The Schmeichler - Hiby R8II

It's 2024 and the year is off to a great start, as the first new DAP to reach us this year is the Hiby R8II...and it's a real beast!

But before I get into the "why?", as always, a little unboxing first, which should partly answer this question...

The R8II comes in a simple black, yet high-quality packaging.

This can be opened on both sides, which (unlike the packaging of the Cayin N30) works great and looks cool.

Under another cover, the R8II is already waiting to be freed from its foil wrapping.

On the second floor you will find accessories such as a protective case and cables.

The R8II not only shines with its highly polished aluminum chassis, but also with its great screen...

And its back is lined with genuine Alcantara—a completely new innovation for a DAP. This not only looks classy, ​​but also prevents the player from slipping out of your hand—great! 🙌🤩

It becomes immediately clear after the first listening test that the R8II is not only a pleasure to hold but also a pleasure to the ears.

Trial session

• Hiby R8II
• Aroma Audio Fei Wan
• Kinera Loki
• Effect Audio Code 24
• Effect Audio Code 24C

To really push the R8II to its limits and make sure I don't miss any detail, I choose Aroma Audio Fei Wan + Effect Audio Code 24C and Kinera Loki + Effect Audio Code 24 as my partner. Two very different IEMs that are designed to put the R8II to the test, so to speak.

While the Loki can be described as a reference IEM due to its excellent technical characteristics and neutral tuning, the Fei Wan is a veritable audiophile delight – you can actually tell by the design! 😅

Effect Audio's new Code 24 cables ensure that Loki and Fei Wan can fully exploit their strengths, making it easy to evaluate the Hiby.

Fresh out of the box, the R8II really gets going, and it's only a short time later that I realize that this is the next best thing in terms of value for money, following my highly praised Cayenne N7. Never before has there been so much sound for the money – at least not in the absolute flagship segment, which is where the Hiby R8II definitely belongs!

I described the N7 as a flagship without a flagship price, and the same goes for the Hiby—only this one is even better!