HiBy x F.Audio Project Ace

Quick Disclaimer: I’m pretty sure you guys know the drill already especially if you’ve been reading my reviews that I also start with a disclaimer. Seems to be a bit redundant to mention everything else but hey it is what it is. I’m still a newbie and a casual listener to music and as always, this review is 100% my own, I did not read or watch any reviews prior to making this one.

The equipment I used for this review are the following:

• Spotify
• iPhone XS with Apple Dongle
• FX Audio R07 Plus
• Fosi Audio K7

I would like to thank HiBy for making this review possible! This is my 3rd product review from them and I’ve always been excited to try out their devices and this is me coming from reviewing the Zeta and R1. Looking forward to more reviews in the near future!

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And away we go~


This is my 3rd review from HiBy and coming from both the Zeta and R1, I can say that HiBy is one of those companies that I would recommend to anyone looking to start their audio journey or looking to explore different options from a variety of competitors. They have a wide range of options for anyone to choose from, looking for budget gears? No problem! Got money to burn? Yeah we can do that; and usually there’s a stigma that cheaper items would fall hard while spending a lot will get your money’s worth but that’s not the case for HiBy. Since Project Ace is a collaboration between HiBy and FAudio, I have high expectations on these sets since FAudio has been developing and manufacturing high-end earphones since 2015 with Ken Lee who is a music producer.

These IEMs come equipped with a single 12mm Mg-Alloy & Be-plated Dynamic Driver, again quite a surprise since these cost 249.99$. I was expecting maybe a dual driver or hybrid configuration with either planar or BA but a single DD? This reminds me of the Dynabird which also had a single DD but I was not disappointed and after listening to the Project Ace, I can say that this did not disappoint too. It would also seem that this batch that I received for review is continuing with the trend of having unique shell designs, the Project Ace has a shell that is CNC processed by cutting(I don’t know what that means but I’m guess it’s the same thing they did with the Dynabird’s shell), the faceplate has a sleek hexagonal shape with a reflective metal piece in one side which gives it a very nice contrast.

Despite the shell design to be sleek and unique on its own, I find that it lacks a groove in the nozzle to keep ear tips from moving around and that the irregular shape did give me some discomfort after long hours of continuous wearing. This is new to me as the Dynabird despite its irregular shape did not give me any discomfort, this may be different from other users but I find that the shape is the culprit.

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UNBOXING EXPERIENCE


The unboxing experience is a bit similar to that with the Zeta, the packaging has the black and gold colorway while still being simple; the specifications are not found anywhere in the packaging but removing the outer sleeve and lifting the top cover reveals a pamphlet which shows images and text about the specifications about the Project Ace and some lore about the IEMs. The IEMs are securely stored in a thick cut of foam with a separate case for ear tips, you’ll also get a box leather case with magnetic flaps which also contains the following:

• Premium Build Cable
• Divider
• 3.5mm and 4.4mm Modular Jack
• Cleaning Brush

You have 2 sets of ear tips, 3 sets of foam for bass and 3 sets of silicone which are for balance, props to HiBy for actually making a separate case to store the ear tips and not having them stored inside zip lock bags. The cable has a good amount of thickness to it but you will need to remove the divider that is inside the case if you want to fit these together with the Project Ace and hey it has the option to swap between 3.5mm and 4.4mm jack which is great if you have multiple sources except Type-C oh and they come with the standard 0.78mm 2 Pin Connector.

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OVERALL IMPRESSIONS

Using iPhone XS with Apple Dongle

Continuing with the trend of having a single DD the Project Ace is easy to drive/power; the overall sound quality is it has a slight bright tonality with a balanced tuning. Having a slightly bright tonality gives it a strong emphasis when it comes with vocals and instruments but thankfully the Project Ace is not shouty unless if listening in higher volumes then a sharp sibilance is present. Instruments can be heard with great clarity and detail, there is a good amount of sparkle present which caught me by surprise. Although the Project Ace emphasizes on both the vocals and instruments, there is no bleeding in between.

The sound staging is slightly narrow but it is a bit holographic. Sad to say that the panning in some songs is not great as it sounds like they are just walking from right to left rather than sounding that they are walking right behind you or directly speaking to you behind your shoulder, still I will say that the Project Ace does a good job. Imaging is also precise, each instrument can be heard in the direction that they are playing is noticeable.

Now we move to the bass, as stated the Project Ace has a balanced tuning with a bright tonality so bassheads will most likely skip this set. The mid-bass has a smooth yet a tiny bit of punch and the sub-bass does have a bit of rumble while maintaining a smooth texture. Again these will probably be ignored by bassheads but hey for a balanced tuning, you get the best of both worlds by having strong emphasis on vocals and instruments while still having a bit of bass.

Using Fosi Audio K7 3.5mm Jack

And now we slowly introduce the Project Ace to the big boys, starting with the Fosi Audio K7.

Vocals and instruments still maintain their slight bright tonality but have better separation. Vocals have great separation between the background and supporting vocalists, the same goes with the instruments which also have great separation and have a better clarity and detail while still maintaining a good amount of sparkle.

Thanks to the K7 for being a desktop DAC/AMP that focuses on gaming more than music, the sound staging got wider and more holographic, panning now sounds more off set and it is as if the vocals are speaking from your shoulder or when in gaming, you can hear that someone is definitely sneaking behind you. Imaging also had a huge upgrade making it sound accurate, being able to pinpoint where the sounds are coming from either gaming or listening to music gives a whole different kind of immersion.

How does the bass of the Project Ace respond to more power? Well, not much. It still maintains its balanced tuning and there were no significant boosts to both the mid and sub bass. While I could get away with this and change the K7’s option to boost the bass to +6, I choose to use the source in its purest form. Maybe there was a slight boost to the mid-bass punch and a little more rumbling to the sub-bass but in honesty, the differences are very minimal.

Using Fosi Audio K7 4.4mm Jack

In all complete honesty here, there wasn’t much change. A slight increase to the audio/power output and made the vocals and instruments brighter but not too shouty and not have any distortions. Separation between vocals and instruments remains the same as using the 3.5mm jack and yes the sparkle is still there too.

Sound staging also remains the same as well as the imaging. Perhaps the only difference between the 3.5mm and 4.4mm is that it has a higher volume so you can definitely hear more without having to increase the percentage of the K7.

You might think that there is no change in the bass response too but surprisingly there is. The mid-bass has a better bass response and smoother kick while the sub-bass has more texture to the rumble and just like the mid-bass, it is smoother too.

Using FX AUDIO R07 Plus 3.5mm Jack

Last but certainly not the least is the R07 Plus. The slightly bright tonality disappears making the Project Ace purely balanced. Vocals and instruments still have great separation though it has lesser clarity and detail due to the loss of the brightness, despite this the vocals sound more relaxed without any muddiness or distortion especially during high volumes, no sibilance can be heard.

Sound staging was reverted back to its narrow spacing which is a bit of a bummer since I really enjoyed what the K7 did to the sound staging; imaging also went back to being precise rather than being accurate but still retains a bit of a holographic quality. Each instrument can still be heard but it does lack a bit more on the imaging, something you can expect for a DAC/AMP that doesn’t focus a lot on sound staging but is a versatile gadget for your everyday use and listening.

Then we move to the bass which is better than the K7. Mid-bass now has a smooth yet punchier feel but it won’t shake your eardrums while the sub-bass got a much rumbly texture while still being smooth, listening to songs with a lot of bass can get a bit uncomfortable but overall it has that oomph bassheads will surely enjoy.

Using FX AUDIO R07 Plus 4.4mm Jack

Switching to the 4.4mm jack, I can immediately tell that there was a huge boost to the treble making it bright again. It is borderline shouty with strong emphasis on vocals and not so much on instruments, there is still a bit of sparkle present but it is not as prominent as K7, I would say it is the same as the Apple Dongle. Despite the huge boost to the treble and it being borderline shouty, there is no distortion and sharp sibilance. Instruments are somewhat being overwhelmed by the vocals but can still be heard with good clarity and detail.

Sound staging did have a slight boost making the area slightly wider. Imaging just got better and the holographic now has a slight offset making vocals and instruments sound as if it is being played behind your shoulders. The K7 still has a much better sound staging than the R07 plus but the Project Ace does a great job in handling anything that is being thrown to it.

The mid and sub bass got a huge boost, the mid-bass is way punchier while still maintaining a smooth texture and the sub-bass has a lot of rumbling texture which already shook my eardrums, I can already tell that this will cause some discomfort after prolonged listening.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Before I end this review, I will be comparing the Project Ace to LETSHUOER’s Cadenza 4 which is a 249$ Balanced IEM.

Cadenza 4 vs Project Ace

Both IEMs have a balanced tuning right out of the box, the only difference between the two is that the Cadenza 4 focuses a lot in the sound staging and imaging making the overall listening experience wide and accurate while the Project Ace focuses on both vocals and instruments giving it a much better clarity and detail. In terms of the bass response, the Project Ace takes the win here by having a much punchier mid-bass and rumbling sub-bass than the Cadenza 4. If I were to personally pick between the two, it would be the Cadenza 4 despite it lacking in the bass response since the comfort and fitment it gives beats the Project Ace but I do see myself going back to the Project Ace if I want to hear more bass.

Overall, the Project Ace is another versatile IEM that is capable of accommodating any music genre that is being thrown into it with the exception of having a dedicated DAC/AMP to give it a bit more power especially when using the 4.4mm jack that comes with it. The price point of 249.99$ is justifiable especially with the shell design and accessories that it comes with and that the sound quality will satisfy pretty much anyone from treble to bass heads.

Blup blup 𓆟 and happy listening!

Hiby x Faudio Project Ace, review and comparisons.

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Hello, this is my review for the 249 USD Hiby x Faudio Project Ace in-ear monitor. Sent to me for a review, from a review tour conducted by Hiby. Thank you, Hiby.

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I wanted to know how this compares to my other single DD sets at this price range.

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It is a collaborative product of Hiby and Faudio; it is a single dynamic driver IEM with a driver that has an Mg alloy and Be plated diaphragm, which should make the resolution better than normally used PET material.

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It has a neat packaging that includes an elegant leather case; I wish they made it smaller to become pocketable, though. It also includes two sets of ear tips, a foam set and a silicone set. The included modular cable is excellent, one of the best I've seen in this price range. I wish they made it easier to see the left and right indicators on the 2 pins, though.

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For this review, I used various DAC/amps and DAPs, but mostly the iBasso DC Elite with my phone. I used the included silicone ear tips as I don't like using foam tips. I used the stock cable with the 4.4mm balanced connection. I never had issues with discomfort wearing it; it is very comfortable to wear.

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The sound signature is slightly V-shaped and energetic. The bass is punchy and appropriately boosted, and with the right amount of sub-bass extension, it has very good granularity, details, and texture. The midrange is very slightly lower in level compared to the bass and treble, which made the sound pleasant and not annoying to listen to. The note weight is good; it never rendered anything too thin nor too thick in note weight; it sounds just right. The treble is crisp, detailed, and resolving.

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It is average in sensitivity and can go loud with very low distortion, which is excellent in my opinion.

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In terms of its technical performance, the soundstage is medium-sized but above average in all the single DD sets that I've heard. The imaging is very good, with good separation between instruments; the holography is nice too, definitely above average for a single DD set regardless of price. I suspect the diaphragm material really helped here.

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Compared to Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti (220 USD):

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The Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti is a single DD IEM with similarly high-tech diaphragm material. I'm using it with ePRO EP00 eartips and a Dunu Lyre mini cable. The Falcon Ultra Ti is the most neutral-sounding set in this comparison. Compared to the Project Ace, the Project Ace has slightly more bass with more punch and more visceral impact. They are both neutral in midrange with similar details and resolution, but in terms of treble, I find the Falcon Ultra Ti to have slightly more extended upper treble; the Project Ace has good extension in absolute terms but sounds slightly dark in the upper treble on average. In terms of imaging, the Falcon Ultra edges the Project Ace slightly; the Falcon Ultra also has a slightly bigger soundstage.

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I suspect that Project Ace needed more burn-in time for it to improve, especially because it uses more rigid than normal diaphragm material. Well, not all people believe in burn-in, but I found my Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti and Simgot EA1000 improved in sound quality a couple of months after using them; unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of time to do that with the Project Ace, as it is a review tour unit and had to be passed on to the next reviewer in a week or so. But as it is now, I like the bass and enthusiastic energy of the Project Ace over the Falcon Ultra Ti.

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Compared to Simgot EA1000 (219 USD):

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The EA1000 is a very popular IEM in this price range; thus, I have to compare it with the Project Ace. The bass in the EA1000 is very neutral and slightly lower in volume level compared to Project Ace's. The EA1000 has a more airy general sound presentation; it has a slightly less warm midrange and has a more boosted upper treble. They are similar in imaging performance, but I found the EA1000 to have a wider soundstage. I use ePRO EP00 ear tips on the EA1000 with the Tripowin Seraph cable. Sadly, I didn't have the time to experiment with other ear tips on the Project Ace because, as I said earlier, it is a tour unit and has to be passed on to the next reviewer.

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Pros:

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+Very good bass

+ Energetic-sounding

+Engaging

+Excellent build quality

+One of the best-looking stock cables for the price.

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Cons:

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-Slightly dark upper treble


-I wish for more upper treble delicacy, gentleness, and micro details, but I suspect this could improve with more burn-in, but unfortunately I don't have the luxury of time to burn it in for months as it is a tour unit, unlike the other sets in the comparison. which I found to have improved in sound even after a couple of months of using/burn-in.

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Conclusion:

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The Hiby x Faudio Project Ace is a very nice and complete set. The sound is very good for most music genres. I especially like the bass, the crisp treble, and the energetic sound it produces. I think it is worth its price and should be considered when shopping for an IEM above 200 dollars in price.

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That, my friends, concludes my review of the Hiby x Faudio Project Ace.

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Happy listening, cheers!

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Non-affiliated purchase link:

https://store.hiby.com/products/hib...bPtSoYoOLpW_pDMgQy-WWY77HVM-8n7Ig-eCQ1dE8g09w

HiBy and F-audio Project Ace IEMs :- I am I am delighted and thankful to the “Audio Geek India ” for providing this opportunity to have a listening experience of the …..

--HiBy and F-audio Project Ace IEMs.

And share my impressions of my experience for the same. So this is my First Time experience sharing.

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 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 Project Ace IEMs, 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/products/hiby-x-faudio-project-ace .




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 Project Ace has a futuristic looking ,industrial design, in hexagonal shape and mat blue finish . It feels solidly built, tank like, tough.

This is a collaborative product of HiBy and F-audio. So the result of collaboration Project is technically sound, warm yet neutral and linear sounding midrange IEMs, rightly named as “Project Ace.

---Sources I used are, HiBy R4, Moondrop Miad-01, Fiio R7, and also these through Yamaha stereo Amp, and Ifi-Go dongle

Build and Fit :-

This one has Pentagonal Face plate in Blue colour and silver front lining, is a interesting shape giving it’s industrial design a bold look. The inner shell is more thick and the nozzle is bit long, so the Tips need to be good enough to provide effective fit and seal. My experience of the stock silicon tips are not much good for seal and fit, it sleeps from my ear in a while. Obviously Foam tips provide better seal and fit for long listening .

Cable :-

The cable is basic 4-strands Litz cable with L-type modular, screw lock mechanism system . Which I like more instead of normal push and plug mechanism. I used 4.4mm as well as 3.5mm jacks

Sound :-

The project Ace sound signature seems to me as more of neutral and linear which is technically good. But it has Warm and Engaging layers over it’s Bass and Midrange. So to me it’s a mixture of good Bass with texture, bodied Mids and slightly spiced up treble. The result is it needs good Source to excel. The attaching smartphone needs to have a good Dongle or Dac/Amp, otherwise it sounds noisy. With high quality sources this will improve it’s dynamics drastically and smoother treble, and cleaner sound.

Bass :-

This one has got good quality Bass, which is tight enough and clean and also textured. But again it’s linear and bit neutral, and not thumpy and like sub-woofer type Bass. So not for Bass-heads.

Mids :-

These frequencies sound more organic and neutral to me. To me, Vocals has good tonal balance and note weight. Male voice and low frequency instruments sounded amazing. Where as upper-mids are on smoother side according to my listening.

Treble :-

This is quite detailed, with good sparkle and brightness. But I also feel it little uneven and occasionally very sharp of unnatural tone; particularly in female vocals and percussive instruments. This is where it lack in Genuity of upper frequencies. Again it’s good that it didn’t sounded overly Harsh and retrieval of details is good considering the Price range.

Technicalities :-

This is where this IEMs shines, considering it’s price range and it’s single DD. It gives good separation and layering even though it’s Warm sounding lower frequencies. Imaging is good but not much wider, they are in ears only. The Resolution and refinement fumbles bit at top frequencies.

Final thoughts:-

Whatever HiBy and F-Audio has done, this one has somewhat best Bass and Midrange, I came across in economy range IEMs. This are technically capable and aesthetically unique looking. No one is perfect, Treble may turn-off certain seasoned audiophiles who may be looking for perfect Timber and sensitivity of peaks. Also fit may be issue to some, like me, is the reason why I'm giving it rating of 4.5 stars.

So this one is a Top-Mid range level IEMs with impressive look and enjoyable Bass and Mids sounding with good Vocals. It’s Linear soundstage is nearly perfect up to Mid frequencies , in the price range.

Ultimately HiBy Project Ace is very good sounding IEMs for enthusiast audiophile, who look for quality listening with vibrant dynamics and good Bass. It’s good possession in linear sounding mid economy range



Special Note:-

This Project Ace, AS I feel Pairs perfectly with HiBy-R4 Dap. As R4 is a warm sounding Dap with Bit perfect playing. Both instruments shines superbly with very good, engaging musicality and clear sound when the R4 played in a Pure mode. So it seems they are Made For Each-others.

Source: The Hiby R4 , Cayin ru6, Onix Overture XM5
This unit was provided by Audio Geek India as part of their tour organized for Hiby IEM and DAP. I appreciate Audio Geek India for the opportunity to listen to and review the Hiby Project Ace. My review is unbiased and not influenced by anyone.
I used the stock 4.4mm balanced cable and 3.5mm cable for it and stock eartips.
Unboxing and Packaging: The package includes:
1x In-Ear Monitor
1x Detachable Cable
1x Protective Case
6x Pairs of Eartips silicon & foam Once
I had the demo version, so please refer to the pictures for details on the included accessories.
First Impressions: The Hiby Ace has a beautiful metal shell which looks quiteee good, attractive and solid the leather box is spacious and the cable is 8 core copper silver coated this thing add a shine to this package.
Comfort: Pretty comfortable it has lightweight aluminum alloy that looks premium and sturdy the locking mechanism is a brilliant step taken by hiby on the cable , I have a bit of issue for my small ear because of the cable tension otherwise it’s up to the mark
Sound: Seriously its a great analytical than musical great for analyzing music a W shape flat sounding IEM with a good space a great Bass and quitee manageable treble, but I must say the tuning and the presentation make it one of a kind with much high resolution sound experience which seducing me to bought it LOL haha. But it has a marvelous micro and macro details that is didn’t hear on any IEM in this price segment, the W shape sound and the awesome driver make the bass treble vocal all on a mid-center area you can feel it on the layering and the overall sound texture is crispy and good.
Final Thoughts: Overall, the Hiby Ace is a great IEM worth considering. Most have unit for a serious audiophile or a good detail lover.

PROJECT ACE-
Hiby is a company with well over 15 years of experience in the field of musical reproduction. I have already used a decent amount of HiBy products and have been wanting to try some of their portable music players and got to try the HIBY R4 along with a Hiby X FAudio Project Ace. I have heard of FAudio and have been planning on trying to get them to India to try them. Thus, when the opportunity came, I grabbed it and hence here I am reviewing the new HIBY X FAUDIO- PROJECT ACE.

DISCLAIMER-
The HiBy X FAudio Project ACE is part of a review tour organized by A.G. and HiBy and FAudio in my country. The sample belongs to the brand. I had the opportunity to listen to it for a lot of days for this review. This review is completely based on my experience with it, and all opinions, positive or negative, are my own and no one else’s. No external factors influence my review; only internal factors like my brain and heart influence it . Please try it yourself, if possible, since we all hear things differently. If you want to purchase it, you can buy it from the official product website from the link- HiBy X FAudio Project Ace.

SPECIFICATIONS-
Driver: 12mm Mg-Alloy & Be-platedDynamic Driver
Impedance: 32Ω
Sensitivity: 115dB at 1kHz
Max Input Power: 100mw
Price: 250$

PACKAGING-
It comes in a beautiful black cardboard packaging with beautiful circles on it and golden writing on both sides showing F-Audio and HiBy. The inside has good case of ear tips and the iems with a beautiful blue synthetic case which has the cables. The case also has space for iems and cable separately. The cable has interchangeable connectors with 4 pin cable covers on it.

BUILD-
The iems are built of blue shell and metal corners which feel wonderful and look beautiful. They feel sturdy and quite beautiful. The cable is also black and has good soft feel to it. The interchangeable plugs are also quite good to use and feel great overall. There is no cable noise with use. The shells are quite average in size and will fit mostly all ears properly giving a proper seal for sure.

NOTE: This iem was used with HiBy R4 and also PAW S1. I loved it with both of them but I used HiBy R4 more hence most of the review will be with that. Now HiBy is a neutral source mostly so you can change the source to match this iem. Plus this review shows how I feel about the sound characteristics of this iem if you want to buy it, do try them once as we all hear differently.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS-

SUBBASS-
They are quite controlled, and hits are quite impactful, and quality is maintained of the rumble. The body and base of the notes are dense and thicker, and it extends quite outwards in the headstage (more horizontally than going more in depth). The rumble is more defined, but it requires a little more space in between the individual notes and spread a little bit more. Dynamism is quite great, and rumble is well defined but not big, as extensions are quite less.

BASS-
Dynamics are quite great and the notes are slightly on the flat / neutral side. Body and base are normal and tonality is on point. The extension is less with having fast decay and even faster attack on the notes. Dynamics are great too. They mostly are spread horizontally and stay on the face level too. The hollowness of the drums are also felt showing great level od details present.

MIDS-
Tonality is on point with great details and dynamics present throughout the spectrum of music. Resolutions are great, plus the tonal differences between the instruments and singers make it very much wonderful to listen to. The individual notes are quite defined and the attack is quite fast but decay here is better hence letting the guitars to extend a bit and give more space for the notes. The inter notes separation is quite good, plus each instruments has its own place on the headstage and quite separate from each other. Even nuances within the instruments feel quite great to listen to. The hollowness of the certain instruments comes through and also the tonal changes with pulls of the strings of the instruments are quite easily heard. The instruments are also quite dynamic and widely spread to shows the big stage present on the headstage.

Not much ‘sss’ in the female vocals and is quite subdued and hence wont cause trouble much. There is a lot of details in the vocals with air present around the voices. Lip smacks are easily noticed too. There is also spread of voice around the room and they go quite big in the headstage. The change in tonality in the voices are also felt as vocalists intend with change in loudness and roughness as intended. They are quite dynamic and also reach the top of the headstage quite easily. A little more headroom would have been better overall. Male vocals are quite big on the body and felt more wider overall. Their tonal different are quite easily noticeable. The roughness does come through too. Notes could be a little more well defined overall in the vocals and have also more structure present.

TREBLE-
First things first, its not an treble heavy iem. This can show up an entire orchestra of trumpets and saxophones without overwhelming you. There is a lot of energy in the instruments, and they are quite dynamic too. They are tonally accurate but having thicker notes and on little warm side. The extensions are so easily handled, it feels wonderful to listen to, making the head-stage a wonderful amalgamation of music. None of the instruments are found to be harsh at all. Notes are quite well defined here with similar width to the base and body and it extends with not much change in width and then gradually decreases with time.

VERDICT-
It’s a good warm iem with good technicalities. It’s a good rounder iem and gets my vote of recommendation for a everyday use iem that won’t cause headaches in the long run.

Disclaimer:​

Hiby has sent Audiophiles Alliance BD the Project Ace IEM for a review tour in exchange of our honest thoughts and opinions. If you decide to purchase this IEM based on my review and find that you disagree with this assessment, that responsibility lies solely with you. I strongly discourage relying solely on a single review for making purchasing decisions in the realm of audio gear, as preferences vary. Furthermore you should conduct thorough research by exploring platforms such as YouTube, head-fi forums, and various Facebook audiophile groups and websites until you come to a final conclusion.
Non-affiliated Purchase Link: https://store.hiby.com/products/hiby-x-faudio-project-ace

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Unboxing:​

Hiby Project Ace offers quite a premium unboxing experience and a generous amount of accessories. What’s in the box:

1. A dark blue leather carrying case
2. A modular, 8 core Silver Plated Copper Cable
3. Set of silicone ear tips (S,M,L)
4. Set of foam ear tips (S,M,L)

Build Quality & Design:​

The build and design of the Project Ace is outstanding. Featuring a distinctive pentagon-shaped metal housing with a striking blue and gold finish, the combination of matte blue and glossy gold accents gives it a bold and eye-catching look. The metal shells are well-constructed, offering a solid, premium feel in hand. The size leans on the larger side and Project Ace has a nice heft that adds to their durability without being cumbersome. Fingerprints and scratches weren’t an issue during my use. Although comfort & fit might be challenging for those with smaller ears, due to the size and weight of these metal shells.

The Tech:​

This is the first time Hiby has partnered with the boutique earphone brand F.Audio and Project Ace is the end result of their collaborative efforts. At the core of the Project ACE is a dynamic driver designed with several impressive features. It houses a 12mm diaphragm, larger than the typical 10mm driver. Which allows for 1.44 times more area to push air than a 10mm dynamic driver, and 2.25 times more than an 8mm one. This diaphragm is coated with Beryllium, a material renowned for being lightweight and extremely fast, delivering rich high frequency and wonderful tonal texture.
The dome, composed of a magnesium alloy mixed with lithium, is mounted atop the Beryllium layer, creating a highly responsive diaphragm. Powering this setup are exceptionally strong magnets, using which Project Ace achieves excellent electro-acoustic conversion efficiency. Project Ace also features triple built-in acoustic chambers, which reduces distortion, regulates the air-flow and releases excess air pressure in the ear canal.

Sources Used During Review:​

1. Hiby R4
2. Cayin RU7
3. Shanling M5 Ultra
4. Hiby R6 Gen III

Project Ace is an easy to drive IEM. It doesn’t need a lot of power to bring out it’s true potential. Neither does it scale more with more potent or powerful sources. Project Ace synergizes better with warm and smooth sounding sources due to it’s peaky treble.

Sound Evaluation​

Timbre, tonality, and tonal balance​

Project Ace takes a break form the usual Harman or v-shape tuning most manufacturer go for. It takes a balanced yet musical approach. The tonality can be described as slightly bright but never dry or analytical. It retains good note weight and a natural timbre for instruments.

Highs (3.5/5):​

It has well-extend upper-treble with lots of details and sparkle. Instruments like high-hats and cymbals sound crisp and lively on this set. The lower-treble has a dip/peak which can make the overall treble range sound uneven or peaky. For example, in the track Boston/Long time by Foreplay you can feel fatigued by the synths and electric guitar distortion starting from 1:28 to 2:20.

Mids (4/5):​

As mentioned earlier Project has a mid centric tuning. Both instruments and vocals in the midrange sound quite pleasing. Vocals are forward but yet lacking sweetness or that emotional element. Both male & female vocals sound good, lower-mids benefit from some added warmth coming out of the mid-bass region. Male vocals sound fuller and more texturized, female vocals although forward do not sound shouty or piercing like some Harman-tuned sets do. You can notice the acoustic guitars, piano and drums being rendered quite vividly in the track Wild Horses by Rolling Stones.

Low’s (4/5):​

The bass on the Hiby Project Ace is tight, punchy, and well-controlled. While it doesn’t offer the overwhelming sub-bass of some bass-heavy IEMs, it provides just enough depth and impact to add warmth and presence to genres like electronic, pop, and rock. The bass never bleeds into the midrange, maintaining a clear separation that keeps the overall sound clean and engaging. In the track Matafaka by Unknown Brian the bass drop at 0:40 slams quite hard and sounds dynamic.

Technicalities (4/5):​

Soundstage​

The soundstage of the Hiby Project Ace is surprisingly expansive for an IEM. It offers a wider-than-average sense of space, allowing the music to breathe and providing an experience that feels less “in-your-head” than many other in-ear monitors. There’s a palpable sense of width, with instruments and vocals extending outwards, creating a holographic feel. While the depth isn’t as pronounced as the width, it still manages to deliver a sense of layering that feels realistic, particularly for live recordings and orchestral arrangements.

Resolution and Detail Retrieval​

Detail retrieval on the Hiby Project Ace is impressive, especially considering its price point. The IEM manages to pick up subtle nuances in recordings, such as the trailing reverb of a vocal or the slight rasp of a string instrument. This level of resolution is a testament to the finely tuned dynamic driver, which captures both micro-details and the finer textures of instruments. It excels in revealing intricate elements of the mix, making it a great choice for genres with complex instrumentation like jazz, classical, and progressive rock.

Imaging​

When it comes to imaging, the Project Ace delivers precise placement of instruments and vocals within the soundstage. The accuracy of its imaging makes it easy to pinpoint different elements of a track, which is particularly impressive during complex, multi-layered recordings. Whether it’s the distinct positioning of drums, guitars, or background vocals, the Project Ace excels at maintaining clarity without overcrowding any part of the stereo field. This feature is especially enjoyable for listeners who appreciate spatial realism in their audio.

Instrument Separation​

The instrument separation on the Hiby Project Ace is another standout feature. Thanks to its clear and well-defined midrange, instruments do not feel congested, even in busier or more intricate tracks. Every layer of the music is distinct, allowing you to focus on individual components without them blurring together. Whether it’s a complex rock song with multiple guitar tracks or a classical arrangement with numerous instruments, the Project Ace does a remarkable job keeping each element in its own space.

Comparisons​

Simgot EA1000 (Fermat):​

Both are quite similar in terms of sound, tech and even price. Although both are single dynamic drivers, Simgot adds a passive radiator into the mix which has a very positive impact on the bass.

Bass​

The bass quantity is slightly better on the EA1000, it sounds punchier and the sub-bass reaches deeper. Compared to Project Ace, the bass on Simgot EA1000 has better texture, separation and clarity. Both sound snappy and agile in the low end, the decay on the Simgot EA1000 is quicker than that of the Project Ace. Bass notes resolve with minimal lingering, giving the EA1000 an even more controlled and clean presentation.

Mids​

Vocals are more forward in the Project Ace, while they take a back seat in the EA1000 behind the instruments. Due to the upper-mids peak on the EA1000 vocals sound significantly shoutier. The mids on the EA1000 are more neutral and leaner compared to the slightly warmer mids of the Project Ace. Instruments and vocals sound clean and precise without any added warmth. This can result in a more analytical sound, where every detail in the midrange is well-separated, but it might lack the richness or fullness some listeners prefer for certain genres like jazz or acoustic.

Treble​

The treble on the Project Ace is energetic and sparkly but remains controlled, without being overly bright or sibilant. It has a smooth roll-off at the top end, providing a safe and inoffensive treble response that adds excitement without fatigue. However, it may lack some air and detail in the upper treble region. There is als some sibilance present due to the lower-treble peak. The EA1000’s treble is more extended and detailed, offering better clarity and air. It has a crisper presentation with more emphasis on micro-details, which gives instruments like cymbals and strings a more natural shimmer. This level of treble extension can be fatuging to more treble sensitive listeners.

Technicalities​

Technicalities are great on both sets. The Project Ace offers a wide and immersive soundstage, creating an open feel that extends beyond the ears. Imaging is precise, making it easy to locate instruments and vocals within the mix. The sense of space is one of its strengths, providing a near 3D-like experience. While the EA1000 offers a more intimate stage but it does have better depth and height. Simgot EA1000 offers a higher sense of resolution and micro-detailing dues to it’s aggressive focus on clarity. Both have good imaging and instrument separation.

Overall​

The Simgot EA1000 has more analytical and slightly dryer tuning compared to the Project Ace. Although Project Ace sound smoother it too can feel fatiguing due to it’s uneven treble frequency. Both require copper cables and a warm source to tame their treble harshness. Mids on the Project Ace sound more natural and less shouty, while EA1000 makes up for this with a focus on extreme precision and clarity. These two are side-grades to each other rather than an upgrade, it will depend on the listener which one the like better.

Conclusion:​

Withe the Simgot Project Ace I think Hiby has come really close to creating a benchmark single DD IEM at the $250 price range. Only to be let down by the peaks in its lower treble and slight lack of bass quantity (impact/slam). Hiby is apparently working on a newer purple version on the Project Ace which supposedly fixes the uneven and fatiguing treble. I hope they makes the vocals more expressive and adds more extension in the bass region as well. So finally we may get the top single DD contender of the $200-$300 price range and the Simgot EA1000 can finally retire.

The HiBy x F.Audio Project Ace, a collaboration between rising audio stars, aims to deliver a natural and engaging experience for a sub-$300 price tag. But can its single dynamic driver (DD) design compete with pricier multi-driver rivals? Let's delve into the sound quality, design, and overall value of the Project Ace, helping you decide if it's the right IEM for you.



Disclaimer: This review reflects my personal and subjective listening experience. I would like to thank HiBy for the tour review unit with Audiophile Alliance BD and allowing me to share my thoughts on the product, it doesn’t influence my review in any form and nor I am compensated.



Build Quality and Accessories:

The Project Ace boasts a premium look and feel. The pentagonal aluminum shells are CNC machined, exuding a sense of quality and durability. The detachable cable feels sturdy and contributes to the overall polished appearance.



Accessories:

Out of the box, the Project Ace comes with a decent selection of accessories:

• 3 pairs of silicone ear tips
• 3 pairs of memory foam ear tips
• Detachable Litz Type 5 cable with 2-pin connectors and modular plug design
• 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs
• Cleaning Tool to maintain the IEMs.
• Sturdy Carrying Case to protect the IEMs during travel

Test Setup:

Sources: Shanling M3X, Cayin RU7, Shanling UA3, FiiO BTR5.

Tips: Default Tips, KB Ear KB07 Eartips, Final Audio Type E Silicone Eartips, DIVINUS Velvet Silicone Eartips.

Cable: Stock Cable with 4.4 termination, NiceHCK AlloyUltra 16 Core Silver Plated Copper+Alloy Cable.



Sound Signature:

The Project Ace leans towards a balanced sound with a subtle V-shape emphasis:

• Bass: Controlled Impact. The bass delivers a satisfying punch without bleeding into the mids. Sub-bass extension is good, adding depth to kick drums and bass lines without muddying the overall mix. However, true bassheads might find it a touch reserved compared to IEMs with boosted low-end.

• Mids: The Star of the Show. Here's where the Project Ace shines. The mids are clear, transparent, and detailed. Vocals take center stage, revealing every nuance of a singer's performance. Instruments like guitars and pianos are well-defined, allowing you to appreciate the intricate details of their sound. This focus on mids makes the Project Ace ideal for vocal-centric music and acoustic genres.

• Highs: A Balancing Act. The treble on the Ace IEM is detailed and crisp, adding a sense of air and openness to the sound. It extends well without becoming harsh or sibilant, although it can get a bit bright on certain tracks. The highs add sparkle and definition to the music, enhancing the overall clarity and providing a sense of space.

Technical Performance:

Despite being a single DD design, the Project Ace offers decent detail and resolution. Instruments are well-separated, allowing you to follow each element within a complex mix. While not the most analytical IEM on the market, it provides enough clarity to satisfy most audiophiles.

One of the Project Ace's most impressive feats is its soundstage. For a single DD IEM, it delivers a surprisingly wide and deep presentation, creating a sense of spaciousness that rivals some multi-driver models. However, imaging within the soundstage could be sharper. Sometimes it feels a slight lack of precision in pinpointing the exact location of instruments within the overall sound field.



Verdict: Buy or Pass?

The HiBy x F.Audio Project Ace is a fantastic option for audiophiles seeking a natural and balanced sound at a sub-$300 price point. Its clear mids, controlled bass, and surprisingly spacious soundstage make it a compelling choice for most music genres. However, if you prioritize booming bass or analytical treble detail, the Project Ace might not be the perfect fit. For the price, the Project Ace offers a lot to love. If you want a balanced, natural sound that lets you appreciate the details in your music, give these a shot!

Before jumping to the review, I would like to thank Hiby for sending the unit in for review alongside the amazing R4 Digital Audio Player. Since I don’t own any 4.4 mm device, this review is mainly will be written with the Hiby R4 as the source. Secondly, I would like to thank AudioGeek Tour Group for arranging the product tour. Especially Mr. Harmoko, Mr. Novan, and Mr. Sandeep. Enough dilly-dallying let’s get straight to the review.



Video Review:


Unboxing

(I forgot to include the Leather Box lol)
I got a chance to unbox them for the first time in Beyond The Music Store, a huge shout out to them, especially because they also took part in distributing the tour unit around. Unboxing wise, the Project Ace really does scream fancy, there isn't any anime box art for them and the Project Ace Themselves are pretty hard to take out. A little tip is to push them from the back, although you’ll need to be careful not to push on the nozzles. They also include a really nice eartips case. Inside, there’s 2 types of eartips, usual silicon ones and foam eartips. Next is the included case, which houses the thick included cable inside, the Project Ace also came with modular cable, so the jack can be switched between 4.4 and 3.5 mm. Other than that, they also include a cleaning tool.

Design, Fit, and Comfort

The Project Ace seems to be a fairly comfortable set in ears. The buds themselves are made of metal, and perhaps they’re not painted, rather anodized, because they do have that slightly transparent look to them. Their angular look might be intimidating at first, they’re surprisingly comfortable. Although my right ear, which is slightly smaller than the left, does get a little uncomfortable after 2-3 hours of continuous listening. About the weight, it seems like they’re in between being light and heavy, light when they’re on your ears so you most likely won’t feel a thing, but heavy enough to inspire confidence in your hands.

They also came with a really nice cable, the combination of color does match really well and the cable is thick while being lightweight enough to not bother the user experience. The hardware from the chin slider thingy to the jack feels so nice, as they’re made of metal. Although, I do have a slight note on the jack, as there’s a gap for the modular jack. Some people I show the Ace to, do share the similar note on them, as they look like they’re not secured enough, even though they’re actually secured properly. But I really appreciate the craftsmanship on them.

Sound
Since I’ll be reviewing the Project Ace and R4, the source I’ll be using for the review is the R4 itself. I think compared to what I’m used to, the TEU-99 for a while now. The R4 is a huge upgrade over them, as the first time I used them, they made the Zero:Red feel wider than with the TEU-99. Perhaps it’s because the TEU-99 is just a Dongle DAC, while the R4 is both a DAC+AMP that also plays music. This review will be mostly written without any plugins on the R4. Mostly “Mid” Gain, as I feel the Project Ace sounds better on this gain mode.

Treble
The upper treble seems to be rather fast with not a lot of decay, the cymbals hits on Rock/Metal tracks like from Megadeth and Bring Me The Horizon feels to be slightly less airy. For me, the experience is rather natural and fast, giving a rather nice, more natural sound presentation compared to Hybrid sets. Although technically, hybrid sets do have their own advantages. On the Mid treble, it seems like there’s a slight hike, where it could come out slightly fatiguing and maybe some sibilance on higher listening volume, but for me, I think this is slightly needed to bring up some of that details on songs. On the lower Treble or Presence region, the Project Ace has a decent presence, slightly forward, perhaps not as forward as on the Tanchjim Origin, but it’s forward enough while providing some air to breathe, giving a sense of wide and layered soundstage.

Mids
The Upper midrange feels nicely tuned, as the vocals doesn’t stand out too much, yet stands out enough from the instruments to take the spotlight. The vocals are weighty with good natural presentation. Perhaps the slight peak on the presence region does affect the vocal and upper midrange performance of the Ace, but I think it’s still not peaky enough to be fatiguing and unnatural sounding. As for the lower mids, the lower mids presentation feels linear and clean with minimal to almost non-existence midbass bleed. Speaking of Midbass…

Bass
I think the Ace doesn’t have too much Midbass. If you asked me, I personally don’t really mind the lack of Midbass, although on some songs, I do feel like it is also necessary. The Project Ace for me has a pretty natural sounding midbass. Not too much, not too little. Not enough to be bloated, but enough to give a natural satisfying bass guitar and bass drums sounds.

From my experience with the Ace, I think the Project Ace focuses more on Subbass, as for me, the subbass is a little bit more pronounced compared to the Midbass as Kickdrums feel slightly accentuated compared to Bass drums or Bass guitars.

On Distortion 10 Babymetal Budokan
The sound presentation is rather wide, with less accentuation on vocals, making the soundstaging a bit deeper than what I usually experience. Electric guitar licks came out really nice, enough to be noticeable yet not enough to be annoying. Imaging and layering are also pretty nice with the Ace. I think what is slightly missing with the Ace is the detail retrieval from the audience or other small nuances in the recording that are usually present in a hybrid set. Considering the limitation of a single Dynamic Driver, I believe the Ace has shown its’ full potential and I feel like the previous comment of lacking that detail is just a nitpick from my end.

On 2Worlds
In the opening seconds, the Project Ace sounds so “ethereal” if that’s even a word. I really like how deep the soundstage and imaging presentation is. Making the feel slightly light and rather easy to relax to. The experience is clean, with a good bass punch.

EPZ M100

While reviewing the Project Ace, I also got sent a set of EPZ’s new Eartips, the M100. The M100 slightly boosts the upper midrange performance with the Ace, I think if you find the Upper Midrange or vocal area needed to be slightly forward, the M100 eartips might be a really good combination for the Hiby Project Ace. Other than the sound, the M100 also feels to make the Project Ace way more comfortable in my ears. The extra grip it has also make them fit more securely. I will cover the EPZ M100 more on a dedicated video of them.

TL;DR
The Hiby x F.Audio Project Ace is officially the first IEM I reviewed from the brand Hiby and F.Audio. They are also the first non-hybrid IEM I fully reviewed that costs above $100 dollars. The Project Ace is a single Dynamic Driver IEM that costs $250. Having a rather flat-ish natural sound, the Project Ace offers a wide and deep soundstaging and good imaging. Perhaps not the most detailed or resolving IEM for $250, but it sure is still detailed, while sounding natural at the same time. I enjoy the natural sound it has, how undistracting the sound signature is, and how they look. They’re definitely not perfect, but what is perfection without imperfections ? If you like a natural sound with a wide and deep soundstage. I think the Project Ace is worth considering. I’m quite sure that the Project Ace is an underrated set, that you (probably) shouldn’t miss. As for the ratings, I give the Project Ace an A for Tonality and a B+ for Technicalities.

Well, that is it! That is my review of the Hiby x F.Audio Project Ace. Do you own the Project Ace ? What are your thoughts about them ? Let me know in the comments section. Thank you to Mr. Sandeep, Mr. Harmoko, and Hiby for making this review possible! Thank you al
l for watching and have a great day!

Summary
The Project Ace is a single dynamic driver iem from Hiby, made in collaboration with F Audio. The Project Ace is packing a single 12mm dynamic driver, coming in at 250$. For the price, the packaging is decent, the accessories are quite high quality, build and design is pretty good, fit and comfort is fine. This has a balanced to mild V sound signature, bass performance is pretty good with good heft and body, mids are natural, smooth and balanced, treble is a bit uneven but fairly detailed and resolving.
So is this any good? In my opinion, the Project Ace is an unique set with various attractive attributes but when it comes to sound only there are more competitive options available in the market. On the other hand if you are looking for an overall decent package this might be a great option.



Intro
Hey Guys, whats up….
Today I am checking out the Project Ace from Hiby. The Project Ace is a collaboration between Hiby and F Audio. This is a single dynamic driver iem with a retail price of 249$. So is this any good? Lets discuss…

About the brand:
First, lets get to know the brand, Hiby is a very popular ChiFi brand mainly famous for their daps (digital audio players). They have a versatile line up of daps from the entry level up to the very high end. In fact one of my first daps was a hiby R3back in the day and I have also used the R3 pro and R5 saber. They also make other audio products such as dac dongles and iems. They are also known for their Hiby Music app which is used by many audiophiles. Anyways, enough yapping, lets move to the Project Ace starting off with specs.

Disclaimer: thanks to Hiby and the review tour group “Audiophile Alliance Bangladesh” for loaning me this unit along with the Hiby R4. But as always this review is my honest and unbiased opinion.



Specs
> Driver: 12mm Mg-Alloy & Be-platedDynamic Driver
> Impedance: 32Ω
> Frequency Response: 20-20,000Hz
> Sensitivity: 115dB at 1kHz
> Max Input Power: 100mw
= Price: 250$

Packaging
Continuing on to the packaging section, the Project Ace comes in a simple yet beautiful black box with gold accent. Sliding off the outer sleeve you will see a similarly designed lid. Opening the lid you are greeted with a paper showing its details. Below that you will find the iems , the eartips case and the carrying case nicely presented. Below that you will find all the paper works. Inside the carrying case you will find the cable, modular terminations and a cleaning brush. The case is quite nice both in terms of look and feel. The cable is also quite high quality based on the price. I will get into mode detail about the cable and case below. The included eartips are standard, but I like that they included a case for it. List of box contents:
iems
Cable with terminations
Carrying case
Eartips
Cleaning brush
Papers


Build and Design
Moving on to the build and design of the Project Ace, this is fantastic. This has a unique pentagon shape structure with blue and gold finish. The combination of matte blue and shiny gold on the edge looks quite striking. The shells are made of metal and they are built quite nicely I must say. The size is on the larger side. These have nice weight to them, feels solid in the hands. Fingerprints or scratches were not an issue in my use case. The 2pin connector is flush type, but I would have preferred a recessed one as its more secure. The nozzle length and width is standard.

Fit and Comfort
Talking about fit and comfort of the Project Ace, it is standard for my regular sized ears but the unusual shape does start to be bothersome after a while. Long term listening comfort is average, nothing too crazy. Isolation is good. Breathability is ok. Stability is ok. All in all I find it enough comfortable for daily use but a more ergonomic shape would have been better in my opinion.



Inner Structure and Tech
Inside the Project Ace we see a single 12mm dynamic driver, this is rather an interesting move by Hiby as it is fairly rare to use such size. Additionally the Project Ace uses a beryllium plated diaphragm and a magnesium dome.

Accessories
Case
The included case of the Project Ace is quite good both in looks and quality. This is made of dark blue leather, feels good in the hands. There is a subtle “Hiby” branding on the magnetic flap in front. The size is also very portable.


Cable
Now let’s look at the cable, Hiby has provided a fantastic cable with the Project Ace. I am actually quite surprised how good quality the cable is for the price. This is thick black and grey color toned 8core cable made of silver plated copper wires. The 8core braiding is nice and tight. The chin singe is properly functional. The Y split and connectors casing are made of metal. The modular termination system is quite solid and sturdy. There is no audible micrphonics. There is a bit of cable memory, I wish it was a bit softer. I guess I am knit picking too much considering the price lol..




Please note: Listening impressions are highly subjective and can differ depending on different ear shape, individual music library, choice of source, eartips, cable and personal preferences, so your experience may differ. I personally always use and test all my gear in various setups to get a generalized idea on it. You can find my “tested with” info below.

Now most importantly sound, Hiby has gone for a warm balanced sound signature for the Project Ace. What is interesting, I find this set fairly unique because of its sound characteristics. The overall sound is warm, natural and balanced with a decent amount of bass. Many companies tend to put ton of bass or make it too relaxed or make the mids too recessed. Lets get into a bit more detail.

Bass
Let's delve into the bass performance of the Project Ace, which is pretty solid. This provides a strong and deep yet controlled bass. What I find interesting is that, it still maintains an above average quality while providing good quantity of bass. In terms of positioning, the mid bass is a bit more forward compared to the sub bass. The sub bass is engaging and deep. Mid bass being a bit more forward has more authority without getting blotted. Bass speed is on the standard to slower side. Overall the Project Ace has a very engaging bass response, without overpowering the other frequencies. The body and layering is executed well. Decay and reverberation are ok and bass note separation is satisfactory.



Mids
Moving on to the midrange, this is good. The Project Ace has an organic and balanced midrange. The warmth from the bass does influence the midrange but it is still well balanced. What I find interesting is that the Project Ace maintains a very similar level of forwardness and balance both with the male and female vocals, unlike recent releases where they make the female vocals forward or make the male vocals recessed. Tonally the vocals sound natural and organic. All in all the vocals do not take the center stage nor the back seat, rather they play along side the other instruments with harmony. Speaking of instruments, they take the same route with over all smooth and balanced presentation. Personally, I quite enjoyed the midrange tuning of this set.

Treble
Proceeding on to the treble of the Project Ace, this is sort of balanced but a bit undone. Over all the level of detail is good. The treble on this set, specially on higher volume gets a bit uneven. This is not that fatiguing but this may get bothersome if you are treble sensitive. I like the level of energy this provides but in various tracks it sounds unnatural. The treble here is not that spacious or airy. After enjoying the bass and mids I really wanted to like the treble, bur the uneven nature just isnt doing it.

Technical Sound:
Soundstage of the Project Ace is above average. All three plains are above average, this has good width but the height is ok. Stage depth is ok. Layering is fine, but in busy tracks it may get blended in.
Imaging is standard.
Sound separation and layering is average
Resolution is average
Dynamics are good
Timbre is good

Tested With
Source: cayin n3 ultra, cayin ru7, questyle m15, hiby r4, hidiz s8
Eartips: stock, Final E, spinfit w1, Divinus velvet
Cable: stock
Music: Tested with versatile genre of music

Simgot EA1000 Fermat

The Simgot EA1000 Fermat is very popular single dynamic driver iem in the sub 250$ price range. I have previously checked out the EA1000 and I quite liked it. So how does it stand up against the Project Ace? Lets dive in…
Starting ofd with packaging, Project Ace is better. Accessories are better with the Project Ace, specially the cable. Build and design is pretty good on both but I will go for the EA1000. Fit and comfort is better on the EA1000 because of its more standard shape. So which is better in sound? Starting with bass, I will say Project Ace is better, as it has more body and heft and also a bit more in quantity. For mids both are a tie, EA1000 has a more traditional yet natural thicker male vocals and energetic female vocals, where as the Project Ace takes a more uncommon approach with similar warmth and smoothness in both male and female vocals. In treble, EA1000 is a winner, as it has more well finished highs. In technical performance both are a tie. In general, if you are want a more brighter, more detailed and energetic tonality, EA1000 would be a better choice. And if you want more warm and balanced set Project Ace would be better compared to EA1000.




Conclusion
So to conclude the review, do I recommend this set? In my opinion, the Project Ace is an unique set with various attractive attributes but when it comes to sound only there are more ompetitive options available in the market. On the other hand if you are looking for a overall decent package this might be a great option.

If you have any questions regarding tis product, do comment down below, I will try my best to reply soon.
Shout out to Hiby and F Audio for making such an unique set. And huge thanks to you all for sticking around, see yall in the next one.

Inside The Box​

Premium Carry case(Leather case , Alcantara inside)
Interchangeable terminal cable (8 core copper and silver, Litz 5, 4.4 and 3.5)
Eartips
Product feature Card

The unboxing experience is very premium. Like the old days when we used to unbox samsung or nokia phones similar to that experience.

Specs​

Φ12mm Dynamic Driver
Mg & Li Alloy Dome、
Be-plated Diaphragm、
CNC Carving
0.78 2 pin detachable cable

Build and Comfort​

The iems are built out of metal and beautifully crafted. They have put attention to details while building this iem shell. Kudos to the engineers. Same goes for the cable as well. THis is one of the finest cables in the market. Starting from the terminal locking mechanism to the cable adjustment mechanism, everything is made out of metal. The cable is not a memory one, so it doesn’t get tangled. I wish other manufacturers would start making this kind of cable.

In terms of comfort and ergonomics they fit quite well. The iem is quite bulky. They are not recommended for a long listening session as it might get fatiguing.

Gears Used

• Cayin IHA-6
• Ibasso DX170
• Meizu Dongle
• Hiby R4

This iem is fairly easy to drive .

Sound​

signature / graph : The tuning of the Ace follows a balanced sound signature with bass boost.​

Bass:​

Ace has textured bass, it can extract details from the bass. But it lacks slam and depth. Bit tight bass would be fun. Bass feels hollow depending on the tracks. For example drums sound good in this iem on the other hand electronic beats sound bit muddy, Bass is not well bodied.
It has a decent sub-bass. In hip-hop, EDM songs you will feel the sub-bass rumble. But in classical music the instruments lack sub-bass. For example the tabla sub-bass didn’t hit me.
Bass 3.5/5.0

Mids​

This produces some of the best natural dynamic driver vocals. Natural timbre is something very difficult to do. Project Ace shines in that department. The main attraction to the show would be male vocals, female vocals sound natural as well. But they don’t sound intimate like in EST’s. It has forward vocals. Instruments, especially guitar notes, sound natural and accurate. Drums sound good. But if the track is busy then it fails to play instruments distinctively. If your music involves too many instruments like “Coke Studio” ones you might not like them.
Mids 4.5/5.0

Treble
The treble is mostly on the smoother side of the spectrum. High hats sound satisfying which other iems struggle with. Depending on the track's opinion might change. There are few spikes in the mid treble. Listening to rock or metal music might feel fatigued after a few tracks.
Treble: 4.0/5.0

Technical aspects​

It has a spacious sound stage, vocals are forward and the instruments play in background. Not the most technical iem. It lacks technicalities. Micro details could be better. This kind of sound signature is better suited for laid back listening.
Technical aspects : 3/5

Verdict​

As a single Dynamic driver it ticks all the box marks quite decently. Jack of all trades, master of none. The star of the show is tonality for me. In the price bracket it's not the best offering of all. But if you solely focus on vocals then this might be for you.

Introduction

This sample of the HiBy x FAudio Project Ace have been provided for review by Hiby through the Audio Geek brotherhood of Audiophiles, who facilitate review tours of many high-end IEMs and audio equipment across multiple countries including Australia. HiBy is well known for its DAP player range and DAC dongles. The company had paired with FAudio to produce this single dynamic drive IEM. Ace uses a 12mm Mg alloy beryllium coated driver. It’s selling for $249 USD.

What’s in the box?

Well, there is a nice square softly padded roomy case and a set of silicone tips and a set of foam tips. The cable has good feel, but the choice of dark brown is not the most aesthetic option give the IEMs are silver and blue. Having said that the cable is modular with right angled 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs which I approve of given that most dacs have both options. I also like the fact that the connection is secured with a threaded sleave for additional security.

Test equipment.

Hiby R3 2022 DAP

Hiby R4 DAP, using lossless FLAC music files.

Letshuoer DT03, Hidizs S9 pro Martha, Dita navigator DACs.

The sound

Firstly, it's a very easy to drive. I had the R3, DT03 combo working at just 26 on the volume control (high gain) it goes loud at that level. Trying different tips, I was able to extract excellent levels of bass. Sub bass is present in excellent amounts using DD 35T D silicone tips, especially with EDM tracks. Open bore tips such as TRN T don't give as much thump and punch. Bass texture is very good and bass speed is fast and impactful.

Fit and comfort. The Ace looks very angular but in size they are nowhere and bulky as the Hidizs MP145. The nozzle is quite short so a longer bore nozzle is recommended. The larger 12mm driver coupled with a biggish metal shell provides a big airy sound with a very good soundstage. Left to right staging feels nice and wide and instrument separation is also good. Depth and height are more one dimensional with the sound not achieving the 3D levels of the afore mentioned planar IEM. Treble is clear and detailed without being sibilant.

So what does the Hiby ACE actually sound like? It's clear, clean, spacious with a smooth energy and a good level of punchy impact. The big driver delivers a big sound. I'd compare it with the Simgot EA1000. Tuning wise it's a little different though. Vocals are placed well and not forward or recessed but there is an unusual boost in the upper mids / lower treble that gives it a slightly unnatural forward placement in the stage. It’s noticeable but not unlikeable or a deal breaker. Vocals come across as natural and enjoyable. Female vocalists can sound close and intimate with little inflections and breaths apparent and emotions are transmitted direct to your brains Amygdala. (Yep, that's where your crying center is)
I feel like I'm racing a bit here so it's time to get another single DD IEM out (albeit with a passive radiator) the Simgot EA1000 is a fav set of mine. Can it drag me back to earth?




Comparison with Simgot EA1000



Bass. Project Ace has a physical open and deep bass with good sub bass and a spacious sounding mid bass. Switching to the EA1000 the mid bass has a much greater intensity with a similar sub bass. The overall effect is that the Simgot is a bassier set and to me the lower frequencies dominate the Simgot's sound, while the Ace sounds cleaner and more transparent.
Midrange/vocals.
The Simgot has a fuller midrange so vocals are richer and a little forward and full bodied. Switching to the Ace and the tuning change is immediately apparent. The midrange has a much lighter touch, sounding thinner until your brain adapts and you understand that the clearer sound allows you to hear the voice more clearly and hear every nuance.
Treble on both I enjoy. They both extend well and avoiding sibilance or harshness while remaining airy and detailed.
I'm finding the stage more open and engaging with more subtle details and atmospherics evident. In the end I decided I liked the novelty and fidelity of the Project ACE over the Simgot (which remains a favourite ).

Conclusion. HiBy and FAudio have produced an amazing result using this larger 12mm drive together with an innovative tuning approach. Try and audition them if you get the chance.

I met Hiby with the first dap I bought (hiby r2). He was like a little mischievous child to me and we had good times.
Now, Hiby R4 and F.Audio Project Ace Audio Geek Türkiye Group; It was sent to me as part of the Türkiye Tour. Like a fairy tale, I tried to analyze it as much as I could in a short time.
It contains entirely my personal comments.

ENTRANCE

When opening the box, you can see the foreword hidden in the elegance of black and gold.
A stylish dark blue carrying-storage box
transparent protection reduced; 3 pairs of white silicone, 3 pairs of black foam tips
3.5 and 4.4 components
8 core cable
cleaning brush and
The ears themselves, reminiscent of the Mandalorian, greet us.

...





IMPROVEMENT-SOUND QUALITY
Resources Used
Fiio BTR7 - Hiby R4- Lgv30

I generally admire headphones that combine different genres with success.
At the intro of Megadeth's song A tout le Monde, you feel the beats of the bass guitar, which is stretched tensely, very clearly. You turn up the volume a little more and start the song at the beginning.
You listen to the same bass guitar as if it were next to you again. However, when the song enters 'So as you read this, know, my friends', you experience a fragmentation. The trebles are here instantly.
It sparkles. The same thing happens when Soad makes a solo + drum entrance at the beginning of chop suey and the whole group enters at the end
Interestingly enough, you can listen to Black Betty brilliantly without turning down your volume.

Let's talk about its trademark: Yes, I listened to a lot of claptone in these headphones
With its wide stage, the bass accents, ups and downs, cymbals, vocals and wind instruments flow respectfully and without interfering with each other.
It has a strong and resonant signature that can be felt inside a modified vehicle when you close your eyes.
While doing this, it does not cover the instruments coming from the background. It may not be the best bass I have heard, but it is close to the best.
While I can do these things easily, the only thing I wish there was this is that the treble can be a problem in some rock songs.

CONCLUSION

The smoothness, color and workmanship of this blue mandalorian is really handsome.
Its structure is made of steel and it looks perfect with its cable.
It was a very nice set, with its box, rich contents and the same color bag. However, it was a little uncomfortable.
If you want to listen to lively tech house rnb, it increases the pleasure even more.

Disclaimers

Hiby R4 and Hiby x F.audio project ace are sent to me by Hiby as part of the Audio geek review turkey tour. I don’t own these IEM’s and I can’t keep these tour units. This review is completely subjective.



Accessories

Ace comes with a pretty good quality carrying case, modular cable, bunch of good quality eartips and with a cleaning brush. Good accessories for the price .





Build

Ace is fully made out of metal and comes with a really good, thick, modular cable…. But ace has a really really bad ergonomic design that I can't fit into my ears….



Equipments used for this review

Hiby x F.audio Project Ace, Hiby R4, Tanchjim Space Lite, Moondrop CDSP, CX 31993 dongle


Sound-Tonality and Technicalities

Ace has a really good bass depth and amount. Soundstage is just impressive for a dynamic driver set and it has pretty good depth and width. Mids are forward and have a good resolution with decent instrument separation. But… I hate to say that, treble range is really not for me. It is harsh, peaky and sibilant and upper mids feel just lifeless, it has no energy. Detail production is just ok for the price and imaging is pretty decent… But clearly, these IEM’s are not for me.

Conclusion

Ace is a pretty decent dynamic driver set. But the price is a bit… funny i guess. You can find tons of better options in this price range sadly. This IEM just feels a bit unnecessary for me…

Hiby is mostly known for their digital audio players and applications like Hiby Music and Hiby Cast. Occasionally, they release earphones, which consistently receive praise. This time, they have collaborated with the boutique earphone brand F.Audio to bring us the Project Ace. Typically, F.Audio’s offerings are much more expensive, so this collaboration presents the most affordable IEMs F.Audio has ever been involved with, priced at $249.

Disclaimers​

Hiby x F.Audio Project Ace, along with Hiby’s R4, was sent to me by Hiby as part of the Turkey Tour of the Audio Geek Review Group. I don’t get to keep these tour units, even at the end of the tour. As I always say, everyone is biased one way or another, so take everything you read with a grain of salt. Also, I will try to be more concise and to the point in my reviews from now on without worrying about the word count. If you have any questions, please ask me in the comments, and I will try to answer them to the best of my abilities.

Build and Accessories of F.Audio Project Ace​

The Project Ace is a well-built and uniquely designed pair of IEMs. The shells are fully made out of metal carved with CNC. The hexagonal shape doesn’t exactly make them ergonomic, but they certainly look striking.



Each side has one 12 mm lithium-magnesium alloy dome and beryllium-coated driver. The cable that comes with the Project Ace is also very well made. It’s on the thicker side with 8 cores and a little stiff but still manageable. The product page states it consists of both silver and silver-plated copper strands. The cable utilizes a proprietary interchangeable locking termination mechanism and comes with 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm balanced terminations. The Project Ace also comes with 6 pairs of eartips and a cleaning brush. The included tips are 3 pairs of silicone and 3 pairs of foam. Lastly, the case included in the box looks great and reminds me of the case that comes with more expensive FiiO IEMs. It has a separator inside for you to store tips or alternative accessories, which is a nice touch. Overall, the unboxing experience isn’t too extravagant but still feels very premium.

Sound of Hiby x F.Audio Project Ace​

Tonality​

The Project Ace has a different sound signature than most IEMs released these days. It’s not esoteric but rather a forgotten and missed sound signature.

Ace aims for a mid-centric clean tone. It’s not bassy, bright, or colored. The lower bass level might upset some, but it has a very controlled and tasteful bass thanks to the rather large driver and big acoustic chamber. Subbass extension is decent too, and it backs the bass with a nice punch.

The mids are the highlighted area on the Project Ace. They sound very clean and crisp. Clarity is top-notch among single DDs on the market. Everything sounds very natural, and there is not much else to say really. Here is a little rant: mids are definitely where music lives and what makes or breaks sound reproduction gear. But there is not much to describe if the mids are good. The best praise you can give is that it sounds natural.



The Project Ace’s treble is mostly controlled and tame without sounding too blunted, except for one area: lower treble or presence. The peak around 5 kHz-6 kHz you see on the graphs is real. It’s a very narrow peak and must be intentional. It adds a unique pop and snap to your music overall. Even drum hits are snappier than usual. But it also makes the Ace sibilant. If you can tolerate it, the Project Ace is just a slightly quirky but exciting pair of IEMs.

Technicalities​

The Project Ace is decently detailed and moderately resolving. There is minimal masking, so you don’t miss small nuances. Timbre is very good. But the most impressive attribute of the Ace is its staging capability. It has an expansive stage in all three dimensions. Actually it kind of reminded me of Sony IER-Z1R with staging, in terms of fit too. However, the imaging is a little fuzzy and blurry. Layering and separation are OK. As always, comparisons should give more context.

Comparisons​

Hiby x F.Audio Project Ace vs. Simgot EA1000​

• EA1000 definitely has more bass and tone weight. It also extends deeper into the subbass. But Ace has a certain snap that even comes through in drum hits, which is unique. EA1000 has a more nuanced and detailed bass.
• Project Ace sounds cleaner and crisper in the mids. EA1000 has more body and is shoutier. Ace, on the other hand, gets sibilant easier.
• EA1000 is overall brighter. Project Ace is closer to neutral in the treble region but has an emphasis in the presence area. It adds a certain snap, especially apparent in drum hits. But it also makes it sibilant. EA1000 is airier and possibly can get fatiguing easier.
• They trade blows in terms of staging. While EA1000 feels somewhat more spacious thanks to lots of air, Project Ace’s stage expands wider and deeper, probably due to its bigger drivers and shell design. Imaging is sharper and more precise on EA1000.
• EA1000 is more detailed thanks to the brighter tuning, but Project Ace is as resolving as EA1000, if not more. Ace is incisive and keeps its composure even in the busiest passages. EA1000, on the other hand, can get splashy occasionally. Overall timbre is better on Project Ace.

Hiby x F.Audio Project Ace vs BQEYZ Winter​

• Winter is warmer and slightly bassier. Project Ace’s subbass extension is better. In terms of quality, Ace’s bass is more defined but bass guitars on Winter are more satisfying.
• Vocals are more forward on Winter but not shouty at all. Project Ace, like before, sounds cleaner and crisper. Again, Ace easily gets sibilant. Winter has occasional sibilance too but not at Ace’s level.
• Winter’s treble is slightly better. Project Ace’s treble is pretty much on point, but that excess presence emphasis and the last bit of bite that Winter has makes Ace lose out.
• To my ears, Winter is ever so slightly more detailed. Project Ace’s timbre is mostly more natural but again, emphasis around 5k sometimes breaks the spell.
• Headstage on Project Ace is bigger in all dimensions but the imaging is fuzzier. Winter’s imaging is more precise.

Conclusion​

We live in a time where people write off some headphones and IEMs just by looking at their FR graphs, and it makes me sad. I have a feeling that Project Ace will not get the attention it deserves. As I tried to convey, Project Ace is a great-sounding pair of IEMs that just has a quirk, which is not an oversight but probably intentional. If you use an equalizer, you can always reduce this area a little with one filter. I’m not usually impressed by staging in IEMs, but the Project Ace has great staging capability and timbre. The tuning also feels like a fresh breath of air among all those Harman variant IEMs. Hiby and F.Audio made a bold statement here, so if you can, I highly suggest you give Project Ace a listen.

Collaboration

Once upon a time, the concept of a collaboration between a manufacturer and a reviewer to build an In-Ear Monitor (IEM) was a rare occurrence and a promising sign of a breakthrough in sonic performance and price-to-value ratio.

However, collaborations have become much more common today, which may have diminished their initial excitement. Yet, there is a less common form of collaboration that I find more intriguing: partnerships between manufacturers themselves. Today, we’ll be examining the result of such a collaboration between HiBy and FAudio, in the form of an IEM called Project ACE.

Forewords​

• What I look for in an IEM is immersion. I want to feel the orchestra around my head, track individual instruments, and hear all of their textures and details. I’m not picky about tonality, as long as it is not make the orchestra, violin, cellos, and pianos sound wrong.
• I rate IEMs within with a consistent scale from 1 (Poor) to 3 (Good) to 5 (Outstanding). An overall ranking of 3/5 or above is considered positive.
• Ranking list and measurement database are on my IEM review blog.
• Terms used in my reviews are consistent with the glossary by Headphonesty
• This review is based on a review sample from HiBy (Thank you William and Joe @ HiBy!). I have no affiliation with or financial interest in HiBy. The unit would be returned to HiBy after this review.
• The unit retails for $249 at the time this review was published. Unaffiliated link: https://store.hiby.com/products/hiby-x-faudio-project-ace

General Information​

Project ACE marks a collaborative effort between HiBy, renowned for their digital audio playback R&D, particularly in the realm of digital audio players (DAPs), and FAudio, a notable Chinese audio boutique specializing in high-end IEMs, particularly those featuring dynamic drivers (DD).

At the heart of Project ACE lies a single dynamic driver boasting several notable features. Firstly, it sports a large diaphragm with a diameter of 12mm, surpassing the standard 10mm size. This diaphragm is plated in Beryllium, a material known for its exceptional stiffness and lightness. Additionally, the dome is crafted from a magnesium alloy, blended with lithium elements, and affixed atop the Beryllium diaphragm. To power this metal diaphragm, strong magnets are employed. The magnets are so potent that when I place the earpieces of Project ACE adjacent to each other for a photograph, I couldn’t keep them sitting still because they keep pulling each other.

Non-sound Aspects​

Packaging and accessories: Project ACE arrives in a cardboard box with an outer sleeve, following the pattern seen with other HiBy IEMs. Inside, you’ll find the essentials:

• The earpieces themselves
• A leather carrying case with a soft lining
• 3 pairs of silicone ear tips and 3 pairs of foam ear tips, neatly organized in a plastic box (a familiar sight from previous HiBy IEMs)
• A 4-wire IEM cable with interchangeable plugs
• A small brush for maintenance
• Various paperwork.

Earpiece design: Crafted from full metal, the earpieces boast a sturdy build and is decently weighty. Unlike some other models, they do not mimic the shape of custom IEMs, which may affect how they fit in your ears. The nozzles are of medium width but slightly longer than average.

Fit, comfort, and isolation: Achieving the perfect fit may require some experimentation, particularly due to the design of the nozzles. I’ve personally found that Comply foam tips offer a snug fit, though the stock tips also work well, albeit with a slightly shallower insertion. However, noise isolation is below average, likely due to the vents on the earpieces.

Ear tips recommendation: For optimal comfort and performance, I recommend foam tips, particularly Comply, which tend to provide a secure seal. Alternatively, opting for smaller silicone tips can help achieve a deeper fit, enhancing both comfort and sound isolation. From personal experience, I’ve had success with options like Sancai Wide Bore tips, Tri Clarion tips, and SpinFit CP145.

Sonic Performance​

Testing setup:

• Sources: HiBy R4, HiBy R3II, iBasso DX300, Luxury & Precision W4, FiiO K7
• Cable: Stock cable with 4.4mm jack
• Ear tips: Comply medium foam tips

Timbre, tonality, and tonal balance: Figure shows the frequency response of Project ACE against the Harman in-ear target. Measurements were done with an IEC-711-compliant coupler and might only be compared with other measurements from this same coupler. Above 8kHz, the measurement might not be correct. Visit my graph database for more comparisons.



It is helpful to think of an IEM as a filter that highlights or subdues different parts of the incoming audio signal. This effect can be measured objectively by the squiggly lines above, called Frequency Response (FR) graphs, which measure how loud an IEM is at different frequencies from 20Hz (bass) to 20kHz (upper treble). Subjectivity is how your ears and brain interpret the effect of that filter on your music and decide whether it is “enjoyable.” There are some “rules of thumb” when it comes to tonality, but most interesting IEMs usually bend the rules masterfully.

The tonal balance of Project ACE diverges notably from the typical offerings in the market, which often adhere to variations of the Harman curve. This distinction is stark, even jarring, particularly when swiftly switching between Project ACE and more conventional IEMs like Moondrop Blessing 2. Despite this deviation, Project ACE’s tonality doesn’t veer into the realm of the uncanny. Instruments such as orchestra, voices, violin, and piano — my benchmarks for tonality and timbre — sound natural and convincing with Project ACE.



Project ACE’s tonality can be dissected into three key characteristics. Firstly, its flat response across frequencies results in minimal variation in sound at different volume levels, a factor that will be elaborated upon in the discussion on bass and dynamics. Secondly, there’s a reserved upper midrange boost, starting from 1kHz and gradually ascending to 2.5kHz, without opting for the excessive 12.5dB boost common in many contemporary IEMs. Additionally, there’s a discernible cut around 4kHz, reminiscent of the Symphonium Meteor IEM, potentially contributing to a perception of a more expansive soundstage. Lastly, the lower treble peak at 5kHz introduces a divisive element. While it enhances crispness, definition, and tactile sensations, especially with percussion instruments and plucked strings, it may also verge on harshness for listeners accustomed to the emphasis on 3kHz over 5kHz in conventional IEMs.

Overall, the distinctive tuning by HiBy and FAudio lends Project ACE character and a unique presentation without compromising its tonality and timbre. However, the lower treble boost could be a deal-breaker for treble-sensitive listeners. Hence, I would rate the tonality and tuning of Project ACE as 3/5 – Good, competent but potentially niche.

Bass and perceived dynamic:

Project ACE sounds more punchy and dynamic than its frequency response (FR) graph suggests. This can be attributed to its clever utilization of the equal loudness curve. Essentially, you need to turn up the volume to achieve the right loudness at the midrange and upper midrange regions. Given that Project ACE’s FR is quite flat, increasing the volume simultaneously elevates the bass and treble. Due to the equal loudness effect, these regions are perceived as significantly louder, enhancing the overall dynamism and punchiness of the sound. Another factor contributing to Project ACE’s impressive bass and dynamics is the size of the dynamic driver (DD) employed.



The bass and dynamic prowess of Project ACE is particularly evident when listening to the album “Remember That You Will Die” by Polyphia, especially the track “Playing God.” For instance, the bass drop at 0:27 is strong and well-defined without being sloppy. There is a proper sense of silence or “darkness” between the kicks of the bass drum, which intensifies these kicks. The cymbals and hi-hats have a crisp attack, as heard around the 02:00 mark, and are well-defined and detailed. The low-pitched rumble of the bass guitar is both audible and palpable.

Simply put, I’m impressed with how this IEM renders percussion instruments and bass drops. The presentation is punchy and snappy, yet the bass does not overpower the rest of the mix. The bass texture, whilst not the best of the test, is quite good. These factors lead me to give the bass and dynamics of Project ACE a solid 4.5/5 – Outstanding.



Resolution: To me, “resolution” can be broken down into three components: (1) Sharpness, incisiveness, or “definition” of note attacks (see the figure above). (2) The separation of instruments and vocals, especially when they overlap on the soundstage. (3) The texture and details in the decay side of the notes. The first two give music clarity and make it easy to track individual elements of a mix. The last provides music details and nuances.

The dynamic driver used in Project ACE is very capable of ensuring clear definition and separation of notes and instruments. A small peak in the lower treble around 5kHz also aids in enhancing note definition, making the overall sound sharp and distinct. This capability shines through in complex and busy tracks, such as in the album “Remember that You Will Die” by Polyphia, particularly in “ABC (feat. Sophia Black).” Every note attack feels crisp and defined.



However, the separation of instruments could be improved. Despite the crisp note attacks, I find it a bit challenging to separate and follow individual elements in the busier sections of the track. On the other hand, the presentation of micro details, particularly at the decay end of notes, along with the reverberation and decay, is highly competent. When listening to Project ACE alone, I don’t feel that any details have been truncated or are missing. The sound of the violin in the album “Bach: Sei Solo” by Leonidas Kavakos showcases this strength well.

In the grand scheme of IEMs, I find that Project ACE resolves details at a level comparable to the Moondrop Blessing 2. While the Blessing 2 has a slight edge in detail retrieval for very busy tracks, this advantage disappears with sparse music. Overall, I consider Project ACE to be on par with the Blessing 2, allowing me to rate its resolution as “good” (3/5).



Stereo imaging and soundstage: Stereo imaging or “soundstage” is a psychoacoustic illusion that different recording elements appear at various locations inside and around your head. Your brain creates based on the cues in the recording, which are enhanced or diminushed by your IEMs, your DAC, and your amplifier. In rare cases, with some specific songs, some IEMs can trick you into thinking that the sound comes from the environment (a.k.a., “holographic”)

The soundstage of Project ACE is expansive in all directions: width, depth, and height. This remarkable characteristic allows for an immersive listening experience, where each instrument is distinctly placed within the mix. The layering is particularly impressive, with a proper sense of separation between closer and more distant elements, creating a three-dimensional effect that enhances the overall listening experience.



For instance, when listening to the Gladiator Suite from the album LIVE by Hans Zimmer, the first rumble of the bass is strongly present, firmly grounded in the middle of the soundstage. The center and foreground elements, such as the guitar in Part 1 of the suite, have a good presence without being overly forward or intrusive. Background elements, like the string section panned to the sides around the 03:00 mark in Part 1, sound properly distant, adding depth and realism to the performance. Additionally, the section starting around the 01:45 mark in Part 2 of the suite sounds appropriately large, further showcasing the expansive nature of Project ACE’s soundstage.

Overall, I would rate the soundstage a solid 4/5 – great. Project ACE nails the shape and dimension of the stage. The only limitation I can think of is the lack of a laser sharp focus of the stereo image that some TOTL multi-BA IEMs can achieve.

Multimedia usage:

Project ACE is competent with both movie and gaming, thanks to the dynamic presentation and the way it shapes the soundstage.

Pairing​

Project ACE is relatively easy to drive, thanks to its reasonable impedance of 32 ohms and high sensitivity, which clocks in at 115 dB at 1 kHz. It works well with the Apple dongle and improves from there. I’ve found that the R3II and R4 are the sweet spot for Project ACE, as they push it close to the level of sound quality I experience from my reference chain (iBasso DX300 with stock amplifier) without breaking the bank.

Like most single DD IEMs, Project ACE sounds better when driven by an amplifier with more “voltage swing.” One easy way to get this extra voltage swing is to take advantage of the 4.4mm output on your source device.

Comparisons​

Simgot EA1000: (re-post from the EA1000 review) The first impression when I swap from EA1000 to Project ACE was shock due to the difference between tuning. The treble emphasis at around 6kHz and the subdued upper midrange of Project ACE stood in stark contrast against the suddued treble and boosted upper midrange of EA1000. I don’t think any approach is superior to the other, as my brain can EQ both sound signatures without much difficulty. After the “brain burn-in” / EQ kicked in, I found that the tuning of ACE makes the soundstage feels more spread out, not crowding the phantom centre like EA1000. However, EA1000 regains ground thanks to, again, the uncanny out-of-head illusion of the background elements of the music. The instrument separation, note definition, and micro details at the decay end of the note are all slightly better on Project ACE. Even though ACE does not have a distinct bass shelf, its tuning approach to take advantage of the equal loudness curve makes it sounds more dynamic. On ther other hand, EA1000 has a slight edge in terms of the bass texture.

Conclusions​

Project ACE, a collaboration between HiBy and FAudio, introduces a distinctive tuning that diverges from the typical offerings in the market. The large 12mm metal diaphragm impresses with its punchy bass, detailed resolution, and expansive soundstage. However, the lower treble peak at 5kHz may polarize listeners, offering enhanced crispness at the expense of potential harshness for treble-sensitive ears. Still, this IEM aligns well with my preference, making it one of the more interesting single DD IEMs I have experienced so far.

What I like about this IEM:

• Bass and dynamic
• Soundstage
• A different tonality, without losing naturalness

What could be improved:

• Lower treble peak can be divisive
• Can be challenging to achieve a good fit

Absolute Sonic Quality Rating: 3.5/5 - Very Good

Bias Score: 4/5 - I like this IEM.



Updated: May 26, 2024

HiBy x FAudio Project Ace Review: ACE IN THE HOLE?​

PRICE: $249​

PROS:​

• Unique aesthetics
• Good quality inclusions
• Uses the best kind of modular cable system
• Easy to drive, very good scaling
• AMAZING bass to midrange tone and timbre
• Superb technical ability
• Amazing low end texture and note weight
• Warm yet naturally sounding lower midrange

CONS:​

• Odd ergonomics
• A little sharp and edgy on the treble

WHO THIS UNIT IS FOR:​

• People who want a proper dynamic listening experience
• People who want a very technical sounding set for the price
• People who want a linear but very engaging bass-to-midrange presentation
• People who can stand a little bit of treble spice and sharpness
• People who like a very textured-sounding low end

WHO THIS UNIT ISN’T FOR:​

• Treble sensitive
• Timbre heads
• Fit-sensitive people
• People who want the cleanest sound signature
• People who want something airier

RECOMMENDED GENRES:​

• R&B
• Soul
• Funk
• Pop

SHORT REVIEW:​

Seemingly coming out from nowhere, F.Audio and HiBy has just created arguably one of the best lower midrange Single DD IEM in the market today. Unique presentation, superb dynamic sound and stellar technicalities are just some of the things this little blue dorrito has accomplished. Unfortunately, its Achilles heel of a treble may make or break your experience with this set due to the sharp and edgy mid treble that is followed by a dip that gives the impression of sounding choked. Nonetheless, the Project Ace is definitely something to look out for if you’re a Dynamic Driver lover like me. RECOMMENDED WITH CAVEATS!

FULL REVIEW​

Collaboration IEMs. Sometimes they revolutionize the market and how competitive the offerings are, sometimes they are complete flops and the collaborators would actively try to erase its existence. Most of the time, these collaborations are between a content creator and a brand. Sometimes it could even be a distributor and a brand.

But in rare cases, two brands will decide to collaborate to create something with the use of each other’s expertise. Think Elysian and Effect Audio with the Gaia. Or Nightjar and Symphonium Meteor. A common theme between the two companies is one handles the acoustics and the other handles the aesthetics or the cable.

But what in the world are HiBy and F.Audio doing to make an IEM together? HiBy, known for their music player app and DAC/AMPs, and F.Audio, known for their TOTL in-ears making an IEM together? What exactly is the Project Ace? And why does it look like a blue Dorito? Well, we’ll answer all of this in today’s comprehensive review of the HiBy x F.Audio Project Ace.

DISCLAIMER: This product was sent over by HiBy in exchange for my honest thoughts. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity. I was not paid. Rest assured, my thoughts and opinions on this product will be of my own honest opinions and will not be affected by the facts beforehand.

Audio is a very subjective hobby and as much as I try to objectively explain my thoughts and opinions, your mileage will vary. My preferences will also affect how I perceive the gear that I review. Sources and other accessories will also modify your experience. Lastly, my reviews should always be used only as a guide and not as the definitive bible. Trust your ears to know what’s good.

THE FIRST PROJECT​

Two seemingly contrasting brands, F.Audio and HiBy have set out to create something very unique with the Project Ace, not only in appearance but in sound. Both of these companies have had years under their belt, HiBy in particular have dabbled in many different product categories from music players, applications, dongle DACs, and even in-ears. F.Audio is no different as they have been known to release very unique TOTL in-ears that were founded by a music producer in the name of Ken Lee. So what can this $249 in-ear monitor made with the power of two experienced companies offer?

UNBOXING:​

The first thing that you’ll notice with the unboxing of the Project Ace is the fact that this resembles their Yvain quite a lot. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I just thought it was interesting that they’d use a similar presentation to their previous set.

Anyway, digging into the unboxing itself we’re met with the usual lore of the IEM in a piece of paper and the IEMs sitting on their lovely throne along with the accessories strewn around.

Here is the full list of accessories:

• Project Ace IEMs
• 3.5mm & 4.4mm 4-pin lock adaptors
• Litz 4 strand cable
• 6 pairs of eartips (3 silicone, 3 foams)
• Storage bag
• Cleaning brush
• Paperwork

One motif you’ll see quite frequently with Project Ace is the usage of this very beautiful shade of blue. You can find this on the IEMs themselves as well as the case and I just love this shade of blue. It’s a midnight-like blue that is very easy on the eyes and a pain in the ass to photoshoot. But still very lovely.


The case that the Project Ace comes in is quite nice with a very spacious internal that comes with a divider to split your accessories (or IEMs) into separate pieces. It’s a very well-built case, but not particularly pocketable at all. It’s great to store your IEMs in your home and maybe inside your bag, but you won’t catch me trying to put this big square in my pocket. My only nitpick is that maybe, just maybe, a pentagon case would’ve fit the aesthetics of the IEMs a little bit better.



As for the rest of the accessories, you get a basic cleaning tool as well as a tip case with a couple of tips inside. They provide 2 kinds of eartips. Silicone and Foams. I will mention very soon why this addition, while found in their older sets, is essential to the Project Ace if you can stand using foam eartips.

Build & Fit​

Now, let’s talk about the most interesting part of the Project Ace so far. The build & fit. And yes, I mention fit too because it’s equally as interesting, albeit not in a good way.

But first, let’s talk internals. The Project Ace features a 12mm Berylium Plated Diaphram with a Magnesium and Lithium alloy dome Dynamic Driver housed in a T6063 aluminum alloy CNC processed shell and a 0.78 2-pin connector.



Blue dorito. That is what I’ve called the Project Ace for the longest time and for good reason. Look at the thing. It’s a pentagonal faceplate of a blue variety. And I know a dorito only has 3 sides, but still doesn’t that remind you of chips? Piatos maybe (to the Filipinos out there) but whatever it may be, it’s a very interesting shape.



Unfortunately, this has the effect of not being the most ergonomic IEM. The shape doesn’t really do much for comfort as the inner shell is VERY thick and the nozzle is quite long. This means the stock silicone tips were very ineffective at providing a good seal and a comfortable fit. Only by using small, stubby eartips like the Zhu Bamboo, Sancai Widebore, or even TRN T tips do you get a properly good seal. Obviously, the Clarion’s made this the best fitting IEM ever, but that just showcases the inconsistency this has in terms of fitting.

Admittedly, however, it is quite comfortable in long listening sessions when you get the right tips. I never felt pressure in or around my ears whatsoever which deserves a bit of praise considering the kind of shape they went for and using the correct tips give this just the right amount of stability and seal to make it quite comfy.



Where I want to hype the Project Ace more is with the cable At first glance, it might seem like your basic 4-strand Litz cable. But look closer and deeper, you’ll see that the Project Ace has a trick up its sleeve.



That’s right, it’s the best kind of modular system. Instead of using the rudimentary plug-and-unplug method, the Project Ace’s cable features a screw lock mechanism. This reminds me of the Q Lock of Dunu’s Hulk Pro Mini which I also loved. But this is much much cheaper, at least compared to the IEM that you have to get that kind of cable. I cannot stress how much I love this modular system so much and I really hope they sell this cable separately. The Yvain also features a similar modular system, but the cable itself was worse in quality.

SOUND​

PREFACE: Tip-Roll is key​

Before I talk about the sound, I just want to emphasize the importance of tip-rolling the Project Ace. In my initial listen, I found that the treble sounded a little bit grainy and sharp with the bass sounding quite strong and incisive. I loved how it sounded, but I also knew that people might not find it too appealing. That was until I popped the foams onto these and found how much it smoothens out the overall sound. The treble peak is considerably smoother and the bass is tamer. This had the added effect of making the midrange even better than when using silicone eartips. So if you plan to get the Project Ace, consider tip rolling. This review was done with Silicone eartips as my ears do not like foams, but please consider using the foam eartips

Sound Signature​

The Project Ace is this somewhat weird flavor of neutral. It’s not flat neutral where it sounds dry, lean and analytical. But it’s also not the natural sound with heavy focus on timbre while keeping it very engaging. It’s like a mixture of that, which ends up making the Project Ace both natural and analytical sounding. Bass is VERY well done with amazing texture and note definition, the mids are well-bodied with a lot of nuance and character and the treble is a little spicy but quite resolving.

Source Pairing​

The Project Ace are not only easy to drive, they are VERY easy to drive. Using an inefficient/noisy source will bring out noise in this IEM. Using your smartphone is more than enough to get an enjoyable listen out of this. However, using a better source improves upon its dynamic presentation and smoothens out the treble. That makes the Project Ace solid for both low-powered and high-quality sources.

Bass:​

One of the first things that stood out to me with the Project Ace is the bass. And while I do have my expectations for a midrange single DD to have good bass quality by default (otherwise it gets eaten by the EA1000, Falcon Ultra, or Winter), the Project Ace blew my mind by not only having a very tight and clean bass but also a very textured and rich sounding bass. The 12mm dynamic driver truly does wonders as it balances both quality and quantity in the perfect way. It’s not big woofy bass, mind you. It’s generous, clean yet engaging, and punchy.

Listening to Send It by D’Angelo has been one of the best listening experiences I’ve had so far. As soon as the first bass riff plays, you’re transported to groovyland with how rich the bass guitars are rendered on the Project Ace. The texture in every strum is so good. The kickdrums are also felt but non-intrusive. You get enveloped in this sense of warmth without drowning you in it and it’s absolutely amazing.

Mids:​

This perfectly translates into the midrange where the tonal balance between male and female vocals is perfect. This translates to the rest of the ensemble having this perfect harmony of really good note weight while having a crisp and clear definition that never sounded recessed or unnatural. Male vocals and low-frequency instruments in particular sound absolutely amazing on these and perfectly transition into the upper mids in such a silky smooth manner. The upper mids are admittedly thicker than what the recent trends in audio have been providing, but I’d say this makes vocals sound more organic and natural to the ears.

I want to use D’Angelo again, but I would like to use a different artist for the midrange. Daniel Cesar’s 2017 album, Freudian sounds perfect on the Project Ace, full stop. From Get You’s slow and sensual basslines paired with Daniel’s smooth vocals and hard-hitting percussive all the way to We Find Love and its rich pianos and harmonies, the Project Ace is able to render it with such grace with one critique that I’ll be mentioning in the next section. But if we’re talking about the mids and bass, the Project Ace is genuinely a perfect IEM for R&B and Soul genres.

Treble:​

And here we are to the part of the Project Ace that I wanted to love so badly, but just couldn’t. The treble is quite detailed with good sparkle and incisiveness. And as a treblehead, I honestly could appreciate the amount of sparkle and brightness that the Project Ace provides. It’s also very detailed with a lot of nuances. However, it’s quite uneven and causes a somewhat grainy and occasionally sharp and unnatural tone to the mix. This is particularly evident in the trailing highs of vocals and percussive instruments. It isn’t helped with the air region being deliberately rolled off to compliment the rich low frequencies as the contrast from the massive peak in the mid-treble to the sudden dip to the upper treble gives a somewhat low-res sound due to the graininess and sudden shift in energy.

The best song I can describe this is Atomic by Blonde. That song is my test track when it comes to treble timbre and splashiness due to how aggressively the percussive instruments were mixed into that track. And it could not have been splashier on the Project Ace. Granted, it didn’t sound overly harsh like some other hybrid sets I’ve heard on this track. But to have an almost perfect tuning to only reach this kind of treble kind of bummed me out. At the very least the detail retrieval here is still very good and competent for the price.

Technicalities:​

The technical ability of the Project Ace is superb. Not only is it good for a single DD, but it’s also really good for the price. The only IEMs that can match Project Ace’s technicalities are the top-of-the-class IEMs for the price which include the Falcon Ultra, EA1000, and BQEYZ Winter. Separation and layering are very clean although out despite the warmer low end and edgy upper frequencies. Imaging and stage are very immersive, although not entirely holographic as these are still in-ear. And I’ve talked about the texture enough to mention it again, but it’s fantastic. The only thing I really hear it struggles with is resolution and refinement due to the edginess and splashiness up top. Otherwise, very technical set!

REAL WORLD USAGE​

Casual Use:​

Unfortunately, due to the shape and fitting of the Project Ace, I found them to not be the most stellar for media consumption. Long-term comfort is great as it never digs into your ear, but it’s quite unstable especially if you move around. The tuning, while great for general media consumption might bring out unintended harshness in the higher frequencies. Dialogue however is very full and never distant on these and the superb technical ability makes even the busiest and most action-packed scenes with dialogue quite audible.

Gaming Use:​

Gaming fairs better on the Project Ace as the tuning compliments competitive games like Valorant really compliments the specific sounds you’d want to hear really well. Immersive games are much closer to movies and the harshness can both be a great and a bad thing depending on what kind of game you play. On more immersive games with a lot of environmental sounds, that peak benefits the overall sound as it brings out the micro nuances in the sound design. Bigger set pieces with sharper sound will be painful, unfortunately. But overall, great set for gaming!

COMPARISONS​

VS Simgot EA1000​

Arguably the best Single DD (technically) IEM I’ve heard under $500, the Project Ace gets surprisingly close to competing against the EA1000. The bass and lower mids sound more natural on the Project Ace due to the flatter response. However, the EA1000 still edges the Project Ace overall due to the generally better-tuned, more technical nature of the EA1000. The bass on the EA1000 is still more tactile and tighter sounding than the Project Ace’s and the treble sounds CONSIDERABLY smoother, despite being brighter than the Project Ace. Accessories are better on the Project Ace through and offer a more complete package that even includes a modular cable.

vs Simgot EA2000​

Now you might be wondering why I’m comparing a $319 IEM with a $249 IEM. That’s because genetically, they are very similar. Deep, tactile bass with ridiculously bright treble peaks that ruin the overall timbre. The main difference would be the EA2000 bass still sounds more tactile and richer with the treble peak sounding just a little bit smoother while the Project Ace sounds considerably more natural in the bass to midrange. Technicalities still go to the EA2000 with just how clean the separation is for how bright it sounds and the dynamics of the bass. But not too shabby comparing the two together as they still feature very similar characteristics.

vs Dunu Falcon Ultra Ti​

Compared to the Falcon Ultra Titanium Edition, the Project Ace has a cleaner, tighter, and more tactile bass response while the Falcon Ultra Ti is smoother and more natural sounding overall. The treble sounds CONSIDERABLY cleaner on the Falcon Ultra Ti, but the technicalities would have to go to the Project Ace for having a cleaner separation and layering while having more holographic imaging and stage compared to the Falcon Ultra.

vs Letshuoer D13​

Just like the EA2000 comparison, why the hell am I comparing a $129 which can be bought for only $89 IEM being compared with a $249 IEM? And just like the EA2000, they have very similar DNAs. Essentially, the D13 is a worse Project Ace in every way but retains the bass tactility and tightness that makes it one of the best IEMs if you want quality and quantity. The Project Ace improves upon this but also keeps that awkward peak in the mid-treble that dips down to give a somewhat “low res” sound.

CONCLUSION:​

This Project Ace was a complete curveball from what I expected it to be. Not to diss them but HiBy has not had a good track record for IEMs in the past. They’ve made interesting IEMs like the HiBy Zeta and to an extent, the HiBy Yvain, but they’ve also made something as atrocious as the Crystal 6. But the Project Ace brings a near-perfect tuning to what would have been otherwise just a meme of an IEM.

Whatever F.Audio and HiBy did to this IEM, they did well. It has some of the best bass and midrange balance I’ve heard in any IEM, it’s very technically capable, especially considering the price and it offers an aesthetically unique presentation that makes it stand out from the market.

It’s not perfect, however. The treble would be a big turn-off to people who are sensitive to peaks or who want perfect timbre. The fit isn’t the most stellar and might cause discomfort for some.

But I can’t lie, this is probably HiBy’s best IEM to date. Not only in value but in sound. Imperfections aside, this is a very technical, very tactile and very rich-sounding IEM with a unique presentation to boot. Maybe F.Audio and HiBy should do more collabs next time, yeah?

Thank you for reading my full review on the HiBy x F.Audio Project Ace! If you would like to order one, consider using the non-affiliated link below: https://store.hiby.com/products/hiby-x-faudio-project-ace

Watch full review here: ​