality, DTR1 and R6Pro are quite different and present similarly interesting sound even for the same auditory. R6Pro sound is smooth and accurate with textured and extended lows, gentle treble and thick mids. DTR1 shows the same perfect exposure on lows but does it more contoured instead of textured. Its sound in overall is much more detailed, emotional and transparent. One is for calm genres, other is better for fast genres with lots of instruments.

Conclusion:

DTR1, code name Prelude, is the first DAP by Dethonray designed for one main purpose — providing maximum sound quality for the audiophiles. Truthfully speaking, DTR1 is not only proving this statement but also became a total revelation for me. Whenever a new brand joins — it should have some hidden aces to beat the competitiors… DTR1 deviates much from the most of the recent DAPs securing their market demand by sound neutrality and brings quite unique signature with less standard approach. This is the first DAP than really shows what «HiRes» term is meant to be — higly detailed sound with huge resolving potential. It pronounces the difference between IEMs, headphones, earbuds and audio tracks or even the inconsistency of the recording process. In addition to such sound, everything is based on lightweight, fast and glitch-free firmware packed into strict, beautiful and durable externals. And no matter how much Tidal or other online services would be missed out — this DAP certainly goes to the collection of audiophile-grade sound.

Dethonray Prelude DTR1 is available at PenonAudio store

Dethonray Prelude DTR1 HeadFi thread

Released some a time ago while still being a part of xDuoo lineup, X3II DAP is staying one of the most popular and functional budget HiRes audio players. Didnâ€t have a chance to review this product at the time of the release but it would be even more interesting now to see why X3II doesnâ€t loose its popularity and keeping up with newer rivals.

As a small hystory excursion: X3II is a 2nd generation of X3 DAP that was released in year 2015. First generation became so popular in some countries that there was third party custom RockBox firmware released for this DAP. It did solve some of the issues with the proprietary xDuoo firmware. With the release of X3II, xDuoo decided to go on with HiBy OS which was a very good decision instead of reinventing the wheel. As the result, overall functionality became much better placing the new generation right to the leading place of the higher, but still a budget class.

xDuoo X3II technical specifications:

• CPU: X1000
• OS: HiBy OS
• DAC + AMP: AK4490EN + OPA1652 + LMH6643
• Screen: 2.4′ IPS, 240Ă—320
• Max stream processing: 32bit/384kHz, DSD128
• Power output: 210mW@32Ω
• Frequency response: 20Hz — 20kHz (+/- 0.15dB)
• Crosstalk: >75dB
• S/N: >=114dB
• THD+N: 0.0015%@1kHz(32Ω @ 1kHz)
• Bluetooth: 4.0 (aptX + HiByLink), bidirectional, BT DAC supported
• Memory: MicroSD cards up to 256GB
• Battery: 3.7V, 2000mAh (up to 13 hours of play)
• Connection: USB Type-C, USB DAC, USB OTG
• Controls: physical control buttons
• Dimensions: 102.5mm X 51.5mm X 14.9mm
• Weight: 112g
• Shell material: aluminum

xDuoo X3II DAP is available at XTenik shop

Technical specifications remind me of another good entry level DAP from Hidizs — AP60Pro. It has very similar SoC and other secondary specifications but the audio part is based on ES9118C. The rest looks really familar — same HiBy OS, physical control buttons, screen resolution and lots of connectivity functions. Unfortunately, cannot do the comparison between X3II and AP60Pro since I no longer have the later…

Anyway, X3II is based on a very capable and respected AK4490EN DAC which was commonly used by the expensive flagship DAPs couple of years ago. Accompanied by the mighty OPA1652 amp, this pair is not only discolsing the meaning of HiRes audio but also can drive tough loads of the most demanding full-sized overheads with the impressive 210mW (32Ω) of power. For instance, some of the closest rivals would have something between 80 to 150mW at max. Such a huge difference in power output together with all connectivity options are the main advantages of X3II DAP over the most of competitors.

Packaging, design and materials:

xDuoo X3II DAP comes in a small box with the outer carboard layer that provides specifications and the desctiption of the features of this product. Inner box is matt black with rough patterned surface and a single visual element — brand name imprint filled with silver paint.

Inner compartment consists of two layers: DAP on special soft podium at the top and all pf the included accessories underneath.

Box contents:

• XDuoo X3II DAP
• USB type-C -> USB A cable (charging and data transfer)
• 3.5mm -> 3.5mm line out adapter
• 2 extra screen protectors (3rd is preapplied on the factory)
• a set of sticky silicone legs (protecting a DAP and other equipment from sratches)
• 2 dummy caps for 3.5mm Line OUT and headphone outputs
• warranty card + user manual

Very good that xDuoo X3II has screen protector preapplied and also comes with 2 extra potectors. Dummy caps and silicone legs are also quite irregular but very useful accessories for a DAP that might be used as a part of audio sandwich or as pure Bluetooth audio source — just to protect the case from scratches or dust coming inside the outputs. The only thing that is also highly demanded and was not included is the protective case…

X3II DAP shell is made of aluminum except for the top insert at the back which is made of plastic for the sake of good Bluetooth reception. In contrary to many other DAPs, X3II can be easily torn apart by undoing 4 screws at the back. Modders with soldering iron should be happy about this solution and such a friendly approach.

Front side consists of 2.4′ 240X320 resolution IPS screen with no touch sensor layer. All controls are done with physical button underneath (plus the buttons on the left edge of the case).

Despite the modern tendency to virtualize all interactions with any device, I still admire and prefer to use physical controls in such kind of equipment due to convenient «blind» operations. Moreover, button placement in X3II is logical in comparison to first gen X3 where all controls were mixed in a very strange way…

Left edge contains the additional buttons and microSD card slot. USB type-C port, 3.5mm Line OUT and headphones ports are on the bottom edge.

Overall build quality is perfect. All elements and labels are very neat and precise. Spacing between different case elements is minimal. X3II feels very solid and durable in hands.

Control elements and functions:

Front:

• Play/Pause
  • OK in the menu
  • Track Info — long press while in Music app
• Back
  • Home screen — long press in any menu or app
• Options
  • OK — short press in Menu
  • Track options — short press in Music app
  • EQ — long press in Music app
• Next | Previous track
  • (Up | Down in the menu)
  • Seek — long press in Music app

Side:

• Power ON | OFF (long press)
  • Screen ON | OFF + Key Lock (short press while powered)
• Volume UP | DOWN

Unfortunately, there is no option to use volume keys to switch tracks… But there are 4 Key Lock options to choose from when screen goes off: lock all keys, only volume, only play keys or nothing.

Menu structure and functions:

Device and UI operation:

Found absolutely no problems with the fluidity of HiBy UI and X3II operation in overall. The only thing that is taking a bit more time than necessary is the initial music scan. But this is quite common for most of the DAPs with the same basic SoC and HiBy OS on board… Havenâ€t noticed any lags or freeze, not a single Chineese characters in the menu items. I am running the latest version of OS (1.2) which had some bug fixes addressing the overall stability and some issues with album covers. Current firmware looks to be pretty stable and responsive.

If you think that stock OS is not what you wanted and there is a need to increase the functionality of the device — you can try RockBox FW which has much more interesting features. This is the advantage of having such universal and popular product as xDuoo X3II. For me, personally, stock OS is completely enough. X3 first gen required RockBox FW due to severe bug in the proprietary FW that wasnâ€t fixed by xDuoo. But when it comes to X3II — there are no critical bugs in HiBy OS that forces me to move to a custom firmware.

Very good thing about HiBy OS and X3II HW pair is the playback time. Around 10 hours with 96kHz flac files and couple of hours more with mp3. Good figure in comparison to my other DAPs that would last ~7H under the same circumstances. Charging time is about 4.5 hours. Donâ€t know what xDuoo mean by mentioning quick charge — all of my charging devices with up to 2Ah power output produced similar results.

Connectivity:

One of the main xDuoo X3II advantages is the amount of different connectivity options that would allow to use this DAP in many usage scenarios. Letâ€s look at the connectivity options:

USB cable:

• Data transfer
• USB DAC (passing audio data from smartphones, PC, etc)
• USB OTG (reading files from flash drives, etc)
• Digital transport (passing stream from X3II to other DACs)

Bluetooth:

• Using Bluetooth with BT headphones (aptX is supported)
• Using Bluetooth to pass audio data to other BT DACs
• Using Bluetooth to receive audio data from other devices (BT DAC)
• Using Bluetooth to control X3II music app (HiByLink)

Line Out:

• 3.5mm output to connect to external AMPs

One more improtant function to make the use of X3II as audio source easier: Car Mode. It allows to switch X3II ON and OFF when you start and stop the engine in a car (voltage present or not on charging port).

Altogether, such connectivity features mean that X3II can play a central role in buiding good audio system, no matter the usage scenario. Portable, shelf or car use — all types of usage are preconsidered and possible.

There is a dedicated ASIO driver for X3II to use it as USB DAC with Windows PC. But even if the driver is absent, Windows 10 does recognize USB audio device and you can use it over Wasapi or DS. In this case audio lag is not a problem and video to audio stream synchronization is almost perfect. Using ASIO instead would result in better audio quality but would also introduce some lag that might prevent from watching videos comfortably.

Audio quality:

Tested with Tanchjim Oxygen IEMs. Compared to Shanling M0, xDuoo X3, Hidizs AP80. 

First of all it should be stated that the sound picture of X3II is totally dependent of the GAIN option. With the gain set to LOW sound becomes kind of «flat» with limited extension and expressiveness affecting mostly the volumetric presence of bass, power of midbass and exposure of mids. Treble range is not that susceptible to changes. Switching to HIGH GAIN would bring back the full potential of the lower end, force mids stand out much better and make the sound more engaging and complete. So, with those two settings you can find the most suitable sound for your ears — either going very flat and mostly neutral or getting much more juicy and expressive picture.

Extension of lows with high gain settings is impressive, yet the bass still stays very precise and defined. Bass texturing is not that apparent, but the feel of «tight» and shaped sound of lows is compensating some lack of extra details.

Resolution and detalization goes up with the higher frequencies — more than average on mids and decent on treble. Treble is the most impressive in X3II — very clear, detailed and creates the feel of transparency. Again, it might have been more delicate and extended as the sound feels quite simplified but the accented presence of treble and its clarity come very close to be called crisp and icy cold. Only some lack of extension makes it more rough and thick in comparison to DAPs from a higher price segments.

Mids with high gain are exposed well and thick enough to sound naturally and not annoying. Resolving potential is on par with another great DAP as AP80 by Hidizs with a little bit brighter and colder perception provided by more accent on lower treble part. Therefore, female vocals and string instruments would be a bit more emotional and expressive. Anyway, such inhomogeneity is very subtle. I would say that mids sound very satisfactory and more than expected from the DAP of this price range.

Good instrument separation and overall layering throughout all frequency ranges help to build good stage width and depth. Tracks with good quality of recording result in a distinctive sound with each single instrument at a precise location and clearly presented in the mix. Good results with lower quality tracks would be mostly dependent of IEMs resolving potential as this DAP is very precise on reproducing everything — best or worst parts.

Sound in overall:

Sound of xDuoo X3II can vary from «flat», boring and neutral to more bright and cold with HIGH GAIN setting. Treble is the most impressive in terms of clarity and detalization, followed by well exposed and quite thick mids and very good presence and contouring on lows. In overall, xDuoo X3II is universal enough to eat any kind of music and provide enough pleasure to the ears tempted by the units with much higher price.

Compared to Shanling M0:

Shanling M0 is not a competitor to xDuoo X3II at all. It is not that convenient to operate, doesnâ€t have physical buttons, its screen is too small… The worst is the sound — M0 has high bass boost and treble accent that reduce the normal perception of mids. Moreover, lows are muddy and undefined. Treble is much more simple and less extended…

Compared to Hidizs AP80:

Hidizs AP80 or xDuoo X3II — this is a serious battle… AP80 has a better screen, newer and more sophisticated HiBy OS for touch screen control, better shell materials and more appealing design, LDAC support, more convenient volume dial. The most important is the sound. AP80 sounds very good. It does have a bit more accent on bass but, at the same time, the texturing of bass is also higher. Treble is not that crisp but more delicate and less annoying for longer listening. Mids are adequately exposed in both DAPs. The main advantage of xDuoo X3II is more output power, LineOUT port and full physical controls. Soundwise they are on par as both units provide pleasing experience and engaging sound.

Conclusion:

The best outcome of this review is the fact that entry-level DAPs are becoming more impressive and packed with new function each year. First generation of X3 DAP was more simple and limited. With the release of such DAPs as X3II, the boundaries of the respective classes are fading away, blurred by the use of higher grade audio components together with common firmwares also found in more expensive products. X3II sound quality is far exceeding the expectation, especially in the direct comparison to older entry-level DAPs from the other or the same brand. This tendency is promissing — X3II is the vivid example of the right path chosen by the manufacturer which leads to better products at much lower cost. Absolutely good HiRes player and worth the respect at this price point.

xDuoo X3II DAP is available at XTenik shop

Too much rumorses, >17000 views, 10 pages of discussion and guessing on HeadFi, countless posts and comments in Facebook about the next Hidizs product and, finally, the wait is over! Hidizs has revealed their new, highly anticipated ultra-portable Hi-Res DAP — AP80 on Kickstarter!!!

Weâ€ve been desperately waiting for this to happen since the time first rumorses about AP80 showed up in a hope to see the most balanced and advanced DAP on the market in its segment. The longer it took to get revealed, the more doubts we had that it would ever be finilized. But, we were wrong…

Now, when weâ€ve finally got and examined our sample it became clear why it took Hidizs so long — they did a great job on polishing AP80 PRIOR to first market presentation. This clearly shows that Hidizs company has matured much in terms of market perception and quality control. Weâ€ve also seen that approach in some previous excellent products like Seeds IEMs, Dawnwood ST08 IEMs, Sonata Dac&Amp  — common brand identity and perfect crafting. Therefore, our expectations about their new DAP were higher that before, and guess what —  Hidizs AP80 surpassed all and really astonished in almost every aspect…

So, here is our full review of the new ultraportable beast on Hi-Res audio market — Hidizs AP80 DAP:

Link to AP80 at Hidizs store: LINK

Technical Specifications:

General:

• CPU: Ingenic X1000
• Screen: 2.45″, 360Ă—480, IPS
• Controls: touchscreen + physical buttons + jog dial
• Storage: microSD card, up to 512GB
• OS: Linux + HibyOS + HibyMusic + HibyLink
• USB interface: type-C, file transfer / two-way USB DAC
• Battery: 800mAh, LiON
• Battery life: >15Hours
• Charging time: ~1.5Hours, DC 5V/2A

Ports & Connectivity:

• Audio: 3.5mm stereo headphones output & Line out
• Wireless: Bluetooth V4.1 (aptX, (LDAC in process)), FM radio

Audio:

• DAC: Sabre ESS 9218P
• Stream: 32bit/384KHz
• DSD64/128
• Gain control: Low/High
• Line out: enabled (with volume lock)/disabled
• Digital filter: slow descent/sharp drop
• EQ: 10band, +/-12dB, 8 presets
• Frequency response: 20Hz — 40KHz
• SNR: 119dB
• Dynamic Range: >105dB
• Channel separation: 105dB
• THD+noise: 0.003%
• Output power: 80mW @ 32Ohms
• USB DAC stream: up to 32bit|384KHz

Case:

• Materials: CNC, stainless steel / alluminum-alloy
• Back cover: 2.5D glass planel
• Dimensions: 58x49x13mm
• Weight: 70g
• Colors: black, grey, steel, red, violet

Additional features:

• Step counter

Audio formats:

• Lossless: DSD64|128 (.dsf, .dff), DSD64 (.iso), APE (24|192), AIFF (32|384), FLAC (24|384), WAV (32|384), WMA LOSSLESS (24|96)
• Lossy: mp3, aac, wma, ogg, etc…

Plenty of good features packed in so small ultraportable DAP. When looking at stated figures and comparing to other DAPs in Hidizs lineup it gets obvious that AP80 stands in between AP60Pro enhanced entry-level player and flagship AP200. Sound quality is what bothers us the most and we would investigate on this a bit later.

BTW: LDAC function in AP80 is also expected in the nearest time as Hidizs already applied for the certification process.

 

Additional info prepared together with Hidizs officials (Kevin):

1. Channel Separation

As you know for the audio system, lower crosstalk will bring a better stereo image and wider channel separation. The AP80 has very low crosstalk which means it can provide clearer sound on both channels together with high level of channel separation.

2. Frequency Response

The AP80 reach way above the Hi-Res standard of 40kHz. Actually, it can reach up to 90kHz. This means, higher details and total control at higher frequencies which also leads to exceptional representation of the original track.

3. Output levels

Output levels for both Left and Right channels are 2.048Vrms. Such output figures show the capability of AP80 to drive various IEMs and most of highly demanding full-sized monitor headphones.

4. SNR

AP80 signal-to-noise ratio of 125dB means that this DAP can provide a crystal clear sound with almost non-existing level of noise.

5. THD+N Ratio

The THD+N Ratio of the AP80 is very low. It means very low distortion and that it is capable of reproducing audio recording with extreme accuracy.

Box contents:

Hidizs sticks to their recent brand design guidelines and ships AP80 DAP in black satin box with logo and technical specifications embossed with silver paint. Strict, neat and solid box to secure the device during the delivery process. In addition to that, AP80 is placed to a foamy podium.

 

Box contents are regular: 

1. AP80 DAP with preapplied screen and back glass panel protectors
2. Extra screen protector
3. MicroUSB type-C ->USB A cable (file transfer, charging, USB DAC)
4. MicroUSB type-C ->microUSB cable (USB DAC for microUSB OTG devices)
5. Warranty and QC cards

There is no microSD card shipped along with the unit, neither it features internal storage. It means that you should bother to get one up to 512GB and feed it to player.

Design and materials:

We like the overall approach of Hidizs to design as well as we like the new tendency towards implementing more complexity… Very familiar feel of perfectly crafted alluminum case with the introduction of further tiny details and much more efforts spent to shape the right part that includes jog dial and additional control elements.

Not a mere squre or rectangle anymore but the new complicated and organic look that attracts the attention from the first glance.

AP80 has unibody alluminum chassis with gorgeous screen almost covering the entire space at front and curved edge glass panel covering its back. It looks astonishing and creates an image of very valuable possession. Total device weight of 70g and cold solid feel in hands also add up to build perfect first impression. All elements are perfectly aligned, having no free play.

MicroSD card slot is located on the left edge, microUSB type-C port and 3.5mm headphone output at the bottom. But the most important is the right side — it has newly introduced volume jog dial and 3 additional control buttons which are:

• Next (long press: seek forward)
• Play/Pause
• Back (long press: seek backward)

Besides volume control, jog dial elements serves the function of ON|OFF switch. Press and hold to switch ON and OFF. All buttons have pronounced clicks and are easy to operate in a pocket.

Jog dial is a good addition to such kind of device and serves its role well. Although, we would say that it is a bit smaller than expected and people with large fingers would have some hard times operating it. Rough and textured jog dial edges should help with that. The good news are that when youâ€ve turned jog dial a little bit to change the volume — you can continue changing it on screen by moving finger up and down.

What really shines in this unit is its screen. A giant step ahead comparing to AP60 series DAPs or even to AP200. 2.45″ size, touch-sensitive, 360Ă—480 dots resolution, IPS panel with large viewing angles, excellent crispness, high contrast and brightness values… When placed next to prior DAPs, AP80 screen revelas all advantages over previous models. It has the largest brightness and contrast levels plus the extreme viewing angles wonâ€t invert or bleach the image. Touchscreen sensitivity is high. We havenâ€t spotted and problems or difficulties while operating smallest UI elements.

In overall, AP80 is the most universal and convenient DAP from the whole Hidizs lineup. It features physical control elements along with the sensitive touchscreen and it also introduced a new beautiful design with handy volume jog dial element. Hope to see the future product from Hidizs utilizing the same approach.

UI and performance:

BASED on 0.07beta FW

Perhaps, the most responsive DAP from Hidizs until now. Even the initial loading animation is unexpectedly fast… as well as total OS loading time of <8 seconds.

AP80 features modern Linux-based HibyOS UI with logical touch control gestures. If you are using any smarpthones based on iOS or Android — youâ€d feel like being home. Each feature or program is represented by a separate icon. All general device and audio settings are gathered in Settings Menu, whereas all deep and more precise audio preferences like EQ and filters are located only in HibyMusic application. By the way, HibyMusic looks very similar to its versions for other platforms. No surprises here.  It also features such function as HibyLink that allows you to control this DAP from a smartphone.

Menu structure:

• Main screen apps:
  • Player
  • FM
  • Step
  • System settings
  • About
• System settings:
  • Language
  • Database update (Auto|Manual)
  • Brightness (1-100% slider)
  • Color theme (ON|OFF, pattern selection, slider selection)
  • Font size (small|middle|big)
  • Backlight (stay on|10-120 sec)
  • USB DAC (USB, DAC, DOCK)
  • Button operation when screen off (ON|OFF)
  • Time settings (date, format, time)
  • Idle timer (OFF, 1-10min)
  • Sleep timer (OFF, 5-120min)
  • Battery percentage display (ON|OFF)
  • Standby (ON|OFF)
  • Screensaver (OFF|Album cover|Dynamic cover)
  • Restore defaults
  • FW update
• HibyMusic settings:
  • Update database
  • MSEB
  • EQ
  • Bluetooth
  • Play settings:
    • Play mode (thorugh list, loop single, shuffle, loop list)
    • Resume play (none, track, position)
    • Gapless play (ON|OFF)
    • Max volume
    • Power On volume (Memory, 0-100)
    • Crossfade (ON|OFF)
    • Gain (LOW|HIGH)
    • ReplayGain (none, by track, by album)
    • Balance
    • Antialiasing filter (LPFR, LPSR, MPFR, MPSR, AFR, ASR, CMPFR, BW)
    • Play through folders (ON|OFF)
    • Play through albums (ON|OFF)
• Drop down PLAY NOW menu:
  • List now playing
  • Add to playlist
  • EQ
  • View album
  • Properties
  • Delete
• PLAY NOW screen options:
  • PLAY|PAUSE
  • Seek slider
  • NEXT|PREVIOUS TRACK
  • PLAY MODE (shuffle, loop, etc)
  • Menu
  • Add to favorite

One additional and handy feature — you can drag down quick settings panel from the top of the screen to change gain, USB mode, toggle Bluetooth and toggle line out.

Battery life is close to 15 hours of playing music… but you should understand that this figure depends of the total screen on time, brightness level, type of audio file and max volume. In general we got about 12 hours with mere screen usage.

One more feature is the ability to change overall UI color scheme by picking any color from color palette or by dragging color sliders. Although, we havenâ€t found the ability to change background image itself.

FM radio and step counter are present as declared. FM radio would only work when headphones are connected cause they serve the role of antenna. Autoscan and fine tuning functions are available. Scan range is between 76.00MHz to 108.00MHz.

The most important is that AP80 OS and UI is more or less polished despite that we are using very early 0.07beta FW. Playing with this UI and its functions for couple of days didnâ€t reveal any major or severe bugs. A couple of tiny visual problems — yes. But not more than that. Fully functional unit that shows that Hidizs spent much more time on fixing bugs before sending it to public.

Sound quality test:

As always, we have shared our reference Audio-Technica ATH-M50 studio monitor headphones among all DAPs to find the difference in their audio performance. AP80 was compared to AP60Pro, AP200 and Shanling M0. Audio material was mostly consiting of 24bit/96-192KHz lossless files of completely defferent genres — pop, electronic, hard rock, instrumental, opera, ambient, chorus, orchestra and many more…

 

What we like the most that AP80 sounds neutral with no tendency to emphasize any frequency. Lows, mids and highs are in good balance making this DAP universal to feed it with any kind of music genre. We would call it a precise source for connecting any further audio equipment like headphones, large power amps, active speakers, etc.

We like the clarity and crispness on higher frequencies with the further ability to switch filter effects; precise texturing and presence of lows; powerfull, fast and punchy midbass; natural sounding at midrange with pleasing vocals and its weighted presence in the entire mix. ATH-M50 40Ohms load is easily driven by AP80 creating the feel of mature and balanced sound picture.

The signature is a bit on the brighter side, no moody or tube-like performance, no cattle effect. Bass is completely enough to hear its nuances with ATH-M50, at least. Neither weâ€ve found the disturbing presence of sibilance in highest octave. Besides, we didnâ€t even try to play with HibyMusic MSEB feature that gives additional control over such aspects as:

• sound temperature
• bass extension
• bass texture
• note thickness
• vocals
• female overtones
• sibilance LF
• sibilance HF
• impulse response
• air

all of that was kept at default settings during out tests and the resulting sound didnâ€t require any changes. But the availability of such features, along with gain and filters, gives you a huge field for rurther experiments of tuning this source for the final audio equipment in chain. Perhaps, we should give another try to dramatically unbalanced KZ ED16 IEMs cause AP80 might handle it… 

Channel separation is better than entry-level models demonstrate but not so distant as in case with flagship DAPs or AMPs with coupled DAC or OPAMP chips. The resulting sound stage width, depth and instument location is equal or even a bit more than we would expected from such portable device. Monaural recordings show good distance and intsrument placement on stage with clear horizontal and vertical position.

We have also tested AP80 with Hidizs Seeds IEMs and found that they make a great pair. ATH-M50, sometimes, might emphasize low frequencies and are very straight forward. Excellent for detail analysis and tests but too strict for getting some rest… Seeds IEMs are softer, warmer and smooth. They create the additional fluency while maintaining the same amount of details…

V|S AP60Pro:

AP60Pro was released as the revision of AP60II which, in its turn, was released as the revision of AP60   Last revision was aimed at higher sound quality and this DAP has finally matured to a very good entry-level Hi-Res player.

Feature and hardware-wise AP60Pro is not a competitor to AP80. Newest DAP has better screen, touch controls paired with physical buttons, more attractive design and much more audio settings in HibyMusic app. Additionally, AP80 untilizes next generation ESS DAC chip and bit more powerful amplifier.

This is not a surprise that AP80 outperforms AP60Pro in terms of sound quality as well. Especially on lower frequencies where new DAP shows more texturing and more precise behavior. Highs are also reproduced more gently with a bit warmer and delicate feel. So, the advantages were spotted right away which shows that AP80 is a better and more consistent performer. In terms of soundstage and channel separation there is not much to talk about — sound similar.

V|S AP200:

This situation is vise versa. AP200 still holds the name of a flagship DAP among all other players in Hidizs lineup. Despite a bit slower loading time and less screen viewing angles and contrast — it still sounds the best. More power from the amplifier, more channel separation from paired DAC chips… Audio from AP200 is kind of even more intimate and gentle and more punchy at the same time if youâ€d want some juice at higher volume.

Additionally, Android OS provides plenty of additional features and opens the whole world of different usage scenarios…

Comparison to Shanling M0:

This is very amusing. We donâ€t quite get who have decided that Shanling M0 is an appropriate rival to AP80….????!!!

 

But for those who would like to know why it is not — here are our findings:

1. M0 is much smaller, feels much cheaper
2. M0 screen is too small to be convenient source of infromation and not too sensitive to operate. Besides, it has very low quality — our unit shows some strange dots (seems like a problem with glue between layers) and viewing angles are extremely low. Brightness is also low.
3. It doesnâ€t have any physical controls apart from volume jog dial
4. UI is very strange and not very logical. Especially when you are trying to move back from playing now screen to other apps…. Too much of swipes to perform
5. UI screens are also not informative

But the worst part is about audio quality of Shanling M0. It is far, far away from AP80 in almost any aspect apart from power output. Yes, M0 can drive our headphones to the same volume level but this is the only similarity… Lower frequencies are indistinct and feel very moody, there are not much of details — just some smudged bass… Highs sound more harsh and biting which is not good for many music genres. All instuments seems to be gathered closer to center with not enough air and room to take their sweet spot in the mix.

Hidizs AP80 is much better product and should be compared to other mid-range DAPs on the market instead of entry-level Shanling M0.

USB DAC:

We always check this function because of spending some time watching live or recorded concerts on Youtube or other platforms. Short audio lag and good driver is what we chase in this test.

Hidizs havenâ€t shared a separate ASIO driver for AP80 yet. But Windows 10 OS would recognize it as USB DAC and let you use Wasapi instead which has the lowest possible audio lag. There is no problems in video to audio stream synchronization while watching videos and sending sound through AP80 to phones. Neither there are any problems of using it with Foobar2000 player over Wasapi (event or push).

We have also tried to use AP80 as external DAC for Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 smartphone with the provided microUSB type-C -> microUSB cable and it worked fine. HibyMusic app recognized this device and allowed us to send bit-by-bit perfect stream.

Conclusion:

At this point we can definitely say that we are completely shifting to AP80 DAP from other ultraportable audio players. This one delivers the best sound quality of all, together with perfect crafting, high quality components and more convenient controls. Many people were waiting for AP80 to arrive to the market and we can tell for sure that they wonâ€t be disappointed. Hidizs invested much of their efforts on polishing and finilizing this product to get the most positive feedback right after the launch. Additionally, Kickstarter bakers would have a chance of getting AP80 at lowest price or/and bundled with excellent Hidizs Seeds IEMs which makes such choice a very good bargain!

Link to AP80 at Hidizs store: LINK
10% discount for any item at Hidizs store using our promocode: ZMCR10

Perhaps, the best incarnation of entry-level HiRes DAP from Hidizs — AP60Pro. Based on AP60 initial model, current version of this extra-portable player extends all pros of the previous revisions and incorporates more advanced digital to analog converter chip! Hidizs has done a great job on following customer demands with AP60 and finally released the ultimate version for the segment.

As a reminder, there were two previous versions of AP60 DAP — initial AP60 based on AKM AK4452VN DAC and MAX97220A amplifier with a simplified case materials and touch pad for controls. Followed by AP60II — a revised version with the same element base, better screen, CNC aluminum case and mechanical buttons. This model was reviewed by us half a year ago and stayed our favorite since than, thanks to its portability and very good audio performance. You can read our AP60II review here: LINK 

We would recommend to read through AP60II review because this material would be mainly based on our previous text and conclusions and further comparison between two models.  

Despite AP60II great performance to price ratio, some rumorses about another revision  started to appear on different forums short after its initial release. Finally, the project of AP60Pro was launched on a Massdrop platform by Hidizs. New model — AP60Pro — was promissed to have pro-level DAC chip and amp that was addressed to eliminate some sound simplification at certain frequencies…

Official Hidizs AP60Pro product page and store: LINK 

Link to Hidizs official store at Amazon

And here it is — the new and ultimate version of an affordable HiRes DAP — Hidizs AP60Pro. Besides, concerning its new element base we cannot call it «entry-level» anymore. It resembles the best sides of the previous model and shifts its audio quality to a higher level common for more expensive products like AP200 since it utilizes the same DAC chip. But we shall see the difference…

Technical Specifications (compared to AP60II):

Cells filled with green represent the upgrades introduced in AP60Pro. Unfortunately, there is not much of information about the new amplifier which is a part of ESS SoC but the fact that the current DAC chip is shared with a flagship Hidizs AP200 DAP is at least promissing…

Looking at the final specifications some differences in declared values are obvious. Up to 32bit/384kHz while using this player as extrenal USB DAC, more output power, more frequency response range, etc. The most important for us is the extended frequency response and a bit more output power. Those two improvements should eliminate all cons of the previous model. Weâ€ll check…

Box contents:

AP60Pro box has been revised as well. Hidizs unified the design and instead of tall old box it now doesnâ€t look strange among all other Hidizs products. New box is matt black, with metallic imprints of company logo and technical specifications.

 

Box contents left unchanged: AP60Pro comes with pre-applied screen protector, 2 extra glass protection stickers, semi-transparent body protection case made of plastic, couple of leaflets and USB A->microUSB cable.

Protection case is very useful indeed. It does a great job of keeping back glass and sides free of scratches and doesnâ€t prevent from comfortable hadnling and operation.

 

Design and materials:

AP60II, as well as AP60Pro, shares the same CNC aluminum-alloy body with curved glass panel covering back side, 2″ screen at front and very convenient physical controls underneath. Such configuration leaves nothing more to be desired, thus left unchanged by Hidizs.

 

2″ TFT screen with the resolution of 320Ă—240 is totally enough for comfortbale use of AP60Pro. Viewing angels are not the best for a screen but you wouldnâ€t read books with this player anyway. Full brigtness is enough to keep this screen readable outside.

Control elements underneath the screen are represented by single pivot plastic plate with 4 sections: next track (long press — seek), previous track (long press — seek), back (long press — menu), enter (play).

Left control elements consist of volume control button (can be set to switch tracks) and power ON|OFF (screen ON|OFF) button. Volume can be controlled without waking up the screen.

MicroSD card slot is located on the right side. It would accept up to 256GB cards, UHS would also do.

3.5mm gold-plated stereo headphone output and microUSB port for charging, file transfer and USB DAC function are located at the bottom.

AP60II and AP60Pro feel very solid in hand. No rattling and no free play of any element. Build quality is excellent. All elemets are perfectly crafted and aligned together.

Audio quality (compared to AP60II):

First of all, weâ€ve spent a lot of hours listening to AP60II since the time it was released what makes us sensitive to any changes in sound compared to a new rival. Therefore, our final word would be based on the comparison between the two.

Headphones used for this test: Audio-Technica ATH-M50. 

Right from the start we have noticed that ESS DAC untilized by AP60Pro really extends capability of this player to resolve higher frequencies. We get crisp and clear tiny sounds where AP60II suffers from «hisses». But not only that — sound got a bit more bright and sonant in overall. AP60II seems to be a bit more muted, especially on lows and mids. The difference that we have mentioned would become most obvious for those who had some experience with the previous model.

In terms of power output — both DAPs are capable enough to drive 48Ohms load of ATH-M50 studio monitor headphones with enough dynamics for midbass and with just a fraction of sound degradation at volumes above 75 (out of 80). AP60Pro might have more driving potential concerning 10mW advantage, especially at higher volumes and with heavier loads.

We have also tried to use both players as USB DACs. Good news are that both feature almost non-existent audio lag and fit this usage scenario perfectly. Although, if you were able to find some, AP60Pro can eat up to 32bit/384kHz audio material.

Therefore, our conclusion is that AP60Pro does outperform previous AP60II model in three aspects in terms of sound quality:

• Better resolution of higher frequencies, which is logical and expected (20H-40KHz in AP60Pro V/S 20H-20Khz in AP60II)
• Sound is bit more bright
• Better external USB DAC specifications (32bit|384kHz in AP60Pro V/S 24bit|192kHz in AP60II)

FW and interface:

Both players are based on simple, fast, easy to operate HibyOS. This OS is free of bugs (maybe only one…  ) and perfect for such products. Bootup time is very short, lots of additional functions, EQ, gapless playback, RTC screen, covers, etc. We wouldnâ€t mind if HibyOS for AP60 series would show more information about track on playing now screen but this is not so important. The most important is that it handles many audio formats, shows no bugs and lasts for more than 10 hours from a single charge…

By the way, HibyLink is present — very good function to control DAP from a smartphone over Bluetooth.

MENU logics stayed the same:

1. MENU consists of:

Music browse — browsing though music based on drives and folders

Music category — browsing music through categories and playlists

Music settings:

• Gain
• Scan
• DSD control
• EQ
• Play mode
• Breakpoint
• Gapless play
• Max volume
• Startup volume
• Balance

System Settings:

• Language
• Bluetooth
• USB mode
• Brightness
• Backlight time
• Clock
• Folder skip
• Volume key mode
• Power saving timer
• Format card
• Reset
• System update
• About

2. Playing now — cover photo with file name and audio source information

3.  Screen lock — time, playing now, current volume and battery information

4. Options screen — quick functions like gain, play modes, song playlist features and  delete files.

note: those images are not screenshot files. Captured with camera. Looks awfull due to camera moire and high resolution. 

Despite that AP60II and AP60Pro share the same HibyOS, firmware versions are different: 1.12beta for AP60II and 1.02beta for AP60Pro. Both can be downloaded from Hidizs support page. Upgrade process is easy:

1. download FW
2. unzip
3. copy «update.upt» to root of SDcard
4. Go to SYSTEM SETTINGS->SYSTEM UPDATE->OK
5. wait until it finishes and player reboots

Drivers for USB DAC function for AP60 series of DAPs can be found on the same download page. Keep in mind that if you would like to have the best possible MUSIC quality — you would have to use the provided TUSBAudio ASIO driver. In this case — youâ€d be able to pass the stream from compatible music playing software like Foobar2000 over ASIO. At the same time, it might happen so that you would not be able to hear any system sounds or other software sounds.

In order to hear all sounds and pass the stream from Foobar2000 over Wasapi — the drivers are not needed. Just set USB to DAC and connect AP60Pro to PC — it would recognize it as USB DAC and youâ€d be able to select it among other audio devices and the main output.

Conclusion:

Hidizs AP60II is a great extra-portable entry-level HiRes DAP with very good audio quality, lots of functions and sold at just a right price. Hidizs AP60Pro represents the next generation with the same features as well as improved sound in terms of resolution at higher frequencies and better USB DAC capabilities.

Do such changes worth another $10-30? If you search for the ultimate version of HiRes DAP in the price segment below $130 — yes — AP60Pro is a better performer. If you are very tight on a budget and $100 is your final word — AP60II would be a perfect match with great audio quality to price ratio. Whichever you choose — both sound very good, perfectly crafted, worth every cent!

Official Hidizs AP60Pro product page and store: LINK 

10% discount for any item at Hidizs store using our promocode: ZMCR10

Link to Hidizs official store at Amazon