So I got the unit and ran it in for 50 hours before a listen. This was always going to be a hit and run take and i didn't receive Earphones with the unit so just a quick review on the DAP. Next reviewer should have both this forwarded player and earphones direct from Hiby in hand around the same time. :relaxed: Layout; This is a beautiful unit with a 5.5" screen and at my personal portable size limit yet easily accommodated. Great that they include a leather(?) case. Unlike previous Hiby units with the Volume on top and Connections on the bottom...

I love these but they're good enough to hear what you got wrong or right. I'm accustomed to Hi End home kit, silly priced electronics, top source kit and both electrostatic and dynamic speakers with well integrated ribbon tweeters etc. I have an associate who is a recording engineer that also teaches and get to hear some of those sessions both live and recorded. Rarely with overdubs so have a good references. I'm not getting into a long point by point review here with pics etc but just wanted to add my take on these and tuning. Lets do the scalpel...

I guess I'll start the review in the order of the above but let me preface with my overall opinion as it relates to my personal needs. For me, it's a near perfect player as it arrives with it's stock amp. I'd prefer a 4.4mm simply due to it likely being more robust but the 2.5mm works great for IEMs which is how I use a portable. That said and while the 2.5mm jack drove every full size phone I threw at it perfectly, iBasso also offers higher current amp options with 4.4 jacks which makes this performance available to all, even those with more severe...

removed due to not having enough time with it and don't want to overstate the goodness without having owned them.

This will only be about sound. They were all great in use and that ground has been covered. You'll need to be patient for the M3s portion or just skip ahead. M1: Cheap and cheerful. It's a warmish, smooth player but not lacking in color. It doesn't reach in as far as better players but at this size and price is a very enjoyable listen. I (my daughter's now) own an old AK100 MkII ( the low output impedance version) which would still cost significantly more used. It's still a better player with a similar tonality but has better prat separation and...

  So after a day of somewhat abusive run in (free and impatient) and tip rolling, I can say these easily play in a realm at or above their $100 price point. The stock tips are fine and Grado tips also work well but try a few doubles on them all the way to the base and you may get really great results. The stock tips are short and I prefer those up near the tip, the Grado/Orto tips can go lower on the body of the nozzle as they're longer and the UE doubles are quite long, should sit against the base and just sing on these. I have a half dozen double...

The player, for lack of a better word, is dramatic but not artificially so. More like it has the ability to bring home the soul and intentions of a song. There's a tangibility here that you don't get from other all in one players. Music often has a personal message or story that a performer is trying to relate and it's the hardest thing kit has to do. Call it goose bump factor but it won't show up in specs. This player can transport you there.   It's not perfect. The ui could be more refined (but it's fine), the display larger(but it's fine)...

There is a lot here to prejudice me against them but with only 6 hrs breakin, I already just plain enjoy them. To me, this is as much bass as I could use without mucking things up so they're fun without being overbearing at the bottom. The mids are extremely natural sounding and less IEM in nature. I wouldn't call the transition to the highs ruler flat as you may suspect from something described as natural since the lower treble/very upper mids is a bit back but far from missing and it gives these a very relaxed and real character without lacking...