HiBy RS2 player review - Darwin in your pocket
Вставка
- Опубліковано 23 лип 2024
- HiBy continues releasing new models with R-2R ladder DAC, giving them total control over the process of DA conversion. RS2 is a minimalistic player, focusing just on sound
Official site: hiby.com/products/hiby-rs2
0:00 - Introduction
1:11 - Package and accessories
3:13 - Design and controls
7:39 - Firmware
13:34 - Sound
22:57 - Pairings and conclusion
Tracks, mentioned in the review:
Yello - The Race
John McEuen - Excitable Boy
Pink Floyd - High Hopes
Guns'N'Roses - November Rain
David Bowie - Starman
Iron Maiden - Seven Son of a Seven Son
Music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b... - Наука та технологія
Update: I installed recent FW from HiBy's site, and I didn't experience position indicator issues any more
Very truthful review. It is a great DAP that beats 2x and 3x more expensive ones. But if you wanna get its full potential you need two things, according to me: 1/ usage of balanced 4.4 when direct to iems or headphones; 2/ use the line out to a good portable amp - the amp section of the RS2 is a bit pushing the mids too forward, especially vocals but if you use the line out to a Topping NX7 you get the DAC;s potential fully, w/o any change, the replay is still R2R but the balance and detail retrieval is highly improved.
thank you for sharing!
I am glad there are companies that are still making non-android devices
I'm no so happy with absence of streaming, but I really welcome the variety and diversity :)
When i press play on a music file, i didnt see the Album Cover screen at 13.00 min. I see the screen like you show at 7.00 min when you swipe down. Hows that?
hello, maybe there is an option in the settings whether player should go to now playing screen after playback start or not
Thank you for the review. I find my preference somewhat similar to yours. I will be getting this for sure.
Thank you! I really hope you'll enjoy it
Thank you for this excellent review. How would you compare RS2 with RU6 dongle that you reviewed in the past in terms of sound?
Well, these two indeed have similar ideas in sound/tuning, but for me, RS2 sounds more balanced and technical on treble, while RU6 is a bit more highlighting emotions and dynamics
I need something like this that has WiFi so I can listen to tidal, soundcloud, mixcloud etc. That isn't a phone. Or have phones with added DACS (ie dragonfly) filled this role?
well, there is HiBy RS6 with android and streaming services
or you can consider other players with Android like FiiO, iBasso, Shanling
or you can indeed use your smartphone with some good portable DAC (for example Cayin RU6 has same idea in sound)
Do you know: Does it improve on the Dethonray Prelude DTR1 ?
oh, actually an interesting competitor, but they have a different approach to the sound, DTR1 is more higlighting emotions, making sound even more "engaging-colored", while RS2 is bit closer to neutrality in this aspect. In DTR1 i like it's superb impact on lows and emotins on mids, so I'd prefer it for rock/metal/smart hip-hop and other genres based on emotions delivery. While RS2 sound more intimate and focused on subtile moments, so I'd go for it for "audiophile" recordings, classical music, vocal, etc
thank you for another excellent review and for bringing all those interesting devices and equipment to our attention. if not mistake you used mest 2 in the video. if so, how do you find that pairing for electronic and classical music? thanks
Thank you! You're right, it's MEST 2, for classical music it's really good, resolving, detailed, airy, and with this player also emotional and lively (especially it's noticeable on chamber music and few instruments records)
as for electronic music, I like the result, really technical and enjoyable, but some can prefer more added weight (I'm not a fan, so for me it's ok)
@@PortaFi thank you very much for quick reply. you mentioned n3pro, but how would you compare them balanced to balanced outputs? as much as I love n3pro, I really dislike tube modes (with any iem/headphone) since I can always hear tubes whistling even with music on. has there been any firmware improvements on rs2 compared to n3pro? I find it dreadful and only thing why I'm still using it, is that it makes my mest2 so much fun. thank you.
@@adpr5278 > but how would you compare them balanced to balanced outputs?
if I remember right, balanced more on N3Pro is more focusing dynamics and emotions, so for me, RS2 sounds more "accurate" and closer to realistic sound
> has there been any firmware improvements on rs2 compared to n3pro?
the most noticeable one is more sound tuning option due to Darwin architecture, but in general UX there is no big differences
> I find it dreadful and only thing why I'm still using it, is that it makes my mest2 so much fun
I really like RS2 with Mest 2, but tastes differ :)
@@PortaFi very useful info, as always. thank you very much
Nicely Done.
Stay Safe.
thank you! all the best wishes to you!
I hope you can review the Hiby Hela someday, at pre-order they were included with the DAP i guess.
well, I'd really like to test them, but unfortunately it won't be in a near future
How would this compare sound wise to the Hiby R6 2020?
it's like a polar opposites. R6 2020 is colder, more focused on microcontrast and monitoring representation. while this one is more musical, warmer and focusing more on dynamcis and emotions
@@PortaFi ohh man... that makese want it even more. Thank you for letting me know! No one else was giving me a clear explanation.
@@ItsJustChase always glad to be of help
hi man , i just got mine, do you also notice that to volume button is a bit loose ? Also when I shake it a little bit i can hear that something inside is a bit loose and it makes noises .. ? Is that a common problem or did i just got a bad piece ? thank a lot. Tomas
Hello, mine is a bit loose, but not making noise. I think you can ask this on Head-Fi.org, in RS2 thread to get more answers and understand how common it is.
@i Hi man, yeah I have found one similar problem on that forum, just trying to get in touch with that guy. I have 2 days to decide, whether to keep it or return it. I got i for a fair price at about 395 dollars... and the problem is that the device here in our local shops is sold out .. or sold in one shop at around 590 dollars :/ :D
Im only worried that somehow how its loose the battery might get loose contacts due to its movement.
And I have this feeling Im the one who caused the problem, when I was using fast charging adapter for my mobile ... and due to its heat maybe I have made the battery loose :/
Tomas
@@tperi9116 I don't think battery will loose contact, as they are usually connected to PCB with a short wires. So, my subjective opinion, if you like it - keep it, if it's covered with post-sale warranty. If moving battery will bother you, it can be fixed in a repair shop (at least in my country :) )
Can this power an over ear quality headphones?
depending on impedance/sensetivity. if model isn't power hungry, then it'll drive them
Excellent review, informative and comprehensive.
I do wonder how much market there is for a smaller dap (must be some I'm sure).
In the past I've had smaller iRiver DAPs, Cowon, Sony... I like the idea of a smaller dap. I have an old Activo ct10 dap weighing 110g. The sound is nice, warmish, and tolerant of bad recordings. However, I ended up using my quad dac LG v60 phone when I was out and about, rather than carrying two devices (my v60 also has a 3.5mm headphone socket and sd card slot). And at home and I use a larger, heavier A&K player. Now that LG have left the mobile market, I keep hoping Sony will go all out to produce a top notch dap phone that doesn't cost more than £1000
Thank you!
Actually you've summarised the whole issue. Demand for a small players still exists, but it's small, as lots of people just shifted to smartphone + DAC
How is hiss on sensitive IEMs?
amplifier here isn't super powerful, so hiss is pretty low, especially on 3.5 mm out
is the battery much better than the Hiby R3 Pro Saber?
I don't remember exact specs, but as far as I recall, RS2 has noticeably lower battery life time due to more complex audio architecture used
Any sign of the R2 MK2 surfacing yet??
You mean RS2 Mk2? I'm not sure, but in general, I don't think HiBy will update a pretty fresh model
+1 on that division bell comment !
I wish Hiby would update the R5 (I find the new model a little too big) without class A amp. I got really excited about this Darwin model until I saw the tiny screen and realised it's not Android OS, so it doesn't allow offline storage for streaming services.
An R5 with a volume wheel and slightly faster CPU/operation is what I'm holding out for.
Nice review though man, This would be top of my purchase list if it ran Android!
Thank you for feedback. For Android-enabled option they have RS6, it's more expensive, but it's probably understandable. But I'd also like to see something like RS5 in future
Hello, just got second device and after a month of use, again loose battery, noise when shaking the device. Creating playlists in this device is almost impossible. I have spent more time packing the device, sending it somewhere to China and communicating with hiby and other retailers than actually listening to it ... NEVER AGAIN ... Cowon was best.
Tomas
Sorry to hear that
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@@afistfulofpimples1745 Yes yes yes yesy yes yes yes!
And one more time!
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