I’m on a tight budget, so I want to be sure before spending a significant amount on a DAP. I’d like to know if they’re worth the price and if there are plenty of customization options. I love being able to personalize my devices to match my style—it’s really important to me.

Bought it in China Taobao for a very good price during 11.11. About 360USD. Comes with the official orange leather case.

For context, it's my first time owning and using a DAP, I had always use a phone+DAC setup (LG V60 + Gryphon). But it's not convenient as this phone is too big, so I'm giving DAP one shot.

The main concern I always have with DAPs is the impression that they are just binding a DAC to a low-end phone that make the whole device outdate real quick. 1. New portable DACs come with great features that are lacking in most DAPs. 2. For someone who is tech savvy, it doesn't feel right knowing the processor is worse than some 6-years-old low end phone... which costs only a fraction and has sdcard slot too, and much better OS (will mention later).

FYI, My Hiby is configured to use Nova launcher + UAPP (DSD native off & MQA decoder off so that everything uses my MSEB tuning).

Here are the complains so far:

1. The case, is too tight, no cutout for buttons, volume knob 90% unusable. Case lacking QC as the case does not align nicely with the screen (slanted few degrees off).

2. Snapdragon 665 is still not good enough. When browsing chrome, music could even stop playing. (Weakness of DAP in general)

3. 3-button navigation layout cannot be customized to swap "back" and "recent app" buttons. This proves that android version 12 doesn't matter if it's so crippled it has less features than an android 10, 8, or 6 on a phone.

4. OS is immature, having some hiccups and glitches here and there. Again, don't expect DAP's Android to be like a phone. It's more like Android of tvbox. Lol.

5. Android security patch in 2021 lol..

6. (Bug or faulty unit) While charging, MSEB will not work. It will cause 1 side to have no sound and eventually both sides no sound. Only affects PCM output, DSD and MQA are not affected. (Pending HiBy tech team to debug)

7. HiBy music app is not bad, but UAPP is still better. This is a joke, that none of the DAPs out there can build a better app than UAPP. Which leads to next point...

8. Features like PEQ, EQ are only in the HiBy music app. Which means it's not system-wide, just take note. There are already DACs out there having PEQ globally. That's why I said, DAP gets outdated quick because DAC capability falls behind, as well as Android OS update support is limited.

Good things about HiBy R6 III:

• system-wide sound settings that works with other music apps. Eg: HiBy's MSEB and plugins like convolution.

• HiBy WeChat customer service is quite fast actually

• their music app is better than most other brands out there

• it looks really good for the eyes

• charging speed is decent

Good things about DAPs:

• 4.4 balanced output in one single device, so u can fit in your pocket and walk anywhere u want.

• you dislike cable hanging between 2 devices

• you think leather case looks really cool

• you value the proprietory sound customization and settings that are "system-wide".

• you accept your fate on the crippled android OS (some brands like Shanling even block 3rd party launcher)

• you still prefer a brick even when you can get a smaller performance phone+DAC strapped together (check out Xperia XZ2 Compact with snapdragon 845 and Fiio Q3 with DSD256 + MQA + 2.5/3.5/4.4)

Common issues of HiBy that were resolved:

1. Nearby Share is not working at first, you have to allow "Nearby devices" permission for App > Google Play Services.

2. HiBy Cast screen orientation on my phone is stucked in landscape mode. Rotate the R6 to landscape and back to portrait. Now phone finally stays in portrait mode.