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HiBy Digital M300 Portable Digital Audio Player Review
Introduction:
HiBy Music has launched the new sub-brand HiBy Digital, a lifestyle-oriented company catering to the newest generation, while HiBy Music will continue to serve medium to high-end oriented products.
HiBy Digital has launched its first product the HiBy Digital M300 in order to set a new standard for ultraportable Digital Audio Players. The HiBy Digital M300 stands out from traditional DAP’s with its focus on entertainment and portability. The M300 boasts built-in speakers, custom Fn buttons, FM Radio, and an impressive array of features. Running on Android 13 and powered by the Snapdragon 665 chipset and a Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chip, this device offers a decent experience.
Disclaimer:
I would like to thank HiBy Digital for providing me the M300 Digital Audio Player. I am not affiliated with HiBy Digital or HiBy Music beyond this review and these words reflect my true and unaltered, opinions about the product.
Price & Availability:
The HiBy Digital M300 comes with a very competitive pricing of $199.00 US$, which is quite impressive with respect of all the Hardware & Software features it has. More information’s can be found under the link below;
Package & Accessories:
HiBy Digital M300 comes in a relative plain and small rectangular cardboard box with the HiBy Digital brand logo on the top. I interpret the main reason for this approach as the company’s desire to reduce costs here and direct more of them to the hardware of the actual product in order to offer a competitive price.
The box of the HiBy Digital M300 contains the following items/accessories;
- 1 x HiBy Digital M300 Digital Audio Player
- 1 x USB A to USB Type-C cable for file transfer and charging
- 1 x User Manual
- 1 x Warranty card
I do understand that HiBy Digital wants to reduce the cost for to pack more to the main product, but I would wish that they include at least a silicone case for the M300.
Design & Build Quality:
HiBy Digital M300 is a very handy device that will fit easily into your pocket thanks to its pretty small, slim, and lightweight construction. The body is made of a sturdy single-piece CNC-machined aluminum material with glass panels on the rear and front surfaces, while the top and bottom is made from plastic material in order to better transmit wireless signals. It is available in three different color options: blue, silver, and black. The dimensions of the device are 113 x 58 x 13 mm, and it weighs just 136g.
On the front of the M300 is a 4-inch touch display that comes pre-installed with a PVC screen protector, which is a nice addition. It is an IPS slimline OGS touchscreen with a resolution of 1280 x 640 pixels. The display is colorful, clear, and responsive. It offers viewing angles of up to 178degree and a color reproduction of up to 16.7 million colors.
Near the top right above the screen is the HiBy Digital branding.
On the top of the device is the dual-microphone setup that you can use as a voice recorder. BTW, the recorded sound is pretty good in terms of clarity.
The left surface of the M300 sports a lanyard hanger and a single Micro SD card slot that supports cards with a capacity of up to 2TB.
The right surface of the chassis is equipped with an LED status indicator, 3 buttons, and one Fn switch. The first button is dedicated for power/wake-up functions and is located near the LED status indicator. The second is a two-way button for volume up and down.
The third one is another two-way button reserved for Next (fast forward) and Previous track. The Fn switch button can be customized with different functions, including one-touch recording, button lock, loudspeaker mute, screen flip, etc.
At the bottom of the M300 is the analog and digital sound output and input interface.
Here are the 3.5mm single-ended output that supports earphones with microphones, the multifunctional USB Type-C digital interface, and a small speaker. The USB Type-C port supports Digital Out, Data (File Transfers), and charging functions.
It’s nice to have a speaker on such a small device. However, the sound that comes from the speaker is relatively thin and somewhat muted.
The rear side of the M300 features a glass panel that also has a pre-installed PVC protector.
Here are the HiBy Digital logo, some industrial certifications (CE, FCC, etc.), and the Hi-Res Audio/Wireless brandings.
When it comes to build quality, I can say that it’s pretty decent, especially for such a well-priced and feature-packed device.
Technical Specifications:
- Model : M300
- Operating System : Android 13
- SoC : Qualcomm Snapdragon 665
- CPU : 11nm 8-Core Kryo 260, 2.2GHz.
- GPU : Andreno 610
- Display : 4” IPS Touch Display with 1280×640 resolution
- RAM : 3GB
- ROM : 32GB
- Micro SD Support : 1x up to <2TB
- DAC : Cirrus Logic CS43131
- Audio Codec’s : PCM 768kHz/32Bit – DSD 256
- Analog Out : 3.5mm Single Ended output with MIC support
- Digital Out : USB Type-C
- Phone Out Power : 103mW @ 32 Ohm
- Frequency Response : 20Hz – 80kHz
- THD-N 3.5mm SE : 0.001%
- Noise Floor : 1µV
- SNR : 120dB
- DNR : 119dB
- Bluetooth Standard : 5.0
- Bluetooth Two-Way : LDAC/AAC/SBC (APTX via FW update)
- Wi-Fi : Dual Band 2.4 GHz & 5.0 GHz
- Battery Capacity : 2000mAh
- Battery Life : up to 29hours
- Dimensions : 113x58x13mm
- Weight : 136g
Hardware & Software Features:
HiBy Digital M300 is a multifunctional Digital Audio Player (DAP) with very notable hardware and software features, especially considering its affordable price and ultra-portable design. This is why I want to delve deeper into this topic below.
Snapdragon 665 SoC & Storage:
The HiBy Digital M300 is a compact powerful digital audio player (DAP) that offers a decent user experience and exceptional audio quality. It boasts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 octa-core SoC supported by 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of internal storage, ensuring smooth operation and ample storage.
The Snapdragon 665 SoC is a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the Snapdragon 660, delivering enhanced performance and power efficiency. This chip is built on an 11nm manufacturing process, offering improved energy consumption compared to the older 14nm process. Additionally, the integrated Andreno 610 GPU ensures a responsive and fluid graphical user interface (GUI).
For those with extensive music collections, the device features a MicroSD card slot, allowing storage expansion up to a theoretical 2TB.
Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) & Amplification:
The HiBy Digital M300 comes with a Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chip that features a next-generation, low-power DAC architecture that supports audio playback of PCM up to 768kHz/32Bit and Native DSD support for DSD64 / DSD128 / and DSD256 files. The Signal to Noise Ratio is approx 120dB and THD+N has a value of about 0.001% that is quite decent.
The CS43131 DAC chip comes with a build in amplifier that offers a driving power of about 103mW @ 32ohm this is not very high on paper but quite efficient enough to drive In-Ear Monitors and most of the power efficient Headphones. The M300 has no Gain option but there is a setting under “System Settings à Media Volume” where you can increase to max volume level of the device that was in default a bit low.
Supported File Formats:
The HiBy Digital M300 is capable to play a wide range of mainstream and Lossless audio formats such like MP3, FLAC, APE AIFF, WMA, WAV, ALAC and supports also Native hardware DSD Decoding up to DSD256.
High-Resolution Wireless Connectivity & FM Radio:
The HiBy Digital M300 supports high-resolution wireless Bluetooth connectivity. It supports the Bluetooth V5.0 protocol for connectivity with high-resolution LDAC and other BT codec’s like AAC and SBC, while aptX is not listed at the moment that is planed to be supported with a future FW update.
The M300 is equipped with a DUAL band Wi-Fi antenna that supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz connectivity for a reliable and stable wireless internet connection. You can download and listen to online music services such like Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, Deezer, etc.
Another feature of the M300 is the FM Radio application that utilizes your earphone as an antenna when connected to the 3.5mm headphone jack. It functions quite well, making it a valuable addition.
Battery Life:
The HiBy Digital M300 comes with a built-in 2000mAh battery that offers decent battery life of up to 29 Hours and a standby duration of up to 15 days.
I am getting around 20 to 22 Hours under the following test conditions that are quite impressive;
- Volume: %50
- File: Flac 16bit/44.1kHz
- Screen: Off
- Wi-Fi & Bluetooth: Off
Software:
The HiBy M300 comes with the latest Android version, OS 13. HiBy has always been a successful company in the software industry, and the HiBy Digital M300 features a very fluid and responsive user interface thanks to the use of a SoC like the Snapdragon 665 and 3GB of RAM.
The M300 comes pre-installed with the HiBy Music, Voice Recorder, File Manager, and FM Radio apps, along with many other standard Android applications such as Calendar, Gallery, and Calculator. Additionally, the device offers the ability to install online music services such as Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz, and Apple Music, as well as games, videos, and countless third-party applications through the Google Play Store.
The HiBy Music Application is my favorite player that I am using also with my Smartphone and Tablet. It offers a very versatile and clean interface with lots of features including a PMEQ and HiBy’s MSEB (Mage Sound 8-Ball), which is a very versatile sound adjustment tool.
Equipment’s used for this review:
- DAP’s : HiBy Digital M300
- IEM’s : HiBy Digital XOE, HiBy YVAIN, Truthear NOVA
- Headphones : SIVGA Luan
Albums & tracks used for this review:
- Adele – My Little Love (Spotify)
- Randy Crawford – On Day I Will Fly Away (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Hayley Westenra – Odyssey Album (Dezzer HiFi)
- Dionne Warwick – Walk On By (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Sarah McLachlan – Angel (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Sertap Erener – Aşk (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Edith Piaf – Non Je Ne Regrette Rien (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Diana Krall – So Wonderful (DSF)
- Aretha Franklin – I Say A Little Payer (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Sonya Yoncheva – (Giuseppe Verdi) II Trovatore, ActI (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- George Michael – Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- David Bowie – Heroes (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Elton John – Rocket Man ((Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Barry White – Just The Way You Are (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Isaac Hayes – Walk On By (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Sting – Englishman in New York – (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- B. King – Riding With The King (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- Dave Gahan – Kingdom (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Muse – Hysteria (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Rush – YYZ (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – Nobody Weird Like Me (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Bro Safari, UFO! – Drama (Deezer HiFi)
- Rok Nardin – Berserks (Spotify)
- Bear McCreary – Valkyries “God of War OST” (Deezer HiFi)
- Armin Van Buuren – Vini Vici (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Daft Punk – Doin’ it Right (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Jo Blankenburg – Meraki (Spotify)
- Lorde – Royals (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Massive Attack – Angel (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Toutant – Rebirth (Deezer HiFi)
- Gogo Penguin – Raven (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Gogo Penguin – Murmuration (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Alboran Trio’s – Cinque Lunghissimi Minuti (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Portishead – It Could Be Sweet (Spotify)
- Max Richter – On the Nature of Daylight (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Charly Antolini – Duwadjuwandadu (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Ferit Odman – Look, Stop & Listen (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Chopin – Nocturn No. 20 In C-Sharp Minor (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Fazıl Say – Nazım Oratoryosu (Live) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Vivaldi – Le QuarttroStagioni “The Four Season” (Deezer HiFi)
- Otto Liebert& Luna Negra – The River (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Lunatic Soul – The Passage (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Deftones – My Own Summer (Shove it) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Metallica – Sad but True (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Opeth – Windowpane (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Megadeth – Sweating Bullets (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- Rush’s – Leave That Thing Alone (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Slayer – Angel of Death (Spotify)
- Liquid Tension Experiment 2 – Acid Rain (Spotify)
- Yosi Horikawa – Bubbles (Spotify)
The Sound:
The HiBy Digital M300 is a sleek and compact Digital Audio Player that delivers a mildly warm and relative smooth sound with good bass depth and intensity. The midrange sounds pretty rich and clear, which is a common character of devices that do feature a Cirrus Logic DAC. The treble area is fairly smooth and relaxed, while the extension is in general quite efficient for a device at this price level.
The HiBy Digital M300 review has been written after a burn-in period of about 75 – 80 hours. The sound impressions below are mainly based on my experiences paired with IEM’s like HiBy YVAIN, HiBy Digital XOE and Truthear NOVA, and SIVGA Luan headphone.
Bass / Midrange / Treble / Soundstage & Imaging:
The HiBy Digital M300 is a portable DAP that exhibits a harmonious pairing with both the HiBy YVAIN and Truthear NOVA, resulting in a mildly warm and smooth overall sound. The sub-bass region delivers a notable sense of depth and intensity, particularly when listening to bass-heavy tracks like Rok Nardin’s “Berserks” or Armin Van Buuren’s “Vini Vici”.
The mid-bass region of the M300 is producing a reasonably impactful and controlled response, while it exhibits a balanced emphasis and intensity. The overall midbass character is remarkably fast and controlled, devoid of noticeable mixing issues or unwanted muddiness during complex bass passages in tracks like Gogo Penguin’s “Raven” or Charly Antolini’s “Duwadjuwandadu”.
The HiBy Digital M300 presents a mildly warm and fairly rich midrange with efficient sense of transparency and airiness. The lower midrange delivers a smooth, sweet, and musical vocal representation, especially when paired with the mid-forward earphones like the HiBy YVAIN. Male vocals like Dave Gahan, Isaac Hayes or Sting are reproduced convincingly and musically, while instruments like acoustic guitars resonate with a pleasingly smooth and emotive quality, a surprising feat given the M300’s modest price tag.
The upper midrange of the M300 receives good emphasis and generally performs well in terms of clarity and detail retrieval when paired with IEM’s like the HiBy XOE and YVAIN and SIVGA Luan headphone. The upper midrange exhibits a smooth yet controlled tuning, offering sufficient extension when listening to female vocals like Adel, Edith Piaf, or Aretha Franklin, or instruments such as pianos, violins, or side flutes.
The HiBy Digital M300 features a gentle and forgiving treble presentation and the transitions from the upper midrange to the treble region are in general well-controlled. The treble range has a fairly smooth and relaxed tuning with along with a tad warmer than neutral tonality. The lower treble range offers an efficient amount of presence, while the upper treble region is mildly pronounced. Overall, the treble presentation of the M300 is fatigue-free and relaxing, making it well-suited for a wide range of genres and earphones/headphones.
The HiBy Digital M300 demonstrates commendable performance in terms of instrument and vocal separation and positioning. The soundstage is relatively expansive and conveys a sufficient sense of airiness. The sense of width of the stage is quite impressive for a device in this price range, while the depth is on a sufficient level.
Conclusion:
The HiBy Digital M300 is a versatile and user-friendly digital audio player that caters to a wide range of music lovers. Its focus on entertainment and portability, coupled with its pretty interesting array of features, makes it a compelling choice for those seeking a comprehensive audio experience on the go. Moreover, the device delivers a warm and smooth sound with good bass depth, clear midrange, and relaxed treble. Overall, the HiBy Digital M300 proves to be a well-rounded Digital Audio Player that strikes a balance between performance and convenience.
Pros & Cons:
- + Pretty good overall audio performance for an entry-level device
- + Sleek & Compact Design
- + Fluid UI with lots of Features
- + Solid Battery Life
- + Excellent Touch Screen with decent viewing angles
- + Impressive value for your Money
- – Mediocre Speaker performance
- – No Protective Case