HiBy R1 Digital Audio Player

The R1 is HiBy's smallest and cheapest DAP, a palm sized player wrapped in a translucent shell that looks like nothing else in the lineup. It skips streaming and Bluetooth's usual complications in favor of one job done well: playing your files back for a long, long time on a single charge.

Type and Technology

• Ingenic X1600E SOC, HiByOS (Linux based)
• Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC
• 3 inch touchscreen, 480 x 800
• MSEB audio tuning, dual Hi-Res certification
• Bluetooth 5.1 (LDAC, aptX, AAC, SBC, UAT) and WiFi with Tidal and Qobuz support
• PCM 32bit/384kHz, native DSD256, MQA 4x unfolding
• microSD storage up to 2TB

Sound Character

Reviewers consistently point to the CS43131's clean, low noise floor as punching above the price, measured with 122dB dynamic range and 0.001% distortion. It won't compete with the R3 II's dual DAC array, but for a sub-$100 player it's considered genuinely transparent rather than a compromise.

Build and Comfort

• Translucent plastic chassis, 83.5 x 51.1 x 12.35mm, 70g
• Strap lug for easy carrying
• Available in Black, White, Blue, Green, and Orange

Best For

• A first DAP or a gift, priced to make the jump from phone audio painless
• Anyone who wants absurd battery life over features: up to 15 hours playback, 400 hours standby
• Simple single-ended listening rather than balanced or high-power pairings

What's in the Box

R1 player, USB-C cable, and documentation. A matching silicone case is sold separately.

Specifications