What a little pocketable DAP it is—that's the first expression when I looked at it the very first time. It is cute and very handy. And the R2R technology that Hiby presents as 'DARWIN' is a real game changer. The sound it produces is a great experience for the audiophiles who are looking for a keeper in the USD 500 budget segment. It is not a flagship model, not even a high-end product. But if your main theme is to enjoy your playlist in the most musical way, this little audio device will soothe your every desire. It is open, detailed, warm, and very musical. Let's dive deep into the inside out of this gem.
Hiby RS2 Review
A long waited DAP to review and it was in wish lisht for long, very long. I heard it from the folks who are using it that it’s one of a musical gear in this price point, even more! My fort impression after listening to the sound it is able to produce is ‘WOW’… literally a big wow! I can’t remember when the last time I experienced this kind of juicy sound! It is a bit cleaner then my beloved Cayin N3 Ultra and a bit crispier too without being analytical. I really really hate analytical sounding gears (sorry analytical sound lovers!). And it is way ahead from my new sensation Hiby R4 ( keep the price in mind). I mentioned it in a different section of this review.
Most of the IEMs and headphones in my arsenal matches very well with it. And it’s like descovering my very well known gears in a very new way. I found those sets found a complete new life with this RS2 and enjoyed every bit of it. Out of the forty five IEMs & Headphones I own, I will explain a few later in this review. That being said, lets jump right in…
Hiby RS2 Review
DISCLAIMER
HIFIGO was kind enough to send me the Hiby RS2 to review. I am not affiliated with HiFigo, and of course, I was not asked for any copy-checking before publishing. All opinions shared in this ‘Hiby RS2 review’ are my subjective thoughts.
One thing more: The review is based on my personal experience and what I hear using different sources. Your experience may vary because of personal preference and physical differences like the shape and depth of the ear canal.
For your personal purchase, check out GEEK MART or HIFIGO for their fantastic products and promotions (non-affiliated links).
SPECIFICATION
BOX CONTAINS
● Hiby RS2 DAP
● Leather cover
● USB type C cable
● USB Type C-RCA digital coaxial cable
DESIGN & BUILT
It’s compact and solid right out of the box. A tiny tank with serious old-school gadget vibes. Despite its robust build, it’s lightweight and small and fits comfortably in the hand and slips into a pocket, making it perfect for on-the-go use. All CNC-milled aluminum chassis with a matte finish that feels cool & premium. The front and back are covered with tempered glass. Has a 2.45″ touch screen, which is kinda very 2010s, though charming if you love retro.
But the real stars are those physical buttons on the side. Hiby went all-in with actual clicky keys, with play/pause, prev., next, and volume (+/-) buttons. The volume button is all metal, knurled for grip, and spins smooth without wobble. The 4.4mm, 3.5mm (PO), and 3.5mm (LO) are at the top of the RS2. I need to mention that the 3.5mm (PO) also works as a coaxial output. The power button is a slider-style one that doubles as a switch to prevent from drawing power from the source when used as USB DAC. Two micro SD card slots (up to 2 TB each) and a USB Type-C charging and data connection port are at the bottom.
At the end, I wanna say that the design of the Hiby RS2 is fantastic with a clear retro vibe. It will impress any old-school-style audiophile any day. And the build is also fantastic for daily wear and tear.
INSIDE STORY
Inside the HiBy RS2, you got this full discrete R2R ladder DAC setup—that’s part of their very own Darwin Architecture. It ain’t usin’ any regular off-the-shelf DAC chip like ESS or AKM, this thing’s built with a ton of tiny resistors, hand-picked to give it that smooth, natural sound. It’s also rockin’ an FPGA controller that handles upsampling, filtering, and all the digital-to-analog work. There’s a bunch of custom filters too, like NOS and OS modes, plus some tuning options like harmonic controls.
You get both 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm single-ended outs, and the internals are laid out to keep noise super low. It also runs on HiBy’s own OS, not Android, so it boots fast and focuses everything just on music playin’. No Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth, just clean audio circuitry and pure signal path front to back.
SOUND
The first thing you notice when you plug into the RS2—it just sounds real natural. Like, there’s this smooth, slightly warm tone to everything. It doesn’t hit you with that sharp, analytical kinda detail some ESS-based players got. Instead, it’s more relaxed, but still detailed in a softer way. The sound’s got that organic flow, almost analog-like. Vocals feel a bit forward but never shouty, and instruments got a nice body to them. It doesn’t sound cold or digital at all. If anything, it leans a bit romantic, especially in the mids.
Highs are smooth—not dull, just gentle. You won’t get that bright sparkle, but also you don’t get ear fatigue after long sessions. Bass is tight and clean, not boomy, and it doesn’t bleed into the mids. It’s more about control than impact. Overall, RS2’s all about musicality and flow, not technical flexin’. It’s the kind of sound that just lets you relax and enjoy your tracks without overthinking stuff.
LOW FREQUENCY
Talkin’ about the lows on the RS2—it’s definitely more about quality than quantity. The bass ain’t super boosted or punch-you-in-the-face kinda thing. It’s more tight, clean, and controlled. You get good texture, like you can hear the layers in a bassline, but it don’t rumble hard unless your IEM or headphone brings that on its own.
Sub-bass is there, but it rolls off just a bit early compared to some modern DAPs. It ain’t weak, just more polite. It keeps the low-end from muddyin’ up the mids, which is nice. Kick drums still got punch, and bass guitars sound natural—not bloated, not dry.
It’s actually the kind of bass that lets you hear the note, not just feel it. For folks who like tight and accurate over boom and slam, it’s real satisfying. But yeah, if you’re into super heavy bass or EDM drops that hit like a truck, you might feel it’s a bit on the lighter side.
MID FREQUENCY
Now the mids on the RS2—that’s where this thing really shines. It’s got this kinda smooth, natural tone that just makes vocals and instruments sound real lifelike. There’s no harshness or weird peaks, everything just flows nice and easy.
Vocals sit a bit forward, but not in a shouty way—just enough to feel intimate, like the singer’s right there in front of you. Male and female vocals both sound good, got that soft warmth and clarity at the same time. It don’t feel dry or thin like some super-neutral players can get.
Acoustic instruments? Man, they sound lovely. Guitars got that sweet resonance, pianos got weight and emotion. It don’t try to impress with sharp detail, but instead gives you this easy, organic listenin’ that just feels right.
If you into jazz, indie, folk, or old-school rock, you’ll probably love how this midrange sounds. It’s rich, smooth, and kinda emotional in a way—not too technical, just musical.
HIGH FREQUENCY
when it comes to the highs on the RS2, they’re more on the smooth and relaxed side. Don’t expect sharp or super sparkly treble—this player’s not tryin’ to show off up top. Instead, it keeps things easy on the ears, with just enough detail to keep the music feelin’ open, but never harsh or fatiguin’.
You still hear the cymbals, the hi-hats, the little shimmer on string instruments, but it’s kinda soft-edged, not crispy. For folks who hate that sharp, piercing treble some gear gives, this is a nice break. It’s forgiving even on bad recordings, which is great if you got a mixed-up library.
But yeah, if you’re into real energetic, bright top-end, you might feel it’s holdin’ back a bit. It’s more about smoothness and comfort than excitement. That being said, the air’s still there—it ain’t dark, just chill.
STAGE & SEPARATION
the soundstage on the RS2—it ain’t super wide or huge, but it’s got a nice natural space to it. It’s more like a small room feel than a big concert hall. You get some width and a bit of depth, but it’s not that super holographic thing you get from some higher-end gear.
What’s nice though is that it don’t feel cramped either. It gives instruments enough room to breathe, and nothin’ feels piled up on top of each other. The imaging’s solid too—you can kinda point out where stuff’s sittin’, left or right, and vocals stay dead center most of the time.
Separation’s actually pretty good, especially in acoustic or vocal tracks. You can hear different layers pretty clearly, even when there’s a lot goin’ on. It don’t get messy or congested unless the track itself is kinda muddy.
So yeah, the RS2 ain’t blowin’ minds with crazy stage size, but it keeps things clear, clean, and organized, which honestly makes the whole listenin’ experience more enjoyable—specially for chill or intimate genres.
PAIRING TESTING
OVIDIUS TX-901
This popular open-back headphone is not a huge power-hungry one with its impedance of 60 Ω and a sensitivity of 105 dB. The Hiby RS2 drives it quite effectively, and I’ve got the proper loudness with the 75 volume mark. I think the sound I’ve got from it is impressive. Bass, midrange, and treble came out just right. There was no muddiness or lack of openness that sometimes occurs with incompatible devices.
SENDY AUDIO AIVA 2
Nah, it can’t drive this headphone properly, as I heard. Especially it looses its beautiful details in the mids and upper ends. And the bass, especially the mid-bass, loses its speed slightly. Moreover, they are not full-bodied either. I felt a little muddiness in most of the tracks, and when the track gets busier, the sound is just a disaster! That’s not a good experience for me.
HIDIZS MP145
This legendary 14.5mm planar magnetic IEM is a bit power hungry. It has its own signature ‘holographic soundstage,’ which is the most enjoyable part of this IEM. RS2 drives this set with ease. I always use the rose gold nozzle with it for its balanced sound signature. The bass from MP145 seems a bit thick and deep with RS2, without overpowering the mids. The midrange was open and detailed, and the high frequencies also had a lot of air. The experience was nice.
AFUL MAGIC ONE
One of my most favorite IEMs is the Aful MagicOne. A single BA can make magic, and this is absolutely true. This one is also a bit power-hungry, but not too much. And with RS2, it shows its own prowess quite fantastically. The R2R tech tends to deliver good quality bass with open mids and sweet, airy treble. The MagicOne instantly marries the RS2 and delivers the sound, which is musically enjoyable. The bass speed and body were awesome, the mids remain detailed, while the top end sounds just like heaven.
COMPARISON
VS. CAYIN N3 ULTRA
The RS2’s R2R DAC isn’t here to coddle you—it’s all about freakish resolution uncolored and ultra-linear. The songs are naked in the best sense possible: vocals are unnaturally natural, instruments get razor-sharp separation, and there ain’t an ounce of fake warmth to mask poor recordings. Cayin’s secret sauce? Those Nutube vacuum tubes, which hug everything warmly, analog-style, without ever getting soft.
Compared to the RS2’s austerity, the N3 Ultra is more luxurious, more fat, and—admit it—more pleasant to hear. Vocals gain a touch of throaty richness, guitars ring out for just a fraction longer, and even digital recordings have a vinyl-mastered quality to them. Bass is thicker (though less capable of digging in), and treble rolls off well, so biting recordings are bearable to listen to. The clincher? Switch into solid-state mode, and it plays clean up nicely surprisingly—still warmer than the RS2, but with more pace. Soundstage is more intimate but layered exquisitely, like a small jazz club versus the RS2’s concert hall.
VS. HIBY R4
The R4 looks over the RS2’s purist approach and says, “Cool story, bro,” then turns the party up to 11. That ESS DAC punches harder, shines brighter, and quiets the midrange until it glows. Bass isn’t just present—it punches you. Treble isn’t just detailed—it blazes. And with Android 12, you can stream all that niceness directly from Tidal or Qobuz without having to dance through hoops. It’s not colored so much as it’s overhyped—your music got a contrast boost in Photoshop. Separation is maximally clean, if a hair less maximally textured than the RS2’s hyper-layered mode. Soundstage is wider but softer—more “concert hall” than “studio monitor.”
CONCLUSION
the HiBy RS2 ain’t tryin’ to be the flashiest or the smartest DAP out there—but what it does, it does real well. It’s all about pure music playback, no Wi-Fi, no apps, no distractions. Just pop in your SD cards, plug in your IEMs or headphones, and hit play. The sound’s got that smooth, organic feel, especially in the mids. It ain’t super technical or ultra-detailed, but it’s musical, easy listenin’, and real enjoyable—specially if you like a warmer, more natural sound. The UI’s simple, yeah, maybe a bit old-school, but it gets the job done.
If you’re lookin’ for a compact, no-nonsense player that just lets you enjoy your music library without fuss, RS2 might be exactly what you need. Not for everyone, but for the right kind of listener—this little thing’s a gem.
WHATEVER YOU’RE THINKIN’ OF BUYING—DAC, DAP, IEM, HEADPHONE, AMP, WHATEVER—JUST MAKE SURE YOU GIVE IT A DEMO RUN FIRST. TRY IT OUT, LISTEN TO IT WITH YOUR OWN TRACKS. SERIOUSLY, ONE QUICK AUDITION CAN SAVE YOU A BUNCH OF MONEY AND REGRET LATER ON.
You can read other reviews HERE.
