HIBY XENO

HiBy Digital Xeno Review: IS THIS THE FUTURE OF AUDIO?​

WATCH FULL REVIEW HERE:​

PROS:​

• One of the most EQ capable IEMs
• Superb transient response
• Versatile controls
• Good volume levels
• Dedicated EQ app
• Lightweight build
• Spec and feature rich

CONS:​

• Complex EQ app
• Not the most refined tuning
• Cheap build quality
• Not the best fit and seal (subjective)

WHO THIS SET IS FOR:​

• People who like new tech
• EQ lovers
• People who like an earphone with versatile controls
• People who like lightweight earphones

WHO THIS SET ISN’T FOR:​

• People who want a refined product
• People who want detachable cable
• People who want a simple product
• People who want a sturdy build

RECOMMENDED GENRES:​

• Pop

SHORT REVIEW:​

The Xeno is a good look at what the future might bare for audio. A primarily digital device with built-in EQ, versatile inline controls, powerful DAC/AMP and a streamlined process that allows for a truly personal listening experience. Unfortunately, it suffers from the downfalls of a first gen product with a lot of rough edges from tuning to the built. Additionally, the EQ is completely contradictory to HiBy Digital’s target demographic of the casual listener. Nonetheless, HiBy Digital can comfortably say they’re one of the pioneers of the future of audio. RECOMMENDED WITH CAVEATS.

If you were to ask me how wireless audio tech could be improved, I can tell you a million things I want changed and improved. But if you were to ask me how wired audio could be improved, it’s a little harder to think of something that doesn’t require literal magic to do.

This is why when I found out about the xMems technology, I was quite baffled that audio tech could be improved this way. Obviously, there’s too much complicated tech to explain on what xMems is and what it does, so let me share you my experience with the HiBy Digital Xeno!

NOTE:
The HiBy Xeno has a Kickstarter for those who want to support the development of the product and also get to experience what the future of portable audio may be. Stay tuned for the link!

Big thanks to HiBy for sending over the Xeno in exchange for my honest thoughts.

THE XENO FILES​

Let’s tackle what makes the Xeno such a special set in the first place. There are 2 modern audio tech jammed into the Xeno’s self; xMems and DSP.

DSP has been with us for a very long time, but only surfaced in portable audio recently due to the loss of the headphone jack. Another complicated tech that I like to simply see as “built-in EQ and DAC”. It’s more than that, of course. But most people wouldn’t really care what it is more than what it does for them. We’ll talk more about this very soon as it plays a very important part to the identity of the Xeno.

Next, we have the xMems. This tech has been out for quite a while, but my personal experience with xMems prior was on in-line microphones. I never understood why some cables had better microphones than others until I discovered some of them were using xMems tech. Now, xMems have evolved to be used for speakers which can apparently improve the sound quality due to its higher efficiency, all-silicone construction and small size. Quite frankly, I don’t know much about xMems to tell you how much technological advancement this is. But any advancement is great as long as it actually improves on the existing tech. But does it?

BUILD & FIT​

If there’s one thing I know I don’t like about the Xeno, it’s the build and fit. Granted, the Xeno is from HiBy’s lifestyle brand, HiBy Digital. They don’t specialize in “audiophile” or “enthusiast” needs, moreso casual and general purpose. This means that the Xeno is catered to the casual people who happen to also like new tech.

However, this is not for those who are people like me who put fit and build pretty high up in priority. First and foremost, the fit itself is horrendous. It barely seals in my ear and the shape really does not help with this. I understand this is a self issue, but I also know that a lot of people will probably find the shape of the Xeno to be pretty bad.



While I don’t really think the all-plastic design is bad as it does make the Xeno rather lightweight and easy on the ears, the cable isn’t really the best cable in the world. Granted, it was explained to me as well as other wired xMems IEMs that the cable used is specifically used for the drivers. This means it can’t be detachable (yet) and the quality is fixed to how it is.

But how is the quality? Not very good, I’m afraid. Very tangle prone and pretty cheap feeling. The material is a sort of cloth-like with a soft and supple feel that is a little makes my face itch whenever it rubs on it.

I will give HiBy some props for the rather innovative center console of the Xeno. I have not seen an IEM with this big of a middle console that acts like a more advanced version of those that come with cables with microphones.



This allows to you to change the volume, pause, play and skip tracks and act as a microphone as well. But most importantly, this allows you to change the tuning on the dot. You can do this by pressing the circle button and you’ll see the LED at the center change color. This plays a VERY big part on the next section which will be the EQ and DSP part.



But before we talk about that, I should also mention that the center console features the DAC as opposed to be on the type C end. This features a CS43131 and ES9018C2M.

FEATURES​

If there’s one thing I can appreciate HiBy Digital doing for Xeno, it’d be how jam packed this thing is.

I should first reiterate that the Xeno isn’t necessarily an “audiophile” product. Despite this, the audiophile features of this thing are honestly pretty insane.

First, we have the usual stuff you find in earphones. Inline microphone with controls (that is more versatile than your usual in-line controls), type C connection and DSP connection.

Where the Xeno diverts from the crowd is what it does with all that tech. First, you get PCM 384kHz and DSD128. Not an audiophile product, but with audiophile grade specs. Next, you also get exclusive mode (on specific applications that support it like the HiBy app) for bit-perfect listening. This also means that it bypasses the SRC of the device you’re listening to depending on the application.

But arguably the most fascinating thing about the Xeno is the application that allows you to play around with and save EQs in the DAC itself. Think of it as a built-in wired Quedelix 5K in an earphone.



I should note first that the EQ I used was for the PC and is something that only hardcore EQ nerds can use. It is NOT for casual listeners as the application is made for people who do mixing, professionals and the like. But I was also told that there will be a mobile app and you can use to set-up your own EQ. You can also just use HiBy’s own music application to EQ, but any device can do that as long as you have access to the app.

I mentioned that this was a game changer because of the xMems and the supplementary DD. Something I noticed with xMems drivers, whether it’d be TWS like the Creative Aurvana Ace 2 or the Xeno is how well it responds to EQ. Moving the EQ variables on the Xeno is so distinct and varied that, if you had the knowhow, you can tune this to whatever IEM and it’d sound really damn good. I created my own EQ setting for the 0.8 firmware and I loved that thing to death.

But on the topic of sound, how does this thing ACTUALLY sound?

SOUND​

One of the things that early adaptors usually suffer from is not having the best implementation. This isn’t even exclusive to audio as the likes of folding phones had problems during their early adoption.

This is unfortunately the case with the xMems of the Xeno as, while it may provide fast transients, great details and rich bass, a lot of tonal quirks make it a rather peculiar set to listen to.

First, I should note that the Xeno was electronically tuned and not physically. This means that the tuning is digital through the DSP paired with the xMems and the other components. I’m not entirely sure of the DD was also tuned that way, but one can speculate.

As for my personal listening experience, I found the Xeno to be somewhat mediocre stock. The bass is a little too bloated and boomy, the mids are colored and recessed and the treble is genuinely all over the place. I can’t really pinpoint what exactly it is that felt so odd about the treble, but it was almost like there are very specific spikes in the tuning that genuinely make it so odd to listen to.

Usage wise, music listening wasn’t really something that I looked forward to in stock tuning and media consumption was just about average. Pair that with the poor fit and it really makes it hard to justify the stock tuning.

But this is where the EQ comes into play and why the Xeno is something that EQ nerds will absolutely love.

One of the benefits of being in the same company as the brand that provides one of the most useful EQ tools is that your product that is almost made to be EQ responds VERY well to this. I first experienced this with the PEQ app that was provided to me by HiBy and ran on my Windows PC. I did the ol’ EQ and measure trick to get my ideal tuning during the 0.8 firmware. And I’m not kidding, this thing sounded amazing. The bass was near perfect and the midrange was silky smooth with great details. The treble was also quite detailed, but was still somewhat barred due to the rather odd dip post 10k. But that was small considering how good the overall tonal balance of this way.

Then I also tried using MSEB and the global PEQ on HiBy apps and, while not as good as the built-in EQ, I was able to nicely adjust the tuning to suit a more casual and considerably easier EQ experience.

The Xeno is fundamentally a casual device in terms of its tuning with the rather unrefined tonality, but can become so much more with the provided EQ apps and the likes

This makes me feel like HiBy Digital wanted to create a blank canvas for casual listeners and so, created an IEM that responds really well to EQ and provided a supplementary app to it

MY PROBLEMS​

Unfortunately, I do still have some problems with the device that might cause some people to experience difficulties with the device.

First, the whole process of updating the firmware is almost exclusively PC only right now. I’m not going to bank on saying that this is going to be the only method as HiBy has shown that updates can happen OTA or online, so a mobile phone update may be possible. But I had quite the issue when setting up the update app and getting it to update properly.

I’d also mention the bugs, but they often get squished per firmware and currently, I haven't experienced any bugs outside of not knowing how to EQ (aka getting pretty nasty distortion).

But probably my biggest problem, right now, is the EQ app for the PC. It’s so convoluted and complicated that I doubt any casual listener would want to try it or not. Maybe the mobile app will be better, but we won’t really know until it comes. And that’s what I’m waiting for right now. Otherwise, the fundamental existence of the Xeno seems to be hanging on the way side with a complex usage to make it good for a casual device.

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR XMEMS​

Including the future of audio with DSP, I think there’s a lot for this tech to be properly implemented. The best part about it? It’s probably one firmware update away. The benefit of having a device as digitally reliant as the Xeno, you get to make realistic changes to improve the device through firmware updates.

Whether this would be the stock tuning, bug fixes, efficiency or the likes, the Xeno is probably the best platform to push this new audio tech to the masses.

Adding unto that is the xMems driver. I’m not going to deny that this new driver tech might not be totally ready for the masses, but the potential is there. The EQ versatility and the speed of the driver make it probably the most efficient not only for powering it but also for external factors like device battery life, latency and other quality of life improvements.

There are many things to improve, but these are all things that I know can be polished like a continuously update game. And for that, the Xeno could really be the future of audio.

Thank you for reading my full review on the HiBy Digital Xeno. The Xeno is currently in kickstarter and you can support the development here: https://www.kickstarter.com/project...s-hybrid-iems-with-dual-dac-digital-crossover

#hiby #hiby digital #xeno

Disclaimer: Hiby has sent Audiophiles Alliance BD the Xeno 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 Link:
https://store.hiby.com/products/hib...KQ1bE6WP-QvNly9UVUiqTATPpH-KIj_gjP9hRRC56tfF8



Intro: The Xeno is the outcome of Hiby’s efforts to create something revolutionary, for general users, audiophiles and gamers alike. Xeno is a hybrid consisting of the latest Cowell xMEMS driver and a 10mm Graphene dynamic driver. I believe the MEMS driver is taking care of the high’s of the XENO while the dynamic driver is covering the mids and the low’s. Another interesting feature of the XENO is its implementation of dual-dac’s, a Cirrus Logic CS43131 and a ES9018C2M. Each DAC covers one of the drivers, although none of the marketing materials or manuals mention which covers which.



The Controller: This is a sort of control panel of the Hiby XENO. It contains the dual-dacs, the microphone and some buttons for basic control. The “+” and “-“ buttons are used to control the volume of the device. Do be careful playing around with the volume control though, the Xeno can get piercingly loud. The “O” button controls the 3 tuning modes of the XENO and the ▷ button controls the play/pause action while you are listening to your songs.

️Tuning: Hiby Xeno provides three distinct tuning which can be activated using the “O’ button from the controller as mentioned earlier.

The Basic/Flat Mode: It’s a bright neutral sound signature, with more of an emphasis on treble and has boosted-upper mids. LED indicator blinking green once while accessing this mode using the controller.

Dynamic/Bass Boosted Mode: This tuning is more veiled and warm sounding and tried to boost the low end of the Xeno. But it makes the bass sound more boomy rather than well-extended or textured. The upper-mids emphasis is toned down in this mode.

Gaming/Cinema Mode: This a variation of the basic mode with vocals pushed further back and sounding airier and more spacious. 3D imagining is slightly enhanced as well. Bass and treble performance remains very similar. Although all three tunings each have their own drawbacks, I will focus on the Basic/Flat mode while doing this review. As I find it to be most balanced and superior sounding out of all three.




Build & Design: The Xeno although lightweight, is very plasticky, I wish Hiby had gone for a more premium build quality here. I think Xeno falling under the “Hiby Digital” branding their target audience is the younger generation (teenagers), and Hiby has designed the Xeno accordingly. The fixed silver-plated copper cable (SPC) is also quite stiff and not very comfortable.



️Fit: Fit wise this is the worst device I have used so far, the nozzles are short and due to the shape of it, I can’t get a good fit with most tips including the stock ones. I have tried tip rolling with the Xeno quite extensively and Final clear tips gave me the best fit but still it’s a shallow insertion.



️Bass: Bass is the Achilles' heel of the Xeno, it lacks the rumble and punch expected from bass-heavy genres like EDM or hip-hop. Genres like classical, acoustic, and jazz benefit from this neutral approach as bass levels are more controlled it doesn’t mask the subtle details in the midrange or high frequencies. The dynamic driver within the Xeno is quick, providing a speedy bass that is fast to attack and just as quick to decay. This ensures that bass notes are punchy and well-defined, without any lingering resonance or bloat that might interfere with the overall sound signature. Tracks with complex, fast-paced bassline, such as progressive rock, metal, or fast electronic music are handled with impressive accuracy, allowing each note to be distinct and well-articulated. Even though the quantity is moderate, the bass that is present comes across as well-textured, offering a nuanced presentation. The IEMs manage to capture the subtle intricacies of bass tones, whether it’s the pluck of a double bass string, the depth of an electronic kick drum, or the resonance of a low tom in a drum kit. The texture here adds depth and character, giving the bass a more organic feel rather than just being a flat, one-dimensional thud. However, the lack of bass extension is noticeable in all genres and takes away from the excitement or the engaging factor.

️Mids / Vocals: The most striking feature of the mids on the Hiby Xeno is how forward the vocals are, especially female vocals. The upper mids receive a slight boost, which pushes female vocals to the forefront, making them sound prominent and detailed. If you enjoy genres like pop, acoustic, or jazz, where female vocals take center stage, the Xeno truly shines. There’s a crispness to the delivery, ensuring that the delicate nuances in higher-pitched voices are well captured without sounding sibilant or harsh. Male vocals, while still clear, don’t stand out as much as their female counterparts. This is largely due to the lower midrange tuning, which leans slightly more neutral. While male vocals retain a decent amount of clarity, they lack some of the warmth and richness that can make deeper male voices sound full-bodied. For listeners who enjoy more robust or baritone male vocals, the Xeno’s tuning might feel a little thin, but it’s still doing a good job for keeping things clean and free from muddiness. Hiby Xeno excels with certain instruments in the midrange, acoustic guitars, for instance, sound crisp and articulate, with each strum and pluck of the strings being clearly defined. The upper-mid boost also helps bring out the natural brightness of pianos and violins, giving them a lively and engaging presence in the mix.

️Treble: The treble of the Xeno is well extended and adds a sense of openness and air to the sound, making instruments like cymbals, hi-hats, and strings feel lively and dynamic. The result is a crisp and clean treble presentation that excels in revealing the finer nuances of high-pitched instruments. The xMEMS driver is the true hero here, responsible for pulling out those intricate details in the upper-treble region. Instruments that rely on high-frequency harmonics like violins, flutes, and certain electronic sounds, are presented with exceptional clarity, allowing you to hear every subtle nuances. For genres that thrive on high-frequency energy such as jazz, classical, or even electronic music the treble on the Xeno can add a layer of excitement and realism that makes the listening experience more engaging. However, it’s worth noting that the sheer amount of treble energy may not be suited for all listeners. While the treble on the Hiby Xeno is generally well-controlled, the abundance of high-frequency energy can be overwhelming for some. Treble-sensitive listeners might find the extended upper-treble and added brilliance fatiguing over time, particularly on tracks with a lot of high-pitched instruments or vocals. The treble’s forward nature means that it can occasionally dominate the mix, and while it doesn’t cross the line into harshness for most users, it can still be a bit too much for those who prefer a more subdued or relaxed treble presentation.



️Resolution & Details: The Hiby Xeno stands out for its exceptional detail and resolution, offering a highly analytical sound signature that emphasizes precision over warmth. Designed to extract every bit of information from your music, the Xeno excels at delivering clarity and accuracy across the frequency spectrum, making it ideal for those who prioritize a clinical listening experience over a musical one. The high level of transparency means that no nuance is lost, whether it’s the intricate strumming of a guitar or the faintest echo of a reverberating vocal. Instruments are rendered with sharp definition, and the overall clarity is consistent throughout the entire frequency range.

️Natural Timbre: One of the most commendable aspects of the Hiby Xeno is its ability to maintain a natural timbre across the entire mix. Instruments sound as they should, acoustic guitars resonate with a realistic woody tone, violins soar with an authentic brightness, and drums retain their impact without sounding overly processed or artificial. The natural timbre adds to the realism of the sound, making it easy to forget that you’re listening through IEM’s and not a live performance. This natural tonality is particularly noticeable with acoustic and stringed instruments. The xMEMS driver technology in the Xeno helps deliver a lifelike representation of these instruments, ensuring that every note rings true to its original character.

️Soundstage: The Hiby Xeno offers a soundstage that is notably airy and moderately wide, striking a fine balance between openness and precise instrument placement. While the width of the stage isn’t the widest, the Xeno makes up for it with its excellent depth and height, creating a well-rounded and immersive listening experience. This well-projected soundstage brings clarity to the mix, ensuring each instrument has its own space without sounding congested.

️Imaging & Instrument Separation: One of the most remarkable aspects of the Hiby Xeno is its holographic imaging capabilities. The Xeno has the ability to place sounds around you with almost lifelike accuracy, providing a sense of depth and spatial realism that immerses you in the audio experience. Instruments and sound elements are projected with clarity and precision, allowing you to easily pickup their location within the mix. Whether it's a snare drum slightly to the left, a guitar solo up front, or ambient effects echoing in the background, the Xeno makes everything feel properly spaced and layered, creating a three-dimensional audio environment. This ability to project sound in a multi-dimensional space makes it ideal not only for music lovers but also for gamers who need precise audio cues, especially in competitive FPS games where pinpointing an enemy's footsteps from a distance can be the difference between winning and losing.
The Xeno has impressive instrument separation and layering. You can easily pick out individual instruments, such as a bassline, hi-hat, or guitar riff, without any blending or overlap. This clarity enhances your listening experience, especially in genres like rock, jazz, or orchestral music, where multiple instruments are layered together.



️Conclusion: You might have noticed during this review and I have avoided calling the Xeno an IEM, that’s because it is not. It’s different breed of an all-rounder device, you can use it for your phone calls, for gaming and your music listening session. And it excels in pretty much all of these activities without the need for a dedicated dac/amp! Although for the more dedicated audiophiles there is EQ and PEQ options to further customize the sound as per your liking. To keep this evaluation fair, I have decided against using EQ or PEQ though, not all of my readers will understand parametric equalizers and I have to take that into consideration. Hiby has announced this device via crowdfunding at $99, I think that makes the Xeno quite a bang for buck deal especially for the more versatile users.

The word XENO is a Greek word for foreign, exotic or alien. The model name for this unit truly fits its description on how this set is quite unique in the audio market.

HIBY is one of the audio companies that offers a diversifying portfolio of audio products in the audio market from affordable IEM earphones up to the premium DAPs. It is also noted that HiBy is also known for being innovative by implementing some new audio technologies on their every product release.



What I have here right now is their latest product and this one is quite a unique set. This is HIBY XENO, it has a dual driver technology inside with a hifi DAC chip for each driver to give a better crossover to achieve that detailed full range sound quality.



What makes this set quite so unique was the implementation of a Cowell MEMS speaker driver from XMEMs along with a 10mm dynamic driver with a graphene diaphragm. MEMS are miniaturised fabricated devices which have electromechanical components which is an essential part of modern technologies from automobiles up to wearable devices like digital watches and medical monitoring sensors, and as MEMS technology keeps progressing, it develop some new audio technology like solid-state MEMs speaker driver in which is more responsive and minimises any possible phase shifting issues. As for the dynamic driver with a graphene material, graphenes are a type of nanomaterials known for its thinnest with excellent tensile strength for better vibration control that will provide a solid and full range sound with better resolution.



Aside from the drivers, HIBY also implemented two different hi-fi DAC ICs for each driver due to their different frequency properties and HiBy was able to achieve it as this set produces a cohesive sound quality. These two hi-fi DAC chips are ESS ES9018C2M and Cirrus Logic CS43131, and both ICs are proven and tested for excellent audio processing capabilities and they work in tandem to decode high resolution audio up to 32-bit 384kHz on PCM format and DSD128 on DSD format.




The drivers were encapsulated in a 3D-moulded resin shell chassis with an acoustic cavity structure for each driver in an aluminium alloy material to lessened vibrations from acoustic waves. The shell sizes are quite compact that make this set a versatile one in terms of fitting and comfort to all ear sizes as it offers a good passive noise isolation that blocks unwanted external noises.



While it doesn't have a detachable cable feature, HIBY uses a silver-plated copper cable with fabric-like sheathing insulator for better audio signal transmission on digital audio connection. On its termination, it uses a USB TYPE-C which is a more standard digital audio connection on modern mobile devices like smartphones, laptops and tablets.



The HIBY XENO has a console panel with four directional button controls for play/pause, volume up, volume down and tonal presets. The tonal presets mode will correspond via blinks of its LED light; these are Flat or user defined mode for a single blink, Dynamic mode for double blinking and Gaming/Cinema mode for three blinks. Take note that these settings will not work on DSD MODE. The volume control of this one has finer increments on how it corresponds with its loudness level.



Aside from button controls, it has a built-in high definition omnidirectional MEMS microphone capable of supporting incoming calls and recording.



Since this one is a sample review unit, this set has basic inclusions like silicone ear tips and a PU-leather pouch for storage.



To analyse its tonal profile, since this set has three tonal presets and each of its presets have a distinctive sound signature that makes this set truly a versatile one for both critical and casual listening.

FLAT MODE - it has a balanced-neutral sound signature.

DYNAMIC MODE - it has a more u-shaped sound signature with more noticeable emphasis on the low frequency.

GAMING/CINEMATIC MODE - it has a V-shaped signature but it gives that sort of wider sound/speaker stage feel.

I will conduct testing on this unit with HiBy Music App on my mobile phones without using any EQs.





LOWS/BASS:

FLAT MODE

The bass response of this one is rather tight and precise with a noticeable rumble on its sub bass and with enough mid-bass texture. This tuning mode will give a cleaner bass quality on how it delivers a good separation from other frequency ranges.


DYNAMIC MODE

It has a more pronounced bass response as it sounds more punchy, impactful and fuller compared to the FLAT MODE but at the expense of mid bass bleeding. This setting focuses more on mid bass presence for better note weight on bass-clef instruments and deep male vocals as bass guitars and double basses will sound more weighty and broad while bass kick drums sounds full and sonorous, and then on both bass and bass-baritone vocals, they have this dusky and dense sounding voices.


GAMING/CINEMATIC MODE

Compared to the DYNAMIC MODE, it has a less mid-bass texture but it still has a sufficient texture unlike the FLAT MODE. It still retains a punchy and tactile bass response but apparently it delivers a more incisive bass quality. It affects the sound characteristics on bass-clef instruments and deep male vocals like the bass guitars and double basses will sound more resonant yet mellow, bass kick drums sounds more sustaining a bit hollow, and male vocals like bass and bass-baritones will sound less deep, less darker but retains some resonant sound on them.


MIDRANGE:

FLAT MODE

The midrange presentation of one is definitely a neutral, linear, well-balanced and very transparent sounding as both male and female vocals sound natural without unnecessary colouration on their respective tonal characteristics. Same as instruments as they sound faithfully as it was intended on the recording. This type of tuning will be likely more suited on studio recordings and mastering.


DYNAMIC MODE

This midrange presentation of this setting is noticeably more recessed but the mid bass smearing adds more warmth and texture for full and rich sound on most male vocals and instruments like brasses and percussions. On male vocals, baritones have lush and warm voices while tenors have brassy but less spicy voices and countertenors have smooth and plush sound which I think isn't the exact tonal colour that I'm hearing. Female contraltos have rich and heft with their chesty vocals which really give more engaging sound and then on instruments, brasses like trumpets, trombones and horns correspondingly sounds fuller, overpowering and muffled. On percussion, snare drums slam harder but less brighter, tom-toms sound too warm and resonant and field drums sound dark and booming.


GAMING/CINEMATIC MODE

Apparently, the midrange presentation of this one seems a bit leaner in texture compared to the DYNAMIC MODE but it sounds more energetic, clearer and transparent. As it lessens the warmth that affects the volume and tonal colour of male vocals and instruments particularly brasses, some female vocals and instruments like woodwinds and strings will sound more crisper and a tad more gleaming. On female vocals, mezzo-sopranos sound fiery while sopranos have silvery and metallic vocals on them. Woodwinds like concert flutes, piccolos, clarinets and saxophone, they sound bright, brilliant, shrill and reedy respectively, and as for string instruments, acoustic guitars sound bright, violins have a lively and metallic sound, and then, cellos sound more vibrant. Pianos on this setting sound brighter with some tininess tone on it.


HIGHS/TREBLE:

FLAT MODE

The treble response of this setting appears to be neutral and smooth as it doesn't sound dark or too bright. There's no hint of harshness nor sibilance on this one but still can deliver a good definition on vocals and treble-clef instruments and It has a relatively airy presence on its brilliance section.


DYNAMIC MODE

The treble quality on this one is that it sounds smooth and inoffensive to the point that treble heads might consider it a bit dark and muffled sounding to their liking. Harshness and sibilance will be an out of question as how the upper mids up to the presence treble region was evened and smoothen but I noticed that quantity of the treble air is rather modest in my opinion. In some instruments, cymbals have a rather dark and dry sounding in my opinion while glockenspiels sound too lustrous as it actually reminds me more of a marimba and then, the celestas sound too rounder and warmer in my opinion that it should have a bright sound with longer resonance.


GAMING/CINEMATIC MODE

Compared to the two previous setting modes, the upper-mids and presence part of this one is noticeably accentuated as it has more definition and clarity for vocals and attack of instruments. In that regard, the treble response of this setting is a tad brighter and it somehow retains the airy extension quantity of the FLAT MODE. Cymbals have a sizzling sound while glockenspiels sound brilliant and glistening, and then, celestas have a shimmering and golden sound.


SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

FLAT MODE

In this mode, it projects a moderately spacious sound field dimensions as it has an above-average lateral span on its width, good height and depth. It presents a concave-like stereo presentation in a decently layered soundscape in which I can decently pinpoint the exact positions of specific vocals and instruments. This set is also quite resolving on both macro-dynamics and micro-dynamics as the former has a solidity and depth on its compression of its note weight and the latter can extract some micro-details and other nuances in a sonic background.


DYNAMIC MODE

It appears that the perceived sound/speaker stage of this one is a tad narrower as that width and height were a bit reduced but somehow, it adds more depth. While it has the same stereo imaging projection like the FLAT MODE, it somehow affects the layering aspect of this one as it sounds a bit less disorganised that I'm sort of struggling to pinpoint the placements of vocals and instruments. On resolution capability, while it lessened the proficiency its micro-detail retrieval but it gives more definition on macro-dynamics


GAMING/CINEMATIC MODE

Due to elevation on the upper-mids and presence of the treble region, it gives that illusion that the sound/speaker stage of this setting mode projects a tad wider and better height to give that roomy head room in my aural perception. It appears that it has a similar stereo imaging presentation with the FLAT MODE but I just noticed that it's more resolving on resolution capability.


As I conclude my review of this model, this set is indeed quite a unique one and this is the first that I've experienced the sound quality that was produced by a recently developed driver technology which is a MEMS-based speaker driver. The MEMS truly shows its capability and versatility that HIBY was able to utilise its full potential with its proven track record for being an innovative audio company. While the HIBY XENO is a rather new concept that some audio enthusiasts might be hesitant at first instance due to the unusual digital connector which is a USB Type-C as they are more accustomed with analogue 3.5mm single ended, but if they ever test this one, the sound quality speaks for itself on how it performs. I hope that HIBY will implement the MEMS driver to their future standard IEM earphones.


HIBY XENO is now available at HIBY Official Store, check out the link below that I have provided for those who are interested to try it out.

LINK: https://store.hiby.com/products/hibydigitalxeno?srsltid=AfmBOooIAwZzFIJyedxlcmlHMQeYYyjeEUCDMKRctYLQA9nAOgmzEOSS

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: HIBY XENO
IMPEDANCE: Unspecified
SENSITIVITY: 116dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 40KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2m
PIN TYPE: **NON-DETACHABLE**
PLUG TYPE: USB TYPE-C
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER, (1) MEMS SPEAKER DRIVER


Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **
Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *
Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *

P.S.

I am not affiliated to HIBY nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to MR. JOSEPH YEUNG for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate his generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.