HiBy R5 Saber ($399): Not the pro, not a sabre, but what DO we have?
R5 Saber-MusicTeck
The R5 Saber (not Pro, not Sabre) is part of a tour run by @Wiljen from a unit provided by MusicTeck. I thank both for the opportunity to review this mid-fi DAP. Recently I had Will’s R3P Saber (w/ Sabre chip) in-house and came away so impressed, I contacted Andrew and purchased my own. A review for that unit is finished, but not posted as of yet. As a point of comparison within the family, the R3P Sabre will provide that step up to see if it is warranted.
Specs:
Technicals:
Much has already been written regarding the R5 Saber and that it is not an ESS Sabre chipset but rather dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 flagship DAC chips on board, a change from the R3PS. Using Android 8.1, some of the functioning is different as well, as opposed to the R3PS, which uses HiBy’s OS.
Numerous other features highlight the tweaked R5S, adding what HiBy calls a “ruthlessness” of sound compared to the warmth of the regular R5. Purported to have much better resolution than peers of the same price range, you immediately see how competitive this range is simply by looking at the advertising. Running the Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 SoC along with the open 8.1 gives HiBy the versatility to tailor the sound according to their desires. And they did. Much more has changed, but I will leave that to those more versed than I to describe and decipher.
In talking to Will, he told me at the time how the R3PS was his go to at that price, having my Shanling M2x on hand in which to compare. Up until I heard the R3PS, the M2x was MY go-to. That quickly changed. The R3PS is now my go-to at that price, and the R5 Saber has big shoes to fill. This is quite the competent mid-fi DAP so far. I shall do my darndest to mention as much of the “newness” as possible. One need only look at the included diagrams from HiBy to note the large number of changes.
Gear used/compared:
Shanling M6 Pro
HiBy R3 Pro Saber
Dethonray DTR1
Unique Melody 3DT
Thieaudio Legacy 4
DDHiFi Janus
Songlist:
Dave Matthews
Joey Alexander-Warna album and others
Mark Knopfler-Laughs And Jokes And Drinks And Smokes
Santana w/ Mana- Corazon Espinado
twenty one pilots
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Big Head Todd & The Monsters-Beautiful World
Mark Knopfler-Down The Road Wherever
Elton John-yep, still good, still cool
Tidal MQA
In The Box:
R5 Saber
USB-C charging cord
Plastic case
Purchased brown leather case
Screen protectors
Unboxing:
Coming in a traditional glossy-black box, the R5s presents itself in a straightforward manner. What is a bit different and a tad nicer as well is the outer sleeve. Typically, those are almost an afterthought, which gives the manufacturer something else to clutter with photos, glamour or specs. Not here. The HiBy outer sleeve is thick and sturdy, giving a protective layer to the inner box. Simple graphics laden the front and back.
Moving the sleeve off, you are met with another sturdy lidded box, which does have the addresses and website link on the back. Removing he lid, which has a layer of foam glued to the top-inside, you are met with the unit itself; tucked safely into a cutout of semi-hard foam. Under that are two cardboard boxes, which hold the charging cable, instructions, extra screen protectors and the “key,” which unlocks the SD card slot, aka like FiiO’s of old. Added in is the nice brown leather case, which fits well and adds a nice touch of regality to the whole shebang.
Build/Functions:
@wiljen’s review does an excellent job at the functionality of the R5s, so I will focus on the build, and a brief comparison to the R3 Saber.
With a glossy glassy back cover, and the glass front, you have a burnished alloy frame, and plastic top & bottom pieces. Rounded edges allow the user to feel the tactility of the buttons on each side, nicely. As a result of that shape, and the button feel the unit is not slippery like some I have had in hand. Since functions between DAP’s have not changed, use is as easy as finding the correct button. And like others, the play button is a bit larger than the FF and REW, which helps even more.
Compared to the R3 Saber, the R5s “seems” slightly narrower. I do prefer the access afforded to the buttons more on the R5s than the “inset” buttons of the R3 Saber, when both are in their respective cases. Out of the case, the R3 Saber has uniform switches, which can be mistaken, except for the single button on the play, which sits between the FF and REW. The volume is also a toggle-type button, which sue to the slight raising helps you fiddle with it in the dark.
I like the feel of both, but the R3 Saber just feels right in hand. I also like the single push to turn the unit off as well. Due to the proprietary OS on the R5s, you need to touch the “off” spot on the screen after activating it with the on/off switch.
As for how the R5s functions, it functions well. Easy to use and intuitive since it is running Android 8.1. This is a higher OS than many competitors use and comes with all of the frill you need. Tidal, Google Play, YouTube, Spotify; all download and play easily. With Google Play already installed, it is easy to add the apps you choose. The native HiBy music app comes with MSEB as well, like the R3 Saber, which is a really nice “equalizer” function, that can tailor the music and sound to your tastes with excellent precision. Want a cool/bright signature? Slide to toggle to the left. Warm/Dark? To the right. You can change everything from, crispness to sibilance control to vocal and female overtones. The fine-tuning works and works well. As one who prefers not to EQ, unless it is an XBass-like switch or 3D effect, I generally leave this function off. You get a 10-band equalizer as well, so tailoring the sound to your needs and desires is quite wide open.
Much like my Shanling M6 Pro, the user intuition and feel works like a typical Android-based unit. Some learning curve is needed, but the use becomes efficient and functional after a bit of use. There is a reason the vast majority of DAP’s use Android. It is eminently tailorable and allows all sorts of aftermarket abilities to shine. I will admit though that short of Tidal, Pandora, Spotify and YouTube I may only add another music app such as some of the fine offered ones (choose one, they are all mostly good). That said, the native HiBy app is quickly becoming my favorite of the native-based DAP music apps. Functionally easy to use (better than the Shanling), and on par with the smooth operating Cayin native music app. Functionality ranks quite high here, and ease of use follows that. The way it should be...
I espoused that sometimes you do not need a touchscreen, much like the Dethonray DTR1 or Questyle products have; but this is a case where the touchscreen Android OS works to the benefit. And to be truthful, most favor this route anyway. I’m OK either way, and will switch depending upon my mood.
Internals:
With the ability to run MQA and work for 18 hours of continuous play, you can tell that DAP’s have moved into the wonderful length of time battery stage, versus the “will I make it until lunch” battery crowd. It’s about time in my mind. Aided by the use of dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips, the R5 Saber does not run ESS Saber chips like the R3s, so the Saber name can cause a bit of confusion. Just know that the chips are new, they function as well as the ESS, but do sound a bit different. Incorporating Panasonic electronics as well, maximizes efficiency and helps to control heat issues. Using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 SoC memory system keeps the speed up as well, while minimizing heat effect. In other words, this critter just works as one would expect from a mid-fi DAP.
Since this is the unit, which came from Will as part of the tour, he ironed out the connectivity issues, and I had none. Read up on his review for help if needed.
Sound:
Marketed as the big brother to the R3 Saber and little brother to the R6, the R5s sounds warmer and a bit richer than the R3 Saber. I purchased the R3 Saber after listening to Will’s, and I do not regret it. Now my go to affordable go-with DAP, the R3s functions extremely well. That said, had I heard the R5s first, it may have become my go to mid-fi DAP over either my older Shanling M2s or newer M3s (not the x). Both of the Shanling function extremely well but sound a bit thin in comparison. That richness of sound carries over across the sound spectrum to me, and as I prefer the warmer signatured items whether DAP or IEM; the R5s compliments my listening environment with aplomb.
With DAP’s other than the baseline signature, to me it is a bit harder to judge individual sounds like with a headphone or IEM. But differences and similarities between models can be discerned, so I try and focus on that.
I hate to use the term “mature” to describe the R5s, as that may come across as warm, rich and boring. That would not be the case. The R5s does have excellent instrumentation and is a step up from the R3 Saber. But, the R3 Saber provides a “more fun” sound to me, that provides a nice alternative. I would not call the R3 Saber too bright, nor the R5s dull, far from it. Nicely tuned would be better. Detail retrieval on the R5s is better, but both do exude a somewhat similar sound to me. That fun sound of which I mentioned comes across in a better push up top from the R3 Saber as opposed to the R5s. That to me is the biggest difference between the two. Slightly brighter versus warm and rich. The R5s also provides more power and the use of a 4.4bal jack versus the 2.5bal on the R3 Saber. I suspect the difference was due to space limitations, such as the switches were as well.
Soundstage is fairly wide and dep with good height extension as well. That said, so much depends upon the source material here and listening device. Let’s put it this way. On some I can clearly hear how narrow the soundstage is, or how cavernous. With the R5s I cannot discern a narrow soundstage, so I will call it good. The R5s provides me with a very good detailed sound as well. As mentioned, instrumentation is quite good, and this helps with the detail as well.
Comparisons:
HiBy R5s ($399) v Shanling M6 Pro ($700):
This is my go-to DAP, even though I have the Cayin n6ii mk2. The Shanling travels everywhere with me and provides me with everything I need. 2.5bal, 3.5se, & 4.4bal jacks give me a quick change on the fly, without having to change motherboards or inserts (like the M8). Plus, the sound is sumptuous. Warm, rich, detailed and warmer than neutral the M6P provides plenty of power for all I have due to the dual DAC “turbo” feature as well as three gain settings. I have yet to get it past about 45 on the dial, and then to only check how an IEM or headphone sounds.
This really is not a fair comparison as the price alone is twice; but when you consider all you get from the R5s, it becomes valid. If the prefer an excellent mid-fi first and foremost, the R5s is hard to beat. Then you can skip right past the M6P price to the Cayin n6ii mk2, HiBy R6, or Shanling M8 if you desire a flagship DAP. That isn’t really a bad idea, and the R5s would be (and is) a stellar day to day device.
HiBy R5s ($399) v HiBy R3 Pro Saber ($209):
Mentioned throughout the sound section, the only thing I could add is in relation to the last paragraph right above. If I had to choose between a day to day DAP, it would be the R3s due to its smaller size, and nearly identical sound. Plus, it has all the power I need, and cost nearly ½ the price. A conundrum that HiBy has put about themselves, and one in which you will need to decide...
HiBy R5s ($399) v Dethonray DTR1 ($549):
For pure sound, the DTR1 is hard to beat, and I have espoused its virtues in many a review. Simple to operate using the Linux OS, you do not have a touchscreen, but the focus is on pure sound. I am still hard pressed to find a better sounding DAP for purity, with a hint of warmth at pretty much any price than the DTR1. In my comparison to the Questyle QPM, I noted that the QPM might be the first to compare and make me move upscale to it from the DTR1, but at a cost of nearly 3.5x more, would the merits outweigh the cost? That is how good the DTR1 is for pure sound.
The R5s provides you with many more options, such as Tidal and other music apps and the solid 8.1 OS, which is hard to pass up. Plus, that HiBy sound is taking me in with its level of clarity and slightly warm signature as well. This comparison comes down to features/functionality and adds-ons versus purity of sound. If you want pure sound, the DTR1 is hard to beat. Add in the features of the R5s along with excellent sound, and a cheaper price and the case can be made for that as well.
Finale:
I purchased the R3 Saber after hearing Will’s. It is now my go-to portable unit when I am working out or need a quick listen. I love the sound, feel in hand and functionality of it. I really do not like the buttons but deal with it knowing of its diminutive size. A Trade-off of which I can live. The R5s is the same but different, though.
Better button functionality, a bit larger feel, Android 8.1 OS, and the option galore make this a tough call. If you want a simple straight forward HiBy-based proprietary OS DAP, the R3 Saber is hard to beat, especially at ½ the price. This is where one could rightly make the case that HiBy shot themselves in the foot, because the R3 Saber is so good. But if you want an Android-based DAP with the ability to run many apps like the true mid-fi DAP’s it will compete against, you would be remiss to consider this affordable mid-fi DAP, for it is good.
I thank Andrew at MusicTeck and @Wiljen for the tour, it was a pleasure playing with and listening to the R5s. This really is a fine DAP, and had I not already had the R3 Saber, it would be in consideration as my mid-fi DAP.
R5 Saber-MusicTeck
The R5 Saber (not Pro, not Sabre) is part of a tour run by @Wiljen from a unit provided by MusicTeck. I thank both for the opportunity to review this mid-fi DAP. Recently I had Will’s R3P Saber (w/ Sabre chip) in-house and came away so impressed, I contacted Andrew and purchased my own. A review for that unit is finished, but not posted as of yet. As a point of comparison within the family, the R3P Sabre will provide that step up to see if it is warranted.
Specs:
| Make/Model | HiBy R5 Saber |
| Colors | Aluminum alloy black |
| Dimensions | 107.7*61.2*15.6mm |
| Bluetooth | 4.2 |
| USB | 2.0 |
| Operating System | Android 8.1 |
| DAC | CS43198*2 |
| SoC | Snapdragon 425 |
| No. of CPU Cores | 4 |
| CPU Max Frequency | 1.4GHz |
| WIFI | 5GHz/2.4GHz, supports IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n protocols |
| Display Size | 4.0 inches (540*1080) |
| Colors | 16 million colors |
| Topology | IPS |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Internal Storage | 16GB |
| External Storage | Up tp 2TB + via 1 micro SD card |
| Headphone Out | 3.5mm |
| Balanced Headphone Out | 4.4mm |
| Line Out | 3.5mm LO |
| Balanced Out | 4.4mm LO |
| Digital Out | SPDIF (USB out) |
| USB | USB storage, USB DAC IN/OUT |
| Headphone Impedance Range | 16~300Ω |
| EQ Adjustments | 10 bands (±12dB) |
| Channel Balance | L 10dB to R 10dB |
| USB DAC | PCM/DoP/DSD Native |
| Power Supply | 9V/1.5A |
| Battery | 3500mAh |
| Charge Protocol | QC3.0 |
| Firmware Update | Over-the-air update |
Technicals:
Much has already been written regarding the R5 Saber and that it is not an ESS Sabre chipset but rather dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 flagship DAC chips on board, a change from the R3PS. Using Android 8.1, some of the functioning is different as well, as opposed to the R3PS, which uses HiBy’s OS.
Numerous other features highlight the tweaked R5S, adding what HiBy calls a “ruthlessness” of sound compared to the warmth of the regular R5. Purported to have much better resolution than peers of the same price range, you immediately see how competitive this range is simply by looking at the advertising. Running the Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 SoC along with the open 8.1 gives HiBy the versatility to tailor the sound according to their desires. And they did. Much more has changed, but I will leave that to those more versed than I to describe and decipher.
In talking to Will, he told me at the time how the R3PS was his go to at that price, having my Shanling M2x on hand in which to compare. Up until I heard the R3PS, the M2x was MY go-to. That quickly changed. The R3PS is now my go-to at that price, and the R5 Saber has big shoes to fill. This is quite the competent mid-fi DAP so far. I shall do my darndest to mention as much of the “newness” as possible. One need only look at the included diagrams from HiBy to note the large number of changes.
Gear used/compared:
Shanling M6 Pro
HiBy R3 Pro Saber
Dethonray DTR1
Unique Melody 3DT
Thieaudio Legacy 4
DDHiFi Janus
Songlist:
Dave Matthews
Joey Alexander-Warna album and others
Mark Knopfler-Laughs And Jokes And Drinks And Smokes
Santana w/ Mana- Corazon Espinado
twenty one pilots
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Big Head Todd & The Monsters-Beautiful World
Mark Knopfler-Down The Road Wherever
Elton John-yep, still good, still cool
Tidal MQA
In The Box:
R5 Saber
USB-C charging cord
Plastic case
Purchased brown leather case
Screen protectors
Unboxing:
Coming in a traditional glossy-black box, the R5s presents itself in a straightforward manner. What is a bit different and a tad nicer as well is the outer sleeve. Typically, those are almost an afterthought, which gives the manufacturer something else to clutter with photos, glamour or specs. Not here. The HiBy outer sleeve is thick and sturdy, giving a protective layer to the inner box. Simple graphics laden the front and back.
Moving the sleeve off, you are met with another sturdy lidded box, which does have the addresses and website link on the back. Removing he lid, which has a layer of foam glued to the top-inside, you are met with the unit itself; tucked safely into a cutout of semi-hard foam. Under that are two cardboard boxes, which hold the charging cable, instructions, extra screen protectors and the “key,” which unlocks the SD card slot, aka like FiiO’s of old. Added in is the nice brown leather case, which fits well and adds a nice touch of regality to the whole shebang.
Build/Functions:
@wiljen’s review does an excellent job at the functionality of the R5s, so I will focus on the build, and a brief comparison to the R3 Saber.
With a glossy glassy back cover, and the glass front, you have a burnished alloy frame, and plastic top & bottom pieces. Rounded edges allow the user to feel the tactility of the buttons on each side, nicely. As a result of that shape, and the button feel the unit is not slippery like some I have had in hand. Since functions between DAP’s have not changed, use is as easy as finding the correct button. And like others, the play button is a bit larger than the FF and REW, which helps even more.
Compared to the R3 Saber, the R5s “seems” slightly narrower. I do prefer the access afforded to the buttons more on the R5s than the “inset” buttons of the R3 Saber, when both are in their respective cases. Out of the case, the R3 Saber has uniform switches, which can be mistaken, except for the single button on the play, which sits between the FF and REW. The volume is also a toggle-type button, which sue to the slight raising helps you fiddle with it in the dark.
I like the feel of both, but the R3 Saber just feels right in hand. I also like the single push to turn the unit off as well. Due to the proprietary OS on the R5s, you need to touch the “off” spot on the screen after activating it with the on/off switch.
As for how the R5s functions, it functions well. Easy to use and intuitive since it is running Android 8.1. This is a higher OS than many competitors use and comes with all of the frill you need. Tidal, Google Play, YouTube, Spotify; all download and play easily. With Google Play already installed, it is easy to add the apps you choose. The native HiBy music app comes with MSEB as well, like the R3 Saber, which is a really nice “equalizer” function, that can tailor the music and sound to your tastes with excellent precision. Want a cool/bright signature? Slide to toggle to the left. Warm/Dark? To the right. You can change everything from, crispness to sibilance control to vocal and female overtones. The fine-tuning works and works well. As one who prefers not to EQ, unless it is an XBass-like switch or 3D effect, I generally leave this function off. You get a 10-band equalizer as well, so tailoring the sound to your needs and desires is quite wide open.
Much like my Shanling M6 Pro, the user intuition and feel works like a typical Android-based unit. Some learning curve is needed, but the use becomes efficient and functional after a bit of use. There is a reason the vast majority of DAP’s use Android. It is eminently tailorable and allows all sorts of aftermarket abilities to shine. I will admit though that short of Tidal, Pandora, Spotify and YouTube I may only add another music app such as some of the fine offered ones (choose one, they are all mostly good). That said, the native HiBy app is quickly becoming my favorite of the native-based DAP music apps. Functionally easy to use (better than the Shanling), and on par with the smooth operating Cayin native music app. Functionality ranks quite high here, and ease of use follows that. The way it should be...
I espoused that sometimes you do not need a touchscreen, much like the Dethonray DTR1 or Questyle products have; but this is a case where the touchscreen Android OS works to the benefit. And to be truthful, most favor this route anyway. I’m OK either way, and will switch depending upon my mood.
Internals:
With the ability to run MQA and work for 18 hours of continuous play, you can tell that DAP’s have moved into the wonderful length of time battery stage, versus the “will I make it until lunch” battery crowd. It’s about time in my mind. Aided by the use of dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips, the R5 Saber does not run ESS Saber chips like the R3s, so the Saber name can cause a bit of confusion. Just know that the chips are new, they function as well as the ESS, but do sound a bit different. Incorporating Panasonic electronics as well, maximizes efficiency and helps to control heat issues. Using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 SoC memory system keeps the speed up as well, while minimizing heat effect. In other words, this critter just works as one would expect from a mid-fi DAP.
Since this is the unit, which came from Will as part of the tour, he ironed out the connectivity issues, and I had none. Read up on his review for help if needed.
Sound:
Marketed as the big brother to the R3 Saber and little brother to the R6, the R5s sounds warmer and a bit richer than the R3 Saber. I purchased the R3 Saber after listening to Will’s, and I do not regret it. Now my go to affordable go-with DAP, the R3s functions extremely well. That said, had I heard the R5s first, it may have become my go to mid-fi DAP over either my older Shanling M2s or newer M3s (not the x). Both of the Shanling function extremely well but sound a bit thin in comparison. That richness of sound carries over across the sound spectrum to me, and as I prefer the warmer signatured items whether DAP or IEM; the R5s compliments my listening environment with aplomb.
With DAP’s other than the baseline signature, to me it is a bit harder to judge individual sounds like with a headphone or IEM. But differences and similarities between models can be discerned, so I try and focus on that.
I hate to use the term “mature” to describe the R5s, as that may come across as warm, rich and boring. That would not be the case. The R5s does have excellent instrumentation and is a step up from the R3 Saber. But, the R3 Saber provides a “more fun” sound to me, that provides a nice alternative. I would not call the R3 Saber too bright, nor the R5s dull, far from it. Nicely tuned would be better. Detail retrieval on the R5s is better, but both do exude a somewhat similar sound to me. That fun sound of which I mentioned comes across in a better push up top from the R3 Saber as opposed to the R5s. That to me is the biggest difference between the two. Slightly brighter versus warm and rich. The R5s also provides more power and the use of a 4.4bal jack versus the 2.5bal on the R3 Saber. I suspect the difference was due to space limitations, such as the switches were as well.
Soundstage is fairly wide and dep with good height extension as well. That said, so much depends upon the source material here and listening device. Let’s put it this way. On some I can clearly hear how narrow the soundstage is, or how cavernous. With the R5s I cannot discern a narrow soundstage, so I will call it good. The R5s provides me with a very good detailed sound as well. As mentioned, instrumentation is quite good, and this helps with the detail as well.
Comparisons:
HiBy R5s ($399) v Shanling M6 Pro ($700):
This is my go-to DAP, even though I have the Cayin n6ii mk2. The Shanling travels everywhere with me and provides me with everything I need. 2.5bal, 3.5se, & 4.4bal jacks give me a quick change on the fly, without having to change motherboards or inserts (like the M8). Plus, the sound is sumptuous. Warm, rich, detailed and warmer than neutral the M6P provides plenty of power for all I have due to the dual DAC “turbo” feature as well as three gain settings. I have yet to get it past about 45 on the dial, and then to only check how an IEM or headphone sounds.
This really is not a fair comparison as the price alone is twice; but when you consider all you get from the R5s, it becomes valid. If the prefer an excellent mid-fi first and foremost, the R5s is hard to beat. Then you can skip right past the M6P price to the Cayin n6ii mk2, HiBy R6, or Shanling M8 if you desire a flagship DAP. That isn’t really a bad idea, and the R5s would be (and is) a stellar day to day device.
HiBy R5s ($399) v HiBy R3 Pro Saber ($209):
Mentioned throughout the sound section, the only thing I could add is in relation to the last paragraph right above. If I had to choose between a day to day DAP, it would be the R3s due to its smaller size, and nearly identical sound. Plus, it has all the power I need, and cost nearly ½ the price. A conundrum that HiBy has put about themselves, and one in which you will need to decide...
HiBy R5s ($399) v Dethonray DTR1 ($549):
For pure sound, the DTR1 is hard to beat, and I have espoused its virtues in many a review. Simple to operate using the Linux OS, you do not have a touchscreen, but the focus is on pure sound. I am still hard pressed to find a better sounding DAP for purity, with a hint of warmth at pretty much any price than the DTR1. In my comparison to the Questyle QPM, I noted that the QPM might be the first to compare and make me move upscale to it from the DTR1, but at a cost of nearly 3.5x more, would the merits outweigh the cost? That is how good the DTR1 is for pure sound.
The R5s provides you with many more options, such as Tidal and other music apps and the solid 8.1 OS, which is hard to pass up. Plus, that HiBy sound is taking me in with its level of clarity and slightly warm signature as well. This comparison comes down to features/functionality and adds-ons versus purity of sound. If you want pure sound, the DTR1 is hard to beat. Add in the features of the R5s along with excellent sound, and a cheaper price and the case can be made for that as well.
Finale:
I purchased the R3 Saber after hearing Will’s. It is now my go-to portable unit when I am working out or need a quick listen. I love the sound, feel in hand and functionality of it. I really do not like the buttons but deal with it knowing of its diminutive size. A Trade-off of which I can live. The R5s is the same but different, though.
Better button functionality, a bit larger feel, Android 8.1 OS, and the option galore make this a tough call. If you want a simple straight forward HiBy-based proprietary OS DAP, the R3 Saber is hard to beat, especially at ½ the price. This is where one could rightly make the case that HiBy shot themselves in the foot, because the R3 Saber is so good. But if you want an Android-based DAP with the ability to run many apps like the true mid-fi DAP’s it will compete against, you would be remiss to consider this affordable mid-fi DAP, for it is good.
I thank Andrew at MusicTeck and @Wiljen for the tour, it was a pleasure playing with and listening to the R5s. This really is a fine DAP, and had I not already had the R3 Saber, it would be in consideration as my mid-fi DAP.
ngoshawk
Sorry, I do not have the FiiO.
About a year ago we had our hands at HiBy R5 – one of the best mid-class HiRes audio DAPs around, running on relatively fresh version of Android 8.1 OS, quite good HW configuration (Snapdragon 425 CPU, 2GB RAM, 16GB ROM) and packed with all modern features like direct audio transport, USB DAC, Bluetooth DAC, streaming services, LDAC and UAT codecs, etc. Of course, time passes and such configuration inevitably getting less capable. Definitely, it is not about HiBy R5 if you consider what it is intended for.
If we are to use this DAP for its main purpose – music in all of its forms and with all necessary applications – HW configuration still stays snappy, compatible and even excessive. Do not load it with games or unnecessary utilities and R5 would serve you till the end of times. We have used it heavily for about a year and have not experienced any problems ever since. There were several OTA FW updates pushed by HiBy that brought R5 even closer to perfection and neither one led to UI slow down, only the improvements. Since the main application that utilizes all HW possibilities is HiBy Music – HiBy, as a sole coder and manufacturer of the device, knows its capabilities and limitations. This gives HiBy a great chance to polish all edges and resolve any compatibility issues. And they are taking this chance very serious, indeed. The performance of R5 stays perfectly adequate, despite one year from release.
New HiBy R5s has been announced one month ago and is already on sales. It is based on similar HW configuration and runs similar Android version. The only difference to its predecessor stated among other specification is changing from two Texas Instrument 1612 to 1642 operational amplifiers (OPA) serving a role of low-pass filters (the latter is true JFET OPA and has lower quiescent current) which are paired with two AD8397ARDZ high speed OPAs from Audio Devices to deliver the impressive 564mW/channel @ 32Ω at balanced output. Such high power output allows R5 and R5s to lead in the class and drive “hard loads” (low sensitivity | high impedance IEMs and headphones). Sound wise, HiBy states that the changes in HW are resulting at better retrieval of details and slightly colder tonality. But we would examine this later.
So, let us remind you about the full specs list for HiBy R5s:
General HW&SW:
- Operating System: Android 8.1
- SoC: Snapdragon 425
- No. of CPU Cores: 4
- CPU Max Frequency: 1.4GHz
- Display: 4.0 inches, IPS
- Resolution: 540*1080
- PPI: 300
- Touchscreen control
- RAM: 2GB
- Internal Storage: 16GB
- External Storage: Up tp 512GB + via 1 micro SD card
- Firmware Update: Over-the-air or from a file
- Text Size: Ajustable
- 3rd Party Apps Unrestricted access via Google Play and apk download
- DAC: CS43198 x 2
- C43198 dual crystal oscillators (45.1584 + 49.152MHz)
- LPF:1642 x 2
- OPA: AD8397ARDZ x 2
- Max output power: 1040mW+1040mW@16Ω / 564mW+564mW@32Ω
- Headphone Impedance: 16~300Ω
- EQ Adjustments: 10 bands (±12dB)
- MSEB function
- Channel Balance: L 10dB to R 10dB
- Gain Level: Low / High
- USB DAC: PCM/DoP/Native
- Headphone Output: 3.5mm
- Balanced Headphone Output: 4.4mm
- Line Out: 3.5mm LO
- Balanced Line Out: 4.4mm LO
- Digital Out: SPDIF (USB out)
- MQA up to 8x unfold
- WIFI: 5GHz/2.4GHz, supports IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n protocols
- Two-way Bluetooth 4.2 (supports: apt-X, apt-X HD, LDAC, UAT)
- Bluetooth Bidirectional DAC
- HiBy Link function
- USB Type C (USB2.0 data rate)
- USB USB storage, USB DAC IN/OUT
- Buttons: 6 physical buttons
- Button Definitions: Power/Previous/Pause/Next/Volume Up/Volume Down
- Dimensions: 107.7*61.2*15.6mm
- Power Supply: 9V/1.5A
- Battery: 3500mAh
- Charge Protocol: QC3.0
- 18 hours playback with 3.5mm SE and 11 hours with 4.4mm BL
Dual Cirrus Logic’s CS43198: Cirrus Logic audio products with the MasterHIFI™ and SmartHIFI™ designed to meet the highest standard in high-fidelity audio playback. MasterHIFI and SmartHIFI products deliver the very best performance in sound clarity and pure, euphoric audio listening.
Combines Headphone & Line Out functions: both 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports support headphone and line out functions. Thanks to battery space and efficiency optimizations, this palm-sized powerhouse outputs balanced power up to 1040mW+1040mW@16Ω and 564mW+564mW@32Ω, yet manages to last up to 11 hours balanced / 18 hours SE.
DTA Architecture: Android sample rate conversion bypass. Its DTA Android global lossless output technology ensuring that sound output and reception would not be interfered with.
UAT (Ultra Audio Transmission): the ultimate Bluetooth HiFi audio quality provided by audio codec developed by HiBy. Supporting an industry-highest sample rate of 192kHz and data bandwidth of 1.2Mbps.
Two-way Bluetooth: HiBy R5s supports two-way Bluetooth, which can be used as a Bluetooth transmitter or receiver.
MQA: R5 and R5s support MQA unfold up to 8X.
Packaging and design:
HiBy R5s box differs slightly from its previous version as of R5. It still has similar dimensions and color theme but there are few new design elements: additional layer of outer wrap with glossy DAP picture at facing part, “R5 Saber” label on the edge and large “S” sign at the back. Therefore, the box clearly states which R5 version it belongs to. The insides haven’t changed: R5s rests in a soft insert on the top level while all of the accessories are stored at two separate compartments underneath.
Box contents:
- HiBy R5s DAP (with pre-applied screen and back panel protective films)
- Memory card insertion clip
- USB type-C -> USB cable
- Leather case
- 1 extra screen protector
- User manual
- Couple of leaflets concerning warranty
The difference with R5 here is the new high quality leather case instead of a silicone one. This case is looks great, perfectly crafted and has special cutouts with very thin leather layers over the buttons. It even allows you to see the color of the state LED on power button. No problems with accessing any of outputs on the bottom edge.
Although, one thing you should be aware of – take care when putting R5s inside for the first time. This case has a very slim and tight fit and might peel off both protective films from screen and back panel. It would stretch a bit later and the problem would not bother you anymore.
Physically, HiBy R5s reminds of golden era of smartphone introduction to the market. It dimensions are close to such great representatives as HTC Desire and Google Nexus 1. Perfectly comfortable for one hand operation with the screen size of 4 inches. Although, the resolution and screen density is quite high for such physical display size – 300PPI. Its chassis is a unibody piece of aluminum with tiny surface grains and 15.6mm thickness that makes it feel very secure and monolithic in a hand.
Front and back almost completely covered with screen and glass panels and if there were smaller curvature of the edges – this device would be very close to what we call “frameless”. Moreover, beautiful glass panels also cover top and bottom edges and serve a design purpose as well. We like those are nearly transparent and you could see the housings of the output ports through it.
One more reason to admire R5 and R5s design is the physical buttons. First, it is always better to have such convenient way of control over the main functions of music application and second – buttons look good and feel good. The force that you need to apply is close to perfect while the actuation ends up with a tangible click. Furthermore, buttons are tight enough to eliminate any accident presses in a pocket.
Additionally, power button is equipped with multi-color LED that indicates different DAP states as well as the sampling rate of the currently playing track. Such feature is shared across all HiBy DAPs, plus you would find the same in FD1 DAC.
R5s top edge is left blank of any elements and controls while all line out, phone outputs and USB port are located at the bottom. Right edge contains power, play|pause, next and previous buttons. Volume controls are on the left edge together with the microSD card slot.
HiBy R5s in use:
Screen:
Some paragraphs in the sections below would be directly deposited from our review of HiBy R5 since there is no change in the HW, SW or performance in R5s DAP version.
Surely, this is one of the best screens you would find among all current DAPs. HiBy didn’t hesitate to provide excellent user experience in terms of virtual controls in its Android-based player. Expect similar behavior of 4 inch multitouch IPS as in any high-quality smartphone. Virtually, there is no distance between screen glass and panel, all finger interactions with virtual elements are precise.
Screen density of 300PPI is totally enough for this physical size to maintain the balance between very detailed picture and size of the elements. HiBy R6Pro still holds the lead as the DAP with the best screen but R5s is a only a fraction behind: brightness level and contrast are almost equal while the sensitivity and sharpness of R6Pro screen is still slightly better.
No visible change in LCD quality in early R5 v/s current R5s versions. The only thing that we were able to distinguish is a slightly colder LCD calibration visible only in the direct comparison. Picture is bright, crisp and vibrant in both DAP versions.
UI and usability:
In general, Android OS and stock UI feel great on the chosen Snapdragon 425 platform. It’s working fast, with fluent system animations and good response. 2GB RAM might become a limitation in case if to load too many apps but the main idea of this device is to deliver best audio quality with stock HiBy Music app. Several other apps like Youtube, Tidal, etc won’t do much difference and would coexist perfectly. Just remember not to open to many tabs in browser, as always. Some slight hiccups when scrolling through songs were found in HiBy Music application right after the initial track list was populated by running SD card scan function. When indexing was over — scrolling became more smooth and predictable.
As we have already stated in the begging of this article – despite incorporating quite average platform specifications as for now, R5s and R5 DAPs both keep up perfectly in all scenarios they are intended for. Main music application, Google Play, Tidal and Qobuz are running smooth and snappy. Furthermore, concerning the stated applications – neither freezes or any kind of misbehavior were met. At least almost for a year of using R5 and for about a week of using R5s. But again: we have never loaded any apps apart from Tidal & Qobuz. Hiby Music was always the default one for local audio tracks.
Connectivity:
One of the best thing about R5 and R5s is the amount of connectivity options leading to the different usage scenarios. First of all — they have combined 3.5mm SE / 4.4mm Balanced phone outputs with LO options.
Next is the bi-directional Bluetooth that allows the reception or sending audio stream with the most sophisticated wireless protocols such as Sony LDAC. Moreover, Bluetooth supports UAT codec as well — highest quality of Bluetooth audio (192kHz, 1.2Mbps) currently available on the market and developed by HiBy. Usage scenarios are numerous: you can send audio from DAP to wireless headphones / end gear, from a smartphone to DAP to wireless or wired headphones / end gear, you can also gain full control over DAP from a smartphone over Bluetooth with HiBy Link function. Or you can use HiBy Link as audio server.
Dual band Wi-Fi (up to “n” protocol) is also on board to allow internet connection, HiBy Link function and streaming audio services. The quality of the connection is not that perfect as you have used to with smartphones but it is enough to deliver no hiccups in audio streaming services and no problems with Youtube buffering. Just keep in mind that such problems might occur if you have some shady reception areas at your home.
Finally, there is USB DAC / SPDIF out functions to use this player as external USB audio card or as a transport. Besides the native Windows driver for USB DAC, HiBy released a dedicated ASIO driver for their DAP lineup. Such driver delivers the best audio quality in Windows environment, bypassing any system processing. At the same time, ASIO drivers regularly produce more audio lag and the best option to use R5 and R5s while watching video with no lag would be to use Windows native driver instead.
Power usage:
Both version of players are equipped with 3500mAh batteries and quick charging ability with Qualcomm QC3.0 standard. Such capacity would usually give us ~17 hours of music playback with 3.5mm SE output and ~11H hours with balanced output. Those figures are almost similar to declared ones but only achievable with the screen off and at ~60% volume. Battery deterioration on R5 after a year of use is not significant, ~5%. Since R5s has the same battery and power output – we do not expect any changes here.
Updates:
In contrary to some less customer-oriented brands, HiBy actively supports its products and constantly increases functionality and usability. Moreover, FW upgrades can be performed manually by downloading update file and launching update function from system menu, or updates could be delivered over the air (OTA). We remember at least 6 upgrades to R5 in one year. And there was the first FW upgrade to R5s already. ASIO driver was also added some time after the initial R5 launch. Therefore, we expect HiBy to make further improvements and bug fixes of any would be reported by the community in future. As a company, HiBy is pretty responsive and value product feedback coming from the wild.
Sound:
Tested with AudioTechnica ATH-M50, Tanchjim Oxygen, Magaosi K6, Earnine EN2J, Moondrop Kanas Pro, Anew U1, HIFI BOY OSV3…
Lows and midbass:
R5s has textured and perfectly outlined lows with enough presence and absence of the accent on this range. Bass is deep with fast decay. Lows are clear, naturally fill the space and perfectly separated from mids and treble. Bass remains fully perceptible at all volume levels. Midbass section feels powerful and have enough dynamics to deliver drums naturally. Sound stays neutral here — no evident influence from lower or higher ranges. Bass texturing is obvious, large amount of details and clear contouring.
Mids and vocals:
Vocals as well as the instruments in mids are quite thick and dense. The perceptible resolution is impressive and seems to be slightly raised by the influence of treble. Very slight emotional bloom here and there on female vocals and upper mid range instruments. Although, no screaming notes and no hisses. Male and female voices sound naturally and equally exposed. Instrument separation is decent which also helps to define a larger stage. In overall, mids feel smooth, quite thick and mellow with a slight emotional touch on higher portion.
Treble:
Treble is clear and crisp while seems to be very slightly more exposed than lows. It produces a bit cold sound with no tendency to show the excessive amount of sibilance. It is less delicate than in R6Pro, thus giving the sound more transparency and brightness. The overall signature of R5s is slightly brighter and colder because of that (in comparison to R6Pro). The resolution on this range is great, huge amount of details and impressive extension.
Soundstage:
R5s produces large imaginary stage in both — width and depth. Stage is very large when paired with good IEMs over balanced type of connection. Precise instrument locations, defined contours, good layering between the ranges and distinct sound of all the instruments.
Compared to R5:
Honestly, it was kind of a quest for us to understand the difference in sound signatures of R5 and R5s DAPs. They sound very similar at first few tries. The more you listen, the more R5s reveals its nature in A|B test comparisons. But the important note here is the end gear. If we were trying to find any differences with average-quality IEMs | speakers – no luck. Switching to a high-quality gear gives the expected results. Therefore, R5s is more demanding than R5 concerning the quality of IEMs, speakers or headphones. For instance, the most revealing IEMs for us were Tanchjim Oxygen, Moondrop SSP, Shozy & NEO BG… All of those have one thing in common – high resolving potential and slightly cold -> very cold tonality. The best pair were SHOZY & NEO BG – pure armature multi-driver units with fast response, excellent dynamics and high resolution. Such tandem shows more details and assertiveness in sound when compared to R5 as a source. The majority of details and more aggressive delivery occurs on mid -> lower high frequencies best served by specifically tuned IEMs. V-shaped, high-quality gear is ideal. In case of pairing R5s with warm or neutral IEMs – these deviations with R5 sound fade away, still leaving you with an impressive audio quality in overall, a bit warmer and slightly less detailed.
Compared to R6Pro:
R6Pro definitely has more reference-like neutral sound with a little accent on delivering and resolving lows. It sounds mellow and warm with high amount of harmonics in lower and mid ranges. Treble is very delicate and calm. HiBy R5s is less oriented towards lows, exposing and resolving treble more. This leads to more emotional, energetic and brighter sound signature. Although, R5s and R6Pro have similarly good texturing on bass and large soundstage.
Conclusion:
The main question is to be or not to be, as usual. Currently, HiBy has both DAPs – R5 and R5 Saber edition on sales. Is $50 price difference justified by the resulting improvements in sound? We would say – yes, with a couple of exceptions. In fact, Sabre sound version is definitely more resolving and delivered more aggressively but the DAP is dependent of end gear quality and tuning. It is a demanding source that hides the full potential until released by the right type IEMs, speakers or headphones. Fortunately, even with less capable end gear, R5s sounds similarly impressive as its predecessor – neither changing the tonality nor the overall perception. Consequently, the only one correct conclusion we can make: go for R5s in case of possessing/planning high-quality end gear to pair with this DAP or in case of willing to invest in a source with more potential. Otherwise, you can stick to R5 base version, save some budget and still get stellar performance and class-leading sound in mid-class DAP segment. Choose one….
HiBy R5s can be purchased at HiBy official store HERE
Hiby R5 can be purchased at HiBy official store HERE
m11?