Marcus opinions the HiBy RS8 II, a groundbreaking flagship 16GB Android DAP with adaptive amplification and AI-enabled tone controls. It’s at the moment priced at $3899.00.
Disclaimer: This unit despatched to me was bought for this overview. Headfonics is an unbiased web site with no affiliate hyperlinks. I thank HiBy for his or her help.
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HiBy RS8 II Overview
Abstract
The flagship HiBy RS8 II DAP is the corporate’s most pure and cohesive-sounding high-end DAP to this point. It’s also one of many versatile sound signatures I’ve come throughout, with a deep degree of tonal shaping and choices for nearly any reasonably powered headphone and each IEM on the market.
Execs
Fantastically pure and coherent sound signature
The quickest DAP in the marketplace proper now.
Very deep suite of sound shaping choices.
Cons
Sankofa Ai feels a bit underdeveloped on the time of writing.
While very quick, the age of Android 13 seems like a missed alternative.
Shared 3.5mm PO/LO may not be splendid for some.
Upgraded DACs and refined or extra highly effective amplification have sometimes been key promoting factors of latest DAPs. Whether it is an Android DAP, there’s additionally an emphasis on the improved CPU, RAM, or a brand new Android software program model, reminiscent of 12 or 13.
These are all actually tangible, time-honored enhancements that the audiophile neighborhood historically seems for when making their shopping for selections.
Nonetheless, with the launch of the brand new flagship $3899 RS8 II, HiBy has opted for a special route, one that’s grounded of their legacy experience, software program, and what it may possibly add to the listening expertise past the aforementioned fundamentals.
Because of this, the RS8 II is much less of an iterative flagship improve on the RS8 and extra of an advanced, trendy mind-set on find out how to customise sound to suit your wants in a conveyable audio participant.
Will or not it’s essentially the most highly effective participant on the market? I doubt it, however its clean and pure sound, smartphone-level pace, and deep, ever-evolving Darwin Structure definitely make it essentially the most modern DAP in as we speak’s market.
Options
The HiBy RS8 II is a brand new flagship open Android 13 digital audio participant. It’s primarily pitched as a wired and wi-fi moveable participant for headphone and IEM/TWS customers.
Nonetheless, the RS8 II may slip seamlessly into desktop and HiFi methods, working as a USB 3.2-capable DAC or transport with SPDIF, I²S, and USB-DAC capabilities.
As with all high-end HiBy DAPs, the RS8 II is wireless-capable, that includes Wi-Fi 7 MIMO and bidirectional Bluetooth 5.3, which lets you maximize the Android connectivity expertise.
Inside is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (QCS8550) and a large 16GB of RAM, paired with 512GB of inner storage.
There may be not a single DAP in the marketplace as we speak with that quantity of processing energy. Regardless of Android 13 displaying its age a bit with most new smartphones on 15 or 16, the 16GB of RAM and upgraded processor will make a palpable distinction in the way you understand the pace of the RS8 II’s UI.
The RS8 II additionally comes with DARWIN III, an audio processing structure combining FPGA and R2R, which debuted within the RS6, and features a 2nd-gen delta-sigma model contained in the R8 II.
And it’s in DARWIN III that we see presumably the primary use of AI in a DAP with vital computational energy inside its FPGA algorithm to boost every R2R particular person resistor’s efficiency in actual time, versus pre-defined abstracts. The best result’s decrease distortion and larger accuracy than earlier generations of DARWIN.
Decoding
As with the RS8, the RS8 II makes use of a discrete R2R community array inside its DARWIN II structure for decoding, with its AI-powered FPGA offering digital sign processing for its oversampling harmonic controls.
The brand new CPU and FPGA setup can be the muse for the RS8 II’s new Sankofa AI platform, which gives the consumer with an ever-expanding set of tone controls designed to imitate the sound of older gear reminiscent of mini-disc and cassette gamers.
Decoding charges are as much as a powerful DSD1024 and PCM 32-bit/1536kHz, and in that case , the RS8 II can unfold MQA natively at as much as 16X.
Keep in mind that the unique R8 had the identical high-level decoding specs, so this isn’t one thing new. Slightly, it’s the standard of efficiency throughout the new DARWIN III structure and suite of tone controls that’s of extra curiosity.
The RS8 II can be wireless-capable with BT5.3, with transmission help for LDAC, aptX Lossless-equipped gadgets, and LDAC/ACC/SBC help as a receiver.
Amplification Topology
The RS8 II is designed to run both single-ended or devoted balanced PO/LO, and in Class A or Class AB mode, very like the RS8. Nonetheless, the best way by which energy is generated has modified considerably.
HiBy calls their new topology ‘Adaptive Amplification,’ whereby the operational mode activated will probably be picked by the DARWIN III FPGA based mostly on the previous kind and complexity of the recording sign it sends to the amplifier.
Briefly, it is a real-time operation, one that may occur many instances throughout one track, and is designed to provide the strengths of Class A or Class AB while you want it.
You can too management the diploma of adaptive bias in direction of Class A or Class B throughout the RS8 II audio settings, successfully permitting you to dam out one class over one other or mix them, relying in your wants.
As talked about within the introduction, pure grunt just isn’t what the RS8 II is all about. In order for you most swing voltage and PO output energy, then the 3W FiiO M17 and the brand new 5W-capable M27 DAPs are higher selections.
In balanced output mode, the RS8 II is listed as having a most of 812mW (5.08Vrms) right into a 32Ω load all the way down to 210mW single-ended on the identical load.
The RS8 II nonetheless makes use of the Turbo Energy choice from the RS8, which reinforces Vrms output, so I’m guessing that the above statistics are weighted with Turbo Energy on, which is my most popular setting.
Design
The design language of the RS8 II is extra refined and sophisticated when in comparison with the extra typical kind issue of the RS8 and even the newer R8 II, regardless of its splendid purple Alcantara end.
I’m guessing a few of the modern design approaches on their lower-tier fashions, such because the R4 and R6 Professional, have reverse-trickled as a result of the RS8 II seems nothing like the corporate’s earlier premium DAP lineup, with a sleeker, chiseled, and extra angular profile.
The pattern I’ve right here is the 411g Starlight Golden version, however you may get it in Basic Black. I a lot favor the gold version. One thing a few brighter traditional HiFi colour and the best way it exhibits off the aluminum machining appeals to me greater than staid black. YMMV.
It’s not a steady uniblock of ‘gold’ on the surface, although. The glass-finished rear panel has an etched RS brand and moniker, and on the sides, there’s some elongated chamfering.
The rear panel is then completed with a tasteful “Darwin-branded” black shiny wedge on the highest nook, full with honeycomb prints.
The angular design ethos is sustained with hexagonal bodily management buttons and a beautiful 3D geometric-cut cap with wonderful knurling across the quantity dial on the highest panel.
One design facet that I vastly recognize is the less complicated exterior reminiscence card slot on the RS8 II. HiBy has executed away with the pin tray system (lastly) that almost all of DAPs have used for years and as a substitute introduced in a less complicated rubbery flap with an identical aluminum prime.
It may appear rather less sturdy to some, however from my perspective, it’s about time we moved away from having to convey a pin with you while you wish to change reminiscence playing cards.
I/O
There are a number of vital modifications to the RS8 II I/O, at the least when in comparison with the RS8’s base panel lineup.
Crucial (to me) of which is the addition of an I²S output port, which is suitable (configuration 1) with the Topping DX9 Discrete DAC/Amp.
Loyal readers could have famous my disappointment that Topping modified the pin configuration of their new DX9 Discrete amplifier I²S enter socket, rendering my Cayin N7/N8ii DAPs incompatible through I²S.
This isn’t the case with the RS8 II. It has 3 user-selectable I²S pin configuration modes, offering compatibility with a variety of DACs (see my Synergy part on web page 3 for extra particulars).
The addition of I²S does come at the price of the RS8 II shedding the RS8’s devoted 3.5mm lineout port, which I do know would possibly disappoint some customers. It now doubles up as a single-ended 3.5mm LO/PO port. Fortunately, the 4.4mm balanced output stays the identical, i.e., devoted outputs for PO and LO.
The RS8 II’s USB port has additionally been upgraded to three.2 over the older 3.1 utilized by the older RS8, growing the theoretical knowledge switch pace from 5 Gbps to 10 Gbps.
For many who want to use the RS8 II’s SPDIF performance, you’ll nonetheless want a specialised cable or adapter to transform the sign from the machine’s Kind-C port to a coaxial or optical output.
HiBy used to produce simply such a cable of their earlier R8 and RS8 flagship DAPs, however that isn’t the case with the RS8 II, so you’ll have to purchase or use your current one.
Controls
The management suite for the RS8 is essentially unchanged, save for the brand new bodily button and quantity dial designs. I a lot favor the rotary dial over the amount rocker on the R8 II. It feels extra quick to the contact with quicker granular management.
The knurling on the aspect of the dial, mixed with simpler entry courtesy of the dipped prime panel, additionally makes it extra manageable with a few fingers in comparison with the RS8’s guarded various.
Don’t underestimate the influence of the upgraded CPU and RAM contained in the RS8 II. The touchscreen controls really feel much more responsive than earlier than, making it a pleasure to navigate and management the RS8 II through the display.
The RS8 II display is essentially unchanged from the RS8 model, which suggests a 5.5″ multitouch 1080P IPS panel with a really minimal bezel enclosure on the base and sides. The highest bezel margins are a lot greater on the RS8II to account for the dipping prime aluminum panel design, nevertheless it feels proper visually.
Total, the display is a bit under the likes of the iBasso DX320’s 1080×2160 6″ AMOLED show, however the processing energy makes it a a lot nicer prospect for scrolling and contact response.
Battery Upgrades
HiBy has allotted with the RS8’s huge 12000mAh Li-Poly battery and changed it with a higher-voltage 46.8Wh 6000mAh model.
I’m personally glad they’ve executed that as a result of my RS8 battery now wants quite a lot of coaxing to get up after a chronic absence of use, not like different DAPs.
It appears a sizeable discount in capability, however the paper numbers counsel the battery efficiency of the RS8 II has improved in sure areas over the earlier era, with as much as 20 hours in Class AB down to fifteen hours in Class A, and adaptive amping proper within the center at simply over 17 hours.
The older RS8 battery offers you 1-3 hours extra in Class A mode, however the RS8 II is the higher alternative for Class AB, with as much as 5 hours extra battery life in balanced output mode.
Keep in mind, the HiBy official numbers are with out turbo mode, and the display is turned off with 44.1kHz WAV information, so when you plan on doing much more, and we usually do, then count on these numbers to cut back much more.
There may be some excellent news on the charging aspect with this new battery. The recharging voltage score is now 12A, which means you may join the RS8 II to an 80W-capable PD3.0 charger for a a lot quicker cost in comparison with the RS8’s 20W PD2.0 functionality.
Packaging & Equipment
The HiBy RS8 II packaging is a case of much less is extra. They’ve minimize down on the grandeur of the unique R8 and even the extra compact RS8 retail packaging. Now we solely have a couple of gadgets, however ones that I think about genuinely helpful.
So, what are the helpful issues, and what might have been added? Nicely, I do want they included the USB-C-to-coaxial adapter, however the leather-based case might be the very best high quality DAP case I’ve ever used.
It matches the RS8 II like a glove, feels actually tender to the contact, and even has a specifically textured Alcantara end over the buttons, offering a extra tactile really feel when working the DAP.
After which there’s a small blue field that holds 4 aluminum mud plugs that completely match the Starlight Gold end of the RS8 II pattern I’ve right here.
They give the impression of being excellent when inserted, although I believe they’ll simply be misplaced over time. Fortunately, HiBy has supplied one spare within the field ought to that occur, however do be aware, the spare is for the bigger ports, not the three.5mm port.
The remainder of the accent lineup consists of a USB-C to USB-A cable for charging and knowledge switch, some display protectors (not pre-applied, surprisingly), and the standard assortment of guarantee and consumer information pamphlets caught in a black envelope.
Click on on web page 2 under for my software program impressions.
Click on on web page 3 under for my sound impressions and advisable pairings.
