Read abt the heat issue...and the unit at my local shop froze while I was listening to it. But hence I saw the evengelion version, the less heat gave me the perfect excuse to get one. Listened to it straight for 4hrs..couldnt stop...all the songs sounded so good!
I got mine two weeks ago for my birthday from my fiancee :D I did notice it can run warm. I was worried at first but now I understand how it works. Thanks!
finally been waiting for andy review r4 and this is the most detailed review of r4 ive ever seen thanks for the great review time to grab 1 for myself haha
dunno why people keep calling it a midrange dap. its definitely on the low end of the dap market. which only makes it more appealling given that it gives features that a lot of midrange stuff doesnt.
i actually have one on me right now since hiby sent for a review and I really like it. If I end up liking it even after a few days of use I probably will save up for one.
Fantastic review, Andy! I'm still looking at the Hiby R4 even though I already have Hiby R6 Gen 3. It seems like it would be more rugged and take more hits than the R6. I treat my R6 as if it's an egg 😆 she's heavy and not too thick, but I'm not sure I would want to chance taking it on a run or bike ride. I think I would use the R4 for those instances. Keep up the amazing work, my friend!
Andy - love your work. It’s extremely valuable. Re the volume limit. I believe tone deaf monk showed that you can lock the volume on the r4. I’d check his video. Please Keep up the great content.
Another great video. I wish I had discovered your channel before I bought my Sony NW ZX707 dap. I let my nostalgia of my 80s Sony Walkman influence my purchase specially when I saw the cassette screen saver. It’s so under power I get better. Sound on my HD6xx through Fiio btr5 my IPhone 13pro max. I’m using balance cable on the Zx707 and 3.5 on the Fiio. Love your channel.
Thanks. Yes I know the earlier Sony DAPs tend to be quite low on power (except for Sony PCM-D100 which is a monster). But if you ever feel needing more, R4 surely have the juices to drive almost anything (4.4mm BAL)
Sony DAP is tricky. A lot of them got power caps because of regulations in some countries. If you want them without a power cap, look for Australia or Japan version, it will drive hd600 quite well.
Thanks for the review. The R4 is the first DAP purchase in my IEM audio journey. I like it, an't beat the features and sound for the price. But again I've got nothing to compare it with. It is supposed to be system wide bit perfect, no Andoid processing here. Since it is Android, you can basically install any app from the app store. Also that is a spare sceen protector, it comes pre-installed with one. Looking forward to the review of the Ace
thank you for the review! its about half the price of the dx180 and for that its probably hard to find better value on the market. What really i cannot wait for is a comparison of the recently launched A&K Activo P1 vs the Ibasso DX180. Hope, Andy will be send a test sample from anyone, as soon as it becomes available
Hi Andy! Thanks for the review! Please tell me, it is very interesting to know at what age you started to get involved in audio and where did you start your journey? It was really cool to listen, thanks bro. You are very loved in Russia
Thanks! As far as I can remember, I was already crazy about audio and audio gears since 1985. So I was a hardcore cassette and vinyl guy and then of course evolve to what you see today. Cheers 😁
I bought mine last month. I am pretty happy with it. I have to admit I do wish it sounded more analog. I warmed it up with the settings in MSEB and I think it is a great deal for the money. It definitely has enough power for my Focal Clears and I rarely go over 45 percent on high gain. I listen to Apple Music with no issues streaming. I also have a 1 Terabyte mini SD which works great as well. Thanks Andy for another great review. You are my favorite reviewer on TH-cam. God bless you my friend.
I have the R4 but as Andy pointed out the DX180 is warmer and more analog. I think I would like the DX180 better. Apparently I like the same kind of sound that Andy does. It seems you do too! I like the R4 but do not love it. The MSEB does allow you to warm it up as Andy mentioned and I do have it set that way. If I had a chance to do over I would have bought the DX180 for twice the money.
Thanks! R4 comes natively with HIBY Music App which happen to be the App I use the most beside Tidal App on all of my Android devices. But you can also install any other App you want including UAPP
I just found your channel yesterday, and while I have learned much, I see I'm just getting my toes wet. I'm in the market for a DAP & headset. As a newby, I don't want to go insane with my first setup. My combined budget is around $1,000USD. Of course if I can spend less, that's always good. What are some DAP/Headset combos that you would recommend for this price range? It will be my at home music option, and I'm open to IEM, open back & closed. I listen mostly to nu metal, hip-hop, grunge and power ballads like Whitney Houston/Brandi Carlile. I did watch your video on metal headsets, but I don't know if that's the best way to go. I have explored the idea of 1 set for Hip-hop, and another for everything else. Thanks for your time and effort!
And thank for your generosity. $1000 is a healthy budget to start this audio thing. With that money and taking into consideration of your preferences, I would go for iBasso DX180 at around $500, then get Hidizs MP143 Salt 4.4mm BAL option, then get DUNU Titan S2 as well and you still have change left to get ONIX Alpha XI dongle which you can use with your phone (when you don't feel like carrying your DAP). With these you are pretty much set without the worry of missing anything
Wonderful review! 1) Does it support streaming from Apple Music and downloading them to the SD Card ? 2) Is it uncomfortably hot to use or its just warmer than a smartphone ? 3) Would you recommend Shanling M0 Pro if streaming music is not the top most priority and considering the battery life and compactness is/if valued most ? Is the sound quality drastically better on these as compared to M0 Pro ?
Yes you can install Apple Music and have bitperfect playback on the R4. It is warmer than smartphones due to the Class A amplifier. I haven't tried Shanling M0 Pro so I have no idea on that one
Hi Andy, thanks for your very good reviews. I was about to buy the cayin N3 ultra until I saw this video. Can I trouble you to give your opinion on these two amps? Many many thanks
Get ready for next milestone (100k subscribers) it may take one year. BUT! You should create one SHORT for EVERY of your videos! (to bring new subscribers) Try to make 30sec - 1 min short (in style like a trailer/teaser for a movie)
Great review, nice DAP. Even though I have the Shanling M0 Pro, I’ve been thinking about this R4 or the extremely solid R3 for streaming. I prefer the size and design of the R3 but an Android DAP could be useful. Thanks. 🙏
Hi Andy! I ran into a problem, my phone has USB 2.0 and it does not fully disclose Aune Yuki in conjunction with Mega5EST, if I use headphones with R4, will I get a big increase in sound quality, or do I need something else? Thank you brother 🤝
Sometimes there's issue with Android phones not running proper OTG to connect with dongles. Specific to your phone you need to find out if the OTG is turned on. Aune Yuki actually sounding more open and airy compared to R4. Both already excellent with sound output
Hi andy, good day! Do you think this R4 can properly drive the s12 2024? I'm currently using fiio ka13 dongle on my phone. I think it doesn't have enough power to drive the s12 2024 using balanced. Do you think there is a significant change when I use this R4? Thanks!
Driving S12 2024 is no longer about power needs if you already have KA13, KA13 is already very powerful in its own right. It is about synergy and if you asking me does R4 provide better synergy for S12 2024, then my answer is yes
Can i ask if the Hiby R4 offers bit perfect audio system wide? So for example, if I play Apple Music on the 3.5mm, would it offer me bit perfect audio? Or does it resample like the Hiby M300?
Yes of course, one of the reasons you want a dedicated DAP like this is to get Bitperfect system wide, regardless of which player you use. I have no idea about M300
@donglemadness ah, thank you for the clarification. Right now i have the hiby m300, which resamples everything to 196 khz through both the 3.5mm jack and USB port
Recently, the entry-level IEM Pilgrim made by Malaysian Elysian in South Korea has become very popular among music lovers. It seems that Malaysia and Singapore are good at making IEMs. 😊👍
Hi Andy. Can it download music from tidal to listen offline? Between using the R4 + Focal Elegia and using a Ifi Hip Dac 3 + the Focal Elegia. Which one would be better on sound?
Yes of course, just like any Tidal app on any Android based devices, you can do offline mode. Ultimately, the Hip DAC3 has a slight advantage on more analog timbre versus R4, otherwise technically they are on par
Hi Andy, I hope you are doing well. I am looking into using the equalizer on the R4 and was wondering if there is an easy way to get the kind of sound that we both seem to like with it. Do you have any set of particular numbers you use or is there a place I can get that info? Thanks again. I have been using the MSEB but it seems to lose some clarity when I have it engaged in the warm/analog mode... have you noticed that?
It depends on which IEM and the results vary from one to another. I personally prefer the MSEB option with just adjustment on Sound Richness and Sibilance (HF) to attain that analog smooth sound. I doubt EQ can do much on this end and I prefer not to use EQ anyway
hihi, i love this design..esp the orange one. how does it sound compared to dx180. still using shanling M3x...hands itchy..was eyeing dx180 from your review..and now this.
For pure simplicity, the one-device-does-all MIAD01 is more practical, but when it comes to sheer performance, R4 is a worthy device to carry around for the additional features it offers
Hey Andy weird question but how does Onix alpha x11 and Dc07 pro compare to Chord mojo 2 like is it worth spending extra and how significant is the difference.
Mojo 2 sets the reference standards for technicalities and resolution. But you don't see me using it personally because I feel that something like HIBY FC6, ONIX Alpha or DC07Pro offers more organic and natural sound, they are not as acutely technical as Mojo 2, but the gap isn't big at all by my reckoning and I value sound timbre more over technicalities
Can you use the MSEB and PEQ to make the R4 sound like the DX180 that you say you like a tad more? And hope it's not too hot. R4. Thinking of getting a DAP and thinking of the R4 as of now.
I ma not good with EQ because most of the time I completely avoid using them. But with the advanced features you have on the R4, I think you can achieve similar sound that can be heard from DX180
@@donglemadness thanks. Size wise R4 or dx180 , which is smaller? My usage style is purely of apple music streaming. Hence looking at R4 with its system-wide mseb etc. though tempted to get that dx180 but not sure if it's worth for my usage. Then there is the thought that I should just get ibasso dc Elite which probably produces the best sound and analytical details of the 3 but then, apart from the price, it's a dongle. Such confusion! There is even the about to be launched fiio btr17 , which is sort of contender for my usage. Bluetooth music from phone and use btr17 (4.4 and 3.5slots) to run wired iems and of course bluetooth tws. Narrowing it down to choose between R4 and btr17 (as of now!)
Hello Andy , since I have Hiby FC 6 and MP 145 and use my mobile Galaxy S23 to stream lossless music , does it make sense for me to get this R4 . Does it offer any advantages over what I already have ?
If you have FC6 then FC6 offers superior sound quality vs R4. You get R4 only if you need dedicated DAP which also offers tons of features which FC6 don't have
Yes I did for P5. It is a great IEM with great tuning, but a bit too heavy on the low frequency for my taste, a bit too heavy with the Subbass and that subwoofer effect. P8 I have no idea, haven't tried it
Could you please comment /recommend on the Onix Alpha. I have heard it is having compatibility issues with various phones. I want to buy it but I'm afraid it will not work with my phone, Samsung A20
Saw a tech review showing the USB options, but no option for audio source or audio out. What happens if you plug a dongle in? My understanding is that two of the dac are for DSD, two for Pcm, so it doesn't use all four? MQA is still on Tidal, you need to use an older app to access it, like on my R3 Sabre pro, all mqa present and accounted for. You can get an old version of the android app for Tidal by Apkpure.
Tidal no longer provide MQA. You plug a dongle into it, just like other Android devices, the attached external USB DAC will take over all audio processing
@@donglemadness I listen to mqa today on Tidal using Hiby r3, my dongle show the right colour light, and album cover show mqa, maunya saya kirim foto? Saya bukan orang yang berbohong. It's like they don't remove everything on the database, the new app versions don't show the old version and only say low medium high resolution, not flac, m4a, mqa, which I still get until today on Hiby R3, but not on the app on my android device. My R3 is the old one, R3 Sabre from 2021. They obviously don't remove everything just update tags, or however it works. Your new app won't see the mqa and the m4a etc. So you can't play it. Go find an old Hiby R3 and link to your account. Try it. The band Kaipa almost all mqa, you can look that one up. Album title 'Children of the sound'.. So you know you have the right one. They don't spend money. Just update app. Costs money to remove all that stuff. Search on R3.
I don't see clearly if the LED change from red to blue or other color after fulll charge, my unit still glow red after full charge and i can't find any reference beyond the type of Charger.
Yopu buy a DAP becaus it provides tons of features and options and different usage scenario. But if you looking for purely sound quality, don't care about form factor and usage scnario, then there's tons of dongles that can deliver as good as what this R4 can do, and some of them perform even better like the HIBY FC6, ONIX Alpha XI or iBasso DC07Pro (just to name a few)
@@donglemadness Thank you very much, that was my doubt, I am purely interested in sound quality, and I think a good dongle is a better option for me; like the ones you mention.
@@donglemadness thank you for your response dude ... Those IEM ones are expensive, so could you please recommend us any affordable 3in1 angular plugs kit (male to female) we can use with our straight plug IEM or Headphone? Thank you
Buy R4 Evangelion first for native (system-wide) MSEB (Magic Sound Eight Ball) EQ, plugins, and PEQ options that DX180 doesn't have. Buy R4 to throw around in your pocket and car and utilize the lanyard. Buy an open-box DX260 or DX320 later that stays at home.
Upgrade? they offer different sound tuning. MP145 is a traditional V and Nightingale is something else, Nightingale is strong Mids centric IEM with the very best of organic velvety smooth transients and sound density. QTX on the other hand is tuned to be closer to neutral curve and more transparent than both MP145 or Nightingale, so we are looking and IEMs with different strengths to cater for different sound preferences and usage
Hello andy, ive been saving money to buy my first DAP and ive been eyeing R4 for a while but there are some reviews which said M300 is better choice than this... Can you please guide me ? Coz I'm really confused. I prefer music over technicals.
I have the M300 and love it. If you use mainly IEMs and don’t care about the EQ features, you will like it. Also, it doesn’t run hot. No balanced output though.
Hi Andy could you please compare desktop dac/ amp (fiio k11 r2r) with dongle dacs such as the ibasso dc07 pro and onix alpha xI1. I'm curious as to whether the form factor of the fiio k11 r2r dac/ amp (desktop vs dongle) has any benefits.
Hello Andy , one of my friend wanted to buy MP 145 , can you recommend me any other IEM that's better than mp 145 under 300 dollars with similar V shape sound , but even better than mp145 , I can extend upto 400 usd max
The only problem i have the Tidal App is crashing all the Time!!!! On Hiby Music Tidal integration it works fine but i cant store my most lisened Playlist on the Device.. Anyone else with that Problem??```
You can solve that issue by doing a hard reset of the device if uninstall and re-install does not solve the problem. My own R4 runs Tidal app fine so it has to be some app issues that require attention
iPod? Back in 2006 until 2010 I was a hardcore user of iPods of all gen from 1st to 5th to iPod touch. I even have them modded extensively with Redwine Audio mods
Thanks for the feedbacks. USB-C replace dongles? you mean ultra compact dongles vs big dongles, because all of them still use USB C. For ultra compact dongles, Venture Electronic ODO is the best
Hello Bro Andy 🙏 👍 😁 ✅Please rank #1, #2, #3 Top 3 Best Cheap DAPs to drive IEMs & Headphones that you LOVE according to your personal opinion & preferences ✅Please rank #1, #2, #3 Top 3 Best Cheap DAC Dongles to drive IEMs & Headphones that you LOVE according to your personal opinion & preferences. ✅Please rank #1, #2, #3 Top 3 Best Cheap IEMs that you LOVE according to your personal opinion & preferences. Thank you Brother 🙏👍😁
Read abt the heat issue...and the unit at my local shop froze while I was listening to it. But hence I saw the evengelion version, the less heat gave me the perfect excuse to get one. Listened to it straight for 4hrs..couldnt stop...all the songs sounded so good!
For the Price the HiBy R4 is super good. Outstanding build, decent sound, and super smooth UI.
Best thing I've bought in a while. Love mine!!!
I got mine two weeks ago for my birthday from my fiancee :D I did notice it can run warm. I was worried at first but now I understand how it works. Thanks!
Happy birthday!
finally been waiting for andy review r4 and this is the most detailed review of r4 ive ever seen thanks for the great review time to grab 1 for myself haha
Much appreciated!
Excellent review. It's rich on features and the power specs is also great. People would have paid $500+ for similarly specd dap two years ago.
Thank you 🙏
dunno why people keep calling it a midrange dap. its definitely on the low end of the dap market. which only makes it more appealling given that it gives features that a lot of midrange stuff doesnt.
nice review on DAP. This is on my radar as well. Thanks for the review and appreciation in term of openness and subjective perspective of view.
My pleasure!
i actually have one on me right now since hiby sent for a review and I really like it. If I end up liking it even after a few days of use I probably will save up for one.
Fantastic review, Andy! I'm still looking at the Hiby R4 even though I already have Hiby R6 Gen 3. It seems like it would be more rugged and take more hits than the R6. I treat my R6 as if it's an egg 😆 she's heavy and not too thick, but I'm not sure I would want to chance taking it on a run or bike ride. I think I would use the R4 for those instances. Keep up the amazing work, my friend!
Thanks James, lol yes R4 was designed for a more rugged usage. Especially with that super useful lanyard
This thing is beast! Great review as always Andy!!!!!
My pleasure 🙏
Nice intro though! Impressive that ur videos are getting better in terms of quality.
Thank you!!!
Andy - love your work. It’s extremely valuable. Re the volume limit. I believe tone deaf monk showed that you can lock the volume on the r4. I’d check his video. Please Keep up the great content.
Thanks so much for the support!
Another great video. I wish I had discovered your channel before I bought my Sony NW ZX707 dap. I let my nostalgia of my 80s Sony Walkman influence my purchase specially when I saw the cassette screen saver. It’s so under power I get better. Sound on my HD6xx through Fiio btr5 my IPhone 13pro max. I’m using balance cable on the Zx707 and 3.5 on the Fiio.
Love your channel.
Thanks. Yes I know the earlier Sony DAPs tend to be quite low on power (except for Sony PCM-D100 which is a monster). But if you ever feel needing more, R4 surely have the juices to drive almost anything (4.4mm BAL)
Sony DAP is tricky. A lot of them got power caps because of regulations in some countries. If you want them without a power cap, look for Australia or Japan version, it will drive hd600 quite well.
Thanks for the review.
The R4 is the first DAP purchase in my IEM audio journey. I like it, an't beat the features and sound for the price. But again I've got nothing to compare it with. It is supposed to be system wide bit perfect, no Andoid processing here. Since it is Android, you can basically install any app from the app store. Also that is a spare sceen protector, it comes pre-installed with one.
Looking forward to the review of the Ace
My pleasure 🙏
"Great review!!!" I Had mine since June and I love it!!! I love it along with my Hiby R6 Pro II in purple I just bought this month!!! 🤗🎧❤️
Thanks!
Same here. Good products. Nice that Etymotic is mentioned in the video, been using those for last 20 years.
How do they compare to you in terms of sound?
thank you for the review! its about half the price of the dx180 and for that its probably hard to find better value on the market. What really i cannot wait for is a comparison of the recently launched A&K Activo P1 vs the Ibasso DX180. Hope, Andy will be send a test sample from anyone, as soon as it becomes available
My pleasure. That's my hope too 😁
Thanks for the review Andy 👍🏼
No problem 👍
Hi Andy! Thanks for the review! Please tell me, it is very interesting to know at what age you started to get involved in audio and where did you start your journey? It was really cool to listen, thanks bro. You are very loved in Russia
Thanks! As far as I can remember, I was already crazy about audio and audio gears since 1985. So I was a hardcore cassette and vinyl guy and then of course evolve to what you see today. Cheers 😁
I know it's "old" now but I just got an Onkyo DPX1 and I love it...
I bought mine last month. I am pretty happy with it. I have to admit I do wish it sounded more analog. I warmed it up with the settings in MSEB and I think it is a great deal for the money. It definitely has enough power for my Focal Clears and I rarely go over 45 percent on high gain. I listen to Apple Music with no issues streaming. I also have a 1 Terabyte mini SD which works great as well. Thanks Andy for another great review. You are my favorite reviewer on TH-cam. God bless you my friend.
Thanks so much. You have a great weekend ahead there!
please tell which sd card you are using, send link from where you purchased.
Usb audio player pro helsp with analog/better sound
I was supposed to pick up a Hiby R4, but ended up getting a DX180. It appears I made an excellent decision.
Great Review Andy!
Thanks!
I have the R4 but as Andy pointed out the DX180 is warmer and more analog. I think I would like the DX180 better. Apparently I like the same kind of sound that Andy does. It seems you do too! I like the R4 but do not love it. The MSEB does allow you to warm it up as Andy mentioned and I do have it set that way. If I had a chance to do over I would have bought the DX180 for twice the money.
Great take Andy, the R4 definitely looks interesting. I am looking for a budget DAP, confused between this or iBasso DX180.
No worries
Value King DAP !
It can be connected to a DAC via USB-C to COAX cable - The USB-C LO support SPDIF.
Thank you
Hello Andy,what app do you use with this.I have just bought one and will receive it tomorrow. At the moment, I use UAP as my go-to . Love your vids .
Thanks! R4 comes natively with HIBY Music App which happen to be the App I use the most beside Tidal App on all of my Android devices. But you can also install any other App you want including UAPP
I just found your channel yesterday, and while I have learned much, I see I'm just getting my toes wet. I'm in the market for a DAP & headset.
As a newby, I don't want to go insane with my first setup. My combined budget is around $1,000USD. Of course if I can spend less, that's always good.
What are some DAP/Headset combos that you would recommend for this price range? It will be my at home music option, and I'm open to IEM, open back & closed. I listen mostly to nu metal, hip-hop, grunge and power ballads like Whitney Houston/Brandi Carlile.
I did watch your video on metal headsets, but I don't know if that's the best way to go.
I have explored the idea of 1 set for Hip-hop, and another for everything else.
Thanks for your time and effort!
And thank for your generosity. $1000 is a healthy budget to start this audio thing. With that money and taking into consideration of your preferences, I would go for iBasso DX180 at around $500, then get Hidizs MP143 Salt 4.4mm BAL option, then get DUNU Titan S2 as well and you still have change left to get ONIX Alpha XI dongle which you can use with your phone (when you don't feel like carrying your DAP). With these you are pretty much set without the worry of missing anything
getting this digital music player today. im hoping it sounds good!
The build quality looks impressive for $249 dap
A free LANYARD? 😮
Now I just HAVE to order one. 😅
Is free
Wonderful review!
1) Does it support streaming from Apple Music and downloading them to the SD Card ?
2) Is it uncomfortably hot to use or its just warmer than a smartphone ?
3) Would you recommend Shanling M0 Pro if streaming music is not the top most priority and considering the battery life and compactness is/if valued most ?
Is the sound quality drastically better on these as compared to M0 Pro ?
Yes you can install Apple Music and have bitperfect playback on the R4. It is warmer than smartphones due to the Class A amplifier. I haven't tried Shanling M0 Pro so I have no idea on that one
@@donglemadness alright, thank you for the response!
Hi Andy, thanks for your very good reviews. I was about to buy the cayin N3 ultra until I saw this video. Can I trouble you to give your opinion on these two amps? Many many thanks
No worries. N3 Ultra is warmer sounding and smoother especially in tube mode, but features very limited because of legacy Android OS
@@donglemadnessthanks!
Get ready for next milestone (100k subscribers) it may take one year.
BUT! You should create one SHORT for EVERY of your videos! (to bring new subscribers)
Try to make 30sec - 1 min short (in style like a trailer/teaser for a movie)
As always, thanks for the support. And thanks for the suggestion too. I look forward to diversifying my channel :D
Hi Andy, great review. How does the R4 stage? Is it wide and open and how does it compare on that front to the other mentioned DAPs?
Thanks! R4 staging is competitively wide and open, pretty much comparable to M23 and DX180, and wider than N3 Ultra
@@donglemadness Thanks a bunch man. 🙏 3D is my jam.
Great review, nice DAP. Even though I have the Shanling M0 Pro, I’ve been thinking about this R4 or the extremely solid R3 for streaming. I prefer the size and design of the R3 but an Android DAP could be useful. Thanks. 🙏
My pleasure :D
Great video 😊
Thanks! 😊
Hi Andy! I ran into a problem, my phone has USB 2.0 and it does not fully disclose Aune Yuki in conjunction with Mega5EST, if I use headphones with R4, will I get a big increase in sound quality, or do I need something else? Thank you brother 🤝
Sometimes there's issue with Android phones not running proper OTG to connect with dongles. Specific to your phone you need to find out if the OTG is turned on. Aune Yuki actually sounding more open and airy compared to R4. Both already excellent with sound output
Hi andy, good day!
Do you think this R4 can properly drive the s12 2024? I'm currently using fiio ka13 dongle on my phone. I think it doesn't have enough power to drive the s12 2024 using balanced. Do you think there is a significant change when I use this R4? Thanks!
Driving S12 2024 is no longer about power needs if you already have KA13, KA13 is already very powerful in its own right. It is about synergy and if you asking me does R4 provide better synergy for S12 2024, then my answer is yes
Hi Andy good to see you here. Did you run Apple Music on this device ?
Unfortunately no, I don't use Apple Music. But most Android DAP can run any App
Can i ask if the Hiby R4 offers bit perfect audio system wide? So for example, if I play Apple Music on the 3.5mm, would it offer me bit perfect audio? Or does it resample like the Hiby M300?
Yes of course, one of the reasons you want a dedicated DAP like this is to get Bitperfect system wide, regardless of which player you use. I have no idea about M300
I have read somewhere, headfi reviews, that the R4 does not resample like the M300.
@donglemadness ah, thank you for the clarification. Right now i have the hiby m300, which resamples everything to 196 khz through both the 3.5mm jack and USB port
@marike1100 ah, thank you for letting me know 😊
Cool device!
Recently, the entry-level IEM Pilgrim made by Malaysian Elysian in South Korea has become very popular among music lovers.
It seems that Malaysia and Singapore are good at making IEMs. 😊👍
Didn't know Elysian was a Malaysian brand. It's very popular indeed.
Hi Andy. Can it download music from tidal to listen offline?
Between using the R4 + Focal Elegia and using a Ifi Hip Dac 3 + the Focal Elegia. Which one would be better on sound?
Yes of course, just like any Tidal app on any Android based devices, you can do offline mode. Ultimately, the Hip DAC3 has a slight advantage on more analog timbre versus R4, otherwise technically they are on par
Great review, if I just want excellent sound and play music, do you recommend the tempotec v6 or this hiby r4?
Thanks. Unfortunately, I haven't tried V6 so I have no idea how they compares
Hi Andy, I hope you are doing well. I am looking into using the equalizer on the R4 and was wondering if there is an easy way to get the kind of sound that we both seem to like with it. Do you have any set of particular numbers you use or is there a place I can get that info? Thanks again. I have been using the MSEB but it seems to lose some clarity when I have it engaged in the warm/analog mode... have you noticed that?
It depends on which IEM and the results vary from one to another. I personally prefer the MSEB option with just adjustment on Sound Richness and Sibilance (HF) to attain that analog smooth sound. I doubt EQ can do much on this end and I prefer not to use EQ anyway
@@donglemadness Thanks Andy. I will play with these two settings. I really appreciate how attentive you are to all of us guys!
Nice info but ibaso can get Xtra long hours plus not very hot...
Hello Andy , did you ever try the Fiio Btr 7 , and do you know about the type of sound coming from it . Meaning analog or hi fi
No I didn't have the opportunity to try BTR 7 yet. Hopefully soon I can have a listen to it
hihi, i love this design..esp the orange one. how does it sound compared to dx180. still using shanling M3x...hands itchy..was eyeing dx180 from your review..and now this.
I mentioned in the comparison section that DX180 is a bit superior but also cost double the price of R4
@@donglemadness technically can the r4 match teh sound of the dx180 since the sibiliance..timbre etc all can be tuned,
Hi Andy.
Saw lineout settings in audio settings section. Is it real lineout or just cranking the volume to 100?
It is a true line out
Hey Andy, are you already on the SMSL D10 dongle path?
😂
Soon I hope, lol
@@donglemadness Also interested in blon v1
If you're out and about. If you could only carry 1. The R4 or the MIAD 01? Cheers
For pure simplicity, the one-device-does-all MIAD01 is more practical, but when it comes to sheer performance, R4 is a worthy device to carry around for the additional features it offers
used fiio m11s vs new hiby r4 which one have to buy
Go for R4, high end features and power for such a bargain price. Even better if you can get Evangelion version
Hey Andy weird question but how does Onix alpha x11 and Dc07 pro compare to Chord mojo 2 like is it worth spending extra and how significant is the difference.
Mojo 2 sets the reference standards for technicalities and resolution. But you don't see me using it personally because I feel that something like HIBY FC6, ONIX Alpha or DC07Pro offers more organic and natural sound, they are not as acutely technical as Mojo 2, but the gap isn't big at all by my reckoning and I value sound timbre more over technicalities
What's your gain level did you set while testing?
Always on High and 4.4mm BAL
Can you use the MSEB and PEQ to make the R4 sound like the DX180 that you say you like a tad more? And hope it's not too hot. R4. Thinking of getting a DAP and thinking of the R4 as of now.
I ma not good with EQ because most of the time I completely avoid using them. But with the advanced features you have on the R4, I think you can achieve similar sound that can be heard from DX180
@@donglemadness thanks. Size wise R4 or dx180 , which is smaller? My usage style is purely of apple music streaming. Hence looking at R4 with its system-wide mseb etc. though tempted to get that dx180 but not sure if it's worth for my usage. Then there is the thought that I should just get ibasso dc Elite which probably produces the best sound and analytical details of the 3 but then, apart from the price, it's a dongle. Such confusion! There is even the about to be launched fiio btr17 , which is sort of contender for my usage. Bluetooth music from phone and use btr17 (4.4 and 3.5slots) to run wired iems and of course bluetooth tws. Narrowing it down to choose between R4 and btr17 (as of now!)
Andy, what's your thoughts on the Hiby m300? Thx in advance
I haven't tried M300 so I would not know what to say of it. Thanks
I should have purchased this instead of the m300 which I’m using with the m15i. Andy are you going to review the Fiio m11s ?
M11s, not so sure about that one. Hopefully yes
Hello Andy , since I have Hiby FC 6 and MP 145 and use my mobile Galaxy S23 to stream lossless music , does it make sense for me to get this R4 . Does it offer any advantages over what I already have ?
If you have FC6 then FC6 offers superior sound quality vs R4. You get R4 only if you need dedicated DAP which also offers tons of features which FC6 don't have
@@donglemadness Ok , thank you 🙂
Hey Andy , did you listen to the Aful Performer 5 and Performer 8 ? And if you did , what do you feel about them
Yes I did for P5. It is a great IEM with great tuning, but a bit too heavy on the low frequency for my taste, a bit too heavy with the Subbass and that subwoofer effect. P8 I have no idea, haven't tried it
Could you please comment /recommend on the Onix Alpha. I have heard it is having compatibility issues with various phones. I want to buy it but I'm afraid it will not work with my phone, Samsung A20
I don't have any Samsung phones to test so I guess you will have to rely on feedbacks from other Samsung phones owners
Saw a tech review showing the USB options, but no option for audio source or audio out. What happens if you plug a dongle in? My understanding is that two of the dac are for DSD, two for Pcm, so it doesn't use all four? MQA is still on Tidal, you need to use an older app to access it, like on my R3 Sabre pro, all mqa present and accounted for. You can get an old version of the android app for Tidal by Apkpure.
Tidal no longer provide MQA. You plug a dongle into it, just like other Android devices, the attached external USB DAC will take over all audio processing
@@donglemadness I listen to mqa today on Tidal using Hiby r3, my dongle show the right colour light, and album cover show mqa, maunya saya kirim foto? Saya bukan orang yang berbohong. It's like they don't remove everything on the database, the new app versions don't show the old version and only say low medium high resolution, not flac, m4a, mqa, which I still get until today on Hiby R3, but not on the app on my android device. My R3 is the old one, R3 Sabre from 2021. They obviously don't remove everything just update tags, or however it works. Your new app won't see the mqa and the m4a etc. So you can't play it. Go find an old Hiby R3 and link to your account. Try it. The band Kaipa almost all mqa, you can look that one up. Album title 'Children of the sound'.. So you know you have the right one. They don't spend money. Just update app. Costs money to remove all that stuff. Search on R3.
I don't see clearly if the LED change from red to blue or other color after fulll charge, my unit still glow red after full charge and i can't find any reference beyond the type of Charger.
I suggest you email HIBY to ask them about this
Would you recommend buying a DAP just for the sound quality, or would it be better to buy a good dongle? Any recommendations please?
Yopu buy a DAP becaus it provides tons of features and options and different usage scenario. But if you looking for purely sound quality, don't care about form factor and usage scnario, then there's tons of dongles that can deliver as good as what this R4 can do, and some of them perform even better like the HIBY FC6, ONIX Alpha XI or iBasso DC07Pro (just to name a few)
@@donglemadness Thank you very much, that was my doubt, I am purely interested in sound quality, and I think a good dongle is a better option for me; like the ones you mention.
Nice video. I have a Fiio M9. Will I notice a leap forward rewarding sound quality if I purchase this product? Greetings
Thanks. FiiO M9 was released a long time ago, and yes I believe you will hear improvements offered by R4 over the M9
@@donglemadness and can I use apple music on it?
The M9 is supremely musical, R4 is nowhere near as musical , it is more analytical. The differences are plain to hear
Hi Andy,
Please, where can I find the IEM cable with an angular 90° plug you are using?
The angular plugs are from the stock HIBY Project ACE itself. You can also get angular plugs from LETSHUOER Cadenza 4
@@donglemadness thank you for your response dude ...
Those IEM ones are expensive, so could you please recommend us any affordable 3in1 angular plugs kit (male to female) we can use with our straight plug IEM or Headphone?
Thank you
I consider buy R4, Ibasso dx180 or active p1. Which one u prefer.
I personally prefer DX180, but as mentioned in this video, DX180 is DOUBLE the price of R4
Buy R4 Evangelion first for native (system-wide) MSEB (Magic Sound Eight Ball) EQ, plugins, and PEQ options that DX180 doesn't have. Buy R4 to throw around in your pocket and car and utilize the lanyard. Buy an open-box DX260 or DX320 later that stays at home.
And what do you feel about Softears Studio 4 iem
Haven't tried Softears Studio 4
Hello Andy , can you suggest me a good quality Bluetooth dac with decent battery life around 200 or maybe 300 usd with AptX
If you don't mind the size, FiiO Q15 is what you want. Otherwise for something a lot smaller, FiiO BTR15
The latest version - EVA version is 4+64gb. Any different?
I have no idea what else changes as I don't have it with me, I mean I don't have the Evangelion model. I suspect it's more of the look and storage
It also more 40% more efficient in A-class amp mode and subsequently runs cooler so 15 hours run time on low gain from micro flash chip
Andy is a market disruptor :)
🤣
No he's just a regular dude and that's what I like, no disruptor here
Maybe you could even use this a a cheap audio streamer, if you can install some kind of remote access app.
Indeed you can, just install Roon or something like that. Even the built in HIBY Music App supports streaming services
Would the sivga nightingale be a good upgrade over mp145 , It cost about the same in India , 210 usd ..same as the QTX
Upgrade? they offer different sound tuning. MP145 is a traditional V and Nightingale is something else, Nightingale is strong Mids centric IEM with the very best of organic velvety smooth transients and sound density. QTX on the other hand is tuned to be closer to neutral curve and more transparent than both MP145 or Nightingale, so we are looking and IEMs with different strengths to cater for different sound preferences and usage
@@donglemadness Ok now I understand, thank you
Hello andy, ive been saving money to buy my first DAP and ive been eyeing R4 for a while but there are some reviews which said M300 is better choice than this... Can you please guide me ? Coz I'm really confused.
I prefer music over technicals.
I have no experience with M300 so I can't comment on that one. But can't go wrong with R4 really
I have the M300 and love it. If you use mainly IEMs and don’t care about the EQ features, you will like it. Also, it doesn’t run hot. No balanced output though.
Hi Andy could you please compare desktop dac/ amp (fiio k11 r2r) with dongle dacs such as the ibasso dc07 pro and onix alpha xI1. I'm curious as to whether the form factor of the fiio k11 r2r dac/ amp (desktop vs dongle) has any benefits.
I look forward to trying the new FiiO R2R myself. Let's hope I can get one soon!
Hello Andy , one of my friend wanted to buy MP 145 , can you recommend me any other IEM that's better than mp 145 under 300 dollars with similar V shape sound , but even better than mp145 , I can extend upto 400 usd max
Even better than MP145? under $300? none that I can think of for V curved IEMs. There's still Final Audio A5000 which is on par to MP145
I would get one of these if it weren't for the styling.
I had questyle m15 a my main dongle rn. Is this worth to buy?
Sound wise R4 will not be superior than M15, you get this R4 if you want more options to play with
@@donglemadness I see, but I wonder if I can stack M15 to R4. Is it gonna improve or I just better off with m15 and phone?
Hi sir can u review hidisz mp143 salt iem, can't wait for it because of mp145 is is my pass list
Yes, working on it now
Hello Andy, can you test the Meze Alba please?
I look forward to it
I have it with my Hiby R4. I would say great match with a little bit of MSP Tuning!!!!!!!!
Comparison to Hiby R3 II?
I haven't tried R3 II yet, sorry
how is it compared to Cayin RU7?
RU7 has a special analog sound which is rather unique and more open/wide sounding
Bro, how do you compare the R4 with the R6 gen 3?
I would not know, haven't tried R6 G3
@@donglemadness ok bro. Thanks
The only problem i have the Tidal App is crashing all the Time!!!! On Hiby Music Tidal integration it works fine but i cant store my most lisened Playlist on the Device.. Anyone else with that Problem??```
You can solve that issue by doing a hard reset of the device if uninstall and re-install does not solve the problem. My own R4 runs Tidal app fine so it has to be some app issues that require attention
@@donglemadness i updated it now with the new Software Version 1.20 and made a complete Reset. Now it seems to be working!!!!!!! Thanks.
that or the M300 or the moondrop phone?
I never tried M300. But between R4 and MIAD01, R4 offer more features and a little better with technicalities
The dx160 is still a better deal and overall device
11:08 🦩🦤
Hey Andy , why don't you ever try an ipod ? You should do it
iPod? Back in 2006 until 2010 I was a hardcore user of iPods of all gen from 1st to 5th to iPod touch. I even have them modded extensively with Redwine Audio mods
@@donglemadness so Andy also comes with that modding spirit 😅😅😅😅
Can USB-C cables replace dongles?
Also your edits are really random. Look cool, appreciate the aesthetic, but too random
depends on the level of fidality you are happy with. if you got iems only that cost below 80$, i would probably go with sth like a Fiio KA11
Thanks for the feedbacks. USB-C replace dongles? you mean ultra compact dongles vs big dongles, because all of them still use USB C. For ultra compact dongles, Venture Electronic ODO is the best
Another , shorter way, of saying 4000 mAh is 4W
Hello Bro Andy 🙏 👍 😁
✅Please rank #1, #2, #3 Top 3 Best Cheap DAPs to drive IEMs & Headphones that you LOVE according to your personal opinion & preferences
✅Please rank #1, #2, #3 Top 3 Best Cheap DAC Dongles to drive IEMs & Headphones that you LOVE according to your personal opinion & preferences.
✅Please rank #1, #2, #3 Top 3 Best Cheap IEMs that you LOVE according to your personal opinion & preferences.
Thank you Brother 🙏👍😁
According to my personal preferences (regardless of price):
DAP: No.1 Sony PCM-D100 & iBasso DX180
Dongle: Venture Electronic ODO, iBasso DC07Pro & ONIX Alpha
IEMs: SIVGA Nightingale, Hidizs MP145, Tanchjim ZERO, DUNU Titan S2, Final Audio A5000 & FiiO FA19
@@donglemadness Ok thank you Bro Andy 🙏👍🙂