Hiby M300 vs Sony A306 (Japanese uncapped) | Pros of each (31/12/24)

[@n.i.n.a9569]

I had the same problem on the m300 pausing when the song playing swiches from 24bit to 16bit in UAPP, but I figured it out how to fix it. Go to this setting in UAPP called "internal HiRes audio", and under "HiRes driver flags", manually choose "Direct" and "Direct PCM", then it should be good.I'm guessing that the app is not configured well engough for this device, anyway, I hope you find this helpful.

[@PerputuallyCensored]

Thanks. I'll give that a try and let you know once my battery test is finished. Gave it a try and it seems to be working. Much appreciated.

[@Mark-fs7ok]

I really like my uncapped Sony A306 (paid £200 here in Japan), but I find that only get 30+ hours of battery life if I turn off EQ and everything else and go "direct". If I turn on any of the audio enhancements battery life drops to less than 20 hours. That's still not bad, but disappointing.

[@PerputuallyCensored]

The additional processing is more taxing on the battery unfortunately.

[@MariejeannePeggi]

Great analysis, thank you! Just a quick off-topic question: My OKX wallet holds some USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). How can I transfer them to Binance?

[@InvidiousIgnoramus]

Are there any other Android based DAPs in this size range? These seem to be the only options I've been able to see.

[@PerputuallyCensored]

I am struggling to think of one.

[@InvidiousIgnoramus]

@PerputuallyCensored Well dang. Guess the M300 is the only way forward for now. At least it's not too much of a cost sink if something nicer comes along.

[@PerputuallyCensored]

@@InvidiousIgnoramus I'd be amazed if they didn't release a successor for it in 2025. Hiby M300 should do a job for you.

[@human6.045]

@@InvidiousIgnoramus It's a great little device tbh. I was pleasantly surprised. It was my first DAP too, not counting crappy mp3 players of yesteryear of course.

[@knestradalp]

you should try the new fiio jm21 and hiby r4

[@PerputuallyCensored]

Both have poor battery life. Not interested if it can't provide 20 hours at least.

[@knestradalp]

@@PerputuallyCensored Hiby has released the hiby r3 ii 2025. It is said to have a new and optimized interface, it keeps the same audio chips, but a new processor. In theory, they fixed the slowness issues. You should try it out.

[@human6.045]

@@PerputuallyCensored My Hiby R4 beats the M300 on battery easily...I never ran either down with just music and screen off but tried with a movie just for fun. Same movie, 1h 50m long...M300 used 50% and gets warmer than the R4. The R4 used 20%. Yes, not the best test but even with music it's really good, I notice it's much better, I'm certainly charging the M300 more. Aparently the battery issue was fixed with an update quite a while ago. I like the M300 but if i could only pick one, it would be the R4, it's close though. I use both in inside environments 9/10 times, portability for outside environments, then I'd pick the M300.

[@PerputuallyCensored]

@@human6.045 No it doesn't. R4 has an advertised 10 hours. I'll be charitable and say 15 hours. M300 is 29 hours advertised battery. My test got me 24 hours playback. You go and try get 24 hours playback on the R4 and let me know how it goes.

[@notsimar]

the m300 is the sleeper entry level player that everyone should get to try for at least a week before trying others.

[@human6.045]

It was my first DAP as I just used my phone. I liked it so much I was going to get a second one while on sale, I ended up getting a HiBi R4, it was on sale too, £147 for the M300 and £225 for the R4. The M300 is more portable and the R4 has more power, I like them both. The reason for two, is so I always have one fully charged while using the other. The R4 heats up less, especially while watching movies on it. Yes, movies lol, I phoned my sister on the M300 using WhatsApp just for the fun of it. Both are very capable little devices, my first androids for many years. I did specifically get them for music, but it's still nice to have options. Less limited than my iphone.

[@AliasMrHackenbacker]

I've still got a NW-A105 euro capped model and the battery life as well as the volume is dire. This stops me from buying any Sony UK DAP. I recently bought the M300 and think it's a great device, so much more power to drive IEMs whereas the Sony is capped and has that annoying message and volume reduction when listening above 85 for any length of time. Personally I wouldn't buy the 306 as I don't feel it's worth twice the price of the M300.

[@PerputuallyCensored]

I've not had the A105 but from what I've seen IT is the worst iteration of a small Sony DAP. Crap battery life, quite slow and expensive. If you have the volume limited one it is even worse. The A306 is definitely overpriced, especially compared to the M300.

[@AliasMrHackenbacker]

@PerputuallyCensored The only saving grace is that the A105 sounds quite good with efficient IEMs. It's difficult to know how much to spend on a DAP, but I certainly don't want to spend many hundreds on a DAP, so the M300 will do for now