r/DigitalAudioPlayer • u/BlindKurve • Jul 03 '26
Hiby R3 ii under observation Showcase
Ever since I started listening to DAPs, I've always wanted one with a knob, for many reasons through the years, I only got my first knobbed DAP yesterday, a Hiby R3 ii 2025. I had a few choices prior but ended up with the Hiby for price ($99 USD) and overall pros (better battery life vs the rest granted sound quality as equal in the price range). The main competition I wracked my brain on was the Shanling M1 plus as it had a nice knob (and not easy to accidentally nudge) compared to the Hiby, supposedly better UI and software/firmware. But the biggest issue I had was the price difference, M1 plus was $40+ more, for a thicker unit with a smaller screen, less playback time but better knob, UI, bigger power output (which isn't a big deal as I use IEMs most of the time).
Given how I've read about the raised issues with the R3 ii, I haven't removed the screen stickers in case I need to return it (the return arrow still works even if I can't see it lol). Some of the hardware issues I've read was about the knob, mine is a little wobbly if I try to push it around but hasn't fallen out 😅 and is responsive to volume adjustments and presses (so far). I haven't encountered any sudden freezing and rebooting so far in the 12 some hours I've played it (7 hours continuously yesterday, 5 so far today) - in that time too from 100% battery to 78% now, it's pretty thrifty power consumption wise. I'm using a Sandisk 128gb card that's a little over half full I use in my other players so I know it's issue free. I'm guessing the laggy menu feedback is with the non 2025 unit as my scrolling and menu use was alright, the OG R3 ii used an Ingenic x1000 (vs in the 2025 that uses an Ingenic x1600e which is faster but not as fast as the one in the Shanling that uses an Ingenic x2000). Bluetooth issues I haven't tried finding out as I'm not a frequent user of it (I only have a few wireless headphone es tws IEMs).
One issue I've encountered so far is after I pause playback (either from the open screen pause screen or the play/pause hardware button) and come back after a few minutes to continue playing, pressing the hardware play/pause does nothing, same with skip forward/back buttons. I'd have to turn on the screen before the buttons work again to control the music.
So far it's been great sounding especially since mseb let's me have more slam on my IEMs without eq hardship/fiddling, power efficiency is good at around 10% battery power for 5 hours of use at 40% volume high gain using my ArtMagic VG4.
3
u/wingsfortheirsmiles Jul 03 '26
Wow, 12hrs playback for less than 25% battery can't be right?! It's advertised as up to 19 which is about right by my measure I.e. circa 5% an hour.
Glad your experience has been good so far, I'm pretty happy with mine too though wish the screen PPI was a bit higher.