HiBy R1 $85 CS43131 DAP Released!

[Mr.HiAudio]

I'll tell you a fascinating New Year's story...

For some reason, Hiby doesn't fix outstanding bugs quickly.
I mean the error 13.
I got tired of waiting and ordered R3 II 2025.
I got it today.
It has got the same error 13.
The end.

New UI
New bugs

I think, this errors will be fix though

 

[endgame4]

…
It has got the same error 13.

That is good news in a way, same software has the same issues so there is a bigger chance of it getting solved.

The sad part is that the HiBy developers cannot be using these devices themselves or they would notice such issues.

 

[fish1050]

Pretty sad when a software company can't code decent software anymore! It wasn't that long ago I was complaining about how bad Shanling MTouch OS was. Now it seems Shanling is getting their software act together and Hiby is lagging behind. Given that other manufacturers like Hifi Walker, Tempotec and Cayin are licensing their software you would think they would put more attention into their Linux OS. They may be having issues porting to the new X1600E SOC. Maybe they would have been better off porting from the Ingenics X1000 to the Ingenics X2000 like Shanling did, it is certainly a more powerful SOC https://en.ingenic.com.cn/products/cid-1.html.

I would definitely wait a few months for fixes before considering the R1 or the R3 II 2025 units.

Any reason people aren't considering the M1 Plus instead of these buggy hiby linux based DAP's? Hiby offers better features but at least Shanling's DAP's are pretty stable and relatively issue free in comparison and for not much more you are getting a more capable SOC for the money.

 

[anli]

Any reason people aren't considering the M1 Plus instead of these buggy hiby linux based DAP's?

I have issues with it also: broken files/folders sorting (have mentioned it many times in dedicated thread). So, all - even Android-free - DAPs are affected by serious bugs these days. Too many resources were directed to modern fake called AI, real software developers are not respected. Probably...

 

[endgame4]

They may be having issues porting to the new X1600E SOC.

Most problems described are in HiBy’s new player app which has nothing to do with the SoC. None of them are because the SoC used lacks power. The platform provided by Ingenic is the same for X2000 and X1600 anyway.

The Bluetooth and battery drain issues are perhaps somewhat related to Linux but specifically to the hardware/drivers used which are not related to the SoC.

There are many issues with Shanling DAPs too, most will never be fixed because slightly older devices get abandoned quickly.

 

[fish1050]

Most problems described are in HiBy’s new player app which has nothing to do with the SoC. None of them are because the SoC used lacks power. The platform provided by Ingenic is the same for X2000 and X1600 anyway.

The Bluetooth and battery drain issues are perhaps somewhat related to Linux but specifically to the hardware/drivers used which are not related to the SoC.

There are many issues with Shanling DAPs too, most will never be fixed because slightly older devices get abandoned quickly.

Doesn't the software namely the app have to interface with the hardware especially the SOC so issues could result with the app interfacing with the SOC? If the SOC is not a big deal then why did it take Hiby so long to port to a better SOC? You are speculating I am sure just as I am about what the issues are. According to Hiby the R1 had the most lead time of any of their DAP's so why or why is it such a buggy mess on first release? Once again early buyers are the unpaid beta testers and this DAP seems to need a lot of user testing.

The current Shanling DAP I am referencing is the M1 Plus which according to reviews I have read is very stable which the R1 and apparently the R3 II 2025 are not at this point. Maybe in a few months that will change but for now neither of these Hiby DAP's are worth considering for me. I have no interest in being an unpaid beta tester for yet another Chinese DAP.

 

[anli]

n a few months

This is the problem. Decision makers have got bad math education, I guess. "Often small incremental releases" is a model proved to be the best commercially, greatly appealing to client base. When outstanding bugs fixing takes months (or weeks) instead of days, it destroys client base/expectations.

Perhaps the ancient and great Chinese culture is the result of a different sense of time.

 

[marekm]

IMO, poor IP rights protection (in China) forces companies to rush (unfinished) products to market asap.
Usually, way too early

 

[fish1050]

This is the problem. Decision makers have got bad math education, I guess. "Often small incremental releases" is a model proved to be the best commercially, greatly appealing to client base. When outstanding bugs fixing takes months (or weeks) instead of days, it destroys client base/expectations.

Perhaps the ancient and great Chinese culture is the result of a different sense of time.

Perhaps also if consumers would finally wise up and stop buying these DAP's on first announcement thus funding this never ending cycle of buggy first release DAP's these manufacturers would be forced to do proper testing before release. I can't believe they did not know about the Error - 13 issue before release since it seems it is very easy to reproduce. I learned my lesson a long time ago and I won't be buying into this earlier buyer nonsense. If you want my hard earned money then fix the damn DAP's and then maybe I will consider it. This is another reason I won't spend more than $300 to $400 on a Chinese DAP. This and the "law of diminishing returns" as the price of the DAP's go up. If I am not mistaken there is usually some kind of sale on aliexpress in March if I remember correctly. That should be enough time hopefully for the firmware fixes to be released and these DAP's will finally be worth buying . I will keep checking the threads and follow the drawn out firmware cycle to a finally finished product, hopefully.

 

[anli]

Perhaps also if consumers would finally wise up and stop buying these DAP's on first announcement thus funding this never ending cycle of buggy first release DAP's these manufacturers would be forced to do proper testing before release. I can't believe they did not know about the Error - 13 issue before release since it seems it is very easy to reproduce. I learned my lesson a long time ago and I won't be buying into this earlier buyer nonsense. If you want my hard earned money then fix the damn DAP's and then maybe I will consider it. This is another reason I won't spend more than $300 to $400 on a Chinese DAP. This and the "law of diminishing returns" as the price of the DAP's go up. If I am not mistaken there is usually some kind of sale on aliexpress in March if I remember correctly. That should be enough time hopefully for the firmware fixes to be released and these DAP's will finally be worth buying . I will keep checking the threads and follow the drawn out firmware cycle to a finally finished product, hopefully.

I would avoid such generalization. There were plenty of rather new models free from bugs which could be defined as absolute stoppers. Let's hope these days are just not-too-lucky period.

 

[JimiMack]

All this whining and complaining for an $85 DAP.... I am fortunate and have not had any Error 13 or any error issues. You could always just purchase one of those throw away DAPs off a place like Amazon, which would never see any firmware updates. For 85 dollars this is not a bad experience which will get updates and for just a little more than the cost of a good lunch.

 

[astr0]

All this whining and complaining for an $85 DAP.... I am fortunate and have not had any Error 13 or any error issues. You could always just purchase one of those throw away DAPs off a place like Amazon, which would never see any firmware updates. For 85 dollars this is not a bad experience which will get updates and for just a little more than the cost of a good lunch.

Dismissing genuine feedback as “whining” isn’t fair or helpful. Pointing out issues is how products get better, and Hiby isn’t some small, struggling company. They’re a well-established brand with a strong reputation, so it’s reasonable to expect a certain standard of quality and support, regardless of the price.
Bringning up alternatives like cheap throwaway DAPs from Amazon misses the point completely. The feedback here isn’t about expecting perfection. Its about addressing real problems, like Error 13, which has shown up on multiple Hiby devices. These aren’t isolated complaints; they’re recurring issues that affect the user experience.
Saying that Error 13 isnt a big deal because it hasn’t happened to you personally is also a flawed argument. That’s a fallacy, as it dismisses the experiences of others and ignores the fact that multiple users are reporting the same issue. Just because you haven’t encountered it doesn’t mean it isn’t a serious problem for those who have.

Nobodys asking for miracles, but when Hiby advertises features and promises updates, it’s fair for users to discuss problems and suggest ways to improve. Thats not complaining, it’s simply trying to help the product reach its full potential and offer the best value for everyone.

 

[anli]

for an $85 DAP

I would say, it is more whining about all DAPs.

 

[digititus]

All this whining and complaining for an $85 DAP.... I am fortunate and have not had any Error 13 or any error issues. You could always just purchase one of those throw away DAPs off a place like Amazon, which would never see any firmware updates. For 85 dollars this is not a bad experience which will get updates and for just a little more than the cost of a good lunch.

You are lucky. Error 13 happens every time the DAP starts up for me. It is extremely annoying. My first Hiby product.......

 

[KokushiTsumo]

Just ordered an orange one, can you turn off the LED on the side?