I get that but this is something I experienced and it is not a direct complaint about A&K DAP's, merely another perspective on why some people buy DAP's. I am simply pointing out that there are other motivations to buying a DAP that having nothing to do with audio capabilities. I did not...

Glad I am not planning to order an R4 for a couple more months. Hopefully this overheating issue will be sorted by then. I know it is only a few units with the issue but it is still a gamble I would rather not take if possible.

I think to some degree those that buy the really expensive DAP's are more about the bling than the technical capabilities. There was this tiny Portable audio dealer I bought some stuff from (has since moved into a larger location). He sold A&K DAP's and he told me he would sell 7 or 8 a week...

Yes the ability to swap out tubes to change the sound tuning is a nice bonus to getting a desktop tube amp. I certainly can't comment on his DIY design implementations going back 15 years. He is a bit of a mad scientist and may have abused the tubes quite a bit. Ultimately though the...

That is stretching my budget a little to far, I am looking more in the $500 US range which fits the R6 III and also maybe the Shanling M5 Ultra. An updated R5 gen2 (to gen3) would probably hit the perfect spot if Hiby included the gen2 features with some upgraded hardware and software.

I am very interested in the R4 but I would also consider stepping up to a higher end Hiby DAP. I really like the look and features of the R5 gen2, any chance you could give a heads-up on a possible R5 gen3 coming out in the future? I certainly understand if you can't. I also just started...

Thanks for the information, will they ever be linked on the Hiby site under Downloads? It seems like a logical place given the Changelog for the firmware updates are listed their.

Can you explain how this works to a newby? If I click on a firmware update on the Hiby site for the R5 gen2 V1.30 for example it only shows the Change Log but no link to the firmware file. This would be my first full android and Hiby DAP which will require more updates than I am use to and I...

Is it possible to manually install firmware updates on Hiby DAP's. I was just on the hiby site and in the download section it appears the only way to do a firmware update on the R4 and most other DAP's is via wifi. I don't have access to wifi right now due to technical issues only have an...

I need for some funds to become available before I can buy another DAP so there is plenty of time to watch and wait to see how the N3 Ultra and other new DAP's mature with updates and more user feedback before the actual purchase. Yes I am also investigating some desktop tube amps to possibly...

Yes you are correct but in terms of someone I know and trust and my own experiences I feel better with the known vs impressions given by people I don't know.

I'll pop open a cold one and make some snacks and check it out this weekend, looking forward to it! Edit: great review once again and I did actually have to pause partway through to make a snack. The great thing about your reviews despite the length is you throw in everything including the...

I have no personal experience with JAN6418 tubes, the 1 to 3 year figure came from a friend of mine. He has experience using these tubes in his DIY tube preamps and amplifiers builds going back 15 years and I got this timing from another DIY site. This also falls in line with my own experience...

I appreciate the response and your openess to the question. I understand the chances of an issue are probably quite small but I have had nightmare experiences shipping DAP's to China for service. More than once having to eat the cost of the DAP when it was returned unfixed or got lost in...

Is it just me or is Hiby becoming the Chinese Sony with all these new DSP's and plugins? I don't use any of Sony's plugins as I find them of little use but it seems like Hiby's will have some real benefits. Looking forward to trying them at some point.

Count me in for adding to a future firmware update. Anything to simplify the process would be appreciated.

No that is what it would cost me to buy it in Canada including tax and that assumes free shipping. We pay an arm and a leg for audio gear in this country.

Thanks for the info will keep it in mind since it looks like it will still be awhile before audioexcellence gets stock.

Yeah my concern is about potential failure of a component in the device, not necessarily the entire device if the component can be replaced. I am talking about close to $900 for a DAP with tax which is still alot of money. As for a smartphone my current android phone I have had for 4 years now...

As a fellow canuck I was wondering how much you paid for the M5 Ultra? Audio Excellence (www.audioexcellence.ca) in Markham has it on pre-order for $799.00 CDN ($903 with tax) and I was wondering how much I could save if I import it. Obviously it is always great to buy local as so few DAP's are...

I was actually wondering about something like this as an option. Connecting the DAP to my computer and being able to use my wired internet connection to kind of side load to the R4 with the USB connection. So thanks for the link and this is something I will try once I get the R4. This will...

I can only go by my 40 years of experience working with electronics. I probably would enjoy the hobby more if I was a teacher or an accountant and not knowing what I know. Knowing what I know and experiencing what I have with electronics some components have a higher failure rate than others...

Any chance these can be added manually now or in the future? I have terrible unreliable wifi and am using ethernet only right now and likely for the forseeable future. I am planning on getting the R4 in the next couple of months and would love these plugins. Might they be added via firmware...

That is not what I found and who is to say you won't get a lemon tube in your DAP. I actually grew up with tube amps and pre-amps and my experience is not far off from 1 to 2 years. I have had tubes go after 6 months and some have lasted a year or so at best. Not to say Andy is lying but...

Are the tubes user replaceable? JAN6418 tubes have an estimated life span best case scenario of 1 to 3 year based on a quick google search. Assuming you use the N3Ultra heavily and you only get 1 year out of a tube how hard are they to replace if at all by the end user? Looking at the...