I just got an email from Hiby saying that they have dropped the price from $399 to $299, again.
I'd describe the R5 as a bargain at $399, but I was lucky enough to grab one the last time they dropped the price, and I kinda feel like I robbed them!
I read/watched all the reviews I could find, and in the end the R5 was the best collection of features that I could find.
I was concerned that it might sound 'mid tier' or even 'cheap' since it was so affordable, but the reviews seemed to indicate pretty decent sound, so I decided that 399 was a good deal.
Then Hiby dropped the price just before I purchased, so I used the extra budget I had available to get the fancy Dignis case (with a little left over), Which I am very pleased with too.
The clear 'gummi' case it comes with is pretty decent anyway (although I would also take measures to avoid it sticking to the back like
@Interceptor69 did) and Hiby also do a pleather case that's cheaper than the Dignis, so the R5 is well served in that regard too.
I love the sound of the R5, and I really struggle to find anything at all to complain about.
I can't find a tempered glass screen protector to fit, but that's the only thing that comes to mind.
The main things that sold me over other players were that it is small (the smallest device I found that can do full offline storage of playlists for the streaming services), that it is powerful despite having a low noise floor (nice black background with every set of headphones and iems I own, and powers everything with ease, and I haven't even tried the balanced 4.4mm yet!), and has Google play store installed from the get-go.
System wide EQ (R5 has a regular EQ plus the option of the arguably more intuative MSEB) was also something that almost no other DAP's I found could do, but I've not felt much of a need to use either as I love the sound without enhancements or alterations.
Seriously, one Hiby product and I'm a fanboy.
The R5 is great value at it's full price, another $100 off makes it an absolute no brainer.
Get one before Hiby decide to end this offer (If that's what it is, if 300 is the new permanent price this time, then Hiby deserve to sell an entire container-ship of these things!)
Seriously, this thing sounds better than I expected mid-tier to sound, and at 300 it's practically entry level price.
Bravo Hiby