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There are some very nicely written online on Head-fi, but here is a subjective take. Only have maybe 15 hours of listening time and just found iem/cable combo I really like. A lot of burn-in to go ,but initially love the maturity of the player. Bass is much more defined, more present than other Hiby players. Takes some time to get software worked out as it is not the same as R8. Slowly getting a handle on software issues. Wish that Shuffle all button was repositioned farther from previous page icon, fat fingers always hit the yellow shuffle button, so I use a stylus pen instead. Just knew when rumours of release of RS8 that I wanted item and am very satisfied on purchase. Love large battery, will try M.2 soon on USB port. Am looking for conversion software to make DSD 1024 files.So, would I buy again...YES as service from Musicteck is Super Great and very happy to get in on the first batch sold. Alot still to learn but very satisfied with product. RS8 is not conducive for carting around as is heavy/large, so not for out and about, however RS6 works just fine. Very satisfied with my purchase.
Albeit it being a little large and chunky. It packs a punch and drives most headphones well too. This has the snappiest OS of all their devices and also best sound quality. I also enjoyed the RS6 but this is another step above!
Do you want everything in a Digital Audio Player (DAP)? Do you want a DAP that you would be willing to keep even if the "next best thing" arrives? Do you want a DAP allows you to alter the sound in so many ways, it'll make your head spin? Do you want a DAP that tells all the others, "Hold my beer"? Well, it won't be cheap, and it won't be light in weight but the HiBy RS8 is not your run-of-the-mill high-end DAP either. Unlike most other DAPs that use a brand name Digital Audio Converter (DAC) chip, the RS8’s R2R DAC uses a large number of transistors in equal numbers for each channel and controlled by a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) to convert your digital music into a form the amplifier can boost and send to your headphones/iem’s or other external device. That DSP can be software upgraded to refine or even change the music quality so if you want warm and lush sound or more neutral or more analytical the RS8 has the settings and controls that let you do that.
The Amplifier on the RS8 is also not based on a chip (although there are chips that regulate but not change the analog channels. The amp has two modes; Class A which provides a very analog sound (and will warm up the RS8), and Class B which provides more power for sensitive or power-hungry headphones.
There are so many features available for the user. Based on Android 12, any musical or streaming apps can be loaded and used although I find the HiBy player to be just fine! WiFi and Bluetooth are both supported and can let your player be controlled from another device while at the same time streaming music to an external Bluetooth speaker. The RS8 can serve as a digital music source for and external DAC, line-out analog to an external amp, or function as a usb DAC for your computer or other device.
If you need to use some or all the features on the RS8 for any real amount of time then you need a beefy battery. The 12000mAh battery should provide plenty of juice to let you listen to music the way you want. If power gets low, the RS8 supports a number of fast-charge protocols.
I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface (don’t do that, the finish is beautiful.) of what the RS8 can do. It is designed to be a top-of-the-line DAP with an architecture and features that will be hard to beat. And it has a sound that it hard to beat. Lastly, don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t sound perfect from the beginning. Research on R2R DACs indicates you need to invest some break-in (or stabilizing) time for the DAC’s transistors to settle. 20-100 hours of playing music should bring quite a change to the sound quality, usually for the better.
If there were ever a reason to go broke (Please Don't!) on a piece of expensive personal audio, the RS8 maybe it. But it could also serve you for a long, long time.
A futuristic yet retro object:
the titanium in its case, with its faded hues that evolve over time, reminds me of Enki Bilal's atmosphere.
The sound :
indeed, it opens up over the course of hours (currently over 100) to unfold that LP sound that is so satisfying ; for me, "it colors itself in harmonious, luminous hues" is exactly what it feels like.
Practicality:
lightweight, small size, long-lasting battery, efficient Bluetooth, simple handling.
All in all, it's a delight to use as a close companion!
Comfort/build quality/cable: The MM is extremely comfortable for my medium sized ear canal, the fit is very secure, especially with the included AZLA tips. The passive noise isolation is also great. I find myself using iems as an earplugs in loud environments quite often and these work nicely for that.
The build quality is outstanding, the shells feel very premium and look absolutely stunning in person, probably my favorite looking iem to date.
The cable doesn't seem to be microphonic to me. It isn't light but not heavy either, the weight is just right. Very comfortable for hours and it does feel extremely premium, just like every other top of the line PW AUDIO cable.
The sound: Just like the Mason FS, the vocals and string instruments presentation on there are on another level, way above everybody else.
I've never heard an acoustic guitar and violin sound so authentic in any IEM. It actually sounds like you are playing the thing without the vibrations of it against your body. The vocals sound like the person is singing detectly to your ears and you can feel it in a way. I've never had so much fun with any headphones in my life, let alone an iem.
The tonality on MM is unmatched. I often do prefer there over my Genelec studio monitors for pure musical joy that UM bone conduction gives me and that is saying something. Even amazing sounding speakers can sound somewhat lifeless after these.
Overall the MM are extremely nuteral, dynamic, crisp, enjoyable, fun and everything in between.
The low end is extremely well controlled, very balanced and as punchy as you want it to be even for metal/djent/thall type of genre.
The soundstage is stupid wide. Wider than Mason FS, Mext and my trusty U12t's. Imaging is spectacular, I would say The best on any iem that I've heard in recent years.
The course: depending on the source, you could or couldn't feel/hear the UM bone conduction properly. With some daps/amps these become just a great sounding IEMs, with some it completely transforms and makes you feel and hear the music like never before. I do find them to pair best with the Cayin products (N8 II, C9 amp, HA-300 MK2, RU6 etc) and LP6. The better the source, the better they will sound. I personally run them through my Cayin C9 amp with an external dac and I'm very pleased with the sound.
Negatives: There is one negative for me personally.
I do find them unusable for tracking, It just doesn't feel right. I often do prefer to wear an iems when I'm tracking and practicing guitar so that was a little bit of bummer, but I already knew what I'm singing for after purchasing my very first UM product.
Conclusion: If you can afford these, please do yourself a favor and buy a set, I'm extremely happy with mine after 9 months of having it and can't recommend them enough.
Otherwise please do consider getting the MEXT, both are fantastic, the MM just gives you way more and has a better control over all of the frequency spectrum.
The best price to performance headphone. Go ahead and find another. You won't. Just buy this instead and enjoy your music.
This is my second Noble Prestige Viking Ragnar. I ordered this custom one after enjoying the first pair of universal. Both of them share the same excellent treble which is just beautiful. The custom pair is definitely more touching, especially in the base, it is just much deeper and stronger than the universal. Best IEM so far in my own opinion. Thanks again Andrew.
A big enhancement over original p6 pro. This device doesn't sound as small as its size but you get every detail there is on the audio files you served with such a juicy, transparent realism and dynamics. Best sounding 'mini' portable device I have ever encountered...