I recently bought the R3 II (it has some features that I don't really like but it works perfectly fine), and i recently saw the R4 and I fell in love with the design, however I don't want to buy it and leave my R3 to find it's not much of an upgrade so what are the advantages over the R3 (sonically speaking) apart from Android system, is it worth the upgrade?
Rn I'm using the R3 with the Fiio JH5, JH3 and the EPZ Q5, not much of a high end of headphones but they get the job done.
Videos
I've been using the HiBy R3 Pro II for a few weeks now, and I wanted to share my thoughts on this DAP so far.
TL;DR: The HiBy R3 Pro II is a fantastic DAP with excellent build quality, outstanding audio performance, and comprehensive connectivity options. While the UI has room for improvement, it's a solid device overall.
I'll cover what I feel most important, however, if I skip something you're interested in, I'm more than happy to expand.
So let's get started then:
Build Quality
The R3 Pro II is exceptionally well-built. It feels solid in hand with a satisfying weight that conveys quality. The Ultrasuede back was the primary reason I chose the R3 Pro II over other HiBy OS DAPs—it feels absolutely wonderful to hold, provides excellent grip, and is a refreshing change from the usual textureless backs found on most devices.
The buttons have a nice tactile feel, though the layout takes some getting used to initially. The status light on the power button is a nice touch (though it can be disabled in settings if you prefer).
Audio Performance
Simply put, it's perfect. Out of the box, the R3 Pro II has a conservative volume limit, but you can adjust this through developer options. On high gain, it easily drives my HD650s without breaking a sweat, while low gain provides more than enough power for any IEM.
A standout feature is MSEB, a HiBy OS exclusive that lets you fine-tune the sound to your preferences. Unlike traditional EQ, you're adjusting the overall sound signature rather than specific frequency responses, which feels more natural and musical.
User Interface
This is where the R3 Pro II has the most room for improvement.
The overall UI is attractive, mostly responsive, and intuitive to navigate. Settings are easily accessible, and most functions work as expected.
However, the library views—where it matters most—are problematic. The "Artists" view lists featured artists and collaborators as separate entries (similar to the iPod Classic), which becomes annoying with larger libraries and could be a dealbreaker for some users. The "Album Artist" view is similarly clunky. While it lists artists cleanly, it doesn't allow browsing by albums, instead displaying all tracks in a single list, making it nearly useless for my needs.
If HiBy implemented the filtering and sorting options from the Artists view into the Album Artist view, it would dramatically improve the experience for users with extensive libraries.
Other library views work as expected without issues.
Wired Connectivity
The R3 Pro II offers excellent connectivity options with 3.5mm, 4.4mm balanced, and USB-C connections.
The balanced 4.4mm output on high gain is impressively powerful—I could drive my HD650s comfortably at 60-70% volume, well above my usual listening levels.
The USB-C port is remarkably versatile, supporting both input and output DAC functionality. USB DAC mode worked flawlessly with my MacBook Pro, handling everything up to 32-bit/384kHz. I was even able to connect a USB-C dongle DAC (CB1200AU), which was detected and worked perfectly.
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth connections proved stable with excellent range, though there's noticeable latency (200ms-1s at worst in my testing).
I tested with TRN BT20 Pros and Sony WH-1000XM3s using both AAC and LDAC codecs—both worked flawlessly. While I don't have aptX devices to test, I expect they would perform equally well.
Connecting my iPhone 16 Pro Max via Bluetooth was seamless with rock-solid stability. The practical utility of this feature is debatable, but it works well when needed.
WiFi performance is solid despite only supporting 2.4GHz. The connection remained stable throughout testing, and I could stream Qobuz and Tidal up to MQA without issues. Both streaming service interfaces work well, allowing easy access to your library, playlists, new releases, and recommendations.
HiBy Link worked adequately—I could connect my phone to browse music and control the R3 Pro II remotely. However, it didn't perform as well as expected and only worked over WiFi in my testing, though it's supposed to work over Bluetooth as well. This isn't a concern for me since it's not a feature I'd use regularly.
The Import Music via WiFi feature worked well. The web interface is minimal but functional, allowing you to browse the SD card and upload/download files at reasonable speeds.
I didn't test the DLNA functionality.
Battery Life
Battery performance is excellent. I achieved around 15 hours of mixed use (Bluetooth and wired listening, frequent screen use, WiFi enabled, lots of tinkering). With more conservative usage, 20+ hours should be easily achievable. Standby time is outstanding—I never noticed battery drain when the device wasn't in use.
Conclusion
The HiBy R3 Pro II is an outstanding DAP that excels in build quality, audio performance, and connectivity options. While the user interface has some shortcomings, particularly in library management, the overall experience is very positive.
I have an R3 Pro that I’ve gotten quite a bit of use out of and in general like. The battery is apparently on its way out now, only lasting for maybe an hour using it wired.
I’m thinking of replacing it with an R3 II. How does it compare? I’m most curious about the Bluetooth, which is my main complaint about my R3 Pro, which has such terrible Bluetooth as to be completely unusable, dropping out constantly. Also, of course, I’m curious how the sound compares. And is the OS still more or less the same? I find my R3 Pro’s OS clunky and awkward, but does the job.
Full Written Review: https://mobileaudiophile.com/daps/hiby-r3-2-review/
Hiby R3 II ($179)
Hello everyone, at the link above is my full written review of Hiby Audio's latest budget oriented dap, the "Hiby R3 II". I have really enjoyed my time with the R3 II, but unfortunately I had to send it on its way. I was part of the Hiby Tour which brought along the Hiby Yvain as well as the Hiby R3 II. Folks, I think that for the money the R3 II is a fine device. Like anything it has its quarks but for the most part it is a very nice dap and serves its purpose perfectly. It's built and looks like a smaller full-sized dap. It has some good output power (up to 380mW), 3.5/4.4 Wifi, the battery is phenomenal, etc. etc. However, the best attribute of the Hiby R3 II is what we all want, and that is the Hiby R3 II actually sounds very good too. Truly a nice device across the board for the price.
Come and check out my review if the R3 II sounds like something which makes sense for you. Really there isn't a ton of very good daps in this price point ($179) and in my opinion… Hiby did a great job on this one.
R32 Pros🔥🔥
-Build Quality
-Nice compact design
-Good looking screen at this price
-Very nice output power for the price
-Dual connections (3.5/4.4 balanced)
-Works great for Bluetooth usages
-Battery is actually quite good
-This little guy has WIFI (Tidal / Quboz)
-Open and airy sound
-Clean, tight and detailed bass region
-Forward midrange with good presence in the mix
-Technicalities are all rather good
R32 Cons🥶🥶
-Screen resolution
-Slightly laggy UI
-Not for warm, dark or bass lovers
-You need an SD Card to even function (no internal memory)
-Not all album art would show up… Bummer
-Honestly, there aren’t any real cons with this little guy
https://mobileaudiophile.com/daps/hiby-r3-2-review/
There seems to be a new revision of the Hiby R3 II (but not sufficiently new to become an R3 III):
https://store.hiby.com/products/hiby-r3-ii-2025
"Upgraded to X1600E SoC for faster system operations, stronger Bluetooth connections; coupled with all-new user interface, operation is fast, intuitive and a breeze to learn."
I am a newbie to modern DAPs (my DAP-era was 20 years ago), but I have liked the design of the R3 II and was sad to see it disappear before I got one, and now there is this new version. Any idea what to expect from this in practice?
Hello, I cannot decide between these two and need some opinions about the differences between these two, it’s a plus if you had both. Thanks in advance!