HiBy R4

General Information

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Latest reviews

Himu

New Head-Fier
HiBy - R4 - A very good mid-range DAP
Pros: -Tank like built, tough looking cyber-punk design suits the built.
-Very good Bass and Mids, with Warm and wider sound .
-- Class A amplification.
--User friendly interface is easy,
-- supports MQA and DSD rendering, and high resolution PCM formats
Cons: --Battery does not last longer then 7 to8 hrs.
-- The Back side gets hot after use of 20 to 30 minutes.
-- with poor source it shows noise.
HIBY R4 DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER--- I am delighted and thankful to the “Audio Geek India ” for providing me this opportunity to experience the....
And share my impressions of my Listening experience for the same. So this is my First Time experience sharing.

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Hi, this is Himanshu Mehta, from Ahmedabad, India; started my music loving and listening journey since beginning of 1971, Since then gradually I became little crazy about Music Listening Equipment and still at the age of 71, I’m enjoying it more and more. But as I’m not a tech-head, my impressions are based on more of my listening then knowledge of tech of the instrument. Thus with having limited listening capacity(due to my Age) I have mentioned my impressions solely based on my own listening experience of HiBy R4, without any outside influences, like the manufacturer, group or any one

For the specifications of the abovementioned instrument you may please be refer: https://store.hiby.com/pages/r4-gallery.

Here below are my impressions :--

My Very First Impression :

When I get this gadget out of it’s box, I felt Wow, what a design the Hiby R4 has a futuristic industrial design, which looks Cyber inspired . It feels solidly built, tank like, industrial Bar like. It looks beautiful and attractive . While listening R4 on first hand put a big smile on my old face, it’s wonderfully sounding , with good amount of Bass and sub-bass, wonderful Mids spreading across the range and some nice Treble, which you feel to keep on listening.
Design and Built:-

Design looks as computer-Punk, or you may call it Futuristic look. But relatively sober looking, many may like it; some may not. Overall interesting and good looking design. It has really good built quality, giving it a sturdy and heavy feeling, but actually it’s a light weight built.

Physical layout seems to me little clumsy as it’s 3 sides are occupied by buttons and connectors, and the top has also got lock-switch and odd bumpy angular surface. So in case you want to put it vertical or horizontal position , for operating upside with another source or Dac or Amp, it’s difficult to connect; you can only stack it side by side or one upon another. Hence screen orientation and it’s locking switch becomes unnecessary. Some may have different opinion for this feature. It has 3.5mm and 4.4mm connectors at bottom along with USB-C type connector for Data Transfer or charging, can be used only either way. The most important feature I like is , In Pure Audio mode the player starts again in same mode. It can handle 2tb expandable storage above it’s own 32gb storage.

Display and Operating system;-

Display is of 4.7 inch IPS screen which is attractive and touch response is very good and smooth to operate. As Android player, O.S. has advantage of Google store expandability of apps and other features. HiBY Music application gives sound tweaking and MSEB and PEQ features. Main thing is System wide Bit-Perfect Audio, which also displays sample rate on top bar of the player. Operating system’s computer-graphic-punk look is also part of it’s futuristic design look gives a special techno look.

Battery – Power:-

The fast charging battery of 4500mAh , last up to 10 hours claimed but unfortunately for me it never last more than 6.5 to 7 hours during my experience. Hence I’m little disappointed by battery performance. This may be because it contains Class-A Amplifier and provide 525mw/32ohms power which is quite substantial. But the side effect is the player gets heated on backside within 15 to 20 minutes of use and difficult to hold in hand for longer time.

Sound :- Leaner Neutral side with quite improvement in its technicality; hence gives blissful listening experience of our high resolution File from the storage. Whereas in Android or other modes it sounds more Warmer, neutral and pleasing signature; which also improves as per quality of source/input file. This is midrange – economy level , not the top/high end equipment, so considering price range it performs very well in it’s category; with quite good and impressive and pleasurable sound signature, which One like to use more and more.

Overall it’s very nicely designed, very good quality Android DAP, with excellent Pure Mode Sound. Because of my disappointment of the Battery performance and the Heating issue, I'm restricted to giving 4 stars;
otherwise this one's performance and sound signature is a very good for value for money



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MuddyCrab

New Head-Fier
The R does not mean rounded corners... | HiBy R4 DAP thoughts

The boring stuff:​

Price: $249 (Based off HiBy website)
SOC: Snapdragon 665
DAC: ES9018C2M *4 Dimensions: 129.6*68.3*18.5 mm Weight: 231g
Operating System: Android 12
Connectivity: Wifi 2.4/5ghz, BT 5.0
Display: 4.7in IPS Display 720x1280
RAM: 3gb Internal Storage: 32gb, Supports SD Card up to 2tb
Battery: 4,500mAh

Disclaimer:​

I’m more of a Tech head than audiophile and I use Youtube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view, of which you might be interested in. This unit was also lent to me to test and check and I did not purchase this device with my own money.

Gear Used:​

Streaming Platform: Youtube Music Premium (Bitrate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
SD Card: 128gb Sandisk with FLAC files
IEM: Moondrop Starfield II, Celest Wyvern Abyss, Dita Audio Project M, and Binary Audio Dynaquattro

Box:​

Packaging wise, the HiBy R4 is actually pretty reasonable. A box with a nice looking sleeve that opens up to the device itself then underneath that is the included TPU case and screen protector. Inside a little box is the included C to C charging cable which is about a foot long which is probably fine for most use cases but realistically you most likely won’t use it Aside from that there’s also a little bit of documentation and a warranty card which you probably want to keep as with everything device.
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Build:​

The majority of the body seems to be made of Aluminum and bits of plastic which gives it a nice industrial look. From an aesthetics standpoint it may be a little divisive especially if you’re more on the minimalist side but for me personally I actually like the way it looks. Unfortunately however, how it looks seems to undermine its practicality in my day to day usage.

The device’s Hard edges and thick chassis make it cumbersome to use on a day to day basis. When holding the device in most ways the corners tend to dig into your hand and make it uncomfortable even in just the short instances wherein you're scrolling through your music library and deciding what you want to listen to. This is somewhat remedied with the included TPU case but not really by much. Shoving it in your pocket is also inconvenient because those sharp corners and window bump(?) will just catch on everything on the way down or up making it just a chore if you have to do anything with the screen..

It also has this translucent window at the back with a little plastic bump that spans across the back of the device which honestly confuses me. Best guess would be for Antenna placements for WiFi and Bluetooth but did it honestly need to have a bump? There also seems to be an LED inside which might indicate something but definitely not something obvious from what I can tell.

Thankfully in the endurance department it definitely did not disappoint. I took the HiBy R4 with me for a trip over the weekend listening to it while waiting for and during my flight and a little bit on and off throughout the weekend and I didn’t have to charge it once at all. By the time I got home it was at sub 10% but that’s definitely more than impressive. If you took the time to drain it with non stop music playing I’d wager probably a full day’s worth of playback time based on what I experienced. Your mileage may vary of course if you have things like WiFi or Bluetooth on but generally I’d say you’ll have no complaints over battery life. The unit itself does tend to get a touch warm after an hour-ish but nothing you should pull the fire alarm over.
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Software:​

The HiBy R4 comes with their own skin of android 12 which seems to be mostly barebones aside from the HiBy music player and other related apps which is fine because those are probably the music centric apps you're going to be downloading and using anyways. You can switch between the different modes such as Music only, Android, and DAC mode right in the notification shade which is convenient and I generally left it on Music only mode since most of my music was on the SD card but from time to time would fire up YT music when i was within wifi range.

While the device only has 3gb of RAM it wasn’t sluggish in any meaningful way and is definitely responsive enough to use without much frustration. You’re also most likely going to need a SD card on this because the device only comes with an anemic 32gb of internal storage and you have to remember a portion of that is already taken up by the operating system.

That being said, once you do have all your files on an SD card it’s pretty simple to just plug in and the HiBy music player app will easily recognize most of your files and show up instantly and organize them for you to an extent. This made it so that I almost didn’t have to do anything once I put in my files and made me instantly switch the device to music only mode and just enjoy the music experience from there.

Having the ability to listen to my personal music library then switching to my preferred streaming service and knowing that practically whatever I plug in from my arsenal I won’t have to worry about anything is such a nice feeling. Also, having a 3.5 and a 4.4 ready to go means that I can just grab whichever pair tickles my fancy that day which is admittedly a first world problem but this is to an extent a tertiary device so of course it would be nice to have creature comforts like those.
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Sound:​

And enjoy the music experience I did because this thing definitely plays the part of a HiFi audio player. While I may not be the judge when it comes to FLAC vs MP3 and whatnot I definitely enjoyed a lot of my music from a different lens than i normally do. The best way I can describe it is probably that everything feels more put in their proper place. I tried it out with a few different IEM pairs and while it’s more apparent in some than others such as more power hungry pairs it is still definitely there.

I’ll be the first one to admit that my ears are not the most refined but from a normie perspective I can still confidently say that these add another layer of enjoyment to my music and one that I definitely did not expect.

Nitpicks:​

In the upper right portion of the screen there’s a little LED strip indicator for charging and what mode you’re in that can be a little distracting at times. There seems to be no obvious way to control it and it doesn’t even turn off when you lock the device. When you’re in a dark environment like a Plane or maybe you’re winding down at the end of the day listening to music it becomes a little difficult to ignore that it’s there.

The screen is dimmer than your stereotypical anime romcom main character. I’ve had the brightness turned up full tilt the entire time it was with me except when I was on the plane and even then not by much honestly. Drinking your morning coffee on the balcony will involve a little eye squinting and the classic hand shade maneuver to clearly see what’s on the screen. Putting in a 720p is fine on a DAP but screen brightness is a universal feature that any modern touch screen device should definitely take into consideration.

Another pain point for me is the buttons are incredibly uneven when it comes to tactility. Some of them click just fine while the rest will paint you a gradience of mushiness. It may have just been the unit I got and possibly something an RMA could fix but If it's a consistent problem for other units then I think they should definitely look into that. I feel like this is especially crucial for a device like a DAP because you generally want to use the physical buttons as your main interface option. It’s a music player at the end of the day and if I can’t fine tune my volume because the buttons take varying levels of pressure to press and I inevitably have to check the screen then I think that’s not an ideal user experience.

Lastly, and this might be more paranoia than practicality, I'm concerned that if you lean towards the Android side of its feature set - like using multiple streaming services or having apps for Bluetooth devices like headphones or TWS (True Wireless Stereo) - it will bog down that 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage rather quickly. Remember that you can't move all app data to an SD card, so there will be a low ceiling. I'm not saying it's a deal breaker, but I think it should be something that you should be aware of.
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Final Thoughts:​

If you’re after sound and versatility to maximize your probably growing collection of IEMs and possible power hungry headphones then the HiBy R4 might just be that sweet spot for you without having to take out a second mortgage. For a fledgling audio enthusiast such as myself I don’t really see myself needing any more features than the R4 already has and I wouldn’t want to be spending more either to be honest.

While I understand that the size and thickness are most likely physical limitations presented by the hardware inside, I don't think HiBy made it any easier for themselves by designing it in such a way that it seems like it's almost pocketable but not really. Expect to use the R4 when you’ve found a comfortable place to sit or maybe have a little body bag with you so it’s not as inconvenient to bring out when you want to use it on the go like at the airport.

Is it the perfect portable HiFi audio device you can get for close to $250 SRP? Obviously not but if you know what you’re getting and understand what you want to use it for then I think having the HiBy R4 in your everyday carry will prove to be one of your best go-to audio devices, whether that’s sitting down on a fine Sunday afternoon at your local spot(support local cafes!) or waiting at your boarding gate killing time and relaxing before a flight. Just don’t shove it down your pocket.

But remember that music is a personal experience and the best audio gear is the one that makes you enjoy your music the most.

Mangoboy

New Head-Fier
Hiby r4
Pros: * Powerful Performance: Delivers exceptional audio quality with a wide soundstage and deep bass.
* Versatile Connectivity: Supports a wide range of audio formats and connections, including balanced and single-ended.
* High-Resolution Audio: Enjoys native DSD playback and high-resolution PCM formats.
* Elegant Design: Sleek and premium design with a comfortable form factor.
* Long Battery Life: Provides extended listening hours on a single charge.
* Intuitive User Interface: User-friendly interface with a touch screen for easy navigation.
* Advanced Features: Supports MQA decoding, DSD rendering, and other advanced audio technologies.
Cons: Pricey: Can be expensive compared to other portable DAPs.
* Touchscreen Sensitivity: Touchscreen can sometimes be unresponsive.
* Limited Physical Controls: Relies heavily on touchscreen for navigation.
Sound Quality:
The Hiby R4 shines in its ability to deliver a rich and detailed soundstage. The bass is deep and impactful, while the mids are clear and articulate. The treble is extended and airy, providing a crisp and detailed sound. It's a versatile DAP that can handle a wide range of music genres, from classical to electronic.
Connectivity and Functions:
* Balanced and Single-Ended Outputs: Supports both balanced and single-ended connections for optimal audio quality.
* Multiple Digital Inputs and Outputs: Offers various digital inputs and outputs, including USB, coaxial, and optical.
* Bluetooth Connectivity: Supports Bluetooth for wireless listening.
* High-Resolution Audio Formats: Supports a wide range of high-resolution audio formats, including DSD, FLAC, and WAV.
* MQA Decoding: Decodes MQA files for the highest level of audio quality.
* DSD Rendering: Renders DSD files natively for accurate playback.
* Customizable EQ: Allows users to tailor the sound to their preferences.
Overall:
The Hiby R4 is a high-performance portable DAP that offers an excellent audio experience. It's a great choice for audiophiles who prioritize sound quality, versatility, and advanced features. While it may be on the pricier side, its exceptional performance and features make it a worthwhile investment.
Note: To fully appreciate the R4's capabilities, consider pairing it with high-quality headphones or IEMs.

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JimiMack
JimiMack
I am curious you think this is pricey compared to other Daps. Which Android Daps are you referring to that are better priced... I would buy a couple in a second..

Comments

donunus

Headphoneus Supremus
How does the 3.5mm output of the r4 compare against other things in the market? Can you elaborate more on the 3.5mm jack? I don't want to buy balanced cables for everything right away :D
 

Jarlaxle

100+ Head-Fier
How does the 3.5mm output of the r4 compare against other things in the market? Can you elaborate more on the 3.5mm jack? I don't want to buy balanced cables for everything right away :D
comparable to any dongle around 100-150 price range. It's competent but inferior to 4.4 mm of course
 

pooley

New Head-Fier
It does appear to be a software issue as in line out mode both L and R are working but putting it into phone mode one cuts out and that's it.
Anyone got suggestions? would be greatly appreciated.
 

Puroplatino

Previously known as NotTheMomma
It does appear to be a software issue as in line out mode both L and R are working but putting it into phone mode one cuts out and that's it.
Anyone got suggestions? would be greatly appreciated.
I wish I could help. The issue I had was resolved when I plugged in a cable. I wasn’t able to control the volume without the cables in, and thus once I put them in the volume started to work just fine. Maybe try and tag @HiByMusic
Sorry I couldn’t be more help.
 

pooley

New Head-Fier
I wish I could help. The issue I had was resolved when I plugged in a cable. I wasn’t able to control the volume without the cables in, and thus once I put them in the volume started to work just fine. Maybe try and tag @HiByMusic
Sorry I couldn’t be more help.
Thanks for the reply, I have contacted Hiby about this and will be shipping a replacement.
 

jaifai

100+ Head-Fier
Interesting reviews, thank you.

I am definitely attracted by the design and specs and will likely buy and trial it at least as soon as it becomes available at amazon dot com. But, I previously trialed the R5II -twice- and returned it because it was just too bulky, compared to my trusty R3 Pro Saber. Yes, it sounded superior, and it had the Android I wanted to be able to access my Amazon Music subscription; but, it just didn't feel portable/light enough for me. The R4 is technologically more advanced, has better specs, costs less (!), and is potentially superior to the R5II sonically; BUT alas, it is even heavier. Also, now I also own the M300 which is lighter, has Android, sounds very nice with my equipment, and in blue is even more beautiful than the R4, I believe at this point. I'll see, but HiBy and HiByDigital are sure impressing and making DAPing and MUSIC FUN... thank you very much!
 
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kpfeifle

100+ Head-Fier
So I have been enjoying my R4 for a couple of days now. I really like how it sounds, no overheating issues and everything seems fine. I did notice 2 specific things that I'm curious to see if anybody else has.
1) The light bar at the top. It is blue when nothing playing, red when charging , White for DSD, yellow when playing, and blue (same as not playing) for MQA stidio. PCM files, however, everything from 16/44 through 32/192 all show as the same yellow. Anybody else see this? I would have expected to see 24/192 a different color, no?
2.) Under Settings>Battery there is a slider for Max battery. I thought this might be to limit charging so it stops a a specific percent, but set at 85%, it still charges to 100%. Does this do anything?
 
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kpfeifle

100+ Head-Fier
So I have been enjoying my R4 for a couple of days now. I really like how it sounds, no overheating issues and everything seems fine. I did notice 2 specific things that I'm curious to see if anybody else has.
1) The light bar at the top. It is blue when nothing playing, red when charging , White for DSD, yellow when playing, and blue (same as not playing) for MQA stidio. PCM files, however, everything from 16/44 through 32/192 all show as the same yellow. Anybody else see this? I would have expected to see 24/192 a different color, no?
2.) Under Settings>Battery there is a slider for Max battery. I thought this might be to limit charging so it stops a a specific percent, but set at 85%, it still charges to 100%. Does this do anything?
So I just noticed something. Playing a 24/192 file, the bar under the artwork says : 192kHz | 24 bits | 6160 kbs, but on the notice bar up top, between the headphone icon (bal in my case) and battery %, it says 48k. So what do I have set wrong? EQ, PEQ and Plug-ins all show as disabled. I see the same thing in Android Mode and Pure Audio Mode.
 

flansterdam

New Head-Fier
So I just noticed something. Playing a 24/192 file, the bar under the artwork says : 192kHz | 24 bits | 6160 kbs, but on the notice bar up top, between the headphone icon (bal in my case) and battery %, it says 48k. So what do I have set wrong? EQ, PEQ and Plug-ins all show as disabled. I see the same thing in Android Mode and Pure Audio Mode.
Have you tried using something other than the stock player app? I use both uapp and apple music and always get bit perfect playback. Also mine glows green when playing anything above I believe 48khz
 
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