HiBy Digital M300 | We're Not There Yet

I made some mistakes in this HiBy Digital M300 review - please be sure to watch the follow-up video after this! • I was wrong about the ...
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[@PrimeAudioReviews]

I made some mistakes in this review so please be sure to watch the follow-up video! kzbin.info/www/bejne/baumoWWkea-bi6M

[@ozboyblu]

I got my M300 today. Found that to get the most volume you need to increase “Media Volume” setting under the “Master volume” setting. In the Audio menu.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

You're absolutely right. Thank you for letting me know. I just recorded an update video and will publish it tomorrow with the correct information.

[@michaelmacvittie6977]

"Who is this for?" Ngl, me. Especially with the update about the volume. I spend a lot of time walking and traveling, and I like having a second device so I can put my phone away. Modern smartphones are just too damn big for use like that imo, and I like having a device that can use both streaming services and my local files. I have no use for a balanced output and really like Hiby's other budget devices, so I hope I can get the money for this before Hiby decides to discontinue it.

[@wahid-lg1kk]

You are the target market! The alternate is the R3 Sabre which does stream Qobuz and Tidal, and has much much better sound, but it's not android you might not enjoy it, a little more difficult to deal with streaming

[@nusu5331]

much appreciate your reviews. thank you!

[@michaelmacvittie6977]

I've been playing with this thing for a couple weeks now, and it's perfect. Perfect size, super clear sound, genuine streaming capabilities, my perfect idea of a modern DAP. Even the "small" 32 gigs of space doesn't bother me, as I don't need to take the entire catalogue with me. The only way it could improve is a volume knob, but that feels like nitpicking.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@afuyan]

I actually gonna love a phone with that form factor. I still using that my overheating flammable SD810 chip Xperia Z5 Compact, the only reason there's no more 4.6 inch phone with a decent camera.

[@titmusspaultpaul5]

Great review... thanks. Just wondering, can it pair with my Samsung wireless headphones or will that bypass the DAC? And is the radio digital? Thanks.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

That would bypass the DAC and just use your headphones' DSP.

[@JimiMckeever]

I am not fully through you review to be honest, but to be honest. I have returned two differed units because both units, I noticed Volume Rocker would not function while the Media Player ie... Tidal or Spotify were open. It would only work correctly when the apps were open and face front. My S10E working as a sorta DAP works better.

[@traktorpro10]

A few questions if you don't mind: 1. Can it be used as a transport? 2. Actual battery life for bluetooth and transport use?, not sure what uptime means. 3. I have the Sony NW-A55, it only has single ended at 75mw but can power most of my iems very well, maybe output voltage is lower on the Hiby? Thanks.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

1. I don't think so. I tried it with a dongle DAC and couldn't get it to work. 2. AFAIK uptime means continuous playback. 3. Probably.

[@HowardOlsen]

Can this thing be used as a pure source? I'm thinking about grabbing on to use simply as a source into the iBasso DC Elite! That should make a great pairing with more than decent playback life.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Yes, it should work fine as a USB transport.

[@beepover]

Can you do a review of the Phinistec S7. I bought 3 of them black friday at sale price. Tested one and it is very good. Decided to keep the other two. Software needs quite a bit of development but the sound is actually pretty good! Dual ESS dac under with a 3.5 inch screen and quality for under $100 bucks. I bought mine on black friday for $83 bucks each.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

It looks nice but a 2000mAh battery isn't great. It seems pretty decent for $99.

[@admgloval]

Just ordered one from Amazon. Hoping this will be a good replacement for my Fiio M6 as the battery on it doesn't last very long anymore, pretty much have to charge it while I use it or it drains in a few hours. Also the Fiio is pretty sluggish in Poweramp and general UI usage. Was thinking of buying the Hiby R3 II G2 as a replacement but cant use Poweramp with that, with this I can. Also, I only use Bluetooth streaming to portable speakers or to my car stereo. I have tinnitus in both ears from playing guitar standing in front of a 4x12 for 30+ years plus tons of concerts with no hearing protection so I wont be using headphones or earbuds(cant stand earbuds). My hearing is shot and I have to turn treble up on everything I listen to in general so not a 'HIFI' guy. This seems almost tailor made for me since I have all of my music on a 1tb sd card. I have 640GB of MP3's (50k plus songs) which is my entire collection in 320k (good enough for my blown out ears) and I like to be able to take it around with me wherever I go. Only drawback to having that much on a card is that it takes Poweramp forever to scan or update the music library when I add new albums.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

This should be just what you need. The UI is heaps faster than the M6.

[@admgloval]

@@PrimeAudioReviews Got the device in yesterday and updated firmware, loaded PowerAmp and got it setup with my sdcard and have to say this device is PERFECT for my use case! One nice surprise is that it is MUCH louder than the Fiio M6 through BT! I always thought the M6 was too quiet, especially through BT in my truck. Now there is plenty of extra volume which is especially needed for albums from the 70's/80's before the loudness wars commenced. Happy with my purchase!

[@admgloval]

@@PrimeAudioReviews Oh and you were right about the UI, it is like night and day vs the M6. Very easy to use!

[@Mark-hb2zy]

Does this have built in global parametric eq? Thanks

[@daniellima9305]

hello there! How is the bluetooth performance on this device? Can you usee it as a receptor for a smart tv or PC, just like the qudelix 5k or fiio BTR5? Also, is it possible to use the M300 as a usb dac for a PC? I am considering going for a small android dap to replace my Shanling M0 pro, the tiny screen ended up being a dealbraker for me, otherwise its a great device. I am right now considering the M300 or the shanling M3X. Wich one do you guys think Its a better all round device to use as music player (flac files and spotify), Bluetooth receiver and USB DAC? I use mostly Iems like moondrop chu 2, 7hz dioko and ocasionally grado sr80x. Thank you

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Hi Bluetooth performance is good. However, I was not able to receive Bluetooth--only transmit. Maybe I'm missiing something but I can't get it to work as a Bluetooth receiver. For flac and Spotify, the M300 is excellent. You might also consider the HiBy R3 II which does work as a BT receiver.

[@MobileDecay]

This would be great for someone who has room in their trash bag for a candy bar and won’t take it out till it’s full. 🤔

[@naren.freak1c]

If they cut the unnecessary features and add 4.4 and some power [~300mw], it will be a best offering at this price range.

[@beehype46and2]

Comment for da algorithm Streak count: 301 A new era begins

[@jorgeluisfernandez2560]

Can i download loseless music from apple music on this device? I only use apple music so i want a dap to streaming loseless music, thanks

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

I don't know about downloading (I don't use Apple music) but you can definitely run Apple music on it.

[@islamulmustafa8437]

Can i use this DAP with external speakers

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Yes, you could do wired or Bluetooth.

[@Undead.Musicphile]

Thanks for the info. I was looking at buying this, but not with that measly low power output. Maybe it's good for Bluetooth listening?

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Yes, it's good for that and I should have mentioned it!

[@Undead.Musicphile]

@@PrimeAudioReviews Can you plug in a USB portable dac/amp into it? Or use it with a desktop dac/amp? Just wondering if it would bypass the internal dac chip?

[@wahid-lg1kk]

​​@@Undead.Musicphilethere is a setting in the Hiby player that allows direct USB out, bypassing the android stack, for that specific use case scenario, in which case you are using the external dac alone

[@Jo21]

does it come with a screen protector?

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

There is one pre-installed.

[@omenoflaherty1294]

Basically you should only buy this if you don’t like saying the word “dongle.”

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

I would buy this.

[@evomike5708]

Or if your phones multitasking is absolute trash like iPhone

[@sig1761]

This phone doesn't even bypass android src. You're gonna get more value getting an older model of smartphone and an external DAC.

[@HarrySuh]

Honestly old phones and a good dongle dac will beat almost any DAP in terms of price to performance ratio

[@MrPINKFL0YD]

I'll stick with my vivoX70 pro plus with a dac. That is a pile of junk.

[@123benley]

So how will an lg v60 quad dac phone alongside Oppo HA2 be compared to this

[@cmoranchel1]

Would have been nice if you tested the speakers for us to hear.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

They're garbage. If you want to share music with this form factor buy an iPhone. Otherwise, almost any budget Bluetooth speaker will sound better.

[@MrGobo]

Hello. I am looking for a mp3 player with build in speaker that I can mostly play white noise sounds… Does anyone has a recommendation player?

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Try HiByDigital M300.

[@MrGobo]

@@PrimeAudioReviewshmmm, but you said in the video that the speaker was terrible..? How is the built in speaker compared to a iPhone 11?

[@BavarianM]

Just get the Hiby R3 mk2 instead of this

[@NoBodyO2TheG]

Hi there, I have disbled almost everything and still i am only getting 5-6 hours of playtime, any help?? And also, the quick share doesn't work?? Help please.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

What headphones are you using with it?

[@NoBodyO2TheG]

@PrimeAudioReviews sony wh-1000xm5 and the sennheiser momentum 4s. I am now roughly getting 8hours or so.

[@nikdhamigo6476]

did you upload firmware? first I got this thing it's can't fully 100% change. and if you use screen operate the battery will drain very fast

[@NoBodyO2TheG]

@nikdhamigo6476 yes updated. That never happened to me. Yes battery drainage very fast, which is why you need to disable apps WiFi, Bluetooth etc, which sucks for an "android", dap.

[@nikdhamigo6476]

it's only 2000 mAh battery. so,I don't expect much. even the iPod touch gen 4 got 2500 mAh. mine,a little better playtime (7-8 hours with WiFi always on). first,try to check the battery....go to settings - about device - battery capacity. like now mind is 91% and it's show 17 hours 36 minutes left. see, it's not much.

[@philipthompson5830]

Would a dongle DAC improve things?

[@corbalan12]

I'm pretty sure that's what Hiby was thinking with this DAP, won´t be surprised if they release soon a dongle DAC which fits perfectly at the bottom of this one, charging you around 100 quit but adding an extra 2.5 mm output with more power... If you think about it, don´t take the sound part of it, it is kind of the best DAP in the market: the only one with Android 13, probably the best processor (665), really good size... Only for 200 quit. How can be the sound the worst part of a DAP? Because even conecting a 100 quit dongle DAC still cheaper than the competitors, with newer android and beter processor. Is the way to go, M300 + dongle DAC

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

I tried it with the Moondrop Dawn Pro and couldn't get it to work.

[@corbalan12]

@@PrimeAudioReviews oh that's weird... With android we shouldn't have problems to have that working. Maybe hiby "restricted" the usb C port? I've seen one guy in head-fi using it with a dongle DAC, I'll try to ask him, maybe you need to change some settings. Thanks for the heads up!

[@NoBodyO2TheG]

It says this player has "DUAL hi-res", dual??

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Yeah, 1 for local files and 1 for Bluetooth.

[@NoBodyO2TheG]

@@PrimeAudioReviews ah ok.

[@john0416]

Most useless dap 😂 Thanks for unbiased review good sir.. gonna stick with my LGs

[@popipon.5627]

It should have dual chip for audio and 4.4 or 2.5 mm. socket that will be complete hires player. So what different is thid dap from cheap china android dap just only have audio chip inside. China cheap android only 35 usd.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Yeah I miss the balanced output too. They should ditch the terrible built in speaker and add balanced out

[@arijitgayen644]

It will not get commercial success

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Yeah. I could be wrong but I don't really see the point of this unit.

[@nov9925]

Lets wait for possible update (M300 Pro ver) in the future.

[@richardalvarado1877]

LG G8/V50 are far better than this dap

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

It depends what you need. I don't want any notifications, messages or phone calls while I'm listening to music!

[@dont4450]

I returned. Couldn't get more that 4 hours out of it.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Which app were you using and what output/volume level? Like I said in my follow-up review, you can increase the media volume in the settings so check that first.

[@Darksaid85]

A good player, but the build quality is terrible, or I just got one. The function button lives its own life and constantly rattles when you try to shake the player, the back cover closer to the microphone can be pressed with your finger, it is not screwed properly