Comparisons
The Cayin N3 is selling for $150USD on Amazon and that means it’s the cheapest of the DAPs used in this comparison. The Cayin N3 has a very good price-quality ratio and the N3 scores high when it comes to technicalities. The User Interface compared to the Hiby R3 is ancient, there’s no touch screen, a small screen and it’s just not as easy and nice to work with. In the looks department they couldn’t be any further apart as well. Sound wise the N3 is noisier and it isn’t as clean sounding. The N3 is more clear sounding than the Hiby R3 however. The upper mids and the treble section sound more forward on the N3 and it’s especially noticeable in the vocal area. The Hiby R3 has a warmer and smoother feel to it. Body-wise the R3 shows bigger bass and mids as well and music is softer on the ear. The R3 sounds more musical and fuller but also a little richer to me, even though that isn’t clearly audible as it’s got that smooth and thicker layer over it. If you prefer clarity, sharpness and precision, the N3 will probably be more to your liking.
Hiby R3
Cayin’s N5ii is selling for about $370USD and this unit is full android, that means it can do even more than the little R3. Both of these DAPs are easy to work with, though the N5ii is the most advanced with networking etc, it’s the most versatile of both DAPs and it has the better streaming options. Sound-wise the N5ii is the better of these DAPs, it’s more precise, has better layering and is more dynamic. The Cayin is the richest and most neutral sounding with a very clear and clean presentation, more so than the Hiby R3. Bass and mid body in the N5ii are good but neutral, while the R3 is softer, smoother and warmer in presentation with a bigger bass and thicker mids-section. To me the N5ii is a level up from the Hiby, it’s more spacious and deeper and wider sounding. The R3 might be the most fun to listen to in bad and noisy conditions though, as it’s smoother and fuller with a bigger impact. It’s also more forgiving than the Cayin N5ii is.
One DAP I really wanted to compare to the R3 was the Fiio X3iii as it is priced really close to the R3 ($190). User-wise the Hiby R3 is miles ahead as the X3iii still has that typical oldschool navigation. Screen-wise the R3 and the Fiio couldn’t be wider apart and it’s sad really to see the X3iii looking ancient. I think it’s pretty clear that the Hiby R3 has the X3iii beat in all possible non-sound ways. When it comes to sound the Fiio X3iii first of all is noisier than the R3. The X3iii however has a more clear sound and the bass and mids don’t have that warmer thicker thing the R3 has going on. The X3iii sound wise actually is pretty good. It’s balanced and musical yet it’s more neutral in signature. I called the X3iii the best sounding X3 so far and I still stick to that. If it’s more bass and warmth you want, then the R3 is your thing. If you’re after more precision, detail, clarity with a more balanced and closer to neutral sound sig, then the Fiio is still your thing sound-wise.
Then there is the Hidisz AP200 ($329), I didn’t end up reviewing it as my sample has a lot of issues that just can’t get solved with FW updates. The AP200 actually is a nice versatile player with lots of options and possibilities. The screen is good but it just isn’t as sexy and appealing as the R3 is. Sound wise it is more silent and it is more neutrally tuned. You get a clean an clear sound with good body in the mids and bass. The R3 is thicker and darker sounding and isn’t as balanced/linear as the AP200. Sound wise this DAP outperforms the R3, and it’s closer to the Cayin N5ii. It’s such a shame I can’t get the player to work correctly.
Hiby R3
Unfortunately the R6 is at our Turkish office and it’s a bit far to drive there and get it. All the other DAPs in the collection cost several if not 10 times as much as the R3, so there’s no good reason to compare these to each other.
IEMs
The R3 is marketed as a DAP that will have no issues driving all IEMS and easy to drive headphones, so the first thing I hooked up to it was the oBravo Ra C Cu. Yes that’s the $9999USD IEM with an impedance of 182Ohm. It’s extremely hard to drive and it’s not easy getting the amplification part right. Get it right however and the oBravo sounds like heaven. I naturally didn’t expect it to sound good with the R3 as both the Sony WM1Z and AK SP1000 can’t make it sound good, but actually the little Hiby R3 is one of the only DAPs from which I find the Ra C Cu to sound acceptably good. You get excellent bass body like if you’re listening to speakers, with very rich vocals and natural voices. Treble is very energetic and for some their might even be too much. For me this is a very nice combo, even though the mids are a bit dark. The Ra sounds a lot better though when powered by the right amp. Yet, the Hiby R3 positively surprised with this source killer.
The CustomArt Fibae 3 is the CIEM I have been listening most to these last few weeks, since I finished the Mason V3 review. The Fibae 3 actually sound pretty balanced from the R3 with good, deep bass, voluptuous lower mids and energetic treble. I really like this combo but if you’re sensitive to the lighter upper mids and treble as mentioned, then you probably won’t really like this combination as this characteristic shows most here. The Jomo Audio Haka is an excellent 1-driver and it was developed by Jomo to sound musical and to just let you enjoy your music. That means it matches up perfectly with the R3 as this DAP is all about the musicality as well. For some however the combo might sound too smooth, warm and dark, for others this will be heaven.
Hiby R3
Headphones
The Sennheiser HD660s, even though it’s a high impedance headphone, is fairly easy to drive and the R3 manages to do the job perfectly even at low gain. Sure the volume goes up to 80, but that’s still on low gain. Sound wise these too have good synergy as well, though the upper mids for some might be a little on the harsher side. The point here however is to show the Hiby R3 can even drive the Senns, and for me personally it sounds good on top of that.
Another full sized headphone that’s easy to drive is the new Hifiman Sundara. I haven’t listened to it that much already but the new Hifiman has a light and forward sound signature. It’s so not like the old HE-400i and compared to that one it actually is bright sounding. The combination with the R3 is good and bad. The good part is that it gives the Sundara the volume and impact it needs down low. The bad is that the forward and bright nature of the Sundara’s upper mids and treble becomes too much in combination with the energetic upper mids and treble of the R3. My ears don’t like it.
The Beyerdynamic Aventho Wireless (in Bluetooth mode) is an on-ear headphone and in general I don’t like these too much. The one I like most however is the Beyerdynamic T51p but we’re not here to discuss the Beyer headphones. Sound wise this headphone gets a good bass with the R3 but it isn’t the tightest. The mids have a little less body and the treble region is well, spicy and energetic. You either love or hate this type of tuning, but if you do than you’ll love the pairing with the Hiby R3.
Hiby R3
Conclusion
What a lovely little player the Hiby R3 is!
The R3 is small, beautiful and well built. It is smooth and sexy and it even feels that way. Design wise there really is nothing to complain about and the especially the top quality touch screen deserves a special mention. User Interface wise the R3 also scores big, it’s easy to work with, offers a lot of options and it’s perfectly pocketable in the sense that you can easily control it without looking at it.
Sound wise the focus is on fun and musicality but not without mixing in a good level of detail as well. You get a full bass and thick lower mids while the upper mids and treble section have something more forward and energetic to them. The combination just works perfectly.
Hiby R3
As you read, it is easy to pair up with a whole series of IEMs and headphones but I personally wouldn’t use gear that already has a strong bass focus to start with, as it just might become too much.
For the little money the Hiby R3 is going for, you get a lot in return. Don’t expect an audiophile grade analytic DAP that’s as precise as the SP1000 but think fun, impact, rhythm ad musicality above all. To me it’s the perfect DAP for on the go and I’m sure the Kickstarter campaign will be a big hit.
Get one, that’s all I can say.
Hiby R3
Full Specs as far as they’re known right now, can be found on the LAST PAGE
Loganaden Balakrishna VEERAPEN
Big thanks Lieven for the review (reviews which I always very much enjou btw). In terms of sound quality alone how would rate the R3 against the iBasso DX50?
Lieven
Oh the good old DX50. It’s been so long since I listened to that one, I still have it somewhere but I always preferred the DX90
The R3 is thicker and warmer sounding for sure, the DX’s were more precise
Loganaden Balakrishna VEERAPEN
The DX50’s sq did get much better with fw iterations (especially the last one). The sqwise the R3 seems more of a sidegrade – however considering usability and sexyness its on another level. Might seriously consider it due to budget constraint but there are other interesting ultraportables on the horizon – like the Shanling M0 and Xuelin IHIFI790.
Bots
The glossy finish and smaller form factor reminds me of iRiver’s new ACTIVO CT10 player.
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/iriver-announces-mqa-support
Lieven
MQA: I don’t know how to feel about that 🙂
dale thorn
I’ve been investigating this for awhile, and trying to side-step the misinformation to get to the (mostly hidden) details. Here’s what I found so far – all subject to change.
NOTE: I don’t have anything to say on the design or philosophy of MQA, I’m just trying to find the details to know what the effects are.
The MQA firmware in some DACs are not going to be switchable. Meaning if you have an MQA stream coming in to a DAP, it will probably be decoded and rendered transparently. The differences in sound from non-MQA streams (or albums) seems to be mostly the normal differences in different masterings. That could change of course.
When using a component system where the DAC is independent from the music player, to get the correct MQA decoding the music player and DAC have to cooperate with each other. In some cases, the DAC would just be a “renderer” and it would require the music player to decode the MQA before sending it to the DAC. If the DAC is a full decoder and renderer, then the music player would have to be set to “pass through” to let the DAC do everything.
When a non-MQA album or stream is in the same playlist as MQA albums and streams, the music player should not attempt any MQA processing, because it would not “see” the MQA signature in the data. In that case the music player should send the data unaltered to the DAC, and what the DAC does then nobody seems to know for sure. The MQA guys say it just plays as normal. Firmware updates to most DACs would be optional of course.
In cases where DSPs (equalizers etc.) are being applied to digital data by music players before sending the data to the DAC, I don’t yet know whether they could conflict with any MQA processing being done by the same music player.
Dmitri
Can you confirm that the coaxial SPDIF output is realized through 3.5 mm?
In another review I read, Coax SPDIF was described as being received via usb.
Lieven
As far as I know: Coax is 3.5mm, USB output is just the normal OTG one
ALBERTO MARTINEZ
Hi Lieven,
Which cable (brand/model if possible) do I need to get COAX from R3 either 3.5mm or USB-C to pair with Mojo? Thanks
g_t_j
Hi Lieven.
From your description of the R3 sound, it seems more in line with the X5iii? Is that the case?
Lieven
it is but its not as noisy
g_t_j
Great feedback. That was what I wanted to hear!
Ken
How does a user access WIFI at hotel or fitness center where server requires log in screen in a browser? Tidal only at home?
Lieven
That’s the tough part indeed. I think Marcus wrote about it in his review…
Smoke
Have you tested with difficult to drive headphones? There really is no mention that this has an amp built-in? I believe the ones you compare too all can..
HAWKEYE
Planning to get LZ A4 for this – can you suggest alternative with same budget range as I’m little bit worried about LZ warranty process
Lieven
I don’t know the LZA4 price, but maybe something like the ibasso IT01
Hans
Hi Lieven, thanks for the review.
I was wondering if you can share your thoughts on 2 questions:
1) Are there gain settings to deal with the slightly lower output power? My V20 drives Pinnacle PX (same as P1) fine as well as HD600 but I’m wondering if the R3 will work out.
2) For sound, are there any other DAPs to consider at this price range? I’m looking for an all rounder that I can still come back to, even when I upgrade later on. My V20 drives anything easily, but the SABRE implementation while detailed and resolving is a little cold. Also, both separation and soundstage aren’t the greatest. For example, would going with a X3 III or Shanling M3S work out better? Interface and wireless aren’t important to me as I usually listen on the commute using shuffle, so 3.5 unbalanced is what matters for me.
I listen to anything from classical orchestral works (timbre matters), jazz (bass matters), EDM and Rock (details and congestion), and vocals (separation matters), so I unfortunately need to find a jack of all trades.
Thanks and cheers!
Lieven
1. You have low and high gain. Never had to turn gain on high. That being said, this is an IEM DAP
2. The ones I compared it to in this review, the Shanling’s DAPs. But in this price range you will never get the best possible DAP for separation and sound stage. I would go N3 or this or Shanling
Hans
Hi Lieven,
Thanks for your reply! My daily listen is the 50ohm/96db sensitivity Mee Pinnacle PX (Massdrop version of P1) so if low gain is generally sufficient that’s great 🙂
I’ve read your comparisons again and I think this is a good balance of characteristics – I may be moving towards more neutral IEMs in the future so the slight colouration may help me transition better from my V-shaped IEMs. Do you find the MSEB EQ effective or you prefer conventional EQ adjustments?
There seem to be more entry-mid level DAPs coming with SABRE chips after the LG Vx0 series and premium DAPs. Look forward to your review of the Shanling M0 and how its implementation stacks up against the V30 😉
Cheers!
Lieven
I never do any EQ or MSEB. I don’t know if Berkhan will be doing the M0 though, we’ll see
Hans
Thanks Lieven!
Did you pick up any differences between the 2 digital filters?
Hans
Hi Lieven,
I just stumbled upon similarly-priced (for now) Onkyo DP-S1 and Cowon Plenue D. Do you have any advice on choosing between them?
I listen to only FLAC through unbalanced 3.5mm Pinnacle PX (50ohms 96db/mW), so connectivity, UI, DSD support etc is not important, just sound 🙂
Thanks!
Dilpal
Hi..Nice review. I have very peculiar need. I want to stream Spotify or other Indian music streaming services on my smartphone through LDAC to hiby R3 for my wired earphones. Can hiby R3 do it?
Lieven
I don’t think so no. Not 100% though. It will be possible in the future to stream Spotify directly on the R3 though
Jayce Ooi
Nice little DAP. 🙂
Nat
Hi, Lieven
How would you compare the R3 to the Plenue D in terms of sound quality?
Marco Tesla
The production unit with the newest firmware sounds much more neutral, with better soundstage and more detailed refined highs than the pre production units . A little gremlin told me that 😉
Tim
Hi there,
Thanks for this great review. Would you say that gapless playback is implemented perfectly? I use FLAC/ALAC and APE – and listen mainly to classical and concert recordings – so gapless which is not seamless would be a dealbreaker for me.
Tim
Hi – any info about whether the gapless on this DAP is correctly implemented and actually seamless would be really greatly appreciated – can anyone let me know?
Allen Feinberg
I have been comparing the R3 to the Shanling M0 for Bluetooth aptX sound on home hi-fi and aptX (Avantree) headphones. I like the R3 for its mass, its build, its operating system, the screen, and the sound. I like the M0 a little more overall. The M0 has better overall sound. Its screen is more responsive. I do find the R3 better than the M0 in its sound when listening to the Avantree Bluetooth headphones. It is a marked difference too.
The M0 is a Standard Ruby Micronic for 2018. It is a real gem and I can hardly believe that in many applications, it sounds better than the R3. But the R3 shines as well, and the custom EQ is both fun to play with and helpfully responsive. I keep it in the plastic case it came with and found that helps to control the buttons better by keeping them recessed when being held. I like these two players so much, I have decided to expand my digital library. The R3 is a great, excellent player.
Wim Cumps
Hi, is it compatible with the With Android auto or Mirrorlink ?
KiRAH
Hi I would to know your thoughts if I was to upgrade my HibY R3 to a better dap what do you guys suggest? I do only use iem’s
Hiep Le
How can i add WAV files’s cover like the second picture of this review? The cover appear when i play the file on pc but its gone when i play it with my Walkman A55
Ronald
The usb-c can be used for coaxial out to external dac
Can it also output usb using usbc cable to external dac?
If so which cable should be used?
Thanks