Disclaimer: Hiby has sent Audiophiles Alliance BD the Xeno for a review tour in exchange of our honest thoughts and opinions. If you decide to purchase this IEM based on my review and find that you disagree with this assessment, that responsibility lies solely with you. I strongly discourage relying solely on a single review for making purchasing decisions in the realm of audio gear, as preferences vary. Furthermore, you should conduct thorough research by exploring platforms such as YouTube, head-fi forums, and various Facebook audiophile groups and websites until you come to a final conclusion.
Non-affiliated Link:
https://store.hiby.com/products/hib...KQ1bE6WP-QvNly9UVUiqTATPpH-KIj_gjP9hRRC56tfF8
Intro: The Xeno is the outcome of Hiby’s efforts to create something revolutionary, for general users, audiophiles and gamers alike. Xeno is a hybrid consisting of the latest Cowell xMEMS driver and a 10mm Graphene dynamic driver. I believe the MEMS driver is taking care of the high’s of the XENO while the dynamic driver is covering the mids and the low’s. Another interesting feature of the XENO is its implementation of dual-dac’s, a Cirrus Logic CS43131 and a ES9018C2M. Each DAC covers one of the drivers, although none of the marketing materials or manuals mention which covers which.
The Controller: This is a sort of control panel of the Hiby XENO. It contains the dual-dacs, the microphone and some buttons for basic control. The “+” and “-“ buttons are used to control the volume of the device. Do be careful playing around with the volume control though, the Xeno can get piercingly loud. The “O” button controls the 3 tuning modes of the XENO and the ▷ button controls the play/pause action while you are listening to your songs.
️Tuning: Hiby Xeno provides three distinct tuning which can be activated using the “O’ button from the controller as mentioned earlier.
The Basic/Flat Mode: It’s a bright neutral sound signature, with more of an emphasis on treble and has boosted-upper mids. LED indicator blinking green once while accessing this mode using the controller.
Dynamic/Bass Boosted Mode: This tuning is more veiled and warm sounding and tried to boost the low end of the Xeno. But it makes the bass sound more boomy rather than well-extended or textured. The upper-mids emphasis is toned down in this mode.
Gaming/Cinema Mode: This a variation of the basic mode with vocals pushed further back and sounding airier and more spacious. 3D imagining is slightly enhanced as well. Bass and treble performance remains very similar. Although all three tunings each have their own drawbacks, I will focus on the Basic/Flat mode while doing this review. As I find it to be most balanced and superior sounding out of all three.
Build & Design: The Xeno although lightweight, is very plasticky, I wish Hiby had gone for a more premium build quality here. I think Xeno falling under the “Hiby Digital” branding their target audience is the younger generation (teenagers), and Hiby has designed the Xeno accordingly. The fixed silver-plated copper cable (SPC) is also quite stiff and not very comfortable.
️Fit: Fit wise this is the worst device I have used so far, the nozzles are short and due to the shape of it, I can’t get a good fit with most tips including the stock ones. I have tried tip rolling with the Xeno quite extensively and Final clear tips gave me the best fit but still it’s a shallow insertion.
️Bass: Bass is the Achilles' heel of the Xeno, it lacks the rumble and punch expected from bass-heavy genres like EDM or hip-hop. Genres like classical, acoustic, and jazz benefit from this neutral approach as bass levels are more controlled it doesn’t mask the subtle details in the midrange or high frequencies. The dynamic driver within the Xeno is quick, providing a speedy bass that is fast to attack and just as quick to decay. This ensures that bass notes are punchy and well-defined, without any lingering resonance or bloat that might interfere with the overall sound signature. Tracks with complex, fast-paced bassline, such as progressive rock, metal, or fast electronic music are handled with impressive accuracy, allowing each note to be distinct and well-articulated. Even though the quantity is moderate, the bass that is present comes across as well-textured, offering a nuanced presentation. The IEMs manage to capture the subtle intricacies of bass tones, whether it’s the pluck of a double bass string, the depth of an electronic kick drum, or the resonance of a low tom in a drum kit. The texture here adds depth and character, giving the bass a more organic feel rather than just being a flat, one-dimensional thud. However, the lack of bass extension is noticeable in all genres and takes away from the excitement or the engaging factor.
️Mids / Vocals: The most striking feature of the mids on the Hiby Xeno is how forward the vocals are, especially female vocals. The upper mids receive a slight boost, which pushes female vocals to the forefront, making them sound prominent and detailed. If you enjoy genres like pop, acoustic, or jazz, where female vocals take center stage, the Xeno truly shines. There’s a crispness to the delivery, ensuring that the delicate nuances in higher-pitched voices are well captured without sounding sibilant or harsh. Male vocals, while still clear, don’t stand out as much as their female counterparts. This is largely due to the lower midrange tuning, which leans slightly more neutral. While male vocals retain a decent amount of clarity, they lack some of the warmth and richness that can make deeper male voices sound full-bodied. For listeners who enjoy more robust or baritone male vocals, the Xeno’s tuning might feel a little thin, but it’s still doing a good job for keeping things clean and free from muddiness. Hiby Xeno excels with certain instruments in the midrange, acoustic guitars, for instance, sound crisp and articulate, with each strum and pluck of the strings being clearly defined. The upper-mid boost also helps bring out the natural brightness of pianos and violins, giving them a lively and engaging presence in the mix.
️Treble: The treble of the Xeno is well extended and adds a sense of openness and air to the sound, making instruments like cymbals, hi-hats, and strings feel lively and dynamic. The result is a crisp and clean treble presentation that excels in revealing the finer nuances of high-pitched instruments. The xMEMS driver is the true hero here, responsible for pulling out those intricate details in the upper-treble region. Instruments that rely on high-frequency harmonics like violins, flutes, and certain electronic sounds, are presented with exceptional clarity, allowing you to hear every subtle nuances. For genres that thrive on high-frequency energy such as jazz, classical, or even electronic music the treble on the Xeno can add a layer of excitement and realism that makes the listening experience more engaging. However, it’s worth noting that the sheer amount of treble energy may not be suited for all listeners. While the treble on the Hiby Xeno is generally well-controlled, the abundance of high-frequency energy can be overwhelming for some. Treble-sensitive listeners might find the extended upper-treble and added brilliance fatiguing over time, particularly on tracks with a lot of high-pitched instruments or vocals. The treble’s forward nature means that it can occasionally dominate the mix, and while it doesn’t cross the line into harshness for most users, it can still be a bit too much for those who prefer a more subdued or relaxed treble presentation.
️Resolution & Details: The Hiby Xeno stands out for its exceptional detail and resolution, offering a highly analytical sound signature that emphasizes precision over warmth. Designed to extract every bit of information from your music, the Xeno excels at delivering clarity and accuracy across the frequency spectrum, making it ideal for those who prioritize a clinical listening experience over a musical one. The high level of transparency means that no nuance is lost, whether it’s the intricate strumming of a guitar or the faintest echo of a reverberating vocal. Instruments are rendered with sharp definition, and the overall clarity is consistent throughout the entire frequency range.
️Natural Timbre: One of the most commendable aspects of the Hiby Xeno is its ability to maintain a natural timbre across the entire mix. Instruments sound as they should, acoustic guitars resonate with a realistic woody tone, violins soar with an authentic brightness, and drums retain their impact without sounding overly processed or artificial. The natural timbre adds to the realism of the sound, making it easy to forget that you’re listening through IEM’s and not a live performance. This natural tonality is particularly noticeable with acoustic and stringed instruments. The xMEMS driver technology in the Xeno helps deliver a lifelike representation of these instruments, ensuring that every note rings true to its original character.
️Soundstage: The Hiby Xeno offers a soundstage that is notably airy and moderately wide, striking a fine balance between openness and precise instrument placement. While the width of the stage isn’t the widest, the Xeno makes up for it with its excellent depth and height, creating a well-rounded and immersive listening experience. This well-projected soundstage brings clarity to the mix, ensuring each instrument has its own space without sounding congested.
️Imaging & Instrument Separation: One of the most remarkable aspects of the Hiby Xeno is its holographic imaging capabilities. The Xeno has the ability to place sounds around you with almost lifelike accuracy, providing a sense of depth and spatial realism that immerses you in the audio experience. Instruments and sound elements are projected with clarity and precision, allowing you to easily pickup their location within the mix. Whether it's a snare drum slightly to the left, a guitar solo up front, or ambient effects echoing in the background, the Xeno makes everything feel properly spaced and layered, creating a three-dimensional audio environment. This ability to project sound in a multi-dimensional space makes it ideal not only for music lovers but also for gamers who need precise audio cues, especially in competitive FPS games where pinpointing an enemy's footsteps from a distance can be the difference between winning and losing.
The Xeno has impressive instrument separation and layering. You can easily pick out individual instruments, such as a bassline, hi-hat, or guitar riff, without any blending or overlap. This clarity enhances your listening experience, especially in genres like rock, jazz, or orchestral music, where multiple instruments are layered together.
️Conclusion: You might have noticed during this review and I have avoided calling the Xeno an IEM, that’s because it is not. It’s different breed of an all-rounder device, you can use it for your phone calls, for gaming and your music listening session. And it excels in pretty much all of these activities without the need for a dedicated dac/amp! Although for the more dedicated audiophiles there is EQ and PEQ options to further customize the sound as per your liking. To keep this evaluation fair, I have decided against using EQ or PEQ though, not all of my readers will understand parametric equalizers and I have to take that into consideration. Hiby has announced this device via crowdfunding at $99, I think that makes the Xeno quite a bang for buck deal especially for the more versatile users.
