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Enter the modern hifi world. Try this test.

HiBy FC1 vs. just about any modern or vintage DAC out there. 

Cost? Just around 20 dollars or so.

I doubt anyone will be able to tell a difference with their system. 

Let’s assume  the following case scenario: 

1. same speakers

2. same cables 

3. same amplifier 

 

The test:

Use a 3.5mm cable to RCA or balanced in to your preamplifier or integrated amplifier on a spare input. 

basically, it’s 2v plus a little extra mw, designed to drive headphones. 

If anything it’ll be a bit louder than your system, but fundamentally, you won’t be able to hear any difference between it and any solid-state DAC out there in terms of resolution, detail, timing, or instruments/vocals clarity.

Why? Because digital audio has advanced to the point where we are at its limits, and can shrink down the electronics this small, without sacrificing anything. Just look at how far computers and smartphones have come. Audio reproduction is no different in the digital domain.

frank009
sparksgja's avatar
sparksgja
65 posts
 

@frank009 

Funnily enough I have an old HiBy DAP I bought to listen to flac files while flying around the world pre-retirement, like HiBy value a lot. I'm convinced enough to spend $20 to try this out (I have a cable to use already) but none of the standard 'shops' have stock and eBay scalpers are charging double. My current setup with an expensive Denafrips Venus 15th (aka old Terminator) does sound amazing in my system but we are talking a factor of over 1750x more! Anyway thanks for more clarification I will look out on my travels as I do have an Android phone too. 

oberoniaomnia
344 posts
 

I agree with OP that costly DACs do not necessarily mean objectively better sound. It is more a question of flavor. I compared a $5K Holoaudio May2 with a $250 Topping D50 III. Depending on type of music/recording I had *slightest* preference for one vs. other. It is a combination of reminder of equipment PLUS recording. I have yet to see an AG discussion where pairing specific recordings to specific DACs is discussed. Typically, it is one DAC is always better than the other. That suggests a very limited sample of tracks being used. 

I also compared some earlier dongle DACs, the Audioquest Dragonfly red, black, and cobalt. There are some minute differences, but nothing earth shattering at all. And those are seriously overpriced.

limomangus's avatar
limomangus
2,000 posts
 

If you like it then use, it and enjoy.

frank009 OP
35 posts
 

@sparksgja 

The Amazon.com: HiBy FC3 USB DAC with Display Hi-Res Audio 112mW Output Power Support PCM DSD MQA dongle for iPhone/MAC/Android/Windows(Black) : Electronics

is a winner too. Not nearly as much "harmonic glue" between the notes, but plenty of power on top to drive headphones and the sound is a bit more "explicit" so it tends to spotlight details and reveal more flaws in the music. But it’s no slouch at all for sounding musical and gives a very positive impression.

The output stage and DAC chip make the differences between the FC1 and FC3 easy to discern in real world listening. 

Integration with the hiby app and making sure you give it exclusive access to USB as I said earlier - and you’re in for hours of listening enjoyment.

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,603 posts
 

Totally untrue ,if that were the case on dac chips then why would there be so many dacs from $100 to $100 k , there are hundreds of build factors that determine the sound quality in digital , even though there are 20 true bits available without oversampling , bits are not bits ,the digital signal is very sensitive to noise 

and that is why there is so much filtering between the digital to analog conversion 

many time multiple power supplies , quality of clocks ⏰ and many other things 

as well as your usb,I2S BNC cables , there fore the dac is a dac theory holds little to any water. Frank what are you using for a dac, streamer and digital cables ?

sharing this may tell a lot or to be reviewed .

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