Previously, telephones was telephones and that was it. You could possibly make calls, ship textual content messages, and play some easy video games, however that was just about it. This led to the creation of devoted music gamers just like the iPod, Zune, and so forth. Nowadays, digital audio gamers nonetheless exist however they’re usually aimed on the fanatic. For those who’re considering of taking your audio expertise to the following stage, then maybe the HiBy R8 II could possibly be for you.
Design and construct
At first look, it’s very apparent that the parents at HiBy paid a number of consideration to the design of the R8 II. The machine is constituted of a surgical-grade high-gloss chrome steel chassis. However what’s distinctive concerning the R8 II in comparison with different digital audio gamers is the usage of Alcantara materials.
It is a suede-like materials that provides a tender and opulent really feel to the contact. If it sounds acquainted, it’s as a result of Microsoft had beforehand used the identical Alcantara materials for a few of its Floor units.
The R8 II additionally seems to be very very similar to a smartphone too. It comes with a 5.9-inch touchscreen show. Additionally it is constructed on Android 12, so if you happen to’re an Android smartphone person, you shouldn’t have an excessive amount of situation navigating the interface. In reality, it’s an excellent factor they selected to make use of Android as it’s a extra acquainted expertise versus creating one thing completely from scratch.
The HiBy R8 II can be fairly a thick and heavy machine. It measures 149x78x23mm and weighs 515 grams. It’s not mild by any means, however the heft does lend a sure feeling of sturdiness to it. It’s one thing you need to undoubtedly take into account, particularly because you’ll be carrying it together with a pair of earphones or headphones as effectively.
Excessive-quality parts
Now we are able to’t speak about a digital audio participant with out speaking concerning the audio expertise. A few of you may be questioning, why on earth would you purchase a devoted audio participant when your cellphone will get the job accomplished simply tremendous. You’d be appropriate. Our telephones do an incredible job of taking part in music. They can be utilized to surf the online too, reply to messages, play video games, and extra.
However one key side that a few of you may be lacking is the audio parts. Devoted digital audio gamers, just like the HiBy R8 II, place a heavy emphasis on the audio parts. This isn’t to say cellphone makers ignore it outright, but it surely isn’t fairly a excessive precedence because it’s a extra area of interest function that isn’t fairly as marketable in comparison with boasting about clock speeds, show know-how, and cameras.
For the R8 II, the corporate has included the usage of 4 tube-like Elna audio capacitors that may end in an analog and detailed sound character. There are additionally 28 high-density, high-capacity tantalum capacitors, together with two devoted high-frequency crystal oscillators. In accordance with HiBy, this can assist present atomic clock accuracy in relation to digital audio samples.
All-new Darwin-MPA structure
The HiBy R8 II makes use of the all-new Darwin-MPA structure. Enter indicators are oversampled to 128x through the filter system. This helps to emulate non-oversampling performance you would possibly discover in DACs.
The built-in DAC additionally has a 16-way present mode, which when mixed with I-V conversion and lowpass within the output stage ends in an especially detailed soundstage whereas additionally being energy environment friendly.
Highly effective Class A/AB amp
Additionally, one other factor that some handsets don’t have are highly effective amps. For many consumer-grade headphones, this isn’t a problem. However if you happen to occur to personal an audiophile-grade pair of headphones, having a strong amp is critical to be able to drive it to its fullest capabilities. The R8 II has no such situation. It comes with a Class A/AB twin headphone amp powered by 2 ADA4625-2 driver opamps and 16 customized transistors. It will create zero crossover distortion and a sooner response.
Using these amps additionally offers customers extra “control” over their headphones. This enables customers to higher finetune their sound to create an expertise finest suited to their wants and listening preferences.
Listening expertise
So what does this all imply in relation to the listening expertise? Clearly this can boil right down to the headphones or IEMs that you simply select to make use of. Then once more, likelihood is if you happen to’re trying into the R8 II, you in all probability personal a pair of headphones or IEMs that may take full benefit of it.
If that’s the case, you’ll be able to relaxation assured that the R8 II has glorious synergy with varied headphones and IEMs on the market. It provides fairly spectacular soundstaging, providing you with the impression that you simply’re in a live performance corridor (extra on that later). It additionally provides unimaginable element and observe separation to let you hear each instrument and observe clearly.
Whereas it isn’t precisely a bass-heavy digital media participant, it does appear to boost the bass and treble qualities from songs. This would possibly really be good for a few of you who would somewhat hearken to how a track was meant to be blended, versus being coloured by software program or {hardware}.
Tuned for classical music
Now, the HiBi R8 II already provides a reasonably insane listening expertise and you may just about use it for any style of music you need and get incredible sound. However if you happen to’re somebody who appreciates classical music, then that is the place the R8 II shines.
There’s a purpose why live performance halls designed for classical music are constructed the best way they’re. It is because classical devices typically rely closely on the inherent qualities of the instrument. Having an acoustically handled live performance corridor helps to amplify these qualities.
With the R8 II, HiBy has tuned it to take care of the “Portable Concert Hall” sound signature from the unique R8. It goes one step additional by enhancing on the density and element of the sound from classical music tracks. In the end, this ends in customers with the ability to expertise the openness that one would possibly count on once they attend a classical music efficiency.
Battery life
For the reason that HiBy R8 II is a transportable digital audio participant, it runs on batteries. The corporate has geared up the machine with an enormous 12,000mAh battery. They declare that this could end in 11-21 hours of battery life, relying on the mode you’re utilizing it in. That is fairly substantial, particularly if you happen to plan on taking it on the street with you.
Pricing & availability
For those who assume that the HiBy R8 II is a digital audio participant that you simply assume you may get on board with, it’s accessible through HiBy’s web site. It’s priced at $1,999 which is truthfully not low-cost in any respect, however if you happen to worth sound high quality above all else and wish to take pleasure in music on the probably high quality on the go, it could possibly be an incredible funding. For extra particulars or to buy, hop on over to their web site!