Up to now, telephones was once telephones and that was it. You can 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. As of late, digital audio gamers nonetheless exist however they’re sometimes aimed on the fanatic. In the event you’re pondering of taking your audio expertise to the subsequent degree, then maybe the HiBy R8 II may very well be for you.
Design and construct
At first look, it’s very apparent that the parents at HiBy paid plenty of consideration to the design of the R8 II. The system is constructed from a surgical-grade high-gloss stainless-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 splendid 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 gadgets.
The R8 II additionally seems to be very very similar to a smartphone too. It comes with a 5.9-inch touchscreen show. It’s also constructed on Android 12, so for those who’re an Android smartphone person, you shouldn’t have an excessive amount of concern navigating the interface. In actual fact, it’s factor they selected to make use of Android as it’s a extra acquainted expertise versus creating one thing solely from scratch.
The HiBy R8 II can also be fairly a thick and heavy system. 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 be mindful, particularly because you’ll be carrying it together with a pair of earphones or headphones as nicely.
Excessive-quality parts
Now we will’t speak about a digital audio participant with out speaking concerning the audio expertise. A few of you is likely to be questioning, why on earth would you purchase a devoted audio participant when your telephone will get the job carried out simply high-quality. You’d be appropriate. Our telephones do a fantastic job of enjoying 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 is likely to 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 telephone makers ignore it outright, nevertheless it isn’t fairly a excessive precedence because it’s a extra area of interest characteristic 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 line with HiBy, this may assist present atomic clock accuracy on the subject of digital audio samples.
All-new Darwin-MPA structure
The HiBy R8 II makes use of the all-new Darwin-MPA structure. Enter alerts are oversampled to 128x through the filter system. This helps to emulate non-oversampling performance you may 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 a particularly 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 for those who occur to personal an audiophile-grade pair of headphones, having a strong amp is important as a way to drive it to its fullest capabilities. The R8 II has no such concern. 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.
The usage of these amps additionally provides customers extra “control” over their headphones. This permits 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 on the subject of the listening expertise? Clearly this may boil right down to the headphones or IEMs that you just select to make use of. Then once more, chances are high for those who’re trying into the R8 II, you most likely 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 wonderful synergy with varied headphones and IEMs on the market. It provides fairly spectacular soundstaging, supplying you with the impression that you just’re in a live performance corridor (extra on that later). It additionally provides unbelievable element and word separation to help you hear each instrument and word 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 may really be excellent for a few of you who would moderately hearken to how a tune was meant to be combined, 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 unbelievable sound. However for those who’re somebody who appreciates classical music, then that is the place the R8 II shines.
There’s a cause why live performance halls designed for classical music are constructed the best way they’re. It is because classical devices usually 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 may count on once they attend a classical music efficiency.
Battery life
Because the HiBy R8 II is a transportable digital audio participant, it runs on batteries. The corporate has outfitted the system 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 for those who plan on taking it on the street with you.
Pricing & availability
In the event you assume that the HiBy R8 II is a digital audio participant that you just assume you will get on board with, it’s accessible through HiBy’s web site. It’s priced at $1,999 which is actually not low-cost in any respect, however for those who worth sound high quality above all else and wish to take pleasure in music on the probably high quality on the go, it may very well be a fantastic funding. For extra particulars or to buy, hop on over to their web site!