HiBy OS

The Android mobile operating system is a gift that gives on giving. Because of the open nature, various builds are documented and available online for developers to tinker with. HiBy OS is an Android build, and there are different versions of HiBy OS on different HiBy DAPs today. So it kind of sucks knowing that the R5 (Gen 2) not only got shafted with volume buttons instead of a wheel as on every single HiBy DAP more expensive than it, but also the older HiBy OS based on Android 8.1 that was launched in Aug 2017 and has long since stopped receiving support from Android. The other HiBy OS build uses Android 9.0, which might not seem like a big deal, but there are a few things it has that this OS does not. For example, if you like parametric EQ, you are pretty much out of luck in the absence of compatible Android apps such as Wavelet and Poweramp EQ requiring Android 9.0. There are also the security concerns of an older OS, and some currently available apps potentially not being support on Android 8.1 in the future. Customers may consider this a dealbreaker, but it should not be a concern anytime soon with any of the major streaming platforms.

Part of the reason behind HiBy going with the older Android build on its newest DAP is no doubt product segmentation, but some of it comes down the Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 SoC. Announced over six years ago, it was an entry-to-midrange phone processor with no support for 802.11ax and WiFi 6 or Bluetooth 5.0 even back then. We are relegated to Wireless AC and Bluetooth 4.2 thus, and the next step up in HiBy's DAP lineup uses the octa-core Snapdragon 660 with newer features, making the R5 (Gen 2) less than future-proof in an increasingly wireless world. I realize this is ironic to complain about with a DAP all about wired performance, but streaming services are one of the biggest applications for DAPs today, so these complaints remain valid, and certainly are things to keep in mind.


With the primary complaints out of the way, let me try and persuade you that the actual user experience is still highly positive, which is why I remain optimistic about the HiBy R5 (Gen 2). The DAP is still plenty snappy and fast, with perceived lag only felt with your new phone alongside. The 2 GB of RAM onboard make multi-tasking the only challenge, but I had a surprising number of apps open without realizing it even here. A newer processor would also only reduce the boot time of ~22 seconds to 15–16 seconds, which in itself is a non-factor since you would rarely turn the DAP off. If you are remotely familiar with Android, most of what I am doing will be intimately familiar, including pulling down the notification and quick shortcuts menu at the top. The screen brightness slider needs no explanation, but note the volume level, battery percentage, and local time in the top-left corner. HiBy's build retains a WiFi and Bluetooth toggle and adds a gain setting shortcut to toggle through low, medium, and high gain right there. Then there is the on/off toggle for one of the biggest marketing features on the R5 Gen 2—a dedicated Class A amplifier mode I will discuss in more detail later in this review. The final shortcut is dedicated to audio settings, which pulls up a page full of related options, including changing the single-ended output to a line out mode that turns the DAP into a wired DAC and/or source to connect your discrete amplifier and power earphones, headphones, speakers to. Add or remove widgets, apps from the app drawer, change the favorites at the bottom, etc. of the home page, and the three-button navigation also triggered nostalgia galore, although you can admittedly use it in modern Android builds, too.


Plug-ins are a great equalizer for this older version of HiBy OS, providing users more controls and features alike. Some are pre-installed, but head over to the online section with the DAP connected to the internet via WiFi for more as they come up over time. A fourth plug-in was available here, for example. Helpful cues indicate what they do, and here is the first time I wanted better feedback in the form of a proper haptic motor. The screen elements are also small and have an even smaller hit-box, which may frustrate those with fat fingers. I had no problems with my average-sized male hands though, and my attention was instead given to the various options. Channel balance, for example, has +/- 20 dB of leeway, but the star is the fixed sample rate plug-in that bypasses Android's sample rate conversion on a system level to allow you to choose the desired playback rate. This works with lossless music from any app or source, including local files, with HiBy using Apple Music as a prime example.


I take that back, MSEB is the real equalizer here—get it? MSEB stands for Mage Sound Eight Ball tuning, which is ridiculous when you call it that, but it kind of works? Think of it as a hybrid of parametric EQ and fun presets, some of which are already available for you to try out and fiddle with. This is not just a 5 or 10-band EQ filter, as there are rather a multitude of user-configurable settings which affect the overall sound signature in specific ways. Here too helpful cues go over what these aim to do, with some being quite obvious, such as sibilance and voice, although why someone would want to have more sibilance is beyond me, and others seeming more psychoacoustic in nature. There is an on/off toggle for quick A/B testing of your settings, and a reset option for when you know you've messed up bad and want to start from scratch. The other audio settings include DSD gain compensation, a system-wide channel balance of +/- 10 dB the plug-in goes further with, and of course a max volume setting so you don't accidentally blow out your ears using the hardware or software volume controls.


Another build of HiBy OS solely made for the Chinese market is seemingly making rounds for the R5 Gen 2. This version does not come with Google Play Services, rendering it quite "nerfed." So at the very least you owe it to yourself to check with the retailer, but HiBy tells me all authorized retailers will have the version I had, and the default language will be English when purchased from retailers outside China. Seen above are the pre-installed apps on this HiBy OS build, which includes the default Android calculator, calendar, and clock apps, two separate file managers on top of a dedicated gallery app, Via browser that I had only heard of but never used until now, and of course Google Play Store and general settings. Google Play Store is where you will find and install other apps of your choosing, be it for streaming services, different music players, or Chrome, which I installed immediately. There's also HiBy's own music app, but it deserves a page of its own. I won't talk too much about the various phone settings outside of mentioning that this is where you would go to choose the wired connection if using the DAP as a wired USB DAC, for instance, change whether the buttons can be used when the DAP is locked and the screen off, admire the battery life courtesy the relatively massive 4500 mAh battery inside, allow the music app to operate in full screen mode, which I recommend, sign into your Google account if you wish to, and the hardware specifications inside. The storage section shows that HiBy added 16 GB of integrated flash storage, which turns into ~11 GB for your media files. Not a lot, it is enough for many albums without the expandable storage option.