Audiophilepure

HiBy aimed to create a DAP with dynamic, detailed, and well-separated sound, and the R6 Pro Max delivers on these promises. It offers a dynamic and complete sound profile with controlled, impactful bass, crisp mids, capable tonality, and well-extended treble, making it a versatile choice for various music genres.

This model represents a meaningful upgrade over the R6 Pro II, with a bolder and more powerful presentation. HiBy has significantly refined its sound performance since launching its first DAP in 2017, now offering a mature and well-rounded audio experience across its range. The R6 Pro Max stands as a testament to this evolution.

The overall sonic character of the FiiO BTR17 reminds me of my M11 Pro but there seems to be a sonic refinement in certain areas.

The BTR17 does have some power circuitry improvements and an updated DAC section which is certainly the source of improvement.

The overall sonic experience could be summed up as neutral, vivid, and crisp, with a bass response that is a bit dry but rich in detail, punchy, and dynamic.

The midrange never veers from sounding natural and is correctly represented as far as overall balance and pitch are concerned.

The high frequencies are sharp and crisp but are highly dependent on signal quality particularly if you’re tapped into the Bluetooth front end. Using the BTR17 on an LDAC codec, you get 90% of the sound quality you get connected directly to a USB source.

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/ifi-go-link-max

When comparing the Go Link Max’s performance with that of the slightly cheaper Go Link, there isn’t much difference in detail resolution. Still, the information dug out by the newer device goes a decent way beyond what you’d get if you were simply listening without a DAC at all. That said, sticking with Hysteria but switching to the standard Go Link grants the tune more nimbleness and clarity while revealing the older model’s superior ability with vocals. For injecting the right tunes with a good deal of meaty muscle, especially at the lower end, the newer Max does dial things up a notch, but we concede that some listeners may prefer the more affordable Go Link’s purer, cleaner sonic personality.

The SP3000T is beautifully designed. On the exterior, you’re greeted with a silver-plated body and hairline finish. (There’s also a Copper version of the SP3000T available as well). A glass panel adorns the front and rear panels, the bottom 3/4 of the back panel being matte. The top portion features those twin glowing red vacuum tubes. The right edge of the player features a volume wheel, which has an LED light that flows out. It’s illuminated in different colors depending on the bit depth of the music that’s playing.

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/fiio-m23

Despite the A&norma SR35 convincingly being the more engaging of the two, the Fiio isn’t exactly a bore – we still find ourselves nodding away to upbeat tracks in our library, such as Fleetwood Mac’s Don’t Stop and Michael Jackson’s P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing). And even if you aren’t made to feverishly foot-tap until you get cramp, there’s every chance you’ll be engrossed by the amount of detail the M23 can dig up. I

ndeed, we can’t help but admire not only the breadth of its presentation but how much information – both in the outlines and harmonics of notes – it conveys within it. In the Jackson track, stark clarity and texture are generously bestowed across the frequency spectrum, clinging to the cymbals, electric piano and bass, his youthful vocal suitably dripping with its intended playfulness.

Inside, the XM5 features a flagship ES9039 PRO DAC chip, paired with two TPA6120A2 amplifiers, delivering 1W @ 32 Ohm. The player’s UI is based on the Ingenic X2000 platform for core music navigation and operation, and it supports Hi-Res Tidal streaming over WiFi.

While primarily a portable player, the ONIX XM5 is versatile, fitting into various roles. It can stream YouTube via Bluetooth, serve as a USB DAC/Amp with your laptop, provide digital output for standalone DACs, or act as an independent DAC for powerful amplifiers.

The XM5 boasts a 7000 mAh battery, 32bit/768 kHz and DSD512 support, an OLED touchscreen, an aluminium chassis, Bluetooth 5.2, and an XMOS XU316 chip for USB DAC connection.