PROS:
- One of the most EQ capable IEMs
- Superb transient response
- Versatile controls
- Good volume levels
- Dedicated EQ app
- Lightweight build
- Spec and feature rich
CONS:
- Complex EQ app
- Not the most refined tuning
- Cheap build quality
- Not the best fit and seal (subjective)
WHO THIS SET IS FOR:
- People who like new tech
- EQ lovers
- People who like an earphone with versatile controls
- People who like lightweight earphones
WHO THIS SET ISN’T FOR:
- People who want a refined product
- People who want detachable cable
- People who want a simple product
- People who want a sturdy build
RECOMMENDED GENRES:
- Pop
SHORT REVIEW:
The Xeno is a good look at what the future might bare for audio. A primarily digital device with built-in EQ, versatile inline controls, powerful DAC/AMP and a streamlined process that allows for a truly personal listening experience. Unfortunately, it suffers from the downfalls of a first gen product with a lot of rough edges from tuning to the built. Additionally, the EQ is completely contradictory to HiBy Digital’s target demographic of the casual listener. Nonetheless, HiBy Digital can comfortably say they’re one of the pioneers of the future of audio. RECOMMENDED WITH CAVEATS.
If you were to ask me how wireless audio tech could be improved, I can tell you a million things I want changed and improved. But if you were to ask me how wired audio could be improved, it’s a little harder to think of something that doesn’t require literal magic to do.
This is why when I found out about the xMems technology, I was quite baffled that audio tech could be improved this way. Obviously, there’s too much complicated tech to explain on what xMems is and what it does, so let me share you my experience with the HiBy Digital Xeno!
NOTE:
The HiBy Xeno has a Kickstarter for those who want to support the development of the product and also get to experience what the future of portable audio may be. Stay tuned for the link!
Big thanks to HiBy for sending over the Xeno in exchange for my honest thoughts.
THE XENO FILES
Let’s tackle what makes the Xeno such a special set in the first place. There are 2 modern audio tech jammed into the Xeno’s self; xMems and DSP.
DSP has been with us for a very long time, but only surfaced in portable audio recently due to the loss of the headphone jack. Another complicated tech that I like to simply see as “built-in EQ and DAC”. It’s more than that, of course. But most people wouldn’t really care what it is more than what it does for them. We’ll talk more about this very soon as it plays a very important part to the identity of the Xeno.
Next, we have the xMems. This tech has been out for quite a while, but my personal experience with xMems prior was on in-line microphones. I never understood why some cables had better microphones than others until I discovered some of them were using xMems tech. Now, xMems have evolved to be used for speakers which can apparently improve the sound quality due to its higher efficiency, all-silicone construction and small size. Quite frankly, I don’t know much about xMems to tell you how much technological advancement this is. But any advancement is great as long as it actually improves on the existing tech. But does it?
BUILD & FIT
If there’s one thing I know I don’t like about the Xeno, it’s the build and fit. Granted, the Xeno is from HiBy’s lifestyle brand, HiBy Digital. They don’t specialize in “audiophile” or “enthusiast” needs, moreso casual and general purpose. This means that the Xeno is catered to the casual people who happen to also like new tech.
However, this is not for those who are people like me who put fit and build pretty high up in priority. First and foremost, the fit itself is horrendous. It barely seals in my ear and the shape really does not help with this. I understand this is a self issue, but I also know that a lot of people will probably find the shape of the Xeno to be pretty bad.
While I don’t really think the all-plastic design is bad as it does make the Xeno rather lightweight and easy on the ears, the cable isn’t really the best cable in the world. Granted, it was explained to me as well as other wired xMems IEMs that the cable used is specifically used for the drivers. This means it can’t be detachable (yet) and the quality is fixed to how it is.
But how is the quality? Not very good, I’m afraid. Very tangle prone and pretty cheap feeling. The material is a sort of cloth-like with a soft and supple feel that is a little makes my face itch whenever it rubs on it.
I will give HiBy some props for the rather innovative center console of the Xeno. I have not seen an IEM with this big of a middle console that acts like a more advanced version of those that come with cables with microphones.
This allows to you to change the volume, pause, play and skip tracks and act as a microphone as well. But most importantly, this allows you to change the tuning on the dot. You can do this by pressing the circle button and you’ll see the LED at the center change color. This plays a VERY big part on the next section which will be the EQ and DSP part.
But before we talk about that, I should also mention that the center console features the DAC as opposed to be on the type C end. This features a CS43131 and ES9018C2M.
FEATURES
If there’s one thing I can appreciate HiBy Digital doing for Xeno, it’d be how jam packed this thing is.
I should first reiterate that the Xeno isn’t necessarily an “audiophile” product. Despite this, the audiophile features of this thing are honestly pretty insane.
First, we have the usual stuff you find in earphones. Inline microphone with controls (that is more versatile than your usual in-line controls), type C connection and DSP connection.
Where the Xeno diverts from the crowd is what it does with all that tech. First, you get PCM 384kHz and DSD128. Not an audiophile product, but with audiophile grade specs. Next, you also get exclusive mode (on specific applications that support it like the HiBy app) for bit-perfect listening. This also means that it bypasses the SRC of the device you’re listening to depending on the application.
But arguably the most fascinating thing about the Xeno is the application that allows you to play around with and save EQs in the DAC itself. Think of it as a built-in wired Quedelix 5K in an earphone.
I should note first that the EQ I used was for the PC and is something that only hardcore EQ nerds can use. It is NOT for casual listeners as the application is made for people who do mixing, professionals and the like. But I was also told that there will be a mobile app and you can use to set-up your own EQ. You can also just use HiBy’s own music application to EQ, but any device can do that as long as you have access to the app.
I mentioned that this was a game changer because of the xMems and the supplementary DD. Something I noticed with xMems drivers, whether it’d be TWS like the Creative Aurvana Ace 2 or the Xeno is how well it responds to EQ. Moving the EQ variables on the Xeno is so distinct and varied that, if you had the knowhow, you can tune this to whatever IEM and it’d sound really damn good. I created my own EQ setting for the 0.8 firmware and I loved that thing to death.
But on the topic of sound, how does this thing ACTUALLY sound?
SOUND
One of the things that early adaptors usually suffer from is not having the best implementation. This isn’t even exclusive to audio as the likes of folding phones had problems during their early adoption.
This is unfortunately the case with the xMems of the Xeno as, while it may provide fast transients, great details and rich bass, a lot of tonal quirks make it a rather peculiar set to listen to.
First, I should note that the Xeno was electronically tuned and not physically. This means that the tuning is digital through the DSP paired with the xMems and the other components. I’m not entirely sure of the DD was also tuned that way, but one can speculate.
As for my personal listening experience, I found the Xeno to be somewhat mediocre stock. The bass is a little too bloated and boomy, the mids are colored and recessed and the treble is genuinely all over the place. I can’t really pinpoint what exactly it is that felt so odd about the treble, but it was almost like there are very specific spikes in the tuning that genuinely make it so odd to listen to.
Usage wise, music listening wasn’t really something that I looked forward to in stock tuning and media consumption was just about average. Pair that with the poor fit and it really makes it hard to justify the stock tuning.
But this is where the EQ comes into play and why the Xeno is something that EQ nerds will absolutely love.
One of the benefits of being in the same company as the brand that provides one of the most useful EQ tools is that your product that is almost made to be EQ responds VERY well to this. I first experienced this with the PEQ app that was provided to me by HiBy and ran on my Windows PC. I did the ol’ EQ and measure trick to get my ideal tuning during the 0.8 firmware. And I’m not kidding, this thing sounded amazing. The bass was near perfect and the midrange was silky smooth with great details. The treble was also quite detailed, but was still somewhat barred due to the rather odd dip post 10k. But that was small considering how good the overall tonal balance of this way.
Then I also tried using MSEB and the global PEQ on HiBy apps and, while not as good as the built-in EQ, I was able to nicely adjust the tuning to suit a more casual and considerably easier EQ experience.
The Xeno is fundamentally a casual device in terms of its tuning with the rather unrefined tonality, but can become so much more with the provided EQ apps and the likes
This makes me feel like HiBy Digital wanted to create a blank canvas for casual listeners and so, created an IEM that responds really well to EQ and provided a supplementary app to it
MY PROBLEMS
Unfortunately, I do still have some problems with the device that might cause some people to experience difficulties with the device.
First, the whole process of updating the firmware is almost exclusively PC only right now. I’m not going to bank on saying that this is going to be the only method as HiBy has shown that updates can happen OTA or online, so a mobile phone update may be possible. But I had quite the issue when setting up the update app and getting it to update properly.
I’d also mention the bugs, but they often get squished per firmware and currently, I haven't experienced any bugs outside of not knowing how to EQ (aka getting pretty nasty distortion).
But probably my biggest problem, right now, is the EQ app for the PC. It’s so convoluted and complicated that I doubt any casual listener would want to try it or not. Maybe the mobile app will be better, but we won’t really know until it comes. And that’s what I’m waiting for right now. Otherwise, the fundamental existence of the Xeno seems to be hanging on the way side with a complex usage to make it good for a casual device.
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR XMEMS
Including the future of audio with DSP, I think there’s a lot for this tech to be properly implemented. The best part about it? It’s probably one firmware update away. The benefit of having a device as digitally reliant as the Xeno, you get to make realistic changes to improve the device through firmware updates.
Whether this would be the stock tuning, bug fixes, efficiency or the likes, the Xeno is probably the best platform to push this new audio tech to the masses.
Adding unto that is the xMems driver. I’m not going to deny that this new driver tech might not be totally ready for the masses, but the potential is there. The EQ versatility and the speed of the driver make it probably the most efficient not only for powering it but also for external factors like device battery life, latency and other quality of life improvements.
There are many things to improve, but these are all things that I know can be polished like a continuously update game. And for that, the Xeno could really be the future of audio.
Thank you for reading my full review on the HiBy Digital Xeno. The Xeno is currently in kickstarter and you can support the development by going to HiBy Digital’s Xeno’s official page here: https://www.google.com/search?q=hib...gxOTk3ajBqMagCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
