Hiby FC3

Hiby has been getting more and more attention thanks to their awesome DAPs lineup. They have also been releasing other products such as the Hiby FC3. A very portable, high power dongle DAC in addition to their Music App. Originally, it was released for about 70 dollars which is not a bad deal considering his direct competitor, Zorloo Ztella, retails for 100 with same feature (MQA version). Now you can find it during flash sales for 30 dollars. If you don't care about MQA, you can pick up the FC1 which is technically the same with a slighlty different chipset to achieve MQA rendering. So, this review also applies to FC1.

Packaging and Build quality

It comes in a squared black box, inside we get the FC3, a USB C to USB C cable and a USB C to USB A Cable. In addition, Hiby offers a voucher to enable MQA first unfoling on their propietary app, but now it seems kinda pointless. The DAC itself feels extremely light since it's made of plastic. To me, the connectors are not as stiff as they should be, giving the wrong impression.

Software support and compatibilty

Thankfully, this device worked with everything, Tidal (PC and Android), Qobuz, Audirvana, Roon, Hiby Music and USB Audio Player Pro. For DSD you need to make sure DoP it's enabled since the FC3 doesn't support Native DSD. Also, try to enable a fixed volume setting to use FC3?s hardware volume control.


Sound

Very dynamic and detailed, with just a tad of warmth. It's not a bright DAC but treble seems to be have a particular sparkle and shimmer quality. Overall, it's a clear upgrade over bad implemented PC soundcards.

Amplification

This is where the FC3's falls apart. Using high impedance headphones such as the HD 600s or line out compatible equipment such as integrated amplifiers, the performance is awesome. Bass is very deep and controlled. However, when we use anything low impedance or that has a bright sound by itself, the result is horrendous. Treble becomes unbearable, the sound is thin and music is not enyojable at all, posible because of some poor design.

Overall take

Even thougn the FC3 has ESS Tech latest chipset, the implementations is dissapointing. If you don't plan to use IEMS or bright headphones, this might be a good option. Personally, I would spend a little more money to get something like the Zorloo Ztella.

Overview:

Up for review today is the HiBy FC3. I really enjoy this USB C dongle when it works. Also, it's only $50, which is a fantastic price for something that can do MQA, sounds great, and doesn't use a ton of battery.

Quality:

Here's where the majority of my gripes come from with this dongle. The USB C cable that plugs into the dongle isn't that great. I have to gingerly pick up my phone so that I don't lose connection any time I want to use it. Every time I lose connection, I have to unlock my phone, go to the Tidal app, accept the usage message for the FC3, and then hit play again. Even the slightest bump kills the connection and causes me to do this. Also, occasionally, the sound will skip or cut out for a second or the first part of a song will get cut off - not a big issue, just annoying. Overall, the FC3 is well made and tough with a cool light that shows the level of data transfer. The best part of this dongle though is that it just works - I can't say that about the other dongles I tried.



App:

Ugh, this app caused so many issues. The HiBy app is required for 8x MQA unfold, it will only do 2x through the Tidal app natively (couldn't tell a difference.) The app also requires a subscription for MQA - luckily it includes it with the FC3. Unluckily, the HiBy app sucks. The HiBy app causes connection issues with the native Tidal app. It won't let the Tidal app play in my car when I connect it and it causes other issues with other methods of playing. You also can't stream to other devices through the HiBy app, it isn't good at shuffling, and you have to reselect your playlist every time you open the app. I gave up and uninstalled it after a few weeks of these issues.

Sound:

The sound is really good and while other reviewers have broken down every single detail on here, with my Pixel 7 playing through Tidal, the FC3 sounds pretty comparable to my Burson Conductor 3XP. That said, I did notice decreased bass levels and muted treble - which was great for some headphones as it was less fatiguing than through my desktop DAC/AMP. The FC3 seems to present a pretty neutral soundscape though with a solid, if not inspiring, soundstage.



Conclusion: This is the best dongle in this price range - it works (most of the time) and it sounds good. That's really all you need for $50. I personally prefer my DAP, but the price difference is 8x as much for a cheap DAP. So, if you just want a cheap dongle, this is the one for you.

Wolfhawk's Rating: 7.5/10

HIBY FC3: USB DAC with RGB
Opening:
Are you a gamer? who wants RGB and at the same time who is an audiophile, who wants sound quality in their gaming peripherals. well, you are in luck we have here The HIBY-FC3, a USB DAC with RGB kidding aside this USB DAC blew me away on its performance and sound output, so without ado let's start.
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USB DAC INFORMATION
Dimensions 45*13*9 mm
Weight 9.1g
DAC chip ES9281PRO
Hardware buttons Volume +/-
DSD support Up to DSD128 (DoP)
Indicator light RGB LED status indicator
USB port Type-C
Headphone port Standard 3.5mm headphone port for headphones and CTIA-standard headsets, does not support line control
Microphone Support (Available in non-exclusive mode)
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My subjective impressions
Pros:
Mid-bass is very tight with being prominent in the track.
High extensions are very good.
Sub-bass has a very good extension.
Vocals are very expressive and forward in the track.
Violin and piano tracks have attacked without being too bright.
Instrument separation is very good and very prominent in the track.
Sparkle and airy highs without having any kind of sibilance.
Silent background noise like the hiss is not prominent.
Great for reference kind of listening or production.
Native DSD 128 support.
MQA playback
Budget-friendly DAC with massive sound output.
RGB light indicator for sound formats that are being played.
Lows decay are very good.
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Cons:
Natural highs extension might be boring for some.
The volume level is a bit confusing.
Instrument separation needs a bit of layering.
Soundstage needs more space.
Sub-bass can be flat in certain tracks.
Bass roll-off at early seconds of the prominent track.
Vocals sound a bit artificial.
Bass decay is very short.
can be flat sounding depending on the track.
Musical notes are a bit delayed.
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Final remarks
Honestly, this USB DAC is a bang for the buck because of its sound output, and for a budget, you can decode MQA files and this USB DAC has a place for my liking.
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Disclaimer
I would like to thank sir Loo Levi for letting me experience his unit of this USB DAC.
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My Personal Sound preference:
As a former musician, I want the instruments to be very clean and precise in general terms, I am a mid-centric guy with being forwarded in the track without being too bright and too boomy or bloated.
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My audio gears and sources.
BQEYZ KC2
MOONDROP ARIA
CCA NRA
TRN ST1
HIFIMAN-RE400
YUIN-PK2
OPPO A95
OPPO A95 3.5mm headphone jack
UAPP(USB AUDIO PLAYER PRO)
Abigail by not VE
Es-pro
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My sound library
Pop
Queen, rick Astley, chain-smokers, Josh Turner, CharliePuth, Billie Eilish, Drake, Magic!, The white stripes,
Jpop and anime music
Ayasa, D4DJ, Bangdream , GARNiDELiA, Vocaloid, the piggies, Yoasobi, Silent siren, ReoNa, Fripside, Sumire Uesaka, Sora Amamiya, everying! , Lisa, Nana Mizuki, Mori Calliope, Gawr Gura, Hoshimachi Suisei, Fubuki shirakani, Amalee, Minami, and a lot more.
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The Hiby FC3 is a compact digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and amplifier combination unit which connects to the transport device via USB-C. The Hiby FC3 was provided to me for review by HiFiGo, where it is available for purchase starting at $69.

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES:

The Hiby FC3 comes in a square black box with few exterior markings beyond Hiby’s corporate contact information. In its base configuration, the FC3 includes a 9" USB-A to USB-C cable, a 5" USB-C to USB-C cable, and a Hiby-branded protective leather wrap for the FC3. The USB cables both have Hiby branding. The wrap has a cutout for the FC3’s sample rate indicator light and embossed +/- indicators for the volume controls. The stitching and material quality of this wrap are rudimentary and I do not feel it matches the aesthetics of the device or cables well. The package also contains a warranty card, a quality control pass chit, an instruction manual in English and Mandarin Chinese. HiFiGo included a USB-C to Lightning adapter with my review unit, which appears to be a $19 add-on to the FC3. This adapter is much nicer-looking than the base cables, with anodized grey metal hardware and a braided silver-plated interconnect.

AESTHETICS AND BUILD QUALITY:

The Hiby FC3 is compact, sleek, and attractive. There is a circular sample rate indicator light on the front face of the FC3. There are combined hardware volume and playback controls on the side of the device. “HIBY FC3” is printed in reflective text inside an anodized inlay on the back of the device. This inlay is a slightly darker shade of grey than the rest of the brushed aluminum housing. There is a faint seam between the two halves of the housing shell. The 3.5mm jack and female USB-C port fit their respective connectors snugly.

POWER DELIVERY:

The Hiby FC3 is powerful enough for just about any in-ear monitor. With the FC3’s hardware volume maxed out, I reach my typical listening volume with my phone’s system volume set to 60–65% with the hardish-to-drive Moondrop S8. On Windows, I reach the same volume at a system volume setting of 40/100. The FC3’s hardware volume controls work independently of the transport volume controls on both Android and Windows. Long-pressing the volume-down key skips to the next track, while long-pressing the volume-up key rewinds to the previous track. Interestingly, the FC3’s long-press hardware playback controls work even if the FC3 is not selected as the current sound device in Windows.

POWER CONSUMPTION AND HEAT MANAGEMENT:

The following power consumption measurements were taken while the Hiby FC3 was in use:

^Android

^PC

The Hiby FC3’s power consumption compares very favorably to the larger but similarly laid out xDuoo Link, and comes in just under the Meizu HiFi Pro:

^xDuoo Link

^Meizu HiFi Pro
The power draw is higher than that of the gold standard for USB-C audio devices, the Apple dongle:

The Hiby FC3 does have a standby mode that kicks in when the device is plugged in without a connected headphone:


^Android

^PC

In short, if you feel comfortable with the Meizu HiFi Pro’s battery consumption, you will also be comfortable with the FC3’s.
The Hiby FC3 has excellent heat management and can be left connected to a powered transport device for days on end without having to worry about it overheating.

SOUND:

I have no complaints when it comes to the sound quality of the Hiby FC3. In a volume-matched(.2 dB), sighted, non-instantaneous switching comparison of the FC3 and the E1DA 9038D, I was hard-pressed to distinguish one from the other in terms of sound.

A Note on Hiby Blue:
I did install the Hiby Blue app on my phone to see if it offered any additional functionality with the Hiby FC3. Although Hiby Blue does add limited equalization options with the Hidizs H2 Bluetooth receiver (review forthcoming), it does not add any options for use with the FC3. With the FC3, I recommend sticking to Wavelet if you need equalization.

CLOSING WORDS:

While not as powerful as some of the other USB-C dongles I have reviewed recently, the Hiby FC3 offers much better power efficiency than these higher output options. With the Meizu HiFi Pro hard to find these days, I am happy to recommend the Hiby FC3 in its place if you need more output than the Apple dongle is capable of on stock Android.
The Hiby FC3 can be purchased below:
Hiby FC3 Portable MQA USB DAC Headphone Amplifier — HiFiGo

So I just got my FC3 this week and wanted to do the promised review.
I'm listening with DCA Aeon 2 Open, Fiio FD5 IEMs, Focal Elears. Music source: Tidal, Qobuz and DSD Downloads over Audirvana.

Disclaimer: I try to do honest reviews with accurate rating, that's why price has no influence on the rating and I dare to directly compare to a $330 desktop DAC.

Here's my playlist I used for testing, IMO flawlessly mastered songs: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/0cf71532-cd71-446d-a36a-c3fd70610ff3

I compared this dongle to my LG V30 internal ESS DAC and Topping DX7s, Apple 3.5mm dongle. I've heard Bursons Conductor X3, Chords Hugo 2 and Dave in the past.

Packaging:
The FC3 comes in a nice, semi-transparent box, accompanied by a small faux-leather case and one USB C to USB C cable and one USB C to USB A cable. I wish the foam insert had a small latch to take out, I spend 5 minutes trying to get it out of the box, otherwise the packaging felt premium.

Technicals:
Honestly, I can't differentiate between the DX7s and the FC3 on any of my gear. I used Joseph Haydn: String Quartet In D, Op. 76, No. 5 - Finale - Presto Engegård Quartet in DSD 128 and FLAC 24/384 and it sounded EXACTLY the same. Transients, Frequency Response, tiny details. The only time the FC3 actually sounded better was using an MQA version of the song, as the DX7s doesn't render MQA. Soundstage is rendered just as good. Busy sections sound very dynamic and less compressed than usual on my Aeons.

Background is pitch black, no hissing, even on sensitive IEMs.

Compared to the Apple 3.5mm dongle, there are worlds in between. The apple dongle lacks power, dynamics, sounds flat and boring in comparison. No sparkle there. FC3 may cost 7 times as much with $69 but is for sure worth it.

Bass:
Compared to my phones internal DAC (which should have enough power) the bass sounds fuller, more textured and just better. Seems like my phone does NOT have enough power to drive my planars. No difference on DX7s, just joy to listen, nice slam, full body.

Mids:
Instruments have a natural timbre, everything sounds very lifelike, dynamics, voices are emotional and accurate.

Treble:
Detailed, sparkly, nothing more to wish for here. I wish I could compare it directly to some of Chords high-end stuff!

TLDR;

This is one of the best dongles available, buy it and be happy. Why did I spend $330 on my DX7s again?